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The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

Home Behavior

Behavior

There is no single reason dogs eat dirt.

Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt?

If your dog is eating large amounts of dirt, she could be suffering from a vitamin or mineral deficiency that she is trying to remedy. Maybe. While there’s a lot of anecdotal support for this theory, research is fairly inconclusive.
A consultation with a board certified veterinary behaviorist can help solve the most troublesome dog behaviours.

What Is a Veterinary Behaviorist?

Behavioral problems can result from neurochemical imbalances, medical conditions, past life experiences, current living conditions, and every combination of these. Veterinary behaviorists are uniquely positioned to use tools from both medicine and behavior science to most accurately diagnose and efficiently treat dogs
A woman introducing a cat to a dog, the cat is clearly upset.

How to Introduce a Cat to a Dog

There are millions of homes where cats and dogs live together in perfect harmony – mine included. How does that happen? Careful introductions of...
The best way to comfort a dog in heat is to not have her go through the cycle.

How to Comfort a Dog in Heat

An intact dog will go through a heat cycle twice a year. Comforting a dog in heat requires patience and keeping a dog that is confined indoors engaged.
Some dogs do watch TV and react to whatever they see on the screen.

Do Dogs Really Watch TV?

Dogs’ vision is a little different from ours. Despite these differences between dogs’ vision and ours, many dogs watch TV and recognize things that are of interest to them.
A doberman pinscher relaxing in a retail environment.

Teach Your Dog to Settle and Relax on Cue

If your dog will exhibit calm relaxed behavior when needed, it can help reduce stress and make everyone’s day smoother. When our dogs act calm, they will actually become calmer. Gradually, this state of relaxation will develop to match the outward behavior.
A small brown puppy sleeping through the night in his bed.

How to Get a Puppy to Sleep Through the Night

Puppies sleep schedules are irregular. Exercise, dimming lights, and companionship are great ways to get a puppy to sleep through the night.
Woman's leg injured by a dog bite

Are Dogs’ Mouths Cleaner Than Humans’?

People have been told that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than a human’s. This is a myth! Dogs’ mouths contain just as many bacteria as our own.
A velcro dog is one that constantly demands attention. Some breeds are famous for this but it can be a sign of separation anxiety.

The Velcro Dog

A “Velcro dog” wants to be where you are, no matter what and no matter where. A dog desiring closeness isn't a bad thing. If it's a symptom of separation anxiety building a dogs confidence can help them be confident when alone. If the behavior is new it can mean the dog is ill or in pain.
Worried dog face, nervous dog in car, scared dog in backseat of car. Conceptual image for anxiety, worry, and nervous traveler. Purebred dog is a Cavapoo, small dog breed poodle mix. Dog in backseat of care, anxiously waiting to be taken to the vet.

Reading Stressed Dog Body Language

Recognizing your dog’s stressed body language is important because stress can cause a variety of health ailments, and lowering your dog's stress level is a health measure.
A husky howls in Alaska, United States, North America

Why Do Dogs Howl?

Howling is one of the many ways that dogs communicate. It can be a territorial declaration, signal excitement at the start of a walk. or just communicating with dogs in the area.
A man offers a Boston terrier a tasty treat while the dog avoids looking at the food.

Dog Sniffing Food But Not Eating

If your dog normally has a good appetite, but suddenly stops eating his food, you should be concerned. However, if your dog is always a picky, slow eater, and he goes on strike for a meal or two, there is usually nothing urgent to be worried about.

Latest Blog

Digital Memories Can Hurt – But Time Heals

There’s every chance that you, like me, get regularly smacked in the face by a Facebook “memory" of your beloved heart dog who passed some time ago. It’s just as likely to make you smile as bring tears to your eyes.