Four Things To Do When Dealing With A Difficult Dog (Part 3)
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Often, behavioral problems can be a manifestation of an underlying health problem. Consider the possibility that your dog’s behavior issues could be symptomatic of a physical problem. Make sure your dog is thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian. If a medical issue is underlying his poor behavior, proper treatment can rectify many of his problems-as well as helping to insure a long healthy life for your dog. Too often, medical causes of poor behavior go overlooked.
Be patient
Don’t expect your problem dog to transform overnight. Changing the behavior patters of difficult dogs can take some time. If you expect the quick course that worked in training your neighbor’s non-problem dog to be successful for your difficult pet, you will be disappointed. Brace yourself to commit a great deal of time to correcting your dog’s errant behavior. Additionally, impatience increases the risk of inconsistency in training and the likelihood you may lose your temper or act inappropriately in handling your dog. This type of behavior on the part of an owner may not only be cruel, it can also reverse any gains made and make quality training even more difficult.
