All too often dog owners and those with new puppies come to me for advice, because, as they put it, their dogs are “naughty”. When I ask what they mean, I am usually told that their dogs dig, chew, bark, jump-up, nip or steal food. My experience in this regard has taught me that many dog owners believe that these behaviours are “bad” and that “good” dogs don’t engage in them. There are two main misconceptions about dog behaviour which lead to such ideas. They are as follows: “Normal” dogs only do things which humans approve of and dogs intentionally do things to make their owners happy or unhappy.
Abnormal or unacceptable?
Dogs are not human beings and for them digging, barking, chewing, jumping-up to lick faces, mouthing, scavenging for food and marking territory are all behaviours that in the appropriate context would contribute to their survival, safety and social success. No matter how long dogs live with us for, the fact is that they will always continue to be dogs and to act like dogs.
The problem is that many humans find these normal dog behaviours very irritating and inconvenient. Craters in a newly manicured lawn or muddy paw-prints on white trousers tend to upset our idea of how things should be. Thus the vast majority of “problem” behaviours reported to trainers and behaviourists are not abnormal for dogs, but rather unacceptable to humans.
Many of these normal, but unacceptable behaviours occur because humans are not willing to provide acceptable ways for their dogs to fulfil their innate needs. Through careful training and by providing suitable outlets for natural “drives” (see “What is drive?”), humans can channel normal canine behaviours into activities that are more acceptable to us. The role of a behaviourist is more often than not to explain to owners how to achieve this.
Are some behaviours truly abnormal?
Less often behaviourists will come across a problem that is caused by seemingly abnormal behaviour. Any behaviour which has no possible natural basis or constructive purpose is usually viewed as abnormal. Often particular abnormal behaviours are common to particular breeds, indicating that we have most likely had a hand in creating the problem through unwise selective breeding. An example would be the compulsive behaviours such as tail-chasing and self-mutilation which occur frequently in Bull Terriers. Such behaviours interrupt the normal functioning of the dog and are detrimental to its well-being.
Also, any natural behaviour carried to an extreme or occurring out of context could be considered abnormal. A simple example would be sleeping: while this is a perfectly healthy and normal behaviour, if a dog barely slept at all or slept all the time, this would be considered abnormal.
Do dogs punish their owners?
All too often owners say things like: “I know he ate my shoe to punish me for leaving him alone” or “but he knows it is wrong to dig holes in the garden”. Unfortunately, the old myth that dogs could only be trained once they had developed feelings of guilt contributes to these false ideas. The reality is quite different.
Humans are moral beings. Unless we are devoid of conscience, we constantly evaluate our actions and the actions of others in terms of what is right and wrong. Dogs are not moral animals, they do not see things in terms of right and wrong, but rather in terms of what works and what doesn’t work. In most cases, if an action leads to success, they will repeat the action, but if it does not lead to success they will not repeat it. Dogs never operate out of spite or malice. They do not hold grudges or take revenge. While we may sadly behave in such a manner towards our dogs, they are incapable of behaving in this way towards us.
Understanding this means that we should never take our dogs’ behaviour personally or label our dogs as “bad” or “naughty”. There are always reasons why they do the things that they do. If we are unsure of what those reasons are or need help managing or changing certain behaviours, it is time to call in a behaviourist.
Increasing pressures on dogs today
It must also be remembered that more than ever before, dogs are under pressure to behave “perfectly” in a very difficult environment. Smaller properties, high fences and long working-hours mean that many dogs find themselves alone at home with little or nothing to do for most of the week. Many “busy” people can’t be bothered to take their dogs to training or for walks and dogs have no choice, but to act as their natural instincts guide them and to find ways of relieving their acute boredom and frustration on their own. Society today is also increasingly intolerant of any form of aggression and dogs are expected to never show the slightest dislike for any human or dog.
If you frequently think of your dog as “naughty”, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Are you realistic about normal, natural canine behaviour?
2. Do you consistently provide your dog with appropriate ways for it to fulfil its needs?
3. Do you spend time training and socialising your dog?
4. Have you considered seeking help from a professional to find out why your dog may be behaving as it does?
Outdoor activities and daily walks are appropriate ways for dogs to relieve boredom and to use up energy which could be directed in inappropriate ways at home.
