Top 5 Dog Behavior Issues TLC Clients and Sitters Deal With in Chandler, AZ
- TLC Blogger
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
(And When to Consider Professional Help)
At TLC House & Pet Sitting Service, LLC, we work with dogs throughout Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and Mesa, Arizona. While most pets are well-adjusted and happy at home, certain behavior challenges come up again and again during pet sitting visits.
Here are the top five dog behavior issues we see locally — and when it may be time to involve a professional dog trainer.
1. Aggression Toward People or Other Pets
Aggression can range from territorial barking to snapping or biting. Because it can quickly become unsafe, it’s one of the most serious behavior concerns we encounter in home pet sitting.
Common causes:
Fear or anxiety
Lack of socialization
Protectiveness or past negative experiences
What helps:
Socializing your dog in safe, pet-friendly environments like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Petco, or PetSmart can help build confidence. Walking regularly in your neighborhood throughout Chandler or surrounding East Valley communities also exposes your dog to new sights and sounds in a controlled way.
A professional dog trainer can safely assess triggers and build a behavior modification plan tailored to your dog’s needs.
2. Excessive Barking
Barking is normal dog communication. However, constant barking — especially in urban and HOA neighborhoods in Chandler and Gilbert — can become stressful for both you and your neighbors.
Common triggers:
Territorial instincts
Boredom or lack of stimulation
Anxiety or frustration
What helps:
More exercise, mental enrichment, and structured training can significantly reduce nuisance barking. Rewarding quiet behavior rather than reacting to barking helps reinforce calm communication.
Daily walks, enrichment toys, and consistent routines make a noticeable difference.
3. Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is common, especially as more owners in the Phoenix area return to work outside the home. Dogs with separation anxiety may become destructive or vocal when left alone.
Common signs:
Howling or barking after you leave
Destructive behavior such as chewing furniture, toys, or household items like TV remotes
Digging at doors
Pacing or restlessness
What helps:
A gradual desensitization plan, positive departures, and confidence-building training can improve independence over time.
Crate training for short periods can help some dogs feel secure. Baby gates can limit access to certain areas, and closing doors can reduce overstimulation.
If separation anxiety becomes severe, working with a professional trainer is strongly recommended.
4. Leash Pulling
Leash pulling can make daily walks exhausting and sometimes unsafe — especially in busy Chandler neighborhoods or on popular walking paths.
Common causes:
Excitement or high energy
Lack of leash manners
Environmental distractions
What helps:
Teaching loose-leash walking through consistent cues and rewarding calm walking behavior is key. Leash manners are a learned behavior.
Working with a professional trainer can help both you and your dog learn how to walk together properly. Once leash pulling improves, many other behavioral challenges become easier to manage.
5. Jumping on People
Jumping on guests, children, or delivery drivers may seem friendly, but it can be intimidating or dangerous.
Common causes:
Over-excitement
Seeking attention
Lack of impulse control
What helps:
Training calm greetings and consistently rewarding “four-on-the-floor” behavior when people arrive teaches appropriate ways to say hello.
Consistency from everyone in the household is important.
Do You Need a Dog Trainer?
If any of these issues are persistent, stressful, or creating safety concerns, working with a professional dog trainer in Chandler or the surrounding East Valley can make a significant difference.
Training strengthens communication and builds confidence, giving both you and your dog tools for long-term success.
Recommended Local Dog Trainer in Arizona
Home Dog Training Positively – An Arizona-based dog training service that uses positive, reward-based methods to address common behavior challenges and build confident, well-mannered dogs.
They offer:
In-home dog training
Customized behavior plans
Support for aggression, excessive barking, leash manners, separation anxiety, and greeting behaviors
For TLC clients in Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and Mesa, this type of personalized training can be especially helpful.
Learn more on our Networking Page
How TLC House & Pet Sitting Service Can Support Your Training Plan
If you choose to work with a professional dog trainer like Home Dog Training Positively, our TLC pet sitters can help reinforce your training plan during in-home visits.
Consistency is key. When both your trainer and your pet sitter are aligned, your dog learns faster and more reliably.
At TLC House & Pet Sitting Service, LLC, we proudly serve pet families in Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and Mesa, AZ, providing professional, communicative in-home pet sitting with structure and care.
If you have questions about your dog’s behavior or want to discuss how we can support your training goals, we’re happy to help.
Comments