In the dog house: Eight in 10 dog owners struggling with bad behaviours, according to new survey

Dealing with a disobedient, unruly or excitable dog? You’re not the only one. 

A new survey conducted by interactive dog toy company Tug-E-Nuff has revealed that eight in 10 dog owners are struggling with problem behaviours. 

Almost half (46%) of owners say they’d like to improve their dog’s recall - with seven in 10 admitting it’s a challenge to get their dog to come when called. 

Four in 10 say they find it difficult to get their dog to walk nicely on a lead and display calm behaviour. 

Rounding out the list of the five most common problem behaviours is overexcitement (34%) and reactivity (32%). 

When it comes to trying to overcome problem behaviours, a third of owners admit they feel unsure, confused or completely lost when it comes to training their dog. 

And, it seems training is made harder for owners who have dogs with certain personality traits. 

Two thirds of owners say staying focused or wanting to train is a challenge for their dog, whilst four in ten reveal their dog’s own nerves, anxiety or lack of confidence sometimes makes training more difficult. 

Danny Nelis-Rouse, Managing Director at Tug-E-Nuff, comments: “From running off and not coming when called, to stealing food off the table, behavioural problems are common in lots of dogs.

“They can be frustrating to live with, and make going out and about a chore. They can also stand in the way of successful training. But, the good news is that there’s one trick that can be the key to easily changing behaviour for the better and that’s play. 

“Play is absolutely essential, but it’s often overlooked. When we say play, we don’t just mean throwing a ball every now and again; we mean engaged, intense bursts of play with your dog that gets them fired up and raring to go.”

Danny explains that once a dog falls in love with play, it becomes the perfect reward for good behaviour, so owners can use it as part of positive reinforcement training. What’s more, a well-stimulated dog is less likely to display destructive behavioural traits. 

Indeed, four in 10 owners declare that playing with a Tug-E-Nuff toy helped tackle training or behaviour issues with their dog, and half (51%) say it had a positive impact on their dog’s recall specifically. 

“Our goal is to bring change, enrichment and positivity to dogs’ lives through the power of play, and, at the same time, improve the bond between a human and their dog, so it’s great to hear that our toys are helping so many owners achieve this,” adds Danny. 

Owners struggling with a training issue or wanting to learn more about how play can help tackle their dog’s problem behaviours can boost their knowledge by taking Tug-E-Nuff’s Power of Play online course, or three-minute Toy Quest Quiz to receive a personalised play plan for their pooch.