Aggression is a problem which easily occurs if your dog is not neutered and no effort made to establish clear levels of discipline.

Last week, just as Kim the dalmatian and his owner were about to leave my examination room, I asked if there were any other problems he would like to discuss.

With an indulgent glance at his dog, he replied that there was nothing other than the fact that Kim would let no one sit on the sofa next to his wife while watching television in the evenings.

During the ensuing discussion with Kim’s owner, it became apparent that here I had a classic case of a behavioural problem in a dog… and what was evident was that these problems were not being taken seriously enough. This is unfortunate, since such problems can escalate until the outcome becomes dramatic and extreme measures have to be taken.

Most people who are inexperienced with owning a dalmatian will tend to associate this breed with Hollywood’s portrayal of Walt Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.

Common behavioural problems in dogs are aggression, possessive behaviour and separation anxiety

As with all puppies, the dalmatian pup is cute and loveable. However, this Croatian breed can be headstrong and needs to be handled with care because it is characteristically sensitive and can develop behavioural problems if undisciplined.

In this case, however, Kim is clearly loved and cared for, so the reported behavioural problems were a symptom of an underlying problem.

Common behavioural problems in dogs are aggression, possessive behaviour and what is known as separation anxiety. These are all conditions which, if left un­checked, can cause severe daily strain on a household.

Cases I recall are of a couple who had not left the island for 10 years as their dog was too aggressive to be left with anyone. Or the husband who could not pay a visit to the bathroom at night because he would be attacked by their small family dog for leaving his bedside.

Then there was the story of the lady who could no longer live with her dog as he had taken complete control over her – to the extent that she could not sit up from her sofa unless he permitted it; her dog had, literally, become ‘leader of the pack’.

Behavioural problems are not restricted to dogs. One couple owned a cat that had taken such control over the wife that it had started to manifest mating instincts towards her and would readily attack the husband if he showed affection towards his wife.

Animals can also exhibit aggressive behaviour towards their own. I had one case where an otherwise docile dog fatally injured a smaller one that tried to steal his dinner.

Aggression is a problem which easily occurs if your dog is not neutered and no effort made to establish clear levels of discipline. I recently examined a dog that had not been neutered, had never been disciplined and always had plenty of food in his dog bowl.

Some form of discipline is essential when bringing up a puppy. The best thing you can do for your dog and yourself is to take your new canine companion to dog school; there, you will be taught how to control your dog as well as basic commands you will need to control it. Importantly for your pet, it will also learn to socialise with other dogs.

Feeding your dog without being snarled at, being able to pass through a doorway in front of your dog and not behind it, as well as being able to control it while out walking are all part of this learning process.

There is so much more to learn about controlling your dog’s behavior; it is important that you seek the advice of qualified veterinarians or professional animal behaviourists to ensure both your welfare and that of your pet.

Neutering, especially in male dogs, should be considered and discussed with your veterinary surgeon as part of a strategy to curtail any sign of excessive aggressiveness. Attention should also be given to cryptorchid male dogs and cats, where a retained testicle could contribute to elevated levels of testosterone.

Possessive behaviour is a form of aggression which becomes even more serious when a member of the family is the subject of this possession. This is because of the obvious situation that, if anyone approaches this person, there is a high probability that they will be nipped, scratched or attacked. It is very important that you become aware of possessive behaviour over feeding bowls, toys or other objects, and deal with this behaviour.

Separation anxiety is quite different. This behavioural problem arises when dogs are extremely attached to their owners, to the degree that they cannot bear to be left alone at home.

An otherwise very normal dog is capable of causing considerable damage in the house during these episodes. There are various medications that can be used to mitigate separation anxiety; though again, treatment should form part of a holistic educational programme to control the problem.

By no means are these the only behavioural problems pets may suffer from. Dogs soiling in the house or cats suddenly soiling outside the litter tray are common and important problems.

Incidents of puppies eating their own stools have also been known to happen.

In each case, it is important to determine whether there is an underlying medical condition that is causing the problem.

Behavioural problems should be discussed with your veterinary surgeon to be able to find a solution – be it surgical or medical – or dealt with in collaboration with an expert in animal behaviour.

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Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.