Has your dog ever given you that look, a look of wonder when your response to it is totally the opposite of what he/she expects?
While communicating with your dog is easier said than done, understanding its basic behaviors will help you relate better and you can enjoy the pet love everyone seems to be talking about.
The following tips will give you an insight into why your dog acts the way it does.
Barking
Every dog barks naturally at the sight of a new face or at the signs of imminent danger. If your dog barks continually to the point of being bothersome, it might be a case of boredom, confusion or fear, your dog needs some attention right now. Stay calm and try to figure out the cause of the barking if it is increasingly consistent. While a case of boredom can be easily solved with some minutes of exercise and dog play with its toys, you will need to calm your dog reassuringly if it is afraid.
Biting
A dog bites to communicate aggression, nervousness, stress or fear. The sweetest and gentlest of dogs can also bite if provoked, threatened or feel the need to protect their food, puppy or toys. You can prevent a dog from biting when it slips into any of these moods just by being mindful of its body language and keeping it away from circumstances that are likely to result in a bite. Socializing your dog will help it feel at ease and not bite at the slightest play which may be misinterpreted as provocation.
Chewing
Once in a while, dogs like to chew on something. The puppy to dog stage might involve a whole lot of chewing as the dog grows its set of teeth but then, older dogs chewing cushions, clothes and shoes might do so as a reflection of anxiety. If your dog makes it a habit to chew anything on sight to the point of being destructive, and there’s no causative underlying action such as nutritional deficiencies or gastrointestinal problems, its time to redirect the chewing to chewable toys while you keep objects of curiosity out of the way. Be sure to place electrical cords, chemicals and other dangers out of the way
Licking
A dog’s licking is not usually a big deal. Dogs lick humans to show affection, they find it calming and that’s why they go on and on to the point of slobbering. If you find it too much to bear, ask your dog to stop, change positions or walk away to make it difficult for it to reach you. It’ll understand over time that you don’t want to be over licked.
Your dog’s behavior is the key to a mutually rewarding relationship. Try to understand it!
At Whisker Hut, we offer a variety of toys and tools to help you spend quality time bonding with your dog. Visit us at www.whiskerhut.com.
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