Please Don’t Pet My Dog
While dogs in general are predisposed to liking people and may even have evolved to bond with us, that does not mean that every...
Even Mild Punishment Has a Negative Impact
You consider yourself a loving dog owner who would never hit your pet or otherwise cause harm. But did you know that even mild forms of punishment you might inflict regularly without thinking could damage your dogs psyche and create behavioral issues?
If Your Dog Refuses to Go Out In the Rain
Some dogs absolutely hate to go out when it’s raining. It becomes a tug of war at the door. Yet you want your pet...
No More Jumping on People
Teaching your dog to refrain from jumping up on people is not one of the easier behavior training tasks. One reason is that your...
Using a Shock Collar for Getting a Dog to Come
Ask 100 dog parents the one thing they wish their dog would do that they currently don’t, and the answer will be, “Come when...
Should You Wake Your Dog From a Nightmare?
Lots of dogs move their limbs during sleep, twitch, or emit soft barking sounds. None of those are signs of nightmares. They just mean...
For Whom the Doorbell Tolls
Doorbells are intrinsically exciting for dogs,” says the head of the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM. “They signal something is about to...
Dear Doctor: The Dog doesn’t like our Child
Q. About four months ago we adopted the sweetest rescue dog named Violet — a Lab mix of about 60 pounds who loves to...
Causes of Nighttime Agitation
Too much fat is not the only thing that predisposes a dog to pancreatitis. Certain breeds have a predisposition, particularly schnauzers. Terriers are prone,...
The Right (and Wrong) Treats for Training
When training either a puppy or adult dog, you’re going to need lots of food treats to keep your pet focused on getting it...
Teaching Your Dog to Handle Different Kinds of People
Some dogs react negatively to men with beards, tall people, people in hats, young children — even those with different skin tones.
That’s right. Differences...
More Physical Activity, Less Fear
Dogs who get less than an hour a day of physical activity and who seldom engage in training activities are more fearful of people...
