Why is my dog misbehaving? (2024)

FAQs

Why is my dog misbehaving out of nowhere? ›

There may be many reasons your dog isn't doing what you want: the presence of distractions; a new context; a less-than-calm emotional state — scared opens in a new tab , stressed, anxious, nervous, excited, agitated, or upset in some other way; an unclear cue; even discomfort or pain.

Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.

Rule out health issues first, then consider resource guarding, previous abuse, fear, anxiety, and a lack of exercise. If you have small kids around, limit their interaction with the dog until the behavior is corrected. In some cases, it's best to call a pet behavior expert to help.

Learn how to discipline a dog by using methods like withholding rewards and praise or by giving your dog a time-out. You can use discipline as part of your dog training program or to help correct your dog's behavior or bad habits.

In many cases, the issue is that the dog has not learned what you want him to do instead (see Greeting Behavior – Jumping Up, Enrichment, Predictability, and Scheduling, and Training Basics). Attempting to reprimand all the misbehavior will be ineffective.

If their behaviour changes or they show regular signs of stress or fear (such as excessive panting, licking lips, hiding, cowering or aggression), they could be distressed, bored, ill or injured. If you notice a change, ask your vet for advice. They may then refer you to an animal behaviourist.

When does it happen? All dogs are different but, usually, adolescence begins with puberty at around 6 months of age and continues until social maturity at about 18 months of age, although it does often get a little bit easier when they reach about 1 year old.

As puppies age, they grow more independent, and by 6-12 months you may notice your once obedient pup is developing some unwanted behaviors. Don't worry, some simple training tips will help you both get through these growing pains.

This simply means you want to let them know that the behavior is unacceptable. Instead of shouting or hitting your dog, use effective punishments that actually work, like ignoring them or withdrawing your attention. Since dogs respond to positive reinforcement, your dog will quickly learn what behaviors to avoid.

What to do when your dog is behaving badly? ›

One of the best ways to do this is to give your dog plenty of stimulus through attention, games, and walking. Of course, you local vet can also check for other underlying health problems that could be causing your dog to behave badly.

Don't Ignore It

Ignoring any behavior that isn't motivated by attention won't do anything to change the behavior. For example, a dog barking at passersby while watching out a window. Your attention has nothing to do with why your dog is doing this, so ignoring them won't solve this issue.

Dr. Parks says that “crazy” behavior like sudden jumping, humping, and nipping usually stems from either over-arousal or uncertainty—or both. They solution is usually either redirection, like with a game, or a brief time-out to let your dog recuperate.

There could be several reasons why your dog is suddenly afraid of things. This can be due to medical issues (hormone, pain, or injury), developmental issues (in the case of puppy fear periods), or because the problem is brewing inside, and they've become sensitized through repeated exposure.

If your dog is much slower to react, not as playful, or simply much lazier than normal than they usually might be, It's best to take your dog to the veterinarian for a thorough examination. If your dog suddenly stops eating or cuts down on his food intake, it could be a sign that he's not feeling well.

A regression can happen due to a routine change such as a move to a new home, change in jobs or school schedule that changes the dogs overall routine. Changes in diet, health or injury and the dog unconsciously wanting to protect their mental state during healing.