Does Your Dog Have Any Of These Bad Habits?

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Bad habits: We are all guilty of a few, and the same is probably true of your dog. While you won't catch him binge-watching Netflix or smoking a sneaky cigarette, there are other habits that might be commonplace.

Check out the following bad habits, for example. Can you spot any of these in your dog?

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Bad Habit #1: Stealing food off your plate

Imagine the scene. You're just sitting down to dinner with your homecooked meal when the phone goes. Leaving your plate behind, you deal with the phone call and then return to your seated position. Bizarrely, the plate is empty! The culprit? Well, it could be your dog, especially if he is licking his lips and looking a little guilty!

Dogs will eat just about anything, including the food from your plate. However, there are a few things you can do here. 

For one, ensure your dog has had his dinner before you embark on yours. With the right dog food, he might be less prone to feeling hungry after his meal, and so he might leave your food alone. 

Secondly, contain your dog in another room while you're eating, or leave your plate out of his reach if you need to leave the room. 

And finally, teach him a few basic commands. Words and phrases along the lines of "no", "leave it", and "get down" can be useful if your dog is a cheeky eater!

Bad Habit #2: Urinating indoors

How embarrassing it is when you invite somebody to your home, only for them to shout out, "Why is my foot wet?"  If your dog has a tendency to urinate indoors, this is something that could happen, although the smell will cause just as much commotion as the wet foot.

If your dog is still a puppy, the occasional accident can be expected. You can get around this problem with puppy pads, so purchase a few and leave them around areas of your home until he has learned to do his toileting outside. 

If you have an older dog, there may be a medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection. Visit your vet for expert advice.

Your dog might also urinate indoors if he suffers from anxiety. There is advice here on supporting an anxious dog, so have a read, and speak to your vet for further information. 

And finally, remember to give your dog the opportunity to go to the toilet outdoors. Take him on regular walks throughout the day, and let him into your garden or yard if it is safe for you to do so.

Bad Habit #3: Pulling on his leash

Dogs love to go for walks, but when they spot something they want to chase or sniff, they have a tendency to pull on their leash. For you, this can be problematic, especially if you don't have the strength to contain your dog's boisterous behavior.

To overcome this problem, get the right equipment. Some leashes are designed to prevent pulling, so shop around and speak to your vet for advice.

A few basic commands can also be effective, such as "stop", "sit", and "stay", so start to train your dog with these as early as possible.

There is more advice on controlling your dog here, so follow the suggestions within the article to make your walks more tolerable. 

With these tips, you should be able to get your dog's bad habits under control. Speak to a vet or a professional dog trainer for more advice if you need to.