Problems and Solutions

• Common Dog Eating Problems and How to Solve Them-

  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.

• Chasing Dog Problems - How to Stop This Behavior-

  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.

• Jumping Dog? Learn How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People-

  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.

• How to Avoid Dog Bites- As we mentioned in our article about what makes a dog bite, the people that dogs tend to bite are the very people that they live with. When we encounter a strange dog however, the probability of getting bitten doubles because we just don’t know the condition of a dog we’re confronted with. An unfamiliar dog for example could come from a violent or abusive background. It could lack important socialization skills, or it could even suffer from a painful illness. That’s why we strongly caution you against interacting with a strange dog.
• Solving Dog Behavior Problems Related to Elimination-

  Housetraining success varies among dogs. It can take as little as a few weeks for some dogs to understand your requirements or it can seem like a problem that has no solution for others. Not so surprisingly, the cause of most elimination problems is the owner. Failing to recognize important signs and create a schedule are two key mishaps owners make. Here's how to correct dog behavior problems related to elimination.

• How to Prevent Inappropriate Sexual Dog Habits-

  Being creatures of nature, dogs are very sexual beings. It’s nothing to panic about, but it’s nothing to overlook either. Dogs don’t follow the same social graces that we follow, and as a result, can create some rather embarrassing moments for us. The following offers some advice on how you can curb these types of dog habits so that you can minimize the effect they have on your family’s relationship with the dog (specifically, your children’s relationship)!

• Moving an Injured Dog- When we have to move an injured dog to a place where it can be treated, one of our biggest fears is inadvertently hurting the dog or worsening an already delicate wound. Here’s how to do it in a way that minimizes pain and harm.
• Managing a Dog Allergy- Is it possible to suffer from dog allergies and live with the shaggiest of all dogs at the same time? Although the very idea may send some people into a sneezing, coughing, or itching fury, we’ve discovered some ways in which dog allergy sufferers and canines can coexist. Here’s how:
• Dealing with Putting a Dog To Sleep- It’s a fact that no one really likes to think about, but the plain sad truth is that dogs just don’t live as long as we’d like them to.  A “lifetime” companion may only live only 20 years for example, with the last of those years being physically painful to a dog and emotionally painful for us. Or a spunky little fellow may get a severe injury or suddenly develop an untreatable disease. This article talks about putting a dog to sleep and your available options.
  
• Dog Fleas - How to Get Rid of Those Nasty Pests- There’s probably nothing more irritating to both canines and humans than dog fleas! Just the sight of one of them sends everyone in a household itching like crazy since one flea really means there are hundreds more biting you, your spouse, your children, your other pets, and your dog. Here are some ways you can get rid of the pesky little buggers and return to a normal, scratch-free life!
• Dealing with Dog Drool- As unsightly as it is, every dog drools. Some dogs like basset hounds, Newfoundlands, and Saint Bernards drool more than others, but every single canine on the planet experiences a little mouth drip from time to time. Is it anything to fret over? Nah - only when dog drool out of the ordinary.
  
• Preventing a Lost Dog Scare- There’s no doubt about it. Although lost dogs are a common occurrence, searching for a lost dog is an extremely trying and stressful experience. Here’s how to prevent that from happening.
• Find a Lost Dog- No matter how well behaved your dog is or how well you’ve secured your environment, your dog could still run away. This behavior isn’t a reflection of how the dog feels about you. And unless we’re talking about the backyard of female canine in heat, it isn’t a reflection of where a dog would rather be either. The fact is, dogs run away from home all the time if given half the chance. Here’s how to find a lost dog no matter what the reason.
• How to Solve Fat Dog Problems-

  Way too many calories and a lack of sufficient exercise spells "FAT DOG" with big, capital letters. And it’s the most common form of nutrition-related problems created out of fear. Owners who fear malnutrition have a tendency of overfeeding their pets without realizing they’re causing additional problems. In the U.S., approximately 40% of all dogs are needlessly fat or obese, and thus suffer from arthritis and heart disease. Even worse, obesity decreases a dog’s life span!

• Preventing the Lost Dog Problem while Moving to a New Home- Many of our pets end up lost when we move from one residence to another. Here’s how to prevent the lost dog problem when moving across country or just a few blocks away.
• Dealing with Noise Sensitive Dogs-

  Because a dog's hearing is so acute, dogs are naturally startled by sudden, loud, or unfamiliar sounds. Some dogs are so startled, they become fearful and try to get away from the direction of the sounds. The best way to deal with a noise sensitive canine is to reduce its exposure to unwelcome sounds. Either that, or fill the environment with sounds that the dog is used to so that it isn’t overwhelmed with strange ones.

• Dog Barking Problems - How to Stop Them-

  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.

• Dog Digging Behavior Problems - How to Stop This Behavior-

  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.

• Destructive Dog Chewing - How to Stop This Behavior-

  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.

• Solving Possessiveness Dog Problems and Excessive Guarding-

  Guarding and protecting are natural dog behaviors. But these behaviors become dog problems when dogs attempt to guard and protect things from their owners or other people. Quite often, dogs growl, charge, and even bite in an attempt to protect their things, and it doesn’t really matter who they’re growling at or biting. This behavior is simply unacceptable -- especially in a household full of children who might walk close to something that belongs to a dog or who might need to retrieve a dog’s item for washing.

• Anxious Dog Behavior Problem - Learn How to Sole It-

  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.

• Begging Dog Problems and How to Avoid Them-

  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.

• Crotch Sniffing Dogs - How to Stop This Embarrassing Behavior-

  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.

• Dog Herding Behavior - Learn How to Stop It-

  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.

• Having Dog Behavioral Problem? Learn When You Must Seek Professional Help-

  There may come a time when you can’t correct a dog behavioral problem yourself. That doesn’t mean that you’ve failed with your training – it simply means that it’s time to call in a pro. It’s no different from seeking a professional to fix your taxes, car, or plumbing. After all, we all can’t be experts at everything! Professional trainers have the expertise to correct problems we can’t. So the following describes situations that may warrant the need for a professional. If you recognize these situations within your dog, consult the services of a certified trainer or behavioral therapist.

• How to Stop Puppy Biting-

  In some ways, puppies are like human toddlers. Both use their mouths to interpret the world around them. Like toddlers, puppies too chew on toys, food, furniture, and anything else they can wrap their jaws around. But unlike toddlers, puppies like to chew people too. They don’t chew to be mean – they chew because their curious. Puppies learn about the human smell, the human taste, and the human texture though biting.

• Eliminating Dog Temper Tantrums-

  Did you know that dogs can throw temper tantrums just like children can? Both puppies and young adult dogs will through a hissy fit when they can’t do what they want or have what they want. Let’s say that you take one of its favorite toys away for washing. Dog temper tantrums involve barking, crying, growling, and even rolling around on the ground, and you might see this in reaction to simply wanting to wash a dog toy!

• How To De-Skunk a Dog Sprayed by Skunk- We’ve all heard that tomato juice, vinegar, and even ketchup will help remove the stench of a skunk dog. But if you ask a professional groomer what she thinks, you might be surprised by the answer. According to groomers, these food-based remedies aren’t very effective at all. Here’s what they recommend for a dog sprayed by skunk instead.
• Appropriate Dog Bite Treatment- Make no mistake about it. Dog bites can be dangerous. Not only can a dog bite hurt and damage muscle and nerve tissue, it can also infect. We’ve therefore outlined the steps for appropriate dog bite treatment in the event that you’re bitten by a known or unknown dog.