Behavior Management Products for Dogs

What products are available to help prevent undesirable behavior?

There are many products available to assist with managing your pet’s behavior. Products listed below are meant to be helpful suggestions. Keep in mind that we do not endorse any particular brand or product. Product availability can change over time. Please check to ensure the items mentioned are still available.

What types of toys are recommended?

Every dog has unique preferences and play styles. Play opportunities should provide plenty of exercise, social interaction, and mental stimulation. Toys should be engaging but not overly frustrating. Make sure your dog enjoys the toy without showing signs of frustration, like excessive pacing, barking, or leaving to destroy nearby items.

Look for products that appeal to your dog and can’t be easily broken or swallowed. Because dogs love to chew, it is important to provide safe chew toys. Some dental products make excellent chew toys while improving dental health. Always supervise your pet with new products, especially if they are powerful chewers. Dogs can chip their teeth on very hard toys. Consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about a toys' safety. 

A variety of toys are manufactured to be used with food or treats. These toys can be stuffed, coated, or filled with treats which release when the toy is manipulated. Examples of these products include Kong® products (like the Original Kong® and Biscuit Ball), WestPaw products (like Toppl®), Busy Buddy™ products (like Twist ’n Treat™ and Waggle™), Nylabone® Power Play Crazy Ball™, and  Omega Paw® Tricky Treats. Many other suitable products may be available in your local area or can be homemade.

"Avoid using laser toys for play with dogs."

Toys designed for fetch and tug provide dogs with an opportunity for interactive social play. To remain safe while playing with tug toys, make sure your dog will easily release the toy when asked. Your dog should be able to disengage when you announce the game is over. If your dog shows signs of aggressive behavior (snarling, growling, snapping) when approached while in possession of a valuable object, consult with a behavioral professional before introducing tug play. 

Avoid using laser toys for play with dogs. Laser toys can trigger frustration and lead to serious compulsive behaviors related to chasing lights, reflections, or shadows.  

Safety Note: Some dogs become overly possessive over toys and food. Watch for signs (which can be subtle) such as stiffness or covering the toy when approached. More threatening postures may include lowering the head, flattening the ears, growling, snarling, or snapping. If you notice any of these behaviors, contact a behavior professional for assistance.

What type of training collar should I use for walking my dog?

Collars, harnesses, and head halters used for walking should fit comfortably and securely to prevent your dog from escaping, being harmed, or causing harm. Avoid collars or products designed to cause pain or discomfort  (e.g. pronged collars, choke or slip chains, electronic training collars, or some no-pull harnesses). With an appropriate leash and collar, you should be able to safely guide your dog as needed. See handout "Collar and Harness Options for Dogs" for details.

What products are available for reward-based training?

Positive reinforcement is the ideal way to train your dog. Clickers are helpful tools which make a specific sound that (with training) can be associated with food delivery. Clicker training uses a precisely timed sound to mark a desired behavior, making it easier to communicate with your dog. Because the sound is discrete, it informs your dog of the exact behavior being rewarded. Clicker training is terrific for teaching skills such as touching an object, following a finger point, moving to a bed, going into or out of a crate, coming when called, walking on leash, or a number of other desired behaviors.

The Treat and Train® and Pet Tutor® are examples of remote-controlled feeders that release a treat (with or without a sound) to ‘mark’ a desired behavior. Remote feeders are great for teaching dogs to move to a desired location when asked. They are also convenient for training skills that require duration, such as staying in a bed during family dinner time or while visitors enter the house. 

Remote-controlled feeders can be set, so the rewards are delivered hands-free. This can be very useful when teaching dogs to relax during grooming or veterinary examinations.

What products can be used to manage house soiling?

If your dog has a change in elimination habits, or is not responding well to appropriate housetraining methods, always consult your veterinarian. Clean soiled areas thoroughly with products that contain enzymes or bacteria (Anti-Icky Poo®, Nature’s Miracle® Urine Off®, and Urine Erase®) to remove lingering odors. If residual odors remain, it can encourage dogs to soil the area repeatedly. Black lights and moisture detectors are helpful for locating soiled sites. 

For dogs with limited outdoor access, consider training with absorbent paper, potty pads, or indoor turf. There are also commercially available litter boxes for dogs.

What products are available for treating noise phobias and anxiety?

If your dog shows significant fear of events, objects, or situations, consult your veterinarian for guidance. Left untreated, fears, phobias and anxiety can reduce a dog’s quality of life. 

Various products and downloadable sounds can replicate fear triggering noises (thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots) to aid with treating noise phobias and anxiety (see handout “Treating Fear of Storms and Fireworks in Dogs). Recordings, particularly those that contain multiple sounds (vacuum cleaners, trucks, and crying babies) may also be used. Listening to these sounds played quietly in the background, can gently expose non-fearful dogs and puppies to noises they may encounter in life.

Mutt Muffs® or Canine EarPros reduce noise intensity, and white noise machines can also be effective at reducing the perceived intensity of frightening sounds.

Thunderworks Thundercap™ and Doggles® can be used to reduce the intensity of frightening visual stimuli. Swaddling products like the Ceva Thunderworks jacket may help anxious dogs. 

How do I decide what products to use to eliminate undesirable behavior?

To address undesirable behavior, focus on understanding the underlying cause. Many products are designed to interrupt or deter undesirable behaviors. However, it is essential to prioritize training for desirable behavior. Trying to stop a behavior without resolving the underlying cause can be ineffective (or even inhumane). If the behavior is related to fear and anxiety, punishment may increase the dog’s anxiety. 

The best strategy is one that focuses on satisfying the dogs dog's needs. Provide social and environmental enrichment, address anxiety and frustration, and train desirable alternative behaviors.

What can be done to deal with unobserved behaviors? 

Pet cameras, downloadable apps, nanny cams, and security cameras can be used to monitor your dog’s behavior when you are not around. Observing certain actions can help you understand the likely motivation for undesirable behavior. If your dog chews objects when you are not in the area, they may be exploring the environment to find an interesting activity, or they may be anxious. 

"If your dog is anxious, contact a behavior professional for assistance."

If your dog is anxious, contact a behavior professional for assistance. If your dog is seeking activities, provide more environmental enrichment. Additional walks or play time, cognitively stimulating training sessions, and rotating a variety of interactive toys encourage your dog to engage in appropriate behaviors. 

If a specific location or object is too tempting, use barriers or gates, or offer alternative chewable items. Non-toxic but unpleasantly flavored products are available to dab on items to discourage chewing. Make sure to provide appropriate and desirable chewable items close by. 

Furniture can be covered with a coarse tarp or vinyl carpet runner (placed nubs up) to prevent dogs from climbing up. A comfortable dog bed can be placed nearby, using a dab of Adaptil® Pheromone may further encourage your dog to use their own bed. 

What products are useful to control and deter barking?

Anti-barking devices are readily available, they deliver a correction meant to ‘stop’ dogs from barking regardless of the underlying motivation. As with any punishment, anti-bark devices can increase fear, anxiety, frustration, and aggression and are not recommended as part of a humane behavioral treatment plan. 

Barking is a form of communication. Many dogs bark when they are anxious and/or frustrated. A behavior professional can help reduce barking by addressing the underlying causes.