How to tell if your dog has a behaviour problem

Sometimes what one person considers a behaviour problem, another person considers desirable. For example, a husky pulling is desirable if you want them to move the sledge, but if you are walking to the park with your dog, then pulling on the lead is an undesirable trait.

It’s well known that all behaviour is directly related to an individual’s emotional state. In other words, how we feel drives how we express ourselves, and animals are the same. If we invest in ensuring we meet their mental, physical, and emotional needs, we are likely to have a well-rounded and content pet. Meeting their needs in a breed and age-appropriate way goes a long way to preventing and overcoming behaviour problems.

Habituation, socialisation, and training are key points we should consider. These words are often recognised and considered important with puppies, and can be overlooked with older dogs. Like us, dogs continue to learn as they get older, and therefore we need to invest and embrace their learning throughout adult life.

In a perfect world, all puppies would be well-bred and raised. We would have invested in their early learning, and continue throughout their lives to make sure their needs are properly met. However, even if you’ve done a great job of raising your puppy, or maybe you’ve taken on a dog from a previous home or rescue charity, there will be lots of issues to consider along the way.

It can be incredibly stressful and worrying if your dog has a behaviour problem, and the best approach is to be proactive and seek help as soon as possible. Getting advice, support, and gaining an understanding of how to approach solving an issue is the first step to overcoming it, as it can be much harder to change a behaviour that’s been long established and is well practiced.