Scott and SadieIf you don’t have a dog, you may think EVERY dog has behavioral problems. If you DO have a dog, you might say that YOURS doesn’t. So who’s right? Well . . .
A study at Texas A&M found over 99% of dogs in the U.S. have behavior problems.
They collected data from more than 43,000 dogs of various breeds, ages, sizes, and locations. The dogs were analyzed based on stuff like aggression . . . separation and attachment issues . . . fear and anxiety . . . and pooping or peeing inside.
In the end, there’s only about a 1% chance you have a “perfect” dog. “99.12% of dogs showed at least one behavior rated moderately serious, or serious . . . or at least two problems of moderate to serious intensity.”
Separation and attachment behaviors were the most common. Those things include: Restlessness, pacing, following people around the house, sitting close to them, escape attempts, or barking and chewing items when left alone.
Aggression is next. That includes growling, snapping, and biting.
Minor behavior problems may seem relatively harmless, but experts say it’s important to work with your vet to appreciate what might be going on in the dog’s mind, and recognize when special care is required.
Most dog owners will admit that their dog has at least a few issues. But others will INSIST that their dog is one of the 0.88% . . .
And then when someone witnesses them acting out, they’ll say stuff like, “Oh, Luna NEVER does this . . . I’m not sure what’s up with her today!”
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