Has it ever felt like your dog was throwing a temper tantrum? While dogs don’t have temper tantrums as humans do, they sometimes can exhibit behavior that looks like a temper tantrum. It’s important to know what’s going on so you can help them feel less frustrated and get back on track with their behavior. Here’s how to deal with temper tantrums in dogs:

Do Dogs Throw Temper Tantrums?

Because dogs can’t talk, they need to use their behavior to communicate what they want, need, and how they’re feeling with humans. Sometimes these behaviors can be dramatic and resemble a temper tantrum. However, they’re not actually temper tantrums.

This is why it’s really important to understand the different types of dog body language. Having a good grasp on your dog’s body language can help you figure out what they’re trying to tell you. This can cut back on a lot of frustration that can lead to what may be perceived as dog temper tantrums.

Dog behaviorists and dog trainers don’t typically refer to behavior that looks like a temper tantrum as a dog temper tantrum. In humans, temper tantrums can sometimes be more intentional, while dog behaviors are usually more of a reaction to a situation.

These situations usually come about out of fear, anxiety, or frustration. When they feel these emotions, they will exhibit behaviors to let you know they don’t like what’s going on. Signs your dog is stressed include behaviors like excessive barking, whining, snapping, or growling. They may also chew on furniture or dig holes in your yard. This is all their way of trying to tell you they’re upset or frustrated.

What Does a Dog Tantrum Look Like?

Depending on the age of your dog, a dog temper tantrum might look different. This is due to a difference in age and maturity. It’s important to understand these distinctions because it will better help you to manage and train your dog.

Tantrums in Puppies

Puppies are pretty similar to toddlers in that they don’t have a good grasp on their behavior or emotions yet. They haven’t learned self-control or how to regulate themselves emotionally. If the basic needs of a puppy aren’t met, it can lead to acting out. They also may act out if they feel overwhelmed.

Common temper tantrum behaviors in puppies often include:

• Biting
• Destructive chewing
• Whining
• Barking more than usual

The tantrums are often due to teething, anxiety, fear, or frustration.

Tantrums in Older Dogs

As dogs age, they typically are able to develop self-control and regulate their emotions in a much more stable way. If an older dog is throwing a dog temper tantrum, this could be due to health problems, changes in their routine or schedule, or anxiety. If an older dog is throwing a temper tantrum, there may be some aggression in dogs, more vocalization, and regression in potty training or other behaviors.

Why Might a Dog Be Throwing a Tantrum?

Being able to understand why your dog might be exhibiting some temper tantrum behavior is important in order to help manage and prevent further temper tantrums. It might take a lot of patience and time, so be prepared to ask for outside help from a veterinarian or a dog trainer.

6 Common Causes of Dog Tantrums

These are the main common causes of dog tantrums:

1. They are frustrated.
2. They could be afraid or anxious.
3. They’re looking for attention.
4. They need more exercise and mental stimulation.
5. There may be health issues.
6. There are changes in their routine or environment.

1. They Are Frustrated

Much like humans, dogs can easily become frustrated when something doesn’t go the way they want or when they encounter an obstacle. Sometimes this frustration shows as barking, whining, or destructive behavior. This can look like a temper tantrum, but really, your dog just wants you to understand and help fix what’s wrong.

2. They Could Be Afraid or Anxious

The most common causes of tantrums in dogs are anxiety and fear. If a dog hears an unfamiliar or loud noise, is in a new place, or is left alone, it can trigger behaviors that are related to anxiety that may look like a temper tantrum. These behaviors often include excessive barking, hiding, or shaking. If your dog is shaking, it can also be due to anxiety.

3. They’re Looking For Attention

Sometimes, throwing a temper tantrum is a way for a dog to get attention from their owner. If you notice they’re barking or even nudging at you, this could mean they want attention. Unfortunately, these behaviors often get them attention, so they keep doing it.

You don’t want to ignore your dog when they are trying to communicate with you, but there is a difference between a dog that is trying to get your attention within normal ranges and a dog doing it as a temper tantrum or part of broader nuisance behaviors.

4. They Need More Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Dogs need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. When a dog has plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise, they’re much less likely to engage in negative or undesirable behaviors. If your dog is bored, they may try to find ways to entertain themselves. Throwing a tantrum is a great way for them to get your attention and curb their boredom.

This is especially more likely in more active dog breeds or working breed dogs. These dogs need plenty of mental stimulation to satisfy their instinctual need to work or hunt. Not satisfying that urge can lead to destructive chewing, hyperactivity, and even throwing temper tantrums.

5. There May Be Health Issues

A dog throwing a tantrum might be trying to communicate to you that they don’t feel well. Growling or nipping when touched can be a sign your dog is in pain. If your dog is displaying any signs of pain, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so they can do an assessment.

6. There Are Changes in Their Routine or Environment

Dogs are happiest when they have a good daily routine. If there are any sudden changes to that routine or their environment, they may start exhibiting some temper tantrums or other undesirable behavior. Of course, some changes are unavoidable, such as moving to a new home or a change in your work schedule.

However, if your dog doesn’t have at least a somewhat predictable routine, this can be one way you might be annoying your dog, and they may start acting out. This is to communicate to you that they would prefer a little bit more predictability in their lives.

How to Deal With Doggy Temper Tantrums

Understanding why your dog might be throwing a temper tantrum is the first step in dealing with temper tantrums. If they’re happening frequently, take them to the vet to rule out any medical issues. You might also want to try giving them a more solid routine if they don’t have one. If they’re still having problems, here’s how to deal with doggy temper tantrums:

1. Identify the root cause.
2. Develop a plan for handling temper tantrums in the moment.
3. Keep up with consistent training.
4. Work on socialization.
5. Provide more exercise and mental stimulation.
6. Avoid reinforcing negative behavior.
7. Create a safe space.
8. Be patient and consistent.

1. Identify The Root Cause

If you’ve already ruled out medical issues, you’ll need to figure out what is triggering these temper tantrums. Once you understand why your dog is exhibiting this behavior, you can start to work to fix it.

If your dog is bored, you’ll need to make sure they have plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. There are a few ways to keep your dog from getting bored, like taking them out for plenty of walks and outdoor playtime.

For even more mental stimulation, there are some indoor scent games to play with your dog. This allows your dog to use their nose to find treats or toys and is a great way to help your dog combat boredom.

Since anxiety can also be a cause of temper tantrums, you might want to speak to your veterinarian or a behaviorist. They can help you deal with an anxious dog by figuring out what’s causing your dog’s anxiety and may even be able to prescribe medication if necessary. A behaviorist can work with you and your dog to help them engage in training exercises to help mitigate anxiety.

2. Develop a Plan For Handling Temper Tantrums in the Moment

There are lots of things you can do to help manage a dog’s temper tantrums, but those often take time and effort. Having a plan in place for how to handle a temperature in the moment is helpful while your dog is learning what acceptable behavior is not.

If possible, help your dog by redirecting their attention to something else, such as a toy or going to their safe space. A safe space, like a quiet corner or their crate, can help them regulate their emotions and calm down. Depending on the situation, what your dog is doing, and your dog, the best approach in the moment could be to ignore the behavior entirely to avoid rewarding it.

3. Keep Up With Consistent Training

A common dog training myth is that once a dog is trained, they don’t need to work on it again. However, consistent training is really helpful in managing certain behaviors in your dog, especially temper tantrums.

Make sure your dog understands basic commands such as “stay”, “sit”, and “leave it”. These commands can help redirect their attention, curbing the temper tantrum. During training, make sure to reward them with positive reinforcement, such as training treats or giving them praise.

When your dog starts exhibiting temper tantrum behavior, give them one of their commands, and if they obey it, make sure to praise them for it. In time, they’ll learn that it’s better to receive attention and praise that way rather than throwing a temper tantrum.

4. Work on Socialization

Proper socialization is essential for every dog. This helps expose your dog to a variety of people, other animals, and environments, which can help them have less anxiety. This can help prevent tantrums that are based on fear.

One of the best ways to socialize a puppy or dog is to get them enrolled in a dog training class or, if age appropriate, a dog sport. The biggest benefit of puppy classes is that it teaches puppies how to interact with each other and other humans, and teach them how to behave in a public setting. All these things teach confidence, and a confident dog is much more self-assured and less likely to throw a temper tantrum.

5. Provide More Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Have you ever noticed that when your dog is properly tuckered out after exercise or playing, they are much better-behaved? They’re much more content to either take a nap or sit quietly and enjoy your company. This is because a dog who is mentally and physically exercised is less likely to be destructive or engage in behavior that gets them attention.

Make sure that your dog gets the proper amount of exercise for their breed, size, and personality. Some dogs require less exercise than others, but it’s important that every dog gets some type of exercise every day. At the bare minimum, your dog should have at least one or two 20 to 30-minute walks a day and some playtime.

If you need to engage your dog in other activities during bad weather, consider playing with puzzle toys or indoor scent games with them. These games are perfect for giving a dog plenty of mental stimulation in a more low-key setting.

6. Avoid Reinforcing Negative Behavior

It’s really important to try not to reinforce any negative behavior when your dog throws a temper tantrum. If your dog is pacing or barking, try not to react. Ignore the behavior and, if possible, leave the room. Wait until they’ve calmed down a little bit to give them attention again.

Dogs are extremely perceptive and can quickly learn that certain behaviors will get them attention. Unfortunately, sometimes these negative behaviors get them more attention, which just encourages them to behave like that more frequently. Leaving the room or ignoring the behavior teaches them that that behavior is not acceptable and will not lead to more attention. This is also a great strategy if your dog begs for food.

Restlessness, pacing, and barking can sometimes be signs that something is wrong, so you don’t necessarily want to ignore them completely. However, there is usually a difference between how a dog “throws a temper tantrum” versus one that is pacing because of illness or other potentially serious underlying issues. You may be able to tell the difference between when it is normal and when it is not for your dog.

7. Create A Safe Space

All dogs need to have a safe space to go to when they feel anxious or overwhelmed. Creating this space helps them calm down and self-regulate their emotions. Often, dogs learn this during crate training and continue to see this as a safe spot.

This safe space can be their crate, a little pet nook, an empty closet, or even just a quiet room that has some toys and soft bedding. If you’re creating a safe space in an empty closet, make sure that there’s no chance they can be locked in and can leave the area whenever they want.

Creating a safe space to help a dog calm down is also really helpful if your dog isn’t a fan of guests or gets scared during fireworks. It can also be useful to help calm your dog during a storm. This safe space should be a place your dog is familiar with, and you should have a command so they know to go there.

8. Be Patient And Consistent

Consistency and patience are imperative when dealing with a dog’s temper tantrums. It might take your dog a little bit to learn new behaviors and what’s acceptable and unacceptable, so patience is really important.

It’s also important to be consistent in what behavior you reward and what behavior is ignored. A lack of consistency can be one of the ways you’re confusing your dog, so you need to keep at it. This consistency can be hard at first, but it’s rewarding when your dog learns what’s acceptable behavior.

You also need to remember that every dog is different, and what method works for one dog might not work for yours. It’s important to understand your dog’s personality and any other needs, and keep those things in mind as you figure out how best to train them.

When to Seek Help For Dog Tantrums

If you have been working on training your dog for a while, and they’re still throwing doggy temper tantrums, you might want to seek professional help. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to your veterinarian. This way, your veterinarian can first rule out any physical issues or illnesses. If these issues are ruled out, a veterinarian may be able to recommend a reputable dog trainer or behaviorist.

Look for a dog behaviorist or dog trainer who has plenty of experience in dealing with dogs and their various behavior issues. They’ll be able to work with you and your dog to address whatever is going on. If the dog trainer or behaviorist determines that your dog might be struggling with anxiety, you might need to visit your veterinarian again to discuss possible medication options if that seems like it might be the best fit for your dog.

This is just an overview of how to deal with temper tantrums in dogs. While these behaviors aren’t actually temper tantrums, it’s important to understand what’s going on with your dog. Being able to figure out what’s going on or getting more intensive training can go a long way and help to reduce and resolve temper tantrums in dogs.