Dog behavior problems can be frustrating for new dog foster parents. Even minor concerns can be annoying to deal with if you can’t find a good solution. So, to help new foster parents, we’ve compiled a list of some common dog behavior concerns, along with some canine behavior training tips to help you solve the issue.
Most behavior problems can’t be fixed overnight, but taking steps toward improving the behaviors is doable. Plus, working on these concerns can help your foster dog get adopted faster.
Need help understanding your foster dog? Check out the FAS (Fear, Anxiety, and Stress) chart and our article about dog body language.
Common Dog Behavior Problems and How to Fix Them
The following are common dog behavior problems that dog foster parents may have to deal with. Luckily, with enough patience and consistency, all these behaviors are manageable.
House-Soiling
All dogs can have accidents in a new environment, even if they’re potty trained. So, try your best to stay calm when they have an accident. Yelling at them or shoving their nose in the accident will only make them fearful. If your foster dog is scared of you, they’re more likely to have accidents when you’re not looking.
If you catch your foster dog having an accident, calmly take them outside. When they finish doing their business outside, reward them with a treat. Then, thoroughly clean the accident spot so they can’t smell it. It’s easy to get frustrated about accidents, but if you remain calm and positive, the dog will be more trusting of you.
Destructive Behaviors
When dogs destroy objects that aren’t toys, they’re not doing it to cause trouble. Destructive behaviors are usually the result of boredom and restlessness. To reduce destructive behaviors, give your dog plenty of mental and physical exercise throughout the day to keep them busy. This could include walking, running, training sessions, puzzle toys, agility courses, playing fetch, and hiking.
If you catch your foster dog destroying something they shouldn’t, give them a toy to chew on instead. Make sure the toy’s material is easily distinguishable from other items in your home. You can also spray a chewing deterrent on items the dog regularly chews to discourage them from doing it. Be patient with your foster dog because it may take them a while to learn the rules of your household.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety get so stressed when left alone that they become loud or destructive. The behavior is unpleasant for the dog and those around them, which is why foster parents and adopters need to work on it.
When you leave your foster dog alone, give them treats or a puzzle toy so they can associate being alone with something good. Also, make sure you don’t make a big deal of you coming and going. Just give the dog a treat and leave your home quietly. Turning on a white noise machine or leaving behind something that smells like you can also help the dog relax.
In extreme cases of separation anxiety, you’ll need to take extra steps to desensitize the dog. For example, most dogs associate you grabbing your keys and putting on shoes as a sign that you’re about to leave. So, do those actions at random times, but don’t leave. Grab your keys and then sit down to watch TV so the dog can feel more comfortable with you preparing to leave.
Barking
Barking is a normal behavior that dogs use for communication, but sometimes, it can get out of hand. Like destructive behaviors, excessive barking could be a sign that your dog isn’t getting enough mental and physical exercise. So, find more ways to keep them busy to reduce their desire to bark.
Distracting the dog from barking is another way to make the barking less frequent. If your foster dog barks, say a command like “come” or “sit.” The dog will have to stop barking to complete that task. Saying “no” or “stop” when your dog barks is less effective because they may not understand what you mean and, in some cases, they may even think you’re barking with them.
Another method to try is simply ignoring the dog. If the dog’s barking isn’t bothering anyone but you, don’t react to it. When you react to your foster dog’s barks, you’re rewarding them with attention. Thus, they will think that barking equals attention, which is why ignoring is an effective method.
Jumping
While it may be cute to have dogs jump up on you, not everyone enjoys it. So, you should discourage your foster dog from jumping up on people to improve their chances of adoption.
When the dog jumps up on you, ignore them and turn away. Doing so will let them know that they won’t get attention by jumping. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page for how to react to a dog jumping to ensure you don’t confuse your foster dog.
Avoid getting overly excited when you come home. Otherwise, you’re encouraging your foster dog to get excited and jump up. Instead, remain calm and reward your foster dog for acting calm too.
Resource Guarding
Some dogs become protective over objects like food, treats, and toys. They may growl when someone approaches their belongings. Even if they’ve never hurt someone before, this is a behavior you should discourage before it escalates.
To prevent dog food aggression, you need to show your foster dog that it’s okay for someone to take their toy or treat. Dogs often resource guard because they fear they won’t have access to more of that item. So, to start, make sure all the dogs in your home have access to plenty of toys and beds so there’s no need to fight over them.
For food aggression, slowly approach the dog while they’re eating and drop a treat into their bowl. That way, they can associate someone approaching their bowl with something positive. Once they warm up to you being near their food, you can start hanging out near them while they eat to get them used to it.
Aggression Toward Humans
Aggression toward humans is one of the most serious behavior problems because many people won’t even consider adopting an aggressive dog. Dogs are usually aggressive toward people out of fear, so you need to teach them that people are friendly.
Introducing the dog to a variety of people and rewarding them when they behave well can help reduce aggressive behaviors. However, the severity of the dog’s aggression will affect the steps to take. If you don’t feel safe having anyone come near the dog, start from a distance and reward them if they stay calm when seeing a person from far away.
If a dog is aggressive toward every person they see, it’s best to consult a vet and/or trainer for help instead of taking matters into your own hands. They can give you personalized advice on how to help your foster dog thrive.
Aggression Toward Other Animals
Aggression toward pets is more manageable than aggression toward humans, but it’s still not desirable. Dogs that don’t like other dogs can thrive being the only pet in a household, but those behaviors prevent them from going to public places like parks.
Like with aggression toward humans, you should start small by rewarding your dog if they don’t react to a dog from a distance. From there, you can work your way up to closer interactions. Until you’re confident the dog gets along with other dogs, you should avoid close interactions with dogs as much as possible.
If the dog’s aggression makes it difficult to even go on walks or to the groomer, it’s best managed with the help of a vet or trainer.
Pulling on the Leash
Lots of dogs pull on their leash because they’ve never been taught not to. However, leash pulling can be uncomfortable for the dog while also making it harder for the handler to control them. You can reduce leash pulling by teaching the dog to heel or look at you during walks.
A great way to work on pulling without cues is to stop and stand still anytime the dog pulls on a walk. Don’t continue walking until the dog stops and looks back at you. If you have access to a no-pull harness, that can make the process easier. No-pull harnesses allow you to clip the leash to the front of the harness so the dog is forced to face you when they try to pull.
Nipping
Nipping isn’t a behavior that comes out of nowhere. Dogs will usually show subtle warning signs before nipping or biting. If the dog is avoiding eye contact, in a stiff position, licking their lips, yawning excessively, or positioning their ears back, those are signs that they’re nervous or uncomfortable. Whenever you notice those signs, remove the dog from the situation before they have the chance to nip.
If a dog nips playfully, don’t encourage it. It’s cute for puppies to nibble on your fingers, but it could lead to more serious nipping in the future. To discourage dogs from play biting, redirect their attention and encourage them to chew on a toy or snack instead.
Counter Surfing
If your foster dog is big enough to reach the counter, you may have to deal with a counter surfing issue. An easy fix is to restrict your dog’s access to the kitchen and never leave food sitting out unattended. However, those are only temporary fixes.
To correct the behavior, redirect your foster dog’s attention if you catch them doing it. If you see them about to put their paws on the counter, get their attention by asking them to complete a command like “sit” or “come.” When they listen to the command, give them a treat or chew to encourage them to eat that instead of food on the counter.
Eating Poop
Dogs who eat poop usually don’t have enough nutrients in their diet. Ask the shelter or rescue if you can change the foster dog’s diet or give them a digestive supplement. Treats with pumpkin also encourage healthy digestion in dogs.
However, some dogs will be determined to eat poop no matter what. Prevention is the best way to stop the behavior. Don’t leave the dog unattended in the yard and redirect their attention if they try to eat something outside. Clean up dog poop in your yard right away to make sure your foster dog doesn’t have access to poop.
Don’t Ignore Dog Behavior Problems
Rehoming a dog with behavior problems is a reason some dogs end up in shelters. But most behavior issues are fixable, as long as the dog’s owner is willing to be patient with them and consistent with training. If your foster dog has any concerning behaviors, it’s important to work on them as you foster them. That way, you can improve the behaviors before they get adopted, reducing the risk of them getting returned to the shelter in the future.
Are you interested in fostering a dog? Consider opening your home to one of the dogs at risk of euthanasia in Memphis. Fostering one of these dogs would save a life!
