 
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search AllergicPet.com
Dog Behavior Problems: Treatment & Diagnosis
What causes dog behavior problems?
Dog behavior problems can be due to medical or behavioral causes, or both. A clinical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing will determine if there are underlying medical conditions contributing to the problem. Although there may be a single cause for a dog behavior problem it is often the combined effect of the environment and learning on the pet’s mental and physical health that determines behavior.
For example, the pet that is fearful of children, may begin to become more reactive, irritable, and aggressive as diseases such as dental problems or arthritis make the pet more uncomfortable, in pain or less mobile.
Another example is the cat that had been exposed to other cats roaming across its territory, but only began to mark when it developed an overactive thyroid at 10 years of age. Correcting the thyroid problem as well as behavior modification techniques resolved the problem.
What are some behavioral causes of dog behavior problems?
Any change in the environment may contribute to the emergence of behavior problems. For example, schedule changes, a new member of the household (baby, spouse), moving, loss of a family member or pet, or the addition of a new pet can have a dramatic impact on behavior. Any medical or degenerative changes associated with aging may cause the pet to be even more sensitive to these environmental changes.
Learning (e.g. reinforcement, punishment) also plays a role in most behavior problems. When a pet’s actions result in unpleasant consequences (discomfort, lack of attention) i.e. punishment, the chances of repeating the behavior will decrease. If the behavior is followed by pleasant consequences such as obtaining food, attention, or affection (rewards), the behavior is likely to be repeated. These consequences could occur unintentionally when the pet gets into the garbage and finds some appealing leftovers, or could be administered by the owners, when a reward is given following a behavior. It can be difficult to determine what might be reinforcing a behavior, but reinforcement maintains dog behavior problems.
Some of the most important causes of dog behavioral problems and the ones that might be most difficult to improve are genetic factors that influence or even dictate the pet’s response to stimuli, and the environment that the pet grew up in during its most sensitive periods of development including a) the socialization period from 3 to 12 weeks b) prenatal and neonatal experiences and c) secondary socialization and development through to maturity. Lack of stimulation, lack of handling, lack of exposure, insufficient socialization, and particularly stressful or traumatic events can have a major impact on the dog’s behavior.
