Anxiety is the leading cause of behavior problems in the dogs I work with. Anxiety can manifest itself as fear, aggression, hyperactivity, or even housebreaking troubles. Triggers may include other dogs, loud noises, strangers, overstimulation, and separation among others. However, the most common cause is lack of structure.
Some dogs don’t need a lot of structure. These are the happy-go-lucky dogs who seem at ease in any situation. If you’re in the room, out of the room, put them in a crate, send them to a boarding kennel, introduce them to other animals or introduce them to strangers, they’re just happy. These dogs may need some basic obedience training, but otherwise they have no problem fitting in with the family.
Dogs that are tense, jumpy, or nervous urinators, and dogs that hide when company comes or growl at other dogs on walks definitely need structure. These anxious dogs benefit more from in-home training, during which they can stay in their comfort zone and have one-on-one customized support from an experienced trainer such as myself.
Structure is important to these dogs because they feel more secure and confident knowing exactly where they’re supposed to be and when. Think of it as the difference between Type A and Type B personalities in humans. If you have an anxious dog, you have a Type A dog. Utilizing training techniques such as basic obedience training, structured scheduling, place training, crate training, proper leash handling techniques, and focus training will put your dog at ease and keep any behavior problems under control by giving him or her the secure environment he or she craves.
If your dog is experiencing any type of behavior problem, anxiety may be the culprit. To learn more about how I can help, give me a call today at 614.347.9127.