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Behavior Problem? . . .
. . . This month we want to focus on behavior issues - specifically, canine behavior issues. While unacceptable behavior may not always be related to medical causes it can have a great influence on whether or not your pet is helping to make your life more or less stressful. A dog's behavior can be difficult to understand so sometimes getting the help of a professional is necessary - whether that is a veterinarian, a professional dog trainer or a behaviorist.
You may have experienced one of these fairly common behavior problems with your canine friend:
Barking - Occasional barking is normal but excessive, not-stop barking means there is a problem which needs to be addressed. The consequences of not addressing it of course can be serious - complaints from neighbors and/or a visit from local law enforcement.  We recently experienced a problem with our dogs barking excessively while we were away and of course we were not aware of it until the neighbor finally brought it to our attention.
You might try leaving your house then returning after a few minutes to see if all is quiet or, of course, just ask your neighbors. You might be surprised!
Barking and excessive vocalization can have several causes including territorial behavior, boredom, fear, pain or separation anxiety.
To learn more about barking click here for a downloadable article on barking from the Dumb Friends League web site.
Tip: Dog who have been well exercised tend to sleep the day away. Make sure to give your dog the exercise S/he needs before you go for the day. Try leaving your dog inside in a dog proofed part of the house. There is much less to bark at in a quiet room. Also, to relieve boredom while you're away leave a Kong or similar type toy with peanut butter inside. It keeps your dog busy for quite a while.
House Soiling - urination, defecation or both. In puppies this is pretty much unavoidable until they can be trained. In older dogs soiling can be caused by lack of training, marking territory, separation anxiety, aging or some unseen medical cause. Dr. Nancy Kay, author of "Speaking for Spot", has written a blog on urinary accidents by previously house trained dogs. The DFL web site also has some excellent downloadable articles on dealing with house soiling for both puppies and adult dogs.
Tip: A trip to the vet to eliminate a possible medical problem is the first step in addressing house soiling problems in a previously house trained dog.
Separation Anxiety - According to Sherry Woodard at the Best Friends Animal Society, "By nature, dogs are social animals - they don't like being alone. Many dogs who are in stable, structured homes will never suffer from separation anxiety, even if their people go off to work every day. In some dogs, however, separation anxiety might be triggered if there's a change in the dog's routine or the family's daily life. But, a dog will often accept change in his human family more easily if he is not the only pet.
It is anxiety that manifests itself as visible stress within
30 minutes of the departure of the dog's person. The anxiety
can vary from mild to severe. Separation anxiety is preventable
and responds well when treated."
Tip: Keep departures and arrival low key. Don't make a big fuss when it is time to leave your dog or when you return from an absence. You can also offer a stuffed Kong or other special treat as you walk out the door. Pick it up when you return. Goodies happen when you are away.
Aggression - according to the Dumb Friends League, "the word 'aggression' can refer to a range of behaviors from barking and growling, snarling and snapping, to biting and attacking. Threats of aggression are one way dogs have of communicating and are often displayed as a means of avoiding outright aggression. However, a threat (growling or snapping) may escalate to outright aggression in any given situation.  There are many different reasons for aggression. Because aggression is so complex, and because the potential consequences are so serious, we recommend that you get professional in-home help from an animal behavior specialist if your dog is displaying aggressive behavior." Click Here to download the DFL article, "Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs". "Leash aggression" is one of the most common behavior problems for which dog owners call a trainer. Dogs bark and lunge at other dogs when on leash. This can be the result of a fear of other dogs or conversely it is because of an overly friendly dog's frustration at not getting to get to other dogs. Tip: Teach your dog that when you are out together, on-leash, that you run the show. That means that you decide whom you will meet and when. Teach your dog to pass other dogs and do not allow nose-to-nose greetings with dogs that you don't know. It is OK however to greet old friends. Behavior resources - In Sonoma Valley we have several dog trainers and dog training classes available. Go to the Training page on our web site for a list. Thanks to Annie Humphrey of Good Dog Training for assistance with this article. | 
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