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Can Bad Dog Behavior Be Treated with Medication?
Bad dog behavior can be treated with medication, but bad dog
behavior should be treated initially with proper obedience
training, behavior modification, or a combination of behavior
modification and medication, depending on the cause of a dog's
bad behavior.
Underlying Causes of Bad Dog Behavior
Since bad dog behavior is usually the result of an underlying
cause (abuse, age, breed, health problems, injury or poor
training), pet owners should consider the cause before they
treat the symptom.
Some dog breeds are naturally inclined to be territorial,
aggressive or less affectionate than others. If a person plans
to adopt a new dog, he should consider a breed with a
longstanding reputation for being friendly to humans. If a pet
owner has a puppy that is constantly biting (a normal behavior
for teething puppies or a dog that is trying to get his owner’s
attention) then behavior modification may be in order.
Health problems can influence bad dog behaviors like
aggression, compulsive behavior (licking a single spot more than
usual), self-mutilation and indoor soiling. Brain tumors,
epileptic seizures and intense thyroidal activity can all cause
a dog to behave aggressively, and kidney and digestive problems
can cause indoor soiling. If a dog who normally behaves well
displays any of these behaviors, then he may need to see a
veterinarian for medical consultation.
Injured dogs can behave aggressively, and if they do, it is
usually done to keep their injuries from being damaged. If a dog
is injured and is behaving aggressively, his owner should avoid
initiating excessive play or activity until the dog’s wounds
heal.
Aggression, excessive chewing, and other bad behaviors are
also common in dogs that have been abused, poorly trained or
abandoned. These traits are common in dogs that come from animal
shelters and puppy mills, and can be treated through gradual
behavior modification.
Behavior Modification
Aside from choosing the right breed and avoiding puppy mills,
the best way to avoid bad dog behavior is to put the dog through
obedience training at a local, accredited obedience school.
Consistency and repetition are the foundation of Behavior
Modification, which pet owners must use if they want their dog
to behave appropriately. If a dog is in an environment with
multiple people, then all members of the household should follow
through with the basic training rules.
Behavior Modification can also include objects that are meant
to correct, punish, or startle—but not harm or frighten—a dog
when he is committing an undesirable act. Some of these objects
include soup cans filled with small rocks, crates, harnesses,
muzzles and choke collars.
How to Modify Bad Dog Habits
- Begging usually results from boredom, feeding
between meals, hunger or a dog’s desire for attention. Pet
owners should stick to a strict feeding schedule to avoid
begging, and not feed him in between meals. If the dog still
begs during mealtime, then the family should ignore him.
- Aggression is usually the result of breeding,
illness, injury, abuse or neglect, but can also be
attributed to a dog's natural instinct to protect a
possession or important object or person. When a dog shows
aggression, his owner should pull him back, yell “NO”, and
reinforce the rule each time the dog acts that way.
- Chewing and biting is normal for puppies who are
between the ages of four and six months old to chew and bite
excessively, but this behavior can be modified by
establishing and reinforcing the “no biting” rule and
keeping objects out of the puppy’s reach. Pet owners should
address this action immediately, taking the object away,
yelling “NO”, and then following through with the
appropriate punishment.
- Digging comes from a dog's natural instinct to
provide himself with shelter. Pet owners can usually avoid
digging by putting a wading pool in the backyard.
- Housetraining should begin immediately when an
owner brings a new puppy or dog into the home. If a dog does
not have any health problems but is still urinating and
defecating indoors, it is important to catch him before or
in the middle of the act and startle the dog with a loud
“NO” or “HEY”. After the owner startles the dog, he should
take the dog outside, allow him to sniff around, and
immediately praise the dog when he defecates or urinates
outside.
Medication as a Final Resort
If a dog has health problems or is not responding to behavior
modification, medication should be the final resort. Lab tests,
physical examinations, and behavioral observations should
determine whether medication or a combination of medication and
behavioral modification are necessary. All of this should be
done at the discretion of a licensed, practicing veterinarian.
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