Bad Dogs Die Young - Many from Euthanasia, UK Study Says

According to a British study, excessive barking and disobedience are among the behaviours that doom canine pets to an early demise.

The study involving 264,000 dogs found that one in three dogs under 3 years old had their lives cut short from undesirable behaviours. 75 percent of those deaths were from euthanasia. Traffic incidents involving disobedient dogs was another common cause.

Each week, we receive hundreds of calls from stressed-out dog owners desperately needing products to solve their dog's behaviour but after reading the results from the study, we can't help but think - what about the people who don't contact us?

The statistics above underscore the importance of training dogs from a young age and educating owners. Dogs need firm guidance from a young age. They need to know who's boss. If they don't, they'll assume authority and end up walking all over you - figuratively, and maybe even literally. This shift in authority leads to obnoxious behaviour, stubbornness, excessive barking, jumping, and other disobedient behaviours. All things that are very annoying, but completely preventable and fixable by everyday dog owners.

At the end of the day, prevention is better than a cure. Teaching your puppy obedience skills and introducing them to new situations will teach them to react appropriately and without fear as they grow older. If your dog is already fully grown and has gradually developed nuisance behaviours, it's not too late to address it.

The first thing to consider is why your dog is behaving the way they do. Are they bored? Do they want attention? Do they follow their nose? Or are they simply excited? Once you've identified the reason for the behaviour, the next thing to consider is an appropriate solution. 

Here at Bark Control Australia, our mission is to help dog owners address their dog's behaviour. Each week we receive hundreds of phone calls and emails about the following:

• Barking
• Howling
• Whinging
• Whining
• Chewing up carpet/furniture
• Running away
• Digging up the yard
• Stealing food off the table
• chasing animals
• Jumping on people
• Escaping

Possible solutions may include; chew toys, interactive toys, puppy classes, exercise, professional training, water spray, bark control collars, remote training collars and containment fence systems. If you've tried to rectify your dog's behaviour on your own terms but you're not seeing any results, the next best thing to do is to speak to an expert.

If your dog has nuisance behvaiour that needs to be addressed, give us a call. We understand that it can be stressful trying to figure out what to do with your dog - especially if there's urgency to rectify the issue. The last thing you want to do is order the wrong product from any website and just hope for the best. It's important to know that the product you get for your dog is safe, has been tested by a legitimate manufacturer, and is the correct product for your situation.

At the end of the day, we don't believe that dogs should be put down because they need more training or guidance. Barking, howling, whinging, whining, escaping, chewing, jumping, scratching and other nuisance behaviours are things that can be rectified with the correct approach. Give us a call on 1300 668 931 to discuss your options today.

*Disclaimer: This article is related to dogs with nuisance behaviour rather than aggression

Please note: If your dog has aggressive behaviour, we recommend hiring a professional dog trainer.

Article inspired by: https://www.9news.com.au/world/2018/08/08/12/55/bad-dogs-die-young-many-from-euthanasia-says-uk-study