How does behavior occur? Some behaviors are born with animals and are considered innate:

• seeking out food and water
• seeking warmth and huddling

Some behaviors are learned:

• from the mother, such as when she teaches the puppy to stay within her sight
• from littermates, such as when puppies “draw the line” at rough play
• from pet owners who train puppies to urinate outside or in litter pans
• staying away from painful situations

Some behaviors occur due to disease such as:

• aggression due to painful arthritis
• wandering or staring due to changes in cognition (awareness)
• urinating inappropriately due to seizures or infection

How should dogs behave?

Dogs require a social order and a place within that order. They will seek to dominate other animals or people if it will benefit their position. This is due to the innate ‘pack’ mentality of dogs—some are leaders and others are followers, some eat more and some eat less. Above all, dogs should be treated as dogs in the most humane manner. They require frequent interaction or they become bored, frustrated and often destructive. They require good nutrition or they begin eating unusual things out of hunger or inadequacy. They require basic command training so that an owner can control their behavior and direct it to desirable activities.

When do problems occur?

Puppies who are orphaned, or who have not interacted well with littermates, are at risk for developing bad behaviors. Puppies not used to handling become fearful of people and especially of curious children (who may be perceived as a threat). Dogs isolated from other animals and people become fearful of social situations and may become aggressive. Dogs that become dominant are unruly, difficult to handle, and difficult to examine or treat at the veterinarians office.

What resources are available?

If behavioral problems are developing there are a number of resources available to you. Feel free to discuss options with our staff who will make recommendations. These may include attending local obedience classes, finding reading sources, or even referral to veterinarians who are board certified in animal behavior. Please also refer to our links page for other resources on this vast subject.