Sudden Change in a Dog's Attitude

When there is a sudden change in a dog's attitude, it is easy to become concerned. Dog owners are typically very attached to their pets, and when their dog starts acting in bizarre or unpredictable ways, it can be very worrying. Fortunately, there are ways to correct changes in a dog's behavior, even if they are completely out of the blue. First, however, it is important to make sure your dog is safe and healthy.

  1. Health

    • If your dog exhibits a sudden change in behavior, you should first look into whether the shift is due to a medical problem. Take your dog to the veterinarian and have him undergo a comprehensive checkup. Be sure to explain carefully to the vet how your dog acted before and how he acts now. If you are unsure as to whether a piece of information is relevant, include it just to be safe. If there is a physical reason for the change in behavior, your dog may be prescribed medication that will do the trick.

    Management

    • If your dog's change in behavior is not the result of a physical problem, you will have to employ a number of techniques to restore your dog's usual behavior patterns. First, employ some basic management strategies to discourage or prevent the undesirable behavior. For example, if your dog has begun chewing up your shoes, keep them in a closet where he cannot access them. The aim here is to change behavior while minimizing confrontation between dog and owner.

    Training

    • It is best if you can train your dog to understand two or three basic words. These could include "sit," "no," "stay" and "come here," among others. Hand signals will also work, but require your dog to be looking at you and thus may be less effective. This gives you a way of controlling your dog's behavior. From here you can begin to shift the dog's behavior back to the way it was before the change.

    Rewards

    • Training is best combined with rewards at appropriate times. Rewards may include treats, toys and petting, among other things. Do not give out anything that may be classified as a reward if your dog has recently done something you do not want him to do. Only give out rewards immediately after desirable behavior has been exhibited. You may also induce positive behavior by asking him to sit or lie down, and then offer a reward. After employing these techniques, you will be equipped to urge your dog to behave in the way you want him to behave.