I'm having behavioural issues with my dog. What should I do?
We're sorry to hear you're having issues with your dog.
For an adult dog with a behaviour change, a vet check is the first thing we'd strongly recommend. Pain and sickness are often underlying causes of behavioural changes. Ask your vet for a pain relief trial, as a standard vet health check may not pick up chronic pain issues.
If you’d like something to refer to when going to your vet, we recommend reading about how pain effects behaviour here. And learn about the anxiety and pain connection in pets here.
If no pain issues are found, it’s best to have your dog properly assessed by a qualified behavioural trainer so you know exactly what the issues are and what can be done.
If the behaviour is something you can safely work on while keeping the dog in the family, a qualified dog trainer can help you work out what your dog needs.
Your trainer may suggest other pathways too. For example, they might suggest that you consider rehoming your dog into an environment that better matches their needs, or if they feel that your dog is not safe to rehome, they may discuss other pathway options with you, including referral to a Behavioural Veterinarian or considering behavioural euthanasia.
Visit Pet Professional Guild Australia or Delta Institute to find a qualified trainer in your area.
Read more about how to find the right dog trainer here.
If you decide you do have to rehome your dog, you should talk to rescue groups rather than shelters or local councils (where there's a danger that your dog would be euthanised). Be completely honest with the rescue group and let them know exactly what the trainer said so they can match your dog with the right home. Be prepared to call a lot of groups and wait for a foster spot.