Common Behavior Problems

Question 1

Jumping
Why do dogs jump?

What does average pet owner do to correct behavior?

Answer 1

Dogs jump for:

• Attention
• Accidental reinforcement

Pet owners:

• squirt bottle - dogs may learn to enjoy it
• knee to chest - may be knocked off balance and injure themselves
• squeeze toes - may be effective but cause aversion to feet being touched.
• push them off - opposition reflex and may reinforce behavior.

Question 2

Jumping

P I T P S C

Answer 2

PUNISHMENT - give correction when dog is on you
IGNORE IT - no feedback. Extinction
TRAIN INCOMPATIBLE BEHAVIOR - sit
PUT BEHAVIOR ON CUE - teach to give hugs.
SHAPE ABSENCE - reward anything other than jumping
CHANGE MOTIVATION - why is the dog jumping?
Attention - extinction
Dominant - work on becoming higher in pack order
Fear - train self soothing behaviors

Question 3

Why do dogs dig?

What do average pet owners do to stop it?

Answer 3

Dogs dig: natural behavior
- bored
- genetics
- cool off
- hunting instinct
- maternal
- escape/roam
- "mine"
More...

People tend to yell at the dog.
Dog learns to do it when you’re not there.

Question 4

Digging

P I T P S C

Answer 4

Punishment - e-collar
Ignore - won’t work - self rewarding
Train incompatible behavior - sit, “place” etc
Put behavior on cue - teach to dig in specific location or in sandbox
Shape absence - not always effective
Change motivation - make sure no pests, provide cool area, neuter dog, provide interactive toys. Bury aversive stimuli such as chicken wire or pine cones.

Question 5

Why do dogs bark?

What do people usually do to try and fix the issue?

Answer 5

Barking:

• bored
• scared
• “calling the troops” -alerting
• genetics
• frustration
• excitement

Pet owners:
Yell at dog

Question 6

Barking:

P I T P S C

Answer 6

Punishment - bark collar
Ignore it - won't work - self rewarding
Train incompatible behavior - teach sit not always applicable
Put behavior on cue - teach speak
Shape absence - reward anything other than barking
Change motivation - why is dog barking?
   - bored- toys, exercise
   - scared -
   - alerting 
   - genetics - can't. Go to list
   - frustration - 
   - excitement -

Question 7

What are the 6 ways to deal with behavior issues?

T I P P S C

Answer 7

TRAIN INCOMPATIBLE BEHAVIOR 
IGNORE IT
PUNISHMENT
PUT BEHAVIOR ON CUE
SHAPE ABSENCE
CHANGE MOTIVATION

Question 8

TIPPSC - in depth

Answer 8

Train incompatible behavior - dog jumping.. Teach sit

Ignore it - only works if you are the reinforcer

Punishment - give correction

Put behavior on cue - new cue, old cue

Shape absence - reward anything but the problem behavior.

Change motivation - why is he doing it?

Question 9

Why do dogs chew?

What do people do to try and fix the problem?

Answer 9

• bored
• scared
• genetics (working breeds)
• imprinting
• teething
• frustration

People try to
Get mad/ yell

Question 10

Chewing

T I P P S C

Answer 10

Train incompatible behavior - “place”
Ignore it - won’t work, self rewarding
Punishment - give correction.
Put behavior on cue - teach appropriate chewing. Provide appropriate chew toys
Shape absence - bring attention to anything other then chewing.
Change motivation - why is dog chewing:
Bored - interactive chew toys, increase exercise, fun games
Scared -
Imprinting -
Teething - appropriate chews
Frustration - interactive toy