Correcting Common Dog Behaviour Problems

Understanding why the behaviour exists

Behaviour problems in dogs are almost always behaviours that worked for the dog at some point — they produced food, attention, escape from something aversive, or access to a resource. Correction without understanding the function of a behaviour leads to suppression of symptoms rather than resolution. A dog that stops barking because it was punished will often redirect to another outlet — or develop anxiety.

The framework used throughout this article is functional analysis: identify what the dog gains or avoids through the behaviour, then modify the environment so the function can be met through an acceptable alternative.

Leash pulling

Pulling on the leash is one of the most common reasons dogs are surrendered to shelters by owners who cannot walk them safely. It is also one of the most preventable, because it is almost always inadvertently taught by the owner: the dog pulls, the owner continues walking, the dog moves forward. Forward movement is the reinforcer.

The stop-and-wait method: The instant the leash goes taut, stop completely. Wait. The dog will eventually turn back, release tension on the leash, or sit. The moment tension leaves the leash, begin walking again. This takes patience and consistency — for the first several sessions, a 20-minute walk may only cover 100 metres. Most dogs show measurable improvement within 2 weeks of consistent application.

Directional change method: When the dog pulls, turn and walk briskly in the opposite direction. This requires the dog to redirect attention and reestablish position. It produces faster improvement for some dogs than the stop-and-wait approach, but is physically demanding for the handler on high-pull dogs.

Equipment notes: Front-clip harnesses and head collars reduce the mechanical advantage the dog has when pulling and can make walks manageable during the behaviour modification period. They do not teach the dog not to pull; they change the physics of the situation. They are best used as management tools alongside the methods above, not as a permanent substitute for them.

Jumping up

Dogs jump up to access the face, which is where greeting-related behaviour is centred in canine interaction. The behaviour is almost universally reinforced during puppyhood — owners find it endearing — and by the time it becomes a problem, it has hundreds of reinforced repetitions behind it.

The most reliable approach is extinction combined with differential reinforcement of an incompatible behaviour (DRI). Extinction here means removing all reinforcement for jumping: turn away, cross arms, make no eye contact or verbal response. DRI means reinforcing a behaviour that cannot coexist with jumping — in this case, four paws on the floor. As soon as the dog drops back down, turn, make eye contact, and give calm attention or a treat.

This requires agreement from everyone who interacts with the dog. One person reinforcing jumping while others attempt extinction will maintain the behaviour through intermittent reinforcement — actually one of the most durable reinforcement schedules, which is why "we sometimes let him" is so counterproductive.

Excessive barking

Barking serves multiple functions: alert, demand, social facilitation, fear response, boredom. Addressing it effectively depends on identifying which function is driving the behaviour.

Alert barking: The dog barks when a stimulus appears (person at the gate, delivery vehicle, neighbour). An acknowledgement cue — "I hear you, enough" — followed by moving away from the window or stimulus area can reduce duration once the dog learns the cue predicts you have noted the stimulus. Blocking the visual stimulus (frosted window film, baby gate keeping the dog from the front room) is an effective management approach while the conditioned response is being established.

Demand barking: The dog barks to prompt attention, food, play, or door-opening. Extinction is effective — do not respond to the bark. The challenge is that extinction typically produces an initial increase in intensity (the "extinction burst") before the behaviour declines. Owners who give in during this burst reliably create a dog that barks for longer before being ignored.

Boredom barking: Most common in dogs that are under-exercised or under-stimulated relative to their breed requirements. Addressing the underlying deficit — longer walks, scent work, food puzzles, social contact — reduces barking more effectively than any direct correction.

Fear-related barking: The dog barks as a distance-increasing signal at things it finds threatening. Attempting to suppress this through punishment suppresses the warning signal without addressing the emotional state. Systematic desensitisation and counter-conditioning — gradually exposing the dog to the stimulus at sub-threshold intensity while pairing it with positive outcomes — is the established approach. This is also where referral to a certified behaviourist is most appropriate.

Resource guarding

Resource guarding — growling, snapping, or biting when a person or dog approaches food, toys, resting spots, or other valued items — exists on a spectrum from mild stiffening to full bites. Understanding it as a communication behaviour (the dog is signalling "this is mine and I am concerned about losing it") rather than "dominance" or aggression is important for approaching it effectively.

The counterintuitive response to resource guarding is to approach the dog near its resource and produce something of higher value, repeatedly. The dog learns that an approaching human predicts something good rather than loss. This is called trading or counter-conditioning. Over many repetitions, the emotional association with approach shifts from negative to positive.

What makes resource guarding more dangerous is removal of warning signals. Dogs that have been punished for growling often learn not to growl — then bite without warning. Suppressing the warning does not resolve the emotional state that produced it.

Behaviour	Primary function	Core approach	Seek professional help if
Leash pulling	Forward movement reinforced	Stop-and-wait; direction changes	Dog lunges reactively at other dogs or people
Jumping	Face-access; greeting	Extinction + DRI (four on floor)	Dog knocks down children or elderly; shows aggression when prevented
Barking	Alert / demand / fear / boredom	Identify function; address root cause	Barking accompanied by snapping or biting
Resource guarding	Protecting valued items	Counter-conditioning; trading	Any snapping, biting, or history of bites

When to involve a behaviourist

A certified animal behaviourist (look for IAABC credentials — iaabc.org) or a veterinary behaviourist (ECVBM-CA in Europe) is appropriate when:

• Behaviour involves or risks biting
• The dog has significant fear or anxiety that underlies the problem behaviour
• Standard approaches have been applied consistently for 4–6 weeks without improvement
• The owner does not feel safe with the dog

Behaviourists work alongside veterinarians, not as substitutes. Medical causes for sudden behaviour changes — pain, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive changes in older dogs — should be ruled out before assuming a purely behavioural explanation.

Further reading

• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
• BSAVA — Companion Animal Behaviour
• Związek Kynologiczny w Polsce — breed and training resources

Updated: 11 May 2026