Introduction
A dog is believed to be the best friend of humans for ages because of his caring and loving nature and behavior. Their behavior is the response to internal and external stimuli.
Despite their friendly behavior sometimes dogs may show erratic behavior. This behavior could be barking, showing aggression, howling, and whining. Each discussed behavior may be due to a different reason.
So, what causes erratic behavior in dogs? Erratic behavior may be due to some medical issues like sore teeth, environmental allergies or skin allergies, hearing loss, eyesight loss and cancer. And dogs may sometimes show separation anxiety when they are left alone.
If your dog is showing these behaviors, you need to fix them. We are here to provide you with the details of what causes erratic behavior and how these can change your dog’s personality. Keep reading to get a strong knowledge of your dog’s behavior.
What Causes Erratic Behavior in Dogs?
If you are a dog owner, your dog’s behavior should be your first priority. A pleasant dog’s behavior makes you happy too same as for erratic and weird behavior. Each behavior may be caused by a specific reason.
Here are some causes of your dog’s erratic behavior.
Health Issues
Health issues cause several changes in your dog’s behavior. This behavior can irritate you too. So if you suspect any of the following diseases, you need to call your vet immediately.
These diseases can be arthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, sore teeth, thyroid issues, epilepsy, ear infections, stomach problems, skin or environmental allergies, yeast or other infections, hearing loss, eyesight loss, and cancer.
Enough Exercise
Dogs love to do exercises to be happy, fit, and fresh. They love to run, chase walks with you, and catch a toy game. But all we know is that excess of everything can be dangerous.
Excessive exercise on daily basis can make your dog aggressive and weird. Continuously tiredness due to overrunning and playing can cause erratic behaviors.
Genetic Problems
A genetic problem is another reason for erratic behaviors in dogs. Genetic issues may include aggression and hyperactivity levels.
Before adopting or buying a new puppy, it is good to know about the breed and the parents’ behavior.
Mental Health
Mental health is important to balance a dog. You just need to give healthy mental stimulation training to your dog.
Hide something favorite of your dog and ask him to find out about it. You can also throw a ball or a bone toy to bring it back to you.
Routine Changes
A change in routine can also be the cause of erratic behavior. It can lead to a stressful situation. Environmental and routine changes cause anxiety and depression.
Do not skip any favorite activity or food of your dog’s daily routine. This action also has severe reactions.
Unbalanced Diet
An unbalanced diet cause health issues which lead to erratic behaviors. A balanced, full-of-protein and calcium diet are necessary for dogs.
Unhealthy Socialization
Poor socialization cause poor behavior. Good and healthy environment is necessary for your dog’s positive behavior. No matters, what’s the age of your dog or breed, he just need a good and healthy socialization.
Fear and Insecure Feelings
Fear of being alone is a major fear among dogs. Dogs are supposed to be a friend of us. They need a healthy friendship to survive.
However, insecurity causes erratic behavior too. They feel insecurity when they saw a new and weird person around.
But this insecurity on routine can cause aggressive behavior of baking and lead to other mental health problems.
What can Change a Dog’s Personality?
Dogs are obsessed with their owner’s friendly behavior. They love to spend time with their owners. After a wide research, we have collected some information regarding your dog’s personality.
A dog’s personality depends on several factors like the dog’s age, the behavior of the dog’s owner, and the bonding between the dog and his owner.
These are the top factors that affect a dog’s personality. Let’s know how these factors can affect a dog’s personality.
Age
Your dog’s personality changes over time. Age gives an impressive effect on a dog’s personality. A younger dog has a trainable sharp mind to learn things. He can be more obedient than older dogs.
The body and mind change with age. Older dogs learn things but take time more than younger dogs.
Behavior of Dog’s Owner
Your good behavior really affects your dog’s personality. Dogs love an outgoing, playing, and walking owner.
This behavioral owner gives a good impact on a dog’s life. Your dog can become responsible and obedient to his owner.
Bonding with your Dog
A good bonding means a good relationship. A good bonding can give positive effects on personality. You just need to spend time with your dog to have good bonding.
How your Dog Will Lose his Confidence?
Do you know dogs feel insecure, fearful, and discomfort? These feelings lead to erratic behaviors too. Some dogs start barking when they feel fear or insecure. Not responding to their barking cause a lack of confidence.
Period of Socialization
There are several reasons for low confidence in dogs. But good and healthy socialization builds confidence among dogs.
You need to expose your dog between the ages of 3 to 12 weeks. The socialization between these ages can help to encourage your dog and build confidence. During socialization, puppies learn what is safe or unsafe for them.
The closing period of socialization doesn’t mean the closing of learning things. They even learn through new places, new fellows, and environments.
Anxiety and Depression
Dogs lose their confidence through continuous anxiety and depression. You need to help your fearful and depressed dog to get rid of this mental pressure. Due to anxiety, dogs can suffer from mental trauma at a young age.
- Fearful dogs can behave like that:
- Yawn or pace
- Bark, whine, or growl
- Tremble
- Show uninterested behavior in activities.
Build Confidence
You can build confidence in your shy and low-confident dog. It takes some work and time, but the result will be fruitful for both.
So how you can build confidence in your dog? Firstly, you need to know is your dog shy or fearful by assuming his body language. A fearful dog needs exposure out of the home.
Once your dog is comfortable to be exposed, he will enhance his confidence with the help of a new environment.
A good environment may include fresh air, puppy fellows, treats for dogs, games to play, walking, exercises, and meeting with new people.
The second step to do is agility training. It includes several tasks to teach your dog like, climbing, jumping, running, and finding things. Dogs will learn successfully through this training.
When can a Dog Stop Following Commands?
The period of not following the commands may be very aggressive for you. But it comes to every dog’s life. This depends on the age, fear, training issues, distraction, pain, weak nervous system, and sickness.
The stage of learning commands comes between 6 to 18 months. If your dog did not train perfectly, it will lead to refusing command in future.
Some dogs are not fully trained because their owners have no time for them. Little pups are like your own baby. Try to give them an effective trained childhood.
Afraid dogs are not obedient. They are afraid about themselves to be alone. If your dog feels fear of anything, help him to overcome this problem. Try to spend your time with your dog, whenever you get free.
Conclusion
There is hope! Your dog may get better after healthy socialization and bonding with you. Otherwise, there is a complete treatment to treat erratic dogs, if they are suffering from diseases since a long time. In case of serious problem, you need to visit your vet.