Bark for no apparent reason:
True, all dogs bark and that’s natural but it’s equally true that domesticated pets bark chiefly because they are lonely, bored, distressed, afraid, when seeking attention or defending their territory. Instead of putting him through this gamut of emotions, give your pet enough love and feeling of security to feel confident and wanted, feed him well and give him enough exercise before you leave home for the day, setting aside a bowl of fresh water through the day.
Show him a particular spot of his private area where he can put his toys and play with them too. Take care to see that you give him a room set at a comfortable temperature and well ventilated. If you return home after sunset, arrange for a light to come on once it gets dark. And yes, if your dog is a radio or TV buff, leave either on low so he remains entertained. In all the time you train him, make sure he learns when to bark. Alternatively, you could get him a collar that sprays citrus mist under the dog’s nose whenever he begins to bark.
Chew your belongings:
If you think your dog’s chewing things far too much, then, refrain from assuming it’s abnormal behavior. For, chewing is not just a sign of curiosity among dogs but is normal teething too. Find out just why he chews so much. Then, dog- proof your home, put trash out of reach by using containers with tight-fitting lids. Also, encourage your kids not to strew their clothes, socks, shoes and books all over the house.
Despite this, if you still catch your dog chewing, make such a loud sound that he stops it immediately. Then, interrupt him with a loud noise and give him a chewy toy. Praise him lavishly when he begins to chew his toy. You could also fill his chew toy with treats.
Dig holes:
This too, is normal behavior for your pet. You’ll find him digging out of curiosity, for entertainment, when he needs to bury his bones, when seeking prey, comfort, protection, attention or escape. Though this could well be part of his routine, you could slowly eliminate it out of his habits by reserving an area just for him to dig in. If he’s clever, he will soon realize that you don’t like him digging except in his area. Clean your yard so that it is not infested with rodents, rats, rabbits or wild cats that are sure to heighten his habit and need for hunting and digging. If you increase the time you spend with him, it will give him sufficient mental and physical exercise. Involve him playing fetch ball, Frisbee games, agility and obedience training or trick training.
Fight with other animals, including strays:
More often than not, well-trained dogs do not get into street fights with other dogs. But, on the off-chance that you sense a fight due to begin any moment, ask your dog to heel or sit and stay until his “opponent” is well and truly out of your way. No matter what happens—even if a fight actually breaks out—don’t shout at the dogs because that only encourages them to continue.
But if you catch sight of a water body or a hose, spray water on them, but avoid their eyes and heads. If you water their feet, it will immediately end the fight, but should this not work, you and the owner of the opponent dog should each grab your pets not by the collar but by the tail. This serves to pull the hind legs off the ground and startles them into quickly ending the fight. If your dog is the aggressor, pull him away first. Once they are both calm, tell your dog that this behavior is just not on.
Chase everything and everyone that moves:
You really can’t completely get rid of this problem, as it is an inborn trait. So, until he learns how to behave himself and obey your commands, he will have to be limited to the house or fenced yard outside your house. When your pet sees a moving object, he thinks it’s a sheep or lamb and immediately wants to stop it. So, in this case, the challenge for you is to undo an inborn instinct.
Bite despite lack of provocation:
Whenever you play, make a noise or move a bit too fast for him, your pet tends to get excited and he decides to tackle the problem with his claws and teeth. If, on the other hand, he is sick and you happen to touch him on a wound, he will immediately snap back as this his only line of defense.
So also in anger and fear—if you find his ears laid back against his head, legs gone stiff and the coat on his back standing stiffly, or if emits low and frightening growls, it means he is out to take the best care of himself by protecting himself as best as he can. To allay his fears, you should freeze, count to five slowly, then move away slowly to indicate that you are not his enemy. What you shouldn’t do is to stare back at him in defiance as you are saying silently to him, “I challenge you to bite me. Go on, show me you can do it.”
Also, don’t run, jump or wave your hands around, as it will excite him more. Don’t scream either and certainly don’t throw stones and sticks at him. Ask your vet or trainer to tell you exactly how to handle such situations. Perhaps you could also use a muzzle so that he doesn’t bite anyone, including you.
