Q&A for How to Stop a Dog's Unwanted Behavior

I suggest you use positive reinforcement to show your dog what is and isn't okay to chew. Besides training, make sure your dog gets ample exercise and mental stimulation to prevent it from misbehaving.

Butt sniffing is entirely normal behavior. It is the dog equivalent of exchanging a business card to find out more about the other party. Think of the butt-sniffing as an information exchange, and accept that it's something your dog needs to do.

It is rare for a young puppy to be truly aggressive. However, lack of socialization can make a puppy wary of things around him, and he may growl or snap out of fear. He may also learn that if he nips, people back off so he uses this to keep some personal space. It is important to correct this trend at a young age. Seek the help of a reputable dog trainer or behaviorist, and in the meantime work on rewarding good behavior and distracting him with a toy from situations where he may threaten to bite.

Many dogs instinctively chase rapidly moving objects (think frisbees, balls, and rabbits!) You need to replace his natural drive to chase with learning to listen and obey your commands. First, keep him on a leash in high risk surroundings so you can control him at all times. Then teach him basic commands such as "Sit," "Stay," and "Look." Use these to interrupt the chasing behavior, by getting him to sit, look at you, and stay. Only when he does this reliably can you let him off the leash.

If the dog is alone for more than 4-6 hours, then consider employing a dog walker to exercise the dog. In addition, feed her using puzzle feeders, so she has to problem solve to get the food, which gives her some mental stimulation. Set up a rotation to spread the load. Have one family member take the dog for a long walk first thing in the morning and when you get home at night, and possibly a third walk just before bedtime.

Many dogs dig to relieve boredom. To combat this, make sure the dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation via training, using a puzzle feeder, and interactive play. Rather than stop him from digging altogether, set up a designated digging pit for the dog. Bury a dog toy there and encourage him to dig it up. Praise him for digging in the right place, and keep hiding treats or toys there so digging in the right spot is rewarded.

There are several different ways to do this, but one way is to keep him on a leash so that he can't run and jump at visitors. Have them ignore him completely so that his crazy excitement doesn't earn the reward of their attention. Once he is quiet, tell him how clever his is and reward him. Then have the visitors offer a small treat in exchange for "Sit" (which you should teach ahead of time).

It is important to seek urgent professional advice from a registered dog behavorist. Your dog's behavior may happen for anyone of a number of reasons, all of which need different management. Guessing the wrong reason and acting inappropriately could make matters much worse. In the meantime, keep yourself safe, and, if necessary, muzzle the dog or keep him on a long line in the house so you can move him from spot to spot without getting too close.

Unfortunately this is very difficult to do. Terriers were selectively bred over many generations to produce dogs with a strong instinct to hunt down vermin (even pet mice!). The instinct is so hard-wired that in some it is impossible to overcome. You can try by rewarding the dog's calm behavior when in the presence of the mice. Start with the cage at a sufficient enough distance away that the dog doesn't react, and praise him. Have a friend bring the cage a few inches closer, and again praise and reward when he remains calm.

Yes, both matter. Dogs are like children. It is very important for them to know their owners/parents love them. After all, if the pet owner doesn't love his or her pet, who will?

No! Physical punishments will only make his behavior worse. It will also breaks his trust in you and make him difficult to control later on.

It depends on your situation. Make sure that you take your dog for a walk and let him eliminate outside before locking him in the garage for the night. Also, if your dog defecates in the garage, be sure to let him know that he cannot do that. It may also be a medical issue, so talking to your veterinarian might be a good idea.

This is a behavioral issue which is quite serious. Is your dog frightened? Somehow he is seeing you as a threat. All interaction with him must be positive. No anger, no scolding, no yanking on the leash. Definitely no yelling. Treats, tasty treats. When he is behaving well, he gets a happy voice, lots of praise and nice things to eat. When he growls at you or nips, turn your back on him. Ignore him until he settles down. If he persists in trying to nip, into the crate or bathroom he goes for a short time out, maybe five minutes. As soon as he reacts calmly, give him a tasty treat. You need to be seen as the friendly food-giver.

Try to find what is stressing your dog out; start with new additions to the room, such as a new clock. If possible, remove the item. You can also show the item to your dog, so that he becomes familiar with it and realizes that it is not a threat.

The dog most likely sees your son/daughter as a threat. Use your voice tone to correct the dog's behavior, it will most likely understand that it's doing something wrong. If not, every time it growls, punish it by, for example, leaving it in the basement for as long as your son/daughter is visiting, then let it out once they leave. The dog should start to understand what is and is not acceptable behavior.

Puppies have a better sense of smell than sense of taste, and they enjoy the way poop smells. It may seem gross to you but it's perfectly normal for dogs and can be regularly observed as wild dog behavior too. Learn to live with this, and just don't kiss the pooch.

The best way is to lure him off the bed with a treat or a piece of kibble. This also works with a chew toy or something irresistible to him.

It could be playing or aggressiveness. Watch your dog to see if she gets excited or does a play bow before biting. If so, your dog is probably playing. If your dog shows her teeth before she bites, the dog could be trying to protect her territory. If this is the case, you should try to train her to stop using the tips in the article.

Remember that it takes time to train a dog. You have to be firm all the time. When she gets excited but does NOT jump onto the bed, you can give her a treat, but when she does jump onto the bed, you could punish her by, for example, locking her out of your room. With time, she will get it.

Every time you see her doing this, tell her "No" in a very stern voice. Pull her away from the litter box and show her you are the boss. Every time she does it keep repeating that. When she walks away without you pulling her, pet her and give her a treat. Show her that when she listens to you she gets treats and love.

Perhaps you need to restart from the basics. Teach your dog boundaries. Secure your trash bin, and make your dog think you are not in the room. When you catch him in the act, scold him gently and move him away from the room. If you ever see him heading towards or starting to get into the trash/kitty litter, ask him to come and praise him. Reteach him these boundaries, and be patient.

I suggest talking to your neighbor about leaving food outside for the dog. If that doesn't work, try putting a lock on your screen door.

Keep your dog on a leash with you when he's in your home. It sounds a bit drastic, but that way, you can keep an eye on the dog and he won't be able to sneak off and pee on things. If your dog is not on a leash, then put him in his crate or keep him enclosed in a room with you. Otherwise, you are allowing him to mark his inside territory whenever he feels like it. Keeping him with you and only allowing him to pee outside and he will soon get the message.