Often many of the behavior problems in dogs can be traced to a parasitic infection. These internal parasites include tapeworm, roundworm, flea infestation, ear mites, and Hypermetria, a muscle disorder that causes an exaggerated overreaching with the limbs.

Most parasite infections such as roundworm infestations are serious conditions that require immediate veterinary attention, something that many dog owners may not be aware of. The important fact is that all puppies need to be de-wormed along with receiving vaccinations against distemper and hepatitis. Most owners don't understand that problems related to internal parasites can have adverse effects on digestive function, causing a puppy to have loose stools. Yet they still expect to be able to housebreak the young dog properly and teach him all the more complex lessons required to make the perfect companion. Of course when the puppy has difficulty with training, the owner will often resort to various forms of punishment, including isolating or socially rejecting the pet. This mismanagement tends to only result in confusion and can cause a variety of abnormal behavior problems in the dog.

The list of problems associated with canine internal parasites include: Excessive barking and whining; destructive chewing and digging; hyperactivity (possibly caused by long periods of isolation); and eating stool, which may be the result of fecal fixation from repeated punishment after failed attempts at housebreaking.

Some owners will actually avoid their dog due to a flea infestation. They buy sprays or collars in an attempt to get rid of the fleas, but this does nothing for the bigger problem that includes an infestation in the dog's bedding and the home in general. The fleas continue to multiply and eventually infest the yard as well. The cycle of isolation for the dog then continues, only serving to exacerbate the behavioral problems.

An ear mite infestation can lead to constant ear scratching and destructive chewing, causing the annoyed owner to feel forced to confine the dog. They ignore the odor that is usually associated with ear mites and instead wait for the ear problems to clear up before dealing with the behavioral issues. Check with your vet any time your dog's ear has a strange odor. He can prescribe medication to ease the scratching which should then help alleviate the behavioral problems.

It's not surprising that many dogs with signs of hypermetria also have a history of a heavy tapeworm or roundworm infestation from the time they were puppies. Hypermetria causes a dog to misjudge the distance of objects and bump into things, accidentally submerge their nose below water when drinking and have an exaggerated gait while walking. In some instances, a dog suffering from this disorder can be unusually aggressive and appears to lack any long-term memory retention. In this case the dog may have to learn basic lessons repeatedly, every day.