Managing Common Dog Behaviour Issues: Evidence-Based Training Solutions

Common behavior issues frustrate many dog owners, but they’re manageable with the right approach. Learn evidence-based techniques using positive reinforcement to address excessive barking, destructive chewing, jumping, and lead pulling.

Introduction

Unwanted behaviors are among the most common reasons dogs are surrendered to shelters or rehomed. The good news is that nearly all common behavior issues are manageable with understanding, patience, and the right training approach. This guide covers four of the most common issues and provides evidence-based solutions using positive reinforcement.

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Excessive Barking

Barking is natural dog behavior, but excessive barking is frustrating for owners and neighbors. Understanding why your dog barks is the first step to addressing it.

Understanding Causes

Dogs bark for many reasons.¹ Identifying the cause helps you develop an effective training plan:

Alerting: Your dog hears something and alerts you (doorbell, knock, outside noises)
Seeking attention: Your dog barks to get your attention (feeding time, playtime, wanting interaction)
Anxiety: Fear-based barking often happens when your dog is anxious, stressed, or afraid
Boredom: Dogs without enough mental or physical exercise bark more frequently.² Bored dogs are barky dogs
Medical issues: Pain, hearing loss, or cognitive decline in older dogs can increase barking

Training Solutions

Effective barking solutions include:³

Identify the trigger: Keep a journal of when and where barking occurs. Note what triggers the behavior (doorbell, other dogs, being alone, people walking past)
Never yell at barking: Yelling at a barking dog sounds like you’re joining in. Your dog thinks you’re barking too
Teach a “quiet” cue: Reward your dog when they stop barking or stay quiet in situations that normally trigger barking.⁴ Use treats and praise immediately
Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation: Regular walks, playtime, and puzzle toys reduce boredom and excessive barking. Tired dogs don’t bark—they nap
Manage triggers when possible: Close curtains if your dog barks at passing dogs, don’t answer the door immediately so they learn it doesn’t trigger action, use white noise to mask outdoor sounds
Redirect the behavior: When barking starts, redirect your dog to a toy, puzzle feeder, or appropriate activity. Reward calm behavior
Create a safe space: If your dog has anxiety-based barking, provide a comfortable retreat area where they feel secure.⁵ Include favorite toys and a comfortable bed
Rule out medical issues: Consult your veterinarian to ensure medical problems aren’t causing excessive barking

Realistic Timeline

Behavior change takes time. Here’s a realistic timeline:⁶

Week 1-2: Your dog should become more responsive to commands like “quiet.” You’ll notice small improvements as you start reinforcing positive behavior
Week 3-4: With continued training, you’ll see a noticeable decrease in barking frequency as your dog learns to manage exposure to triggers
Month 2-3: Significant progress is typical. Dogs struggling with anxiety may need additional time and adjustments to their comfort zone
3 months and beyond: With consistent training, patience, and professional guidance when needed, most dogs display significantly improved behavior

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Destructive Chewing

Chewing is natural for dogs, but destructive chewing—destroying furniture, shoes, walls, or inappropriate items—is a common problem. Understanding the cause helps you address it effectively.

Understanding Causes

Destructive chewing has multiple causes:⁷

Teething: Puppies typically chew intensively between three and six months of age as adult teeth come in. Chewing helps relieve the pain and pressure on their gums
Anxiety: Dogs with separation anxiety or other anxiety disorders often destroy furniture or belongings through destructive chewing
Boredom: Dogs without adequate mental or physical stimulation resort to destructive chewing to occupy themselves. This is especially true for high-energy breeds
Seeking attention: Sometimes destructive chewing gets your attention (even negative attention), reinforcing the behavior
Natural instinct: Dogs have an instinctive need to chew, particularly on interesting textures

Management and Training

Effective solutions for destructive chewing:⁸

Provide appropriate chew toys: Offer a variety of safe, durable chew toys. Hard rubber toys, dental chews, and certain nylon toys are excellent choices. Choose toys appropriate for your dog’s size and chewing intensity
Rotate toys to maintain interest: Rotate toys every couple of days so your dog doesn’t become bored with the same items. “New” toys are always more interesting than old ones
Supervise or confine when unsupervised: When you cannot watch your dog, use a crate or safe area with only dog-approved chewables. This prevents access to inappropriate items and builds good habits
Redirect to appropriate toys: When you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate, calmly redirect them to a chew toy. Reward enthusiastically when they chew the appropriate toy
Provide exercise and mental stimulation: Tired dogs chew less. Regular walks, playtime, and puzzle toys reduce destructive chewing significantly
Use deterrent sprays: Bitter-tasting sprays (like Bitter Apple) can discourage chewing on specific items, though this shouldn’t be your only strategy
Use crate training: A properly sized crate provides a safe, managed space when you cannot supervise, effectively preventing destructive chewing. The crate should be introduced positively as a den, never used as punishment

Special Considerations for Puppies

Teething puppies have special needs:⁹

Provide cold items for relief: Frozen toys, ice cubes, or frozen wet washcloths help numb teething pain and provide relief
Offer variety: Provide different toy textures—hard rubber, softer rubber, rope toys—so your puppy can find what works for their sore gums
Supervise closely: Watch your puppy to ensure they don’t tear toys into pieces and ingest them
Be patient: Intense chewing usually ends by six months of age when adult teeth fully emerge

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Jumping Up

Jumping up is an excitement behavior, but it can be problematic—especially with young children, elderly people, or visitors. The good news: it’s highly trainable.

Why Dogs Jump

Dogs jump for specific reasons:¹⁰

Face-to-face greeting: Dogs naturally jump to meet you face-to-face, especially when excited
Attention-seeking: Jumping continues when we give attention (positive or negative). Any response from you—talking, laughing, petting—reinforces jumping
Poor self-regulation: Excited dogs haven’t learned to control their impulses in excitement
Anxiety: Some dogs jump due to anxiety or nervousness

Training Approach

The most effective approach uses positive reinforcement to teach an alternative behavior:¹¹

Remove reinforcement for jumping: Turn away and ignore jumping—no attention, good or bad. Turning away removes the reinforcement your dog wants (your attention)
Teach an alternative behavior: Teach your dog to sit for greetings instead of jumping. Reward sitting generously with treats and praise. All four paws on the ground should earn attention
Start in low-distraction areas: Begin training in quiet environments, then gradually increase difficulty in more distracting situations
Build reward history: Reward your dog every time they keep all four paws on the ground. This teaches them that “four on the floor” earns the rewards they want
Use management tools: During training, use leashes and gates to manage jumping and prevent reinforcement
End sessions appropriately: End interactions before your dog jumps. This prevents them from practicing jumping behavior

Managing Guests

To manage jumping when visitors arrive:¹²

Brief guests beforehand: Ask visitors to ignore your dog’s jumping—no talking, petting, or eye contact
Ask for sitting: Have your dog sit before visitors can greet them. Visitors should only pet when your dog remains calm
Use a mat or station: Train your dog to go to a mat or station area when guests arrive. Reward them for staying there
Use a lead indoors: During the training period, keep your dog on an indoor lead so you can manage jumping if it happens
Consistency is critical: Every interaction should follow the same pattern so your dog learns consistent rules

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Pulling on Lead

Lead pulling is dangerous and exhausting, but it’s highly trainable with the right equipment and consistent approach.

Why Dogs Pull

Dogs pull for simple reasons:¹³

Physical advantage: Dogs have four legs; you have two. They’re stronger and naturally pull ahead
Poor lead training: If your dog learned that pulling works (you move forward when they pull), they’ll keep doing it
Excitement: Excited dogs forget their manners and pull toward interesting sights, sounds, or smells
Lack of structure: Dogs that haven’t been taught loose-lead walking don’t know what behavior you want

Equipment Recommendations

The right equipment makes training significantly easier:¹⁴

Front-clip harness (recommended): A front-clip harness is most effective for reducing pulling. When your dog pulls, the harness turns them toward you, making pulling ineffective and discouraging the behavior
Avoid retractable leads: Retractable leads actually teach pulling—they reward pulling by allowing more line. Fixed 6-foot leads are better for training
Proper fit is essential: Ensure whatever equipment you use fits correctly and doesn’t cause discomfort or injury

Training Techniques

Effective loose-lead walking training:¹⁵

Don’t let pulling “work”: Stop walking immediately when your dog pulls. Remain still. Continue only when the lead is slack. This teaches your dog that pulling doesn’t get them forward
Reward loose-lead walking: Every time your dog walks with a slack lead, reward with treats and praise. Be generous with rewards in the beginning
Practice in low-distraction areas first: Start training in quiet areas with few distractions. Progress to busier environments as your dog improves
Use high-value treats: Use treats your dog loves (small, soft, quick to eat) so they want to focus on you
Keep sessions short: Train in 5-10 minute sessions to maintain your dog’s focus
Be consistent: Every person should follow the same protocol so your dog gets consistent training
Professional help for severe issues: If lead pulling is severe or dangerous, consult a professional dog trainer. They can assess whether equipment or behavioral issues are contributing

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General Principles for All Behaviors

These principles apply to addressing any behavior issue:¹⁶

Use positive reinforcement exclusively: Reward behaviors you want to see more of. Avoid punishment, which creates fear and damages your relationship
Be consistent: All family members should follow the same rules and training protocol. Inconsistency confuses dogs and undoes training progress
Reward immediately: Dogs live in the moment. Deliver rewards within seconds of the desired behavior so they make the connection
Be patient: Training isn’t a quick fix—it’s a journey. Behavior change takes time and consistency
Identify the root cause: Address why the behavior is happening, not just the symptom
Feed, walk, and train at consistent times: Routine creates security and helps dogs understand expectations
Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation: Most behavior problems improve dramatically with proper exercise
Never punish after the fact: Your dog won’t understand. Only interrupt in the moment and redirect
Seek professional help when needed: If behavior problems persist despite your efforts, consult a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist

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References and Sources

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About this article: This comprehensive guide to managing common dog behavior issues is based on verified information from Ruffgers Dog Training, Dogs Trust, Iron Will Dog Training, PetMD, Blue Cross, Tribeca Veterinary Medical Center, Dog Owners Academy, ASPCA, Phoenix Dog Training, Susan Garrett Dog Agility, Golden Paws Dog Training, and the Reddit Dog Training Community. All references link directly to authoritative resources on positive reinforcement training and behavior modification. This guide emphasizes science-based, humane training methods that build stronger bonds between dogs and owners. Every dog is unique, and individual training needs vary. If behavior problems persist despite consistent training, consult a certified professional dog trainer (IAABC or AAFCO certified) or veterinary behaviorist for personalized guidance. Punishment-based training can damage your relationship with your dog and often makes problems worse.

The Complete Dog Care Guide

Managing Common Behaviour Issues

Managing Common Dog Behaviour Issues: Evidence-Based Training Solutions

Quick Navigation

Introduction

Excessive Barking

Understanding Causes

Training Solutions

Realistic Timeline

Destructive Chewing

Understanding Causes

Management and Training

Special Considerations for Puppies

Jumping Up

Why Dogs Jump

Training Approach

Managing Guests

Pulling on Lead

Why Dogs Pull

Equipment Recommendations

Training Techniques

General Principles for All Behaviors

References and Sources

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