A tantrum is a behaviour that dogs use to either express themselves in an emotional outburst or a tool to get their own way. It is a way for dogs to tell us, “Hey we are not happy, pay attention”. However these outbursts can be incredibly frustrating and embarrassing for us when out in public. So as pet owners what can we do? We need to learn to understand our dogs’ body language and how they communicate with us. By providing an outlet to express their frustration, mentally and physically they will be too tired to even have a tantrum. Lots of mental and physical exercise is essential to keeping dogs healthy and happy. Being consciousness of the dog breed will also be helpful. For example Labradors are bred to use their mouth, so often their tantrums involve biting, nipping, and mouthing.

Shalin Hustad, Grassroots Canine
www.grassrootscanine.com