Dog Behavioral Problems Can Begin At An Early Age
Don't be alarmed, you may experience dog behavioral problems even when you purchase a puppy or very young dog. The puppy or young dog you just purchased may end up with behavioral problems which have been influenced by his mother or litter mates.
Puppies and very young dogs are much like children, they learn from what they witness. If a young dogs mother has a habit of barking or whining to receive the attention she wants, her pups could very likely develop the same behavioral problem of barking or whining purely to receive attention of their new families. A puppy or young dog's life experiences from the first month up to around three months drastically influence the development of the dog's individual personality.
By separating your puppy from his mother as near to the eighth week as possible you ensure a variety of experiences in your puppies most formative months allowing you to lay a firmer foundation for his advanced training. The early separation usually results in less behavioral problems being developed allowing you to proceed with proper training instead of spending weeks breaking your dogs behavioral problems before you can start any formal dog training.
Your Dogs Early Behavioral Problems Can Last A Lifetime
Behavioral problems your dog develops at an early age which are not immediately addressed, such as jumping up in your lap for attention, could end up as lifetime issues. So when your cute puppy or young dog jumps up in your lap for attention, ask yourself if you want an eighty pound golden jumping on you when he is fully matured. It is always easier to break behavioral problems when they first start rather than a few months or a year later when this habit had been well instilled as acceptable practice.
Early Socialization Can Help With Breaking Dog Behavioral Problems
Puppies and young dogs need to be exposed to as many various conditions as reasonably possible. Dogs which have been exposed to a variety of people other than family members, other dogs and species such as cats, horses etc. will commonly be better adjusted and are apt to respond to any future training with a more open mind. Remember, dogs are much like children, the earlier they begin to learn proper socialization skills the better they will adjust and learn later on in life.
Understanding How Fear Can Result In Dog Behavioral Problems
Many dog's behavioral problems such as aggressive behavior towards other dogs or species are a direct result from fear. You must understand how fearful habits learned at an early age often influence your dog as an adult. Check around your local area, many dog clubs or dog training facilities offer puppy gatherings to assist owners in developing well rounded and properly socialized pets. If you have difficulties locating an organization you can always check with your vet for suggestions.
Such puppy events allow your puppy or young dog to learn proper responses when socializing with other dogs as well as meeting new people while offering a controlled environment, reducing the possibility of having a bad experience. For the best results your puppy should be exposed to these type of gatherings while they are less than four months old. However, if this is not possible, don't simply not proceed with socialization skills. As long as your young dog has not developed any behavioral problems such as aggressive behavioral towards other dogs or strangers these events will only benefit your dogs learning curve.
In cases where your dog has already began showing any aggressive behavior you will certainly need to work through these issues before attempting to participate in such events as to not place any of the dogs or people in jeopardy.
How Can You Tell If A Dog Is Likely To Have Behavioral Problems
Before taking any puppy or dog home you need to get as much information concerning their life's experiences as possible. Find out how much exposure the pup has experienced to human contact and especially how much has he been personally handled. Puppies which are handled at a very early age are typically better adjusted and more responsive to training as they grow and develop.
In the reverse, puppies which begin life in very busy environments with lots of other puppies and dogs that receive little or no human contact will likely have began to develop behavioral problems and could present a challenge to the owner. It is not uncommon for these puppies to require the assistance of a professional trainer to break these behavioral problems.
Spend as much time as possible around the puppies environment. Watch how the mother reacts and ask lots of questions. Do you see any behavioral problems? If so you may see the same habits in your puppy. Don't necessarily not take a puppy, just be aware you may need to start a behavioral correction program very soon.
The absolute most important thing to remember. Do your homework, decide before you ever start looking for a new pet what breed will best suite your life style and family. Do you best to select a quality dog, and then love him as if he were truly a family member. Then enjoy the lifelong relationship that is sure to develop.
"Are you ready to finally discover how you can STOP misbehavior and transform your dog into the perfectly behaved and trained dog that you have always dreamt about having?"
