Standard Poodles - Behavior Problems

Whether you've recently adopted one or you've been a fan of the breed for years, you already know that Standard Poodles are amazing dogs with truly sweet temperaments. They are highly intelligent, extremely trainable dogs, and because of their calm nature, are excellent for families with children. It is important to keep in mind; however, there even these dogs can display behavior problems just like any other dog. They may be problems that occur because your dog is young, or they may occur because he has been trained poorly or even abused. It is extremely important to identify these behaviors as they occur and then to address them.

Social confusion is one reason that a dog might act out. Dogs think about their human families as their pack, and to make sure that you have good-natured, loving pet, it is important that your dog realizes that he is at the bottom of the pecking order. While this may seem a bit strange or even harsh, remember that submissive pack members will do what the more dominant members say. A dog who thinks that he has a chance of rising in status will start to behave aggressively. This may start as innocently as begging for food at the table, but it can lead up to other extremely undesirable traits like poor temper and biting.

Boredom is another source of behavior problems. Dogs are inherently social animals and they do require a certain amount of socialization every day. Though Standard Poodles can be quite independent, they still depend on their human pack for love and attention. A dog that is left alone too often or is not given enough attention will start to engage in increasingly destructive behaviors such as digging. Bored dogs are also easily over-excited. You've probably noticed how happy your dog is when you come home in the evenings. Any normal dog will be happy to see his owner come up, but a bored dog will take that way over to top by jumping up and nearly overwhelming you.

Some behavior problems can also be traced to lack of exercise. Dogs are inherently very active animals, and Standard Poodles, who were once bred to be working dogs, are no exception. Dogs need a certain amount of activity in their lives, whether that means being taken to a dog park or simply out for a run. Dogs that are not exercised frequently enough can become quite destructive, both in terms of over-enthusiastic bouts of energy and in terms of causing damage to your property through chewing due to frustration.

Another common type of behavior problem that often occurs in dogs is the result of fear. This can occur in dogs that are naturally a bit timid and it is also very common among dogs that were rescued from abusive situations. A dog that has a low tolerance for stressful situations might bite or destroy furniture or other things when agitated. Fear can also cause a problem with separation anxiety when your dog is left alone. He might also jump and bark excessively, or even resort to submissive urination. It is important to identify whether fear is the issue, or whether there is another cause; for instance, some health problems will cause your dog to be over-active and to urinate indoors years after he has been housebroken.

Some canine behavioral problems are simply a result of their age or just not knowing better such as eating their own feces or a condition known as Coprophagia. Puppies are small bundles of energy and much like little children, they aren't aware that there are certain behaviors that are acceptable and unacceptable. Puppies need to be treated firmly but with regard for their age and inexperience. House-training is one behavior that you need to address, as is chewing. Counter-surfing is another annoying behavior that needs to be nipped in the bud. Basic training should take care of issues like running wild or jumping up on people, and luckily, all puppies can be trained up into well-behaved dogs. Puppies learn things more quickly than adult dogs and most of their real issues can be dealt with in very short order. Start training your puppy early and you will have a beautifully behaved dog.

Be understanding of your dog's issues, and remember that just like with humans, there is a reason for why your dog is acting the way he is. It may be because he is bored or scared, or even just restless. By pinpointing what his behavior is and why he is behaving that way, you are taking the first step towards making him stop!

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