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10 Signs Your Pet May Have Behavioral Issues

More on PawNation: Behavior, Behavioral Targeting, Cats, Dogs, Kittens, Puppies, Safety

By petMD Mar 07, 2013

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10. Hard to Fix Problems

Consider a veterinary behaviorist for a next step if you have tried one or more qualified trainers and not found a resolution, or if you have lots of dog experience and the behavior just doesn’t seem “normal” to you. Also, your pet’s regular veterinarian may recommend a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist if he or she feels it is appropriate.

Ten Signs Your Pet May Have Behavioral Issues originally appeared in petMD.com

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Angela

"Investment"? Animals are not things, owners must be guardians, not investors. Owners and breeders have the responsibility for the well-being of their animals. Behavior is one of the observable "tips" of well-being: just as you can only see the tip of an iceberg, but an immensity lies beneath, the same thing happens with behavior.

March 09 2013 at 6:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

EDDIE

I'm not a dog person at all ,but my kids are .... They have a small one and he is so stupid its pathetic. This dog eats socks and swallows them .Then poops them out . Its so disgusting , it confirms my reasons for not wanting a pet .... ecccchhhhhh !!!!!!!!

March 09 2013 at 3:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to EDDIE's comment

VetAnimalLover19

You to address this behavior now, rather than later. Did you adopt? or have you had this dog since it was a puppy. If you adopted, more than likely someone gave up on this dog and allowed him to do this without addressing the situation and the dog therefore felt it was ok doing this and therefore continued to do this behavior, seeing as it makes him content. Depending on the breed most dogs are chewers unless you address it at early findings. Terrier breeds are big chewers, they always have to have something in their mouths. A few suggestions would be to keep your shoes and socks up and out of reach of the dog, keep your rooms closed off to the dog. First signs of the dog wanting a sock or shoe, address it. DO NOT allow him to get away with because its funny to the kids or for other reasons. The dog needs to know who the alpha is of the home. Dogs consider people to be a part of "their" pack. In order to establish dominance of the animals in the home you need to show it. I would definitely get this behavior addressed now before the foreign body surgeries begin or even death.

March 09 2013 at 10:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply