Behavior

Barking can be incredibly endearing or amazingly annoying. Some dogs bark the entire way around an agility course. Other dogs bark every time someone rings the doorbell. There are many types of dog barks, and some are more problematic than others.

I cannot count how many times clients with more than one dog have asked me whether it’s an option to use a leash coupler or two-dog leash. My usual response is probably not, but that is not always the case.

Dogs are naturally social beings, but that doesn’t mean every puppy leaves the litter with social skills or that trauma can’t derail an adult dog who previously socialized .

Separation anxiety (SA), also known as separation-related distress, is one of the most common behavioral problems in pet dogs with some estimates stating that...

Many dog owners know the frustration of dealing with a hyperactive or anxious dog. Whether your dog is constantly bouncing off the walls, excessively...

If you have ever lived with a Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Weimaraner, or another working breed, you’ve probably lived with a dog that has a strong instinct to chase anything that moves. In short, you’ve had a dog with a strong prey drive.

Early philosophers like Descartes to propose that dogs were nothing more than mindless automatons merely responding to instincts and physiological signals. We’ve come a long way since the 15th century though. Over the past two decades, more and more research has pointed to the fact that, contrary to that old notion that dogs are just “dumb animals,” they have an acute ability to think and reason.

Jealousy is normal. Dogs get jealous because you are a resource and the source of all good things in your dog’s life. It’s naturally ingrained in a dog to not want to share, and your dog may act aggressive. This also has been seen when a new baby arrives home! Your dog doesn’t want to share the attention. But, with dogs, if your dog already truly likes other dogs and enjoys their company, it’s not a difficult proposition to introduce the concept of sharing you to that dog.

An aggressive dog can be dangerous and a liability in the event she hurts a person or another animal. The good news is that aggressive behavior can be successfully modified using a combination of good management and humane behavior modification.

If your dog’s tail is down and he’s not acting like his normal self, something is likely bothering him either emotionally or physically—or both. Determining context can go a long way toward helping your pooch feel better. Is he afraid of something? If so, remove “the thing” or help him get away from the situation and see if he goes back to being his happy-go-lucky self.

Every one of us who has lived with and loved a dog knows the pain of grief when we lose them. But what about the other dogs in our home? Do they grieve the loss as well? Answering this question isn’t as simple as it sounds.

Every dog who barks has a reason for it. Every dog who barks has a reason for it. Determining the cause of barking though depends on the individual context.