Top 20 Canine Behavior Issues

Dog training behavior challenges can be a mystery. It helps to understand why your pup is exhibiting unwanted behavior. Here are some of the most common dog training issues and what causes them.

1. Aggression
Causes: Fear, territoriality, resource guarding, lack of socialization, past trauma, or dominance issues.

2. Separation Anxiety
Causes: Excessive attachment to an owner, changes in routine, abandonment, lack of independence training, or a history of being rehomed.

3. Excessive Barking
Causes: Boredom, anxiety, attention-seeking, territorial behavior, or overexcitement.

4. Chewing
Causes: Teething (in puppies), boredom, stress, anxiety, or lack of exercise and mental stimulation.

5. Digging
Causes: Instinctual behavior (such as terriers), boredom, anxiety, or seeking comfort from temperature changes.

6. Jumping on People
Causes: Excitement, attention-seeking, lack of training, or greeting behavior.

7. Leash Reactivity (Lunging and Barking on Leash)
Causes: Fear, frustration, overstimulation, or lack of proper leash training.

8. House Soiling
Causes: Lack of house training, medical issues (like urinary tract infections), marking behavior, anxiety, or confusion about boundaries.

9. Destructive Behavior
Causes: Boredom, anxiety, lack of mental and physical exercise, or stress.

10. Resource Guarding
Causes: Fear of losing valuable items like food, toys, or territory, past experiences of scarcity, or anxiety.

11. Excessive Licking
Causes: Stress, anxiety, boredom, allergies, skin irritations, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

12. Pulling on Leash
Causes: Overexcitement, lack of leash training, or a desire to reach something ahead.

13. Escaping
Causes: Boredom, anxiety, separation distress, or a desire to explore new territory.

14. Begging
Causes: Positive reinforcement of the behavior by owners, hunger, or lack of established boundaries.

15. Mounting (Other Dogs, Objects, or People)
Causes: Dominance, sexual behavior, excitement, stress, or seeking attention.

16. Fear of Strangers
Causes: Poor socialization during puppyhood, negative past experiences, genetics, or anxiety disorders.

17. Food Aggression
Causes: Resource guarding, competition with other animals, fear of losing food, or past experiences of scarcity.

18. Excessive Whining
Causes: Anxiety, stress, attention-seeking, discomfort, or excitement.

19. Pica (Eating Non-Food Items)
Causes: Nutritional deficiencies, anxiety, boredom, medical issues, or compulsive disorders.

20. Chasing (Cars, Bicycles, Animals)
Causes: Predatory instincts, boredom, overstimulation, or lack of impulse control.


Understanding the root cause of these behaviors is essential for effective management and training. Many of these issues can be addressed with behavior modification training by Pawsitive Family Dog Training. Contact us today to discuss your dog’s specific challenges.