Is “Bad Dog!” Ever the Right Thing to Say?
We often hear people use the phrase “Bad Dog!” when their pet is doing something they don’t want him to do. We think the...
Bring Me My Slippers
How is it that some people are able to train their dogs to perform complicated tricks, like rolling over and playing dead — or...
Less Protein to Reduce Aggressive Behavior?
At the level of folklore, it makes sense to think that a diet relatively low in protein would help inhibit aggressive tendencies in a...
They Can’t Distinguish Between Words That Sounds Alike
If you use “Down” to get your dog to lie on the floor and “Done” for telling your pet that no more treats are...
Is it a Command or a Cue?
”When I first became a veterinarian, I didn’t really pay attention to what word I was using to describe training dogs and other animals,”...
Will the Teething and Nipping Ever End?
A puppy’s adult teeth generally start to come in when she reaches the age of 3 months. It hurts; the new teeth have to...
How Your Personality Impacts Your Dog
Extroverts have better results than introverts when they work with an animal behaviorist to help their dogs get over various fears, according to new...
What Won’t Work When Teaching “Come”
Renowned veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, once said that when asked what is the one thing most people would like their dog to be...
To Play Tug of War or Not to Play?
Time was that animal behaviorists said not to play tug of war with a dog because it could make him too aggressive. The thinking...
Dear Doctor: Play-fighting or just plain fighting?
Q. Sometimes my dog interacts with another dog in a way that seems kind of frightening. They growl and will even bite each other,...
Growl, Snap, Bite — In that Order
Before a dog reaches the age of 6 months, she will begin to show whether she’s feeling aggressive through various signals. She will also...
Walking a Dog Who’s Afraid of People
Last month we discussed walking a dog who is uninterested in or a little wary of people outside of his social group, but who...
