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Pet Behavior Solutions: Barking, Chewing, Jumping, Digging

german Shepard dog sitting in the grass

Bubba is my friend and companion! Just a wonderful dog!!

Image Credit:
Kellie Mintern
Written By: Heidi Stonehill Executive Editor

Pets, like humans, can develop some behavioral problems that annoy you. Here are tips to help you understand why your pet behaves this way and how to help your pet so that you all can coexist happily!

Barking

A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion.


When dogs bark it is most commonly because they are trying to get your attention or because they see something that frightens or intimidates them. Here are some tips for how to deal with your barking dog.

  • Take an empty soda can and toss a few pennies or pebbles into it so that when it shakes it makes an unpleasant, clanking noise that your dog won’t like. The next time your dog barks firmly say “Quiet” and shake the can. The sound will startle the dog causing it to stop, while also teaching it the “Quiet” command.
  • If your dog tends to yap more when he’s alone in the house he might be dealing with a mild case of separation anxiety. Before you leave, rub your hands all over one of his favorite chew toys. The scent will make the toy more appealing and can hush the barking. A hollow bone stuffed with cheese or peanut butter will also keep him occupied.

Did you know? Cats are able to produce about 100 different vocalized sounds. Dogs? Only about 10.

Digging

  • Dig a hole where your dog likes to dig. Blow up some small balloons, put them in the hole, and cover them with dirt. When the dog comes to dig in the loose dirt, he will pop a balloon with his nails and scare himself away from the area.
  • If you have a small dog digging in your garden, place several mothballs in a one-pound coffee can. Put the lid on and secure it with duct or electrical tape. Next, with a knife or awl punch lots of little holes in the lid. Place the cans where you don’t want your pet to dig. The mothball smell will repel your pets, but they are toxic, so make sure your pet can’t get into the can and eat them.)
  • Cats like the consistency of soil in gardens, but if you place pinecones or wood chips over the soil in your garden they won’t like the texture anymore and will find somewhere new.
  • If your cat is spending a lot of time digging around in the litter box, it’s probably a signal that it’s not being cleaned enough. Scoop out the box once a day and the change the litter frequently, especially if there is more than one cat using it.

Jumping

Nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog.

  • Watch your dog’s body language, and as soon as he’s about to jump sternly say “No,” or “off.” If you walk away and ignore him it will teach him that jumping will result in being ignored, which is the opposite reaction they want.
  • Next time your dog greets you at the door with a jump, hold his two front paws so that he’s in the standing position. Keep him in that position until you can tell he doesn’t like it and as you let him down say “No.” Your dog will get the hint that jumping up is going to cause discomfort.

Chewing

  • Keep dogs from chewing woodwork by sprinkling it with oil of cloves.
  • If your puppy is teething, place one of her chew toys in the freezer for a few hours, which will feel soothing to a sore mouth.
  • Sometimes excessive chewing is a sign of boredom. Different breeds have different activity levels, so talk to your vet to see how much exercise your pet needs. If this is the case, take your dog on more walks, or set up play dates with other dogs in the neighborhood. 

Do you have any tips, behavioral challenges, or comments? Please post below!

Pets & Farm Animals

About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill

Executive Editor

Heidi Stonehill is the Executive Editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, joining the team in 2001. As such, she manages the content development of the Almanac’s line of wall, engagement, box, and special...

Read more from Heidi Stonehill

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Comments

<span>A10Toes</span> Tue, 11/27/2012 - 09:21
check out your pet spa, or any garden center. Yes, it does work and is SAFE for pets.
<span>Reeses2009</span> Mon, 01/31/2011 - 14:51
My female mini doxie, 5 years old. has started eating her own poop. This has just recently started. She eats regular people food as I have tried many, many different types and kinds of dog food and she will eat none of it. What can I do?
<span>Bz</span> Fri, 02/26/2016 - 09:35
Coprophagia, or the eating of feces, is a form of Pica in dogs. If your female dog is nursing a litter, many dog breeds will do this with their pups excrement and sometimes their own too. Some dogs seem to seek out cat & other animal feces to ingest. If suggested methods are ineffective, a visit with you vet may be in order to evaluate the dog for any dietary deficiencies they may be experiencing to find out if supplementation is needed. Many forms of pika are downright dangerous to the sufferer. Coprophagia subjects your pet to high risk of exposure to infections and disease, so should be discouraged for health reasons of your dog.
<span>Aurora Borealous</span> Tue, 02/05/2013 - 22:23
if you take her to the vet they can give you pills that will make her stop. My grandmothers dog had the same problem and now he eats his dog food instead of his dog poop.
<span>Vstrauss</span> Tue, 01/25/2011 - 23:16
For 3 years now, our family has had new puppies come to our farm. They are babies when we get them and learn quickly not to chase our free-range chickens. But as they get up to about 6 months, they become chicken killers. We want a family dog, but we want our chickens also. Please help!
<span>Texas.girl</span> Mon, 01/31/2011 - 13:36
Several years ago I watched an episode of the Dog Whisper that dealt with this same issue. The owner of the dog was the author of Marley and Me. You might want to look up that episode.
<span>Grandmato1</span> Sat, 01/01/2011 - 22:25
A neighbor's cat thinks his litter box is under my bedroom window. How can I stop this?
<span>Blondebobbi</span> Fri, 07/11/2014 - 17:51
I used to use a spray on product called "Outdoor No" I sprayed it there, the cats no longer came. I had to re spray every few days, and after it rained. It really did help.
<span>Vstrauss</span> Tue, 01/25/2011 - 23:18
Have you tried sprinkling lime. Maybe that can help. It kept our cats out of our kids sandbox!
<span>Bertmer</span> Thu, 12/30/2010 - 15:33
I have a Aussi that loved to bark at the TV.I tried putting coins in a can and shaking it for dog barking, and it works!! The first time I did it, I was competely amazed.