We all love our pets, they can bring so much joy into our lives, they can help up feel less lonely, they can bring families together, and they can be a source of constant hilarity with all of the silly things they do. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they’re always easy. This is especially true with dogs who can often be as stress-inducing as they are wonderful! The trouble is that it can often be difficult to actually understand why your dog is acting a certain way. With that in mind, here are just a few of the reasons why your dog might be acting up.
They’re bored
For many of us, there’s nothing like getting to just lounge around on the sofa and chill out for a while. And there are some dogs who are more than happy to do the same with you. However, there are also plenty of dogs who need more consistent levels of stimulation in order to be happy. This is particularly true for puppies and younger dogs in general. Make sure that you’ve got various toys to keep them occupied and that you’re making the effort to play with them a lot of the time.
They’re not getting enough exercise
Of course, it might be the far simpler idea that they simply haven’t got all of their energy out of their system just yet. After all, there are plenty of dogs that could run and run for hours on end and never even need to take a break. Of course, that doesn’t always match up with the reality of what their owner is able to manage. If you’re not able to walk for long periods of time or you have a full-time job then it might be a good idea to look into dog walkers in your area. That way, you can be sure that your dog is getting all of the exercise that they need and they won’t be full of pent up energy when you’re trying to relax at the end of the day.
They’re in pain
If your dog’s behavior has completely changed and they’ve started to seem angrier and more aggressive then there’s a chance that it might be because they’re in some kind of pain. After all, unlike people, your dog can’t explain to you what’s wrong. If it seems like your dog is more prone to getting angry or their behavior has changed, it’s always a good idea to take them to the vet to get them checked over.
Whatever the reason for your dog’s poor behavior, it’s incredibly important that you’re as calm and as patient with them as possible. After all, there’s a good chance that they’re not going to have any idea why you’re angry at them and getting mad is just going to result in them feeling confused, scared, and upset. Positive reinforcement is always the best way to deal with any dog training and if you’re having a really tough time then there are plenty of professionals that you can work with who can help you get your dog’s behavior under control.
