DOG TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR

Owners dont see separation anxiety in action. After all, theyre not home when a dog panics over being alone. But they sure see its aftermath - the destruction of household objects, elimination in inappropriate places, escape attempts that lead to broken teeth and nails, and neighbors who complain about excessive barking in their absence.

In our increasingly environmentally aware society, more and more people are becoming concerned with how their purchases are affecting our ecosystem. With that in mind, here are some carbon footprint-friendly options for your dog, whether youre buying first-time items or replacing some staples in your dogs collection of accouterments.

Dogs dont bite to show that might makes right or to make clear how scary or nasty they can be. Most dogs bite out of fear, stress (including stress that leads to resource guarding), self-protection or protection of their human family members, or severe pain.

Aggression is the number one reason people bring their dogs to animal behaviorists, and these owners are often in an agitated emotional state because they are afraid they cant control their pet in dangerous situations. Now a new study out of the University of Bristol in the UK demonstrates that owners emotional needs need be addressed as well as those of their reactive dogs so that they can effectively apply positive reinforcement rather than punishment when training their dogs not to act aggressively.

Many people have a strong negative reaction to seeing dogs humping. They interpret it as a sign of sexual aggression. And if its their own dog doing the humping, they feel embarrassed by it, as if its somehow a reflection on them. They start yelling at their pet and trying to pull it off the other dog, which backfires because dogs like attention - even negative attention - and your strong reaction could only prove positive reinforcement for the behavior. So what should you do?

All of us, dogs included, lose some mental agility as we grow older. A gradual reduction in brain size coupled with the loss of neurons as the years go by translates to a slowdown in cognitive ability. But is it senility or, as its called in dogs, canine cognitive dysfunction? If the drop-off in mental acuity is fairly precipitous, with noticeable differences taking place over months rather than years, theres a good chance it is.

It might seem like an electric fence is a great idea for all dogs. Unlike an actual fence, it keeps a dog safely contained without obstructing his view in any way.

The old saw that rules are made to be broken may be fine for people on occasion but is a disaster for dogs. Dogs are extremely uncomfortable without consistent rules, even if their behavior might have you thinking otherwise.

Up to 7 percent of dogs are brought to veterinary behaviorists because of too much barking, but that number may underestimate the prevalence of the problem, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In one survey, almost 13 percent of owners identified too much barking as a concern.

My dog will poop only when he is off leash. It is a problem because he is very reactive, and Ive sometimes let him off leash to go to the bathroom while worrying that he might chase a bicyclist or jogger. I want him to be able to romp off leash sometimes but not all the time. How can I get him over the modesty hump?

You know your dog loves you, but sometimes she may say it and you could miss, or ignore, the cue. Here are five ways she might express love that warrant your returning the sentiment with some soft stroking and loving words. After all, youd feel a little bad if you told someone you loved them and they didnt say it back, even if you knew they felt that way.

First-time dog owners who have new puppies that engage in the habit of eating poop are often told its a behavior of dogs under one year of age and that their pet will grow out of it. But plenty of adult dogs eat poop, too. In a survey of 3,000 dog owners conducted by Benjamin Hart, DVM, of the veterinary school at the University of California, Davis, it was found that one in six dogs is a serious stool eater.