Dogs are supposed to be pets that offer good time and companionship. They should relieve stress and help you loosen up after an exhausting day. However, sometimes they’re not acting the way they should. As their fur parents, we know our dogs better than anyone else. Even if our pets can’t verbally communicate their feelings, our instincts tell us when they’re not acting right.
If your pet used to be well-mannered and suddenly displays behavioral issues, there has to be a cause. Today, we will unravel the few reasons canines develop unwanted behaviors to help you proactively address particular traits you do not want in your pet.
Why Do Dogs Develop Unwanted Behaviors?
Exploring, digging, barking, chewing, and many more behaviors can occur in dogs, which can be an unavoidable part of pet ownership. Understanding the causes of these behaviors can help you act on areas of their life that need attention. So below are five causes of unwanted pet behaviors you should be aware of.
1. Changes in Diet
Switching your pet’s diet to a cheaper, poorer, or less suitable diet can cause them to act up. You may not think about it, but diet can influence your canine’s behavior. Changing your dog’s diet to a poorer quality or something that does not agree with their taste buds can change how your pet behaves. Always feed your dog a healthy and high-quality diet, and avoid changing their diet often. If you’re unsure what to feed your furry companion, always ask your veterinarian for the best choices.
2. Lack of Physical Exercise
Pets require physical exercise to burn excess energy, but sometimes on-leash walks around the neighborhood are insufficient. Activities like jogging, running, off-leash runs, fetch games, dog-to-dog play, or dog daycare for socially-active dogs are exercise choices worth considering.
If you want to bring your four-legged buddy to a canine daycare or dog park to interact with their fellows, ensure they’re fully vaccinated by your vet. This helps protect your pet from any prevalent diseases they may encounter outdoors. You may search for “dog vaccination near me” if you’re looking for animal professionals to have your pet vaccinated.
3. Illness
Behavioral changes or failure to adapt or show normal behavior might stem from sickness. The dog might bark unnecessarily or might not bark at all. They might also be lethargic for too long or feel cranky and itchy. Limping, disinterest in foods or lack of behavior synonymous with normal dogs might indicate sickness. If you see any of these suspicious signs in your canine, take them to the vet for a checkup.
This is why vets encourage consistency in regular vet exams to prevent, detect, and treat any underlying health conditions before they aggravate and become life-threatening for your pet. If you’re looking for animal facilities to examine your dog, you may search the web for “pet annual exam near me” to see specific results.
4. Boredom or Social Isolation
Canines that do not get opportunities to interact with their owners and fellows, or do not have playmates or toys in their environment, may engage in activities that can lead to destructive behavior like excessive chewing. Excessive chewing can put them at risk of severe dental problems and inadvertently swallowing foreign objects. If the worst comes to worst, you’ll need to take your pet to a dog surgery specialist should these problems occur.
5. Fears and Phobias
Fearful responses to loud noises, thunderstorms, or fireworks usually involve escape attempts that lead to destructive habits. When this happens, door frames, doors, walls, screens, and window trim often get damaged. This problem can be dangerous as excessively fearful pets can hurt themselves when attempting to break through doors or windows to get out of the feared situation. Certain approaches like staying by their side, gently comforting them, and helping your pet feel safe are simple ways to overcome phobias and fears in canines.
