Amy Robinson

Are you having trouble with your dog biting or nipping at people? Our animal behaviorist expert Amy Robinson answers a reader’s question and offers some advice to help curb this behavior…

Dogs use vocalization to express all kinds of emotions. Yips, barks, muffled snorts and even sneezes all have meanings that the dog is trying to express. Try hiding a tasty treat in your closed fist and your dog will let you know just how he feels about that. The most primal, hair-raising sound the dog makes comes from deep in his throat, when he holds his nose high, purses his lips and howls like a wolf. Indeed, dogs get their habit for howling from their closest ancestor, the gray wolf…

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, dog crates provide a special doggie den in your home while saving your best sofa from a hairy existence. The ability to spend a bit of time in a crate or behind a gate should be a skill every dog should have, just like Sit or Stay, so he can hang out stress-free at the groomer’s, veterinarian’s office, or while traveling. The old rusting metal variety you banished to the garage has gone way upscale with sleek wood and wicker models designed to fit into our living areas, right where the dog wants to be. Try these tips to get your dog to hop in without a fuss…

Last-minute shopping has us racking our brains for meaningful gifts. We thoughtfully seek to fill a need, but surprising a loved one with a puppy is like lighting holiday candles with a blow torch, a tad overwhelming…

Dogs and their women share a very tight bond. This is not news to husbands or boyfriends that have been banished to the sofa because the dog has sprawled on the man’s side of the bed while he was brushing his teeth. It was not always this way. A couple of hundred years ago, when prairie skirts were not just a fleeting fashion trend, dogs rose before dawn and trotted off with the man to hunt, herd or do draft work all day…