What To Do When Your Dog Throws A Tantrum, According To Our Dog Trainer

When a pet is welcomed into a home, many owners hope for the best behavior from their new furry companion. Yet, canines are complex, emotional creatures — a full-grown dog can have the mental maturity of a 3-year-old child— and can have moments when they throw child-like tantrums. For pet parents, gauging what to do or where to start addressing the behavior can be challenging.

Speaking exclusively to Cuteness, dog trainer Rachel Lane, MSc, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, UW-AAB, of Leash and Learn in New York City relays the importance of understanding why your dog has tantrums before trying to avoid them, stating, "The next time your dog throws a temper tantrum, think about what happened immediately beforehand. Remember, the trigger can be something that you barely notice or think is 'fine,' but to your dog is a big deal."

From there, Lane advises trying to figure out what it is your dog is seeking, whether it's something tangible, like your dog's absolute favorite toy, or it being intimidated by an action or thing. "If they are seeking a tangible resource, consider teaching them a different behavior they can use to ask for it. If they are seeking safety, focus on desensitization and counterconditioning so they feel safer in that same situation in the future," Lane explains. While it may seem simple to fix this behavior, Lane emphasizes the importance of sticking to a plan to get the desired outcome, saying, "Practice, patience, and consistency are keys to successful training."

Counterconditioning involves turning a negative sensation a dog feels into a positive reward. This process can be as simple as playing fetch (positive) after bathing (negative). For a dog throwing a tantrum, it is essential to figure out the reason first, as you don't want a pet to think it is being rewarded for its bad behavior. Finding a time when your dog is open to counterconditioning is important, as a pet won't always be receptive to rewards in high-stress situations.

Desensitization involves slowly introducing a dog to something it fears. A canine afraid of strangers can be a sign of a protective pooch, but it can be troublesome if this happens with family and friends. Letting a dog stand far away from others to observe but not interact will slowly allow it to get used to being around people. This process requires patience. Standing 20 feet away from a stranger without fear or anxiety is a good start, and you can gradually increase the stimulus as the dog becomes more comfortable.

Avoid flooding, which is forcing a dog to confront the source of fear or anxiety, as this can lead to it lashing out at others and does not correct the problem. Health issues, such as joint pain and ear infections, can also cause a dog to show signs similar to a tantrum, such as lashing out and being vocal. Finding that balance of counterconditioning and desensitization to address the core issue behind a dog's tantrum allows you to work with your pet toward a positive outcome.

A dog's tantrum is likely caused by not getting what it needs, but how do you know when your dog is having a tantrum? Rachel Lane clarifies exclusively to Cuteness what a tantrum looks like in canines, saying, "These behaviors include whining, excessive barking, chewing, refusing to follow commands or move, and/or biting. When your dog displays these behaviors, they are expressing emotional distress."

Every pet parent has encountered whining at some point, whether their dog is whining because of boredom or because it wants some "people food." These minor reactions can be easy to identify and address. However, these aren't the only matters that can cause tantrums. "When your dog is throwing a temper tantrum because they are being forced to do something they do not want to do, their behavior is more likely motivated by feelings of fear and/or anxiety," Lane explains, adding, "These behaviors function as a way to increase distance between your dog and the stimulus that is causing the fear and/or anxiety."

Still, a dog's emotional complexity means its reasoning may not always be straightforward. Lane tells Cuteness that a tantrum can also be caused by factors like "exhaustion, overwhelm, overstimulation, and/or pain." Moreover, knowing it can get what it wants if it acts a certain way can cause a dog to throw tantrums. Understanding why your dog throws a tantrum is the first step in addressing how to best fix the issue by replacing it with the desired reward or behavior.

Certain breeds have been given a reputation for throwing tantrums, yet these are often because of public perception or a misunderstanding of a dog's needs. The smartest dog breeds, like border collies and golden retrievers, require mental stimulus and activity, and the stubborn Jack Russel terrier may require a bit of extra patience in the training process. That said, Rachel Lane put the myth of certain breeds being more tantrum-prone to rest, exclusively telling Cuteness, "No, the individual personality of the dog and their environment are more influential on a dog's predisposition to throwing temper tantrums than their breed."

Dealing with a dog's tantrum can be difficult for pet parents, but figuring out the source of the behavior is the ideal starting point. Those who struggle can also choose a qualified dog trainer to help them address the issue under their guidance and provide instructions for dealing with the undesired behavior at home. Working with your pup to build that happy, harmonious home you always envisioned is essential. At the end of the day, tantrums happen, but they can also be addressed constructively.