Dogs are loving, sociable animals, but sometimes their behaviour can cause real challenges for owners. From barking to resource guarding, these behaviour problems often confuse people and strain the human dog relationship. Yet most dogs are not being “naughty”—they are simply showing their emotions, needs, or normal behaviour patterns in ways humans don’t always understand.
In the UK, responsible dog ownership means more than meeting basic needs. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 highlights the importance of allowing dogs to express normal behaviour. Understanding canine behaviour, body language, and the reasons behind a dog’s actions helps us build trust and prevent bigger problems.
1. Excessive Barking
What it is
Barking is a natural part of dog behaviour. Dogs generally use their voice to warn, play, or get attention. Most dogs bark at new objects, other animals, or when humans communicate with them. But when barking happens too often or for long periods, it becomes a behaviour problem for both the owner and the community.
What causes it
Many dogs bark because of boredom, fear, or attention seeking. Some dog breeds are more vocal due to personality and early life experiences. Lack of regular exercise, a poor social environment, or being left alone too long can make a dog feel anxious. Canine communication, such as eye contact or body language, may be misunderstood by humans, leading to frustration and more noise.
What to do
-
Provide regular opportunities for exercise and play with toys.
-
Teach calm behaviour using verbal praise when the dog is quiet.
-
Offer safe space and mental enrichment, such as puzzle feeders.
-
Social groups with other friendly dogs can help dogs learn normal behaviour patterns.
What not to do
-
Do not shout at or punish the dog—it increases fear and aggressive behaviour.
-
Avoid leaving dogs alone for long hours without stimulation.
-
Do not rely only on anti-bark devices; they don’t solve the dog’s emotions.
2. Separation Anxiety
What it is
Separation anxiety happens when a dog feels extreme fear or stress when left alone. A dog may chew, bark, or soil indoors. This is one of the most common canine behavior problems and strongly affects the human dog relationship.
What causes it
Dogs are sociable animals. In early age, puppies depend on people and other dogs. When individual dogs grow without learning to cope with alone time, they may struggle later. Dogs play, eat, and live in social groups, so being left alone breaks normal behaviour patterns. Poor early life training or sudden changes in the environment can also trigger separation anxiety.
What to do
-
Start with short absences and slowly build time away.
-
Give toys, food puzzles, and safe space to keep the dog calm.
-
Provide regular exercise before leaving to lower energy.
-
If problems continue, a vet visit is important to rule out medical causes.
What not to do
-
Do not punish the dog for destructive actions—it increases fear.
-
Avoid sneaking out without preparing the dog.
-
Do not assume the dog will “just grow out of it.” Most dogs need structured help.
3. Pulling on Lead and Lead Reactivity
What it is
Pulling on the lead is when a dog’s actions make walks hard to control. Lead reactivity is barking, lunging, or aggressive behaviour toward other dogs, people, or animals. Both issues are common behaviour problems for dog ownership in the UK.
What causes it
Dogs learn quickly that pulling gets them closer to exciting things. Some dog breeds are stronger and have a greater capacity to pull. Lead reactivity often comes from fear, poor early life socialisation, or bad experiences with other dogs. Canine communication signals, such as stiff body language or direct eye contact, may make a dog feel threatened.
What to do
-
Use reward-based training with verbal praise when the lead is loose.
-
Teach dogs to walk calmly using good training tools like a harness.
-
Provide regular exercise in safe space so the dog’s desire to run is met.
-
Watch for signs of fear or aggression and redirect before escalation.
What not to do
-
Don’t jerk the lead or use harsh corrections; it may cause injury or fear.
-
Avoid wrapping leads around your hand—UK research links this to injury.
-
Don’t let dogs practice pulling every walk; habits build quickly.
4. Jumping Up at People
What it is
Jumping up is when dogs greet humans by putting their paws on them. It is a normal behaviour in puppies who try to reach the dog’s mouth or face. While dogs play this way with other friendly dogs, in people it becomes unsafe and unwanted.
What causes it
Most dogs jump because they seek attention. Even scolding can reward this attention seeking. In early life, dogs learn that jumping up makes humans communicate with them. Excitement, lack of self-control, and personality also play a role.
What to do
-
Teach calm greetings by turning away until the dog has all four paws on the floor.
-
Reward calm dog behaviour with verbal praise or a treat.
-
Redirect energy with toys or play after greetings.
-
Train consistently—dogs learn faster when all owners follow the same rules. The PDSA notes reward-based training works best for behaviour problems.
What not to do
-
Do not push the dog away or shout; it may make the dog feel confused.
-
Avoid letting puppies jump sometimes and punish other times; it causes mixed signals.
-
Don’t reward jumping with food or attention, even by accident.
5. Resource Guarding
What it is
Resource guarding is when a dog’s behaviour shows they want to protect food, toys, or resting areas. The dog may growl, stiffen body language, or even snap with their dog’s mouth. It is one of the most serious canine behavior problems because it can lead to aggression.
What causes it
Dogs may guard if they fear losing resources. In early age, puppies competing with other dogs for food may learn this behaviour. Individual dogs may also guard due to stress, poor social environment, or health problems. Some dog breeds and personalities are more prone.
What to do
-
Allow dogs to eat in safe space where they feel secure.
-
Use trades—swap the guarded item for something better.
-
Teach “leave it” and reward calm behaviour with verbal praise.
-
If guarding grows worse, a vet recommends checking health first, then referral to a behaviourist.
What not to do
-
Don’t punish or grab items away; it may trigger aggressive behaviour.
-
Don’t tease dogs with food or toys—it damages trust.
-
Avoid forcing dogs to share in multi-dog homes; provide multiple bowls and toys.
6. House Soiling (Indoor Toileting)
What it is
House soiling is when a dog urinates or defecates inside the home. While accidents are normal in puppies at a young age, ongoing problems in adult dogs show an issue with training, health, or environment.
What causes it
-
Incomplete training in early life — many dogs never fully learn where to toilet.
-
Stress or separation anxiety — changes in social environment or routine confuse the dog’s emotions.
-
Medical reasons — infections, digestive problems, or ageing can affect a dog’s actions. A vet visit may reveal causes.
What to do
-
Take the dog outside on a regular schedule and reward success with verbal praise.
-
Use enzyme cleaners to remove scent indoors so dogs don’t repeat.
-
Create a safe space for toileting training and offer regular opportunities to go out.
What not to do
-
Do not rub a dog’s nose in the mess—it damages the human dog relationship and creates fear.
-
Avoid punishing accidents. Most dogs behave better with calm teaching and consistency.
7. Destructive Chewing and Digging
What it is
Dogs chew and dig as part of normal behaviour patterns. Puppies chew when teething, and many dogs dig to explore or cool down. But when it damages property or harms the dog’s mouth, it becomes a behaviour problem.
What causes it
-
Boredom and lack of exercise — without outlets, dogs generally chew furniture or dig gardens.
-
Separation anxiety — destructive actions can be a sign of stress.
-
Breed traits — some dog breeds have a greater capacity for digging or chewing because of their history.
-
Teething in young age — puppies chew to ease discomfort.
What to do
-
Provide chew toys, puzzle feeders, and safe digging zones.
-
Give regular exercise and initiate play to meet the dog’s desire for activity.
-
Rotate new objects like toys to keep interest.
What not to do
-
Don’t punish chewing or digging; dogs learn better with redirection.
-
Avoid leaving dogs with no toys or activities—they will make their own.
8. Fear or Aggression Toward People and Dogs
What it is
Aggressive behaviour includes growling, snapping, or biting. It may be directed at humans, other dogs, or other animals. This behaviour is a red flag because it risks safety and welfare.
What causes it
-
Fear — dogs feel threatened and use aggression to control the situation.
-
Poor socialisation in early age — dogs that did not meet other friendly dogs or humans struggle with social groups later.
-
Pain or illness — a vet recommends checking for health issues before behaviour work.
-
Breed and personality — individual dogs vary in motivational states and how they behave under stress.
What to do
-
Watch body language such as stiff posture, hard eye contact, or growling.
-
Seek professional help early. A vet visit is the first step.
-
Get referral to a Clinical Animal Behaviourist
-
Manage the environment to prevent triggers and give the dog safe space.
What not to do
-
Do not punish aggressive behaviour—it increases fear and risk of biting.
-
Don’t force dogs into close contact with other dogs or people if they feel unsafe.
9. Car Anxiety and Unsafe Travel
What it is
Car anxiety is when a dog feels stressed, barks, or drools during travel. Unsafe travel is when dogs are not properly restrained, which is against UK law.
What causes it
-
Fear of new objects and sounds like engines or motion.
-
Previous bad experiences such as sickness in the car.
-
Lack of early life training to view cars as safe.
What to do
-
Introduce the car slowly—start with sitting in a parked car, then short trips.
-
Use crate training, car harnesses, or guards.
-
Offer toys or chew items to make travel positive.
-
The Highway Code Rule 57 requires dogs to be suitably restrained.
What not to do
-
Don’t let dogs travel loose—it risks accidents and fines.
-
Avoid long journeys without breaks. Most dogs need water, air, and rest.
10. ID, Barking, and Control Issues Linked to UK Law
What it is
Some behaviour problems cross into legal duties for dog ownership in the UK. This includes ID rules, barking complaints, and control laws.
What causes it
-
Lack of knowledge of UK law.
-
Failure to meet normal behaviour patterns, like exercise, leading to nuisance barking.
What to do
-
Ensure your dog wears a collar and tag with your address when in public. This is required by the Control of Dogs Order 1992.
-
Keep barking under control through training and social environment support.
-
Follow guidance on dangerous dogs law.
-
Use good training and veterinary medicine support to help dogs behave safely.
What not to do
-
Don’t ignore barking complaints—councils may issue warnings.
-
Don’t assume microchipping alone replaces ID tags; both are required.
FAQs
What is a red flag dog’s behavior?
Red flag signs include sudden aggression, biting, or intense fear that makes the dog’s actions unsafe. Growling, stiff body language, and repeated snapping show a dog feels stressed and needs help. A vet recommends checking for health causes, and a qualified behaviourist can guide training.
How do dogs say “I love you”?
Dogs show affection through body language: relaxed eye contact, wagging tails, and leaning into humans. Canine communication often mirrors how humans communicate—dogs play, bring toys, or follow their owner to show trust.
What is the 7 7 7 rule for dogs?
The “7 7 7 rule” is a training idea suggesting puppies should experience 7 new objects, 7 different environments, and meet 7 new people or animals during early age. This helps individual dogs grow into friendly dogs with good social groups and normal behaviour patterns.
Where to pet a dog to calm them down?
Most dogs enjoy gentle strokes on the chest, shoulders, or base of the neck. Avoid touching the dog’s mouth, tail, or paws if they feel nervous. Watch the dog’s emotions and body language—if the dog feels calm, continue; if they turn away, give safe space.
Conclusion
Dog behaviour problems are not simply bad manners—they are signals about the dog’s emotions, environment, and needs. Dogs are sociable animals that thrive in strong social groups, with owners who teach with patience and verbal praise. Understanding a dog’s actions helps humans communicate better and builds a life of trust and companionship.
