If your pet’s behavioral problems are consistently affecting your life and making you feel stressed out, frustrated, or hopeless, the following tips may help you change your pet’s behavior. While some pets may have innate behavioral problems or ones that were learned in a shelter or prior home, others may exhibit unwanted behaviors as a way of coping with their own stress, boredom, or fear. Here are a few simple ways you can address your pet’s behavioral problems:
Reward Good Behavior
You should never yell, hit, or threaten your pet if he is behaving badly. Instead, reward good behavior with a treat, pets, or a favorite toy so that your dog associates good behavior with a positive outcome. This will make it easier to address unwanted behavior.
Redirect Behavior as It Happens
You can only redirect and correct bad behavior as it happens. If you try to address your pet’s unwanted behavior hours later, he won’t know what’s going on and it won’t change future behavioral issues. When your pet is behaving badly, redirect his attention by issuing a command like sit, stay, down, off, or quiet. When your pet complies, reward him with a treat. If he doesn’t comply, use your hands to gently push your pet into a sitting or lying position. Say the command one more time and then reward your pet. Doing this consistently every time your pet misbehaves will make it easier to correct his bad behavior.
Ask Your Veterinarian for Advice
Your veterinarian may be able to offer you expert advice on your pet’s behavior. They can determine if there is an underlying health issue or dietary problem causing your pet to behave badly. They may also recommend a change to your pet’s diet or exercise routine, or using nutritional supplements to improve your pet’s mood and behavior.
If your pet displays more serious behavioral issues, like biting, snarling, or aggression, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for advice.