Many dogs display bad behavior from time to time. These “dog bad habits” range widely in their severity and the time required overcoming them. The good news is that most bad canine behaviors can be overcome if your furry friend has a strong will and the knowledge to use what power he or she has to change their ways.
This article presents five common dog bad habits that can be corrected easily with just a bit of persistent effort on the part of your canine friend. Most bad habits can be stopped if your pet has the will to do it.
- LICKING THEIR PARTS
- It’s amazing how a dog’s sense of smell is stronger than our own. Unfortunately, it’s also the most common bad habit a dog has. Because dogs use their noses to assess security, they may continually lick their genitals when they are away from you, seeming to indicate that they have been present when you were home.
- Although this can be an indication of sexual interest, it could also mean that the dog is anticipating an event. Correct this bad habit by either withholding access to the bedroom altogether while the dog licks or by removing all of the dog’s access to the bedroom until the matter has been settled.
- Potty training
It seems strange to think of potty training as a bad habit, but it can be just the opposite. Some dogs have the habit of going to the bathroom in places that aren’t supposed to be toilet rooms, like under beds or behind walls. To overcome this bad habit, it is important to make sure that the dog has access to an appropriate place to eliminate. This can be as simple as putting the dog in his or her room and asking them to go, or it can include other methods such as using a Cozy Crates.
- Chewing
One of the more common bad habits for canines is destructive chewing. Dogs, like humans, have an innate desire to play and enjoy themselves. However, they often find certain playthings to be a much more enjoyable activity than paying their owner or others to tend to their needs. Chewing is one of these items, and often leads to teeth problems. Preventing this destructive behavior is usually fairly easy, and can be done with the right tools.
- Barking
Some dog bad habits, such as excessive barking, are harder to change than others. Some, such as barking at the front door or going on the lawn without given any chance to settle down, cannot be altered. However, other bad habits can be modified. Puppies can be taught to sit when being asked, or they can be taught how to heel when going into or exiting a room. Some problems, such as digging holes for waste or going inside the house in circles, cannot be helped.
The most annoying bad habits for dogs are, arguably, the ones that lead to the most accidents. Some bad habits, such as excessive potty training, can lead to a trainable bladder problem. Some bad habits, such as digging, cannot be stopped because they are deeply rooted in the nature of a dog. Examples include excessive barking or whining, or wandering off, and digging or pacing back and forth in the yard. Dogs who act out of boredom sometimes do so without realizing they are doing so, and are then forced to do it.
- PLAYING
Many dogs also destroy things because they don’t know any better, such as playing with hot water bottles and bowls. Some older dogs also have destructive behavior because they have never learned how to behave properly, and this type of behavior often results in them getting put to sleep in animal prisons. If you love pets and want a pet that won’t destroy your belongings, you should definitely go through some training courses with your pet. There are many professional dog trainers who can teach your rottweiler the proper way to behave so that he or she will only destroy things when you tell him not to do them.
While some bad habits are easy to curb, such as excessive barking, others are harder to break, such as leaving a door open while you are away. Others, such as digging, can only be stopped by removing the opportunity. Fortunately, it is not impossible to teach a dog not to do something, regardless of whether the dog wants to or not. In fact, with the proper tools and consistent effort, this can be done with very little effort.
Even if a dog has ingrained bad habits, the task can be accomplished relatively easily. Using the same kinds of rewards as you would for good behavior, it can be simple to teach your dog not to do something that he will dread, such as urinating in a certain place, on command. It may take several attempts to teach your dog a new habit, but in the end it will be rewarded with something nice, like a treat. Soon, your dog will be well trained, and having little dog bad habits will no longer be such a nuisance.
