DOG TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR

He’s Not Doing It Out Of Spite

You’ve been gone all day, and your dog trashes the house — or defecates on the rug when you know he can hold it...

Why Dogs Howl

Answer this question. A dog howls to say: A) I’m over here. B) Eureka, I found something good! C) Stay back! D) Gee, that...

Common Household Noises May Severely Stress Your Dog

Microwave beeps, the chirps of a smoke alarm system when a battery is dying, cell phone noises, alarm clocks going off…these high-pitched sounds are...
Did she say “beef tips” or “cheese dip?”

Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads

You know how dogs will sometimes tilt their heads adorably with an almost quizzical look on their face, as if they’re trying to process...
Throwing certain kinds of balls directly to a dog with a long-handled launcher can result in deadly choking.

When Games of Catch Become Deadly for Dogs

When the Center for Pet Safety started receiving more and more reports of dogs dying because of toy balls lodging in their throats during...
Look for relaxed body language. Neither dog nor trainer should appear stiff or overwrought.

The Three Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Dog Trainer

The very best trainer for your dog is you. Nothing strengthens the bond between you and your pet like patiently teaching cues — “Sit,”...

Dear Doctor: Dog talk

Q. I keep reading that a smart dog can learn up to 250 words and that some dogs can learn many more than that....

Your First Dog Might Be Your Most Aggressive

A person’s first dog is more likely to behave aggressively than a dog who lives with someone who has already had dogs. That’s the...
Making a dog feel threatened is not a wholesome (or productive) way to get compliance, animal behaviorists say.

Dog-Training Techniques Depicted in Media Spark Concerns

Recent television and online programs showing punishment-based training methods for dogs, including the use of painful collars, are causing animal behaviorists and others to...
The dog on the couch is okay — if you say it is.

Things You Think Make You a Bad Dog Leader (But Don’t)

“In many of my conversations with clients, they are very apologetic about the fact that their dog sleeps on the bed with them,” says...
Handsome Butch has had more items removed from his stomach than his “mom,” Barbara Freeman of Los Angeles, cares to count.

When the Pica Gets Out of Hand

Thin rubber gloves, the plastic bag the newspaper is delivered in, a piece of fabric, the rubber gasket on a Yeti drink holder…. These...
When you use the wrong words to describe your dog’s behavior, you could be misunderstanding his good intentions.

Words Can Harm Your Dog

You know the jingle, “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words can never harm me.” It doesn’t apply when it comes to...