Pet behavioral problems

It's the classic love story: girl meets dog, girl loves dog, girl brings dog home too soon, dog wrecks home, girls wants to take dog back and pretend it never happened! 

Even if you invited a canine friend into your home a little prematurely, many behavioral problems can be solved by understanding your dog's personality, and training accordingly. 

David Dickey, a behavioral consultant and owner of K-9 Kindergarten in Southern California, maintains that in the majority of these situations separation anxiety is to blame—and it is treatable.

Submissive Sharpei, or dominant Dalmatian?

The key to getting along with dogs, Dickey explains, is to understand their personality types. To simplify this process, Dickey divides dogs into two basic groups: Dominant and Submissive. 

Dominant dogs are highly intelligent and tend to be very independent.  These breeds are born leaders—used to being at the top of the pecking order—and it shows in their behavior.  Dogs with these characteristics can learn quickly and typically housetrain with ease.  However, they can be aggressive, so they are not usually good choices for families with kids. If you have a dominant dog, don't rush off to the pound, but do find a professional trainer to help you out.

Submissive dogs, on the other hand, want nothing more than to please their owners.  According to Dickey, "a 'NO' can wreck their day." They love playing games but are slower to housetrain and can develop separation anxiety more easily.  Happily, this condition is easily fixed.  The secret to training a Submissive dog is to adopt a firm-yet-friendly approach. 

With any type of dog, no matter how angry you are to find a puddle or see your favorite pillow in ribbons on the floor, Dickey warns against hitting the animal, which can lead to aggressive behavior. In fact, unless you catch the dog "in the act," it's best not to react to the behavior at all, but to quietly clean up the mess.  Even a negative reaction amounts to attention in doggie's eyes.  Best not to reinforce that method of getting it.

Another trick Dickey suggests is to ignore your dog when you first walk in the door.  Lonely pooches can look forward to your return all day and the anticipation increases anxiety.  Instead, offer lots of love and affection at a time of your choosing, after things have settled down. 

In acute cases, of course, it is always best to check with a veterinarian to rule out any medical issues before taking further action. 

Finally, when asked about the most important thing you can do to train your dog, Dickey replied without hesitation: "Love 'em."

Additional Resourses:

American Kennel Club
K-9 Kindergarden