Behavioral issues, such as nonstop barking, destructive chewing, urinating outside the litter box, and inappropriate scratching, can be frustrating and interfere with your owner-pet bond. Our Stanton Pet Hospital team wants to do everything we can to facilitate your relationship with your four-legged friend, and we provide tips to help you learn to address common pet behavioral problems.

Addressing nuisance dog barking

Dogs bark as a way to communicate, and they use the vocalization in numerous ways such as to warn off people and other pets who approach their territory, express alarm, fear, or frustration, seek attention, greet people or other pets, and as a response to other barking dogs. If your dog is barking excessively, you need to identify the behavior’s source to find a solution. Keep in mind that when addressing nuisance barking, avoid yelling, rewarding bad habits, and inconsistent disciplining. To help resolve your dog’s issue, consider these various barking types:

  • Territorial barking — Dogs commonly bark to defend their territory. To address this behavior, block your dog’s ability to see people and other animals. Close your blinds or curtains or use a spray-based glass coating to obscure your dog’s view of passersby. In addition, don’t let your dog greet people at the door. Train them to go to their crate or a mat and remain quiet until they are invited to approach your guest. 
  • Alarm barking — Sights and sounds that startle or upset your dog lead to alarm barking. Identify what your dog is reacting to and limit their exposure to the inciting cause. Properly socializing your puppy can help prevent alarm barking. This process involves exposing your puppy to as many new sights, sounds, and experiences in a positive manner.
  • Greeting barking — If your dog barks excessively when you come home, keep your greetings low-key to reduce their excitement and only interact once they are calm and quiet. 
  • Attention-seeking barking — If you suspect your dog is barking for attention, ignore them, turning your back or staring at the ceiling. Once they stop barking, ask your dog to sit and give them attention and a high-value treat. 

Addressing destructive chewing in dogs

Dogs commonly explore their world by chewing on objects, and the behavior has benefits for the dog. Chewing helps relieve pain from incoming puppy teeth and also helps keep jaws strong and teeth clean. In addition, chewing helps relieve boredom and frustration. To help protect your belongings from your dog’s destructive chewing, follow these tips:

  • Tidying your home — Keep forbidden objects stored behind closed doors or on high shelves to prevent tempting your four-legged friend.
  • Providing appropriate chew toys — Ensure your dog has appropriate toys they are allowed to chew, and ensure their toys don’t resemble any off-limits objects. 
  • Distracting your dog — If you catch your dog chewing a forbidden object, take the item away and give them an acceptable chew toy. 
  • Using chewing deterrents — Spray off-limits items with chewing deterrents to discourage destructive chewing. Reapply the deterrent every day for two to four weeks. 
  • Exercising your dog — Ensure your dog receives plenty of physical and mental exercise to prevent boredom and frustration.

Addressing inappropriate elimination in cats

Many cats have litter box problems, and the issue can arise for numerous reasons, including a health problem, stress, or an undesirable litter box situation. To help stop your feline friend from urinating outside the litter box, follow these tips:

  • Scheduling a veterinary appointment — Health issues, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney disease, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), and arthritis, can cause your cat to urinate inappropriately. The first step to remedying the problem is to ensure your cat is healthy and pain-free.
  • Making the litter box desirable — Cats are particular about their litter box setup. To help ensure your cat’s litter box setup encourages them to eliminate appropriately, follow these tips:
    • Scoop the litter twice per day, and replace the litter and clean the box once a week.
    • Place the box in a low-traffic area where your cat won’t be disturbed.
    • Provide one litter box for every cat in your home, plus one extra.
    • Use about two inches of unscented, clumpable litter.
    • Avoid using litter box liners or hoods.
  • Alleviate stress — Cats are easily stressed, and issues such as bullying among cats, schedule changes, introducing a new pet, and rearranging furniture can lead to stress. Determine if something is stressing your feline friend and alleviate the problem if possible. 

Addressing destructive scratching in cats

Cats scratch to stretch their muscles, maintain their claw health, and to leave scent signals for other cats, even if you don’t have other cats in your home. While you can’t prevent your cat from scratching, you can redirect the behavior to appropriate surfaces. Follow these tips:

  • Providing many scratching posts — Provide scratching posts throughout your home. Cats have different scratching preferences, so offer horizontal and vertical posts as well as posts in various materials such as cardboard, sisal, and wood.
  • Placing the posts appropriately — If you place a scratching post in the corner of your spare room, your cat is unlikely to use it. Put scratching posts in areas where your cat prefers to play and rest.
  • Making the post desirable — Place catnip and favored toys on the scratching post to get your cat’s attention, and give them a high-value treat when they use the post.
  • Deterring inappropriate scratching — To discourage inappropriate scratching, place a blanket or double-sided tape over an area where your cat scratches inappropriately.
  • Blocking access — Use a scratching post to block your cat’s access to an area where they scratch inappropriately. 

If you are concerned about your pet’s behavior, contact our Stanton Pet Hospital team, so we can help remedy the problem.