Dog Behavior

Being scared of things is an evolutionary response in not only humans but also animals. This fear response is designed to help protect us in life-or-death situations. You’ve probably heard of “fight or flight” when it comes to fear and humans, but what is the fear response of canines? There are four fear responses in […]

While we may not recognize it at every moment of the day, our dogs never stop learning. They’re ceaselessly creating new associations, learning which behaviors cause which responses to understand the best, most efficient ways to get what they want or need. The constant connection-building can make everyday training seem more complicated than many owners

Dogs are sensitive animals, and it’s important for dog owners to care for their emotional health as much as their physical health. When dogs don’t receive adequate love and attention, they can start to feel neglected. Neglect can have a significant negative impact on a dog’s well-being. Not only is it an emotional issue, but

Our canine companions are the absolute cutest, but they can also be kind of slobbery. While some pups just drool a little here or there, others love licking their humans constantly. Sometimes, those canines who love to lick people lick in the oddest places, too, particularly on the legs and feet. But why do they

Expectant parents who are dog owners often wonder how they should introduce their new baby and dog, and whether they should be concerned about their dog attacking the baby at any point. The good news is that most canines will be fine around infants1 after the initial adjustment period, where they are mostly curious about

When it comes to dogs, most of us think the more the merrier! However, some dogs can get aggressive with other dogs, especially those of the same sex, making you wonder if two male dogs can get along. Generally two male dogs can get along if they are properly trained and well socialized. It often

Dogs quickly develop a deep bond with their owners and rarely take kindly to any threats that might affect them. While many of us know unfamiliar pets can cause some conflict in the home, dogs often become equally jealous of new babies. Owners with newborns will discover as much when their dog displays frustrating attention-seeking

According to the American Boxer Club, the Boxers’ most notable trait is their innate desire for human affection.1 They’re generally happiest when spending time with people, especially children. These loyal, affectionate, and intelligent dogs are silly and courageous. They’re muscular and athletic, patient and protective. Boxers take their job as watchdogs and family guardians very seriously,

Everyone knows that cats can climb trees like nobody’s business (it’s the getting-down thing they sometimes need the fire department’s help with). But can their canine counterparts scale a mighty oak, too? While you’re unlikely to catch a St. Bernard in a tree, some particularly athletic breeds can climb trees if motivated enough. Read on

Annoyance is the feeling of being irritated and slightly angry. We get annoyed with loud chewers, people who cut lines, and when our coworkers stink up the office by microwaving their leftover fish for lunch. But are our canine counterparts capable of becoming annoyed? Absolutely, and, unfortunately, we are often the reason behind our dog’s

Even when we feel as in sync with our dog’s body language as any owner can hope to be, sometimes we wish our Rottweilers would just come out and say what they mean. The closest we can get is interpreting vocalizations, but even those can be ambiguous or downright contradictory to what we think they

Life would be so much easier if our dogs could tell us everything they’re thinking and feeling. But until science finds a way for us to communicate with our pets, we just have to get good at reading their body language and facial expressions. The side eye is an interesting facial expression that can have

Dogs do a lot of strange things, but eating toilet paper must be up there with some of the most bizarre canine behavior. There are several potential reasons why dogs eat toilet paper, including behavioral causes like boredom, stress, and instinctual behaviors, and medical issues like nutrient deficiencies and pica. Unfortunately, this habit can result

Sometimes, our dogs’ affection can ramp up when the night winds down. We settle in for bed, pull the covers up, and, as if on cue, our pets run in for a load of puppy kisses. While there’s no question that we’ll graciously accept all the love they offer, your dog’s habit of licking your

Begging is a fairly common behavior in dogs, and while it can seem cute when a new four-legged family member stares dolefully at you while you’re eating, that feeling can soon change to one of annoyance. Generally, dogs beg simply because they like food, and they especially like human food because it packs more of

Our canine companions love to play with each other, and sometimes, this includes play fighting. But when our pups start to play a little rough, it can cause concern and make worry creep in. Is play fighting innocent, or is there reason to be concerned? And why do dogs play fight anyway? Play fighting is

We all need and enjoy sleep. It gives our body a welcome rest from the tensions and worries of the day, and it’s no different with our canine companions, although they rest longer than people, averaging 10–12 hours daily in multiple bouts. Domestic dogs tend to follow a diurnal circadian rhythm, with most activity typically

Once we learn their unique tendencies, a dog’s habits generally become easy to identify as normal or concerning. We pick up on their harmless and often goofy quirks while understanding that behaviors like excessive panting, noticeable limping, and inappropriate elimination are signs of an underlying health issue. Then there are those actions that are ambiguous

French Bulldogs are exceptionally playful, affectionate, and energetic little pups with a penchant for life. Their sweet and lovable personality is what makes them the most popular dog breed in America, dethroning the Labrador Retriever, who had a firm hold on that number one spot for 31 years! However, though they may be small, French

Our canine companions can do some pretty weird (and sometimes unsanitary) things. Whether it’s eating poop off the ground or rolling around in garbage, dogs don’t mind getting a little gross. Sometimes, that affects us too, though, like when our pups eat our underwear. This behavior begs the question of why dogs eat underwear. It

As concerned pet parents, we always worry about our dogs’ safety and comfort, whether they’re playing, eating, or simply sleeping in their beds. Dreams affect our dogs just as they do us, with outward expressions like twitching, snorting, and barking giving us a glimpse into their mental state. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on

Dogs often engage in certain behaviors that seem strange to us but are completely normal for them. While it’s gross to think about, eating poop is a common behavior in dogs, especially when they’re puppies. It’s called coprophagia. It’s best to discourage them from turning this behavior into a habit since they can reinfect themselves

Dogs can’t speak, but they still have ways to communicate with us through body language and vocalizations. One way that dogs can communicate is through growling. Dogs typically have more than one type of growl, from a playful growl to a more aggressive warning. Recognizing the cause of a growl helps you know how to

It can look alarming to us, but it’s common for dogs to occasionally bite themselves. Dogs will usually lick, bite, chew, or scratch their skin when they experience a mild itch. However, it’s still worth paying attention to dogs biting themselves because repetitive biting is usually linked with a health condition. Dogs can develop a

Our dogs do all sorts of things that make us go, “Hmm.” If your dog seems to be staring at the wall, you might wonder why. But the real answer to why is that it honestly depends. Have you paid attention to body language? Does the dog seem excited, lethargic, rambunctious? The overall vibe can