Dog sniffing canines can glean a lot of information by smelling the crotch of another dog so it’s understandable why they try to smell ours. Whatever information they expect to get by doing so isn’t as important as how embarrassing it is. Here’s how to stop crotch sniffing dogs in their tracks.  read more »

Certain dog breeds are naturally inclined to herd other animals (including people) and although the behavior is based on the instinct to protect, it can be extremely uncomfortable – especially with a large crowd of family and friends. If you’ve never encountered dog herding before, it’s an experience that prompts dogs to nip at feet and legs, and block a person’s path in an effort to redirect them. Here’s how to train a herding dog to let humans roam free.  read more »

Barking is natural. It’s just what dogs do and it’s unreasonable to expect or demand that a dog not bark at all. The problem with barking is that it can become excessive and disrupt what would otherwise be a nice quite day not only for your own family, but for your neighbors as well. Should your neighbors complain and call animal control or the cops about your barking dog, you could face a citation! Here are a few suggestions you can try to stop dog barking problems.  read more »

Dogs jump when they’re excited. They’ll jump all over another dominant dog out of respect and they’ll jump all over you out of glee. But while dog jumping on people is generally a clear message of affection, it isn’t always appropriate. A large jumping dog can overwhelm and scare small children for instance, or it can make bringing in the groceries an even harder chore than what it already is. Here’s how to stop your dog from jumping without hurting its feelings.  read more »

When it comes to eating, food guarding isn't the only behavioral problem dogs can have. Dog eating problems range from gorging and sneaking food to eating non-food items and refusing to eat altogether. This article introduces some common eating problems and then explains what to do about them.  read more »

Like barking, chewing, and jumping, dog digging behavior is natural. You’ll especially see dog digging behavior in dogs that have been bred to do so. Dachshunds for example, were bred to chase after badgers through tunnels and into dens. And Yorkshire terriers were bred to chase rabbits and other burrowing animals underground. Spitzes not only dug up food, they buried what wasn't consumed and also dug tunnels of their own to give birth in warm dens. Today’s dogs don’t dig for the same reasons. Today's dogs dig because they need to exercise, relieve boredom, bury toys or bones, make personal beds, or simply to satisfy the curiosity of what’s beneath the ground. Here’s how to redirect the tendency toward a more appropriate place.  read more »

Like barking, digging, and jumping, dog chewing and puppy chewing is a natural canine behavior. It helps clean teeth, strengthen gums and the jaw, and quite honestly, it passes the time. Here’s how to redirect that energy toward something more productive.  read more »

When a dog encounters an unpleasant and nerve-wracking situation, it might develop an inappropriate reaction that repeats whenever the situation reoccurs. Although a repetitive reaction takes only seconds to develop, obsessive behaviors can take months to recondition. An obsessive behavior is any action that’s repeated over and over and it isn’t exclusive to the human species. Dogs can become obsessive too! The following explains how to stop an obsessive dog behavior problem.  read more »

Got chasing dogs? A dog that seemingly chases everything is satisfying its natural disposition toward chasing prey. It doesn’t really matter what the prey is (a rabbit, a bird, a car, leaf, or another person). If it moves, chasers chase it. That spells trouble when you consider dogs don’t understand safety precautions and can’t predict danger the way we can. Confining a chasing dog is one approach to solving the problem, but there are other solutions.  read more »

Begging for tidbits at breakfast, lunch, or dinner can be a royal nuisance if allowed to continue. Yet it’s a rather easy bad habit to break. You simply don’t allow dog begging. Period. Here’s how to stop begging dog problems before they start.  read more »