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.  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 »

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.  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 »

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.  read more »

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)!  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 »

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!  read more »

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.  read more »

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!  read more »