Dog Behavior
Archive
Nothing warms the heart quite like seeing a mother dog snuggling up with her adorable litter of puppies, but we know that this will eventually have to end. Once puppies are weaned, strong, and independent, it’s usually time for them...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Huskies are a very vocal dog breed, using various tones and sounds to convey their feelings. The Husky scream is one of the most startling of these vocalizations, and if you’re not used to hearing it, you could easily be...
From their unmistakable look to their endearing personalities, Chihuahuas are a breed that most owners will tell you are in a class of their own. They’re perky, loyal, and pleasantly trainable, with an oversized confidence that makes their habits all...
Intelligent working dogs often bear a unique balance of benefits and challenges, and breeds like the Alaskan Malamute present both sides consistently. The ancient all-purpose canine earns adoration for their talents and devotion to family, but their independence creates plenty...
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...
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...
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...
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...
We have a lot of rumors flying around the pet world—dogs are better than cats, cats are better than dogs. Small dogs are needy, big dogs are protective. All dogs hate cats. All dogs stink. Some dogs despise men, some...
Try as we might, we may never fully understand all of our dog’s behaviors. One bizarre issue you may stumble across as a dog owner is when your pup chooses to sit alone in another room instead of hanging out...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
