Behavior
The best way to understand your dog’s behavior is to understand what their actions mean. Canine Journal can give you advice and feedback that will have you, your dog, and your family on a level of understanding that will make it fun and rewarding to live together. We address both ends of the leash in our behavioral topics, as it’s just as important that your pup understand your actions and the reasons behind your behavior.
Your Dog Is Afraid Of… A Trash Bag? 14 Surprisingly Common Dog Fears
April 1, 2026
Your Dog Is Afraid Of… A Trash Bag? 14 Surprisingly Common Dog Fears
What are dogs scared of, and why do some reactions seem so random? From loud noises and strangers to slippery…
Is Your Dog Acting Like a Juiced-Up, Rage-Fueled Gym Bro? Here’s Why They’re Suddenly So Aggressive
April 1, 2026
Is Your Dog Acting Like a Juiced-Up, Rage-Fueled Gym Bro? Here’s Why They’re Suddenly So Aggressive
Did your dog suddenly become aggressive to you or another animal? Perhaps your normally sweet pup became aggressive to someone…
Why Do Dogs Cover Their Face? The Truth Behind The “Dog Facepalm”
March 20, 2026
Why Do Dogs Cover Their Face? The Truth Behind The “Dog Facepalm”
Dogs covering their face with a paw can look adorable, dramatic, or slightly suspicious, depending on the timing. Most of…
Why Do Dogs Sleep On Their Backs? What It Really Means (And When To Worry)
March 18, 2026
Why Do Dogs Sleep On Their Backs? What It Really Means (And When To Worry)
Ever catch your dog passed out on their back, legs splayed like roadkill, tongue flopped out like they just ran…
Why Dogs Get Obsessed With Certain Toys (And Ignore the Rest)
March 18, 2026
Why Dogs Get Obsessed With Certain Toys (And Ignore the Rest)
What do dogs think of their toys? From carrying a favorite toy everywhere to tearing it apart, dogs show clear…
Why Is My Dog Following Me Everywhere? 8 Common Reasons
March 12, 2026
Why Is My Dog Following Me Everywhere? 8 Common Reasons
If your dog follows you from room to room, you may have a “shadow dog.” Learn why dogs develop this…
Adopting Two Puppies Together Sounds Perfect. Here’s The Part No One Talks About.
February 18, 2026
Adopting Two Puppies Together Sounds Perfect. Here’s The Part No One Talks About.
Two puppies sound twice as fun, but raising littermates can come with unexpected challenges. Here’s what littermate syndrome really is…
Dog Mouthing vs Biting: How To Tell The Difference (And When To Worry)
February 13, 2026
Dog Mouthing vs Biting: How To Tell The Difference (And When To Worry)
So, why does your dog mouth you all the time? And more importantly, how can you stop it without damaging…
Dog Shaking Like They’ve Had One Too Many Espresso Shots? What’s Normal & When To Worry
February 11, 2026
Dog Shaking Like They’ve Had One Too Many Espresso Shots? What’s Normal & When To Worry
You look over, and your dog is standing there, fully awake, vibrating like they’ve had one too many espresso shots.…
6 Reasons Your Dog Won’t Stop Barking At Other Dogs (And How To Help)
February 11, 2026
6 Reasons Your Dog Won’t Stop Barking At Other Dogs (And How To Help)
You’re walking your dog when it happens: another pup appears, and suddenly your calm companion turns into a barking machine.…
What Do Dogs Dream About? The Adorable Truth Will Melt Your Heart
February 9, 2026
What Do Dogs Dream About? The Adorable Truth Will Melt Your Heart
So, what exactly is your dog dreaming about? And how can you make sure they have the sweetest dreams possible?…
Fireworks Freaking Out Your Dog? Here’s What Actually Helps
February 9, 2026
Fireworks Freaking Out Your Dog? Here’s What Actually Helps
Is your dog scared of fireworks? He's not alone! Although fireworks are a fun, exciting sight for us humans, dogs…
Your Dog’s Stare Is A Message. Are You Reading It Right?
January 26, 2026
Your Dog’s Stare Is A Message. Are You Reading It Right?
You feel it before you see it — that unmistakable weight of canine attention. You glance up, and there it…
Why Your Dog Thinks They’re The Only One Allowed To Touch You
January 23, 2026
Why Your Dog Thinks They’re The Only One Allowed To Touch You
If I so much as scratch another dog behind the ears, my own pup, Tiny, materializes out of nowhere and…
Why Your Dog Might Bite You Out of Nowhere
January 23, 2026
Why Your Dog Might Bite You Out of Nowhere
He didn’t growl. He didn’t snap. He just bit. One second, your dog’s wagging his tail, the next, he’s got…
Your Dog Growled At You. Here’s Why That Might Be A Good Thing
January 23, 2026
Your Dog Growled At You. Here’s Why That Might Be A Good Thing
A dog growling can stop a moment cold. At my house, it starts the second someone knocks. Daisy, my 85-pound…
From Vicious To Obedient: The Truth About Transforming Aggressive Dogs
January 23, 2026
From Vicious To Obedient: The Truth About Transforming Aggressive Dogs
Most of the time, when you see an aggressive dog, he was not born that way. An owner of this…
How To Introduce Dogs Without Creating A Lifetime Grudge
January 23, 2026
How To Introduce Dogs Without Creating A Lifetime Grudge
I was so nervous when I brought home my dog Falkor. He was an eight-week-old ball of puppy fluff, so…
Resource Guarding In Dogs: Why It Happens & How To Handle It Safely
January 19, 2026
Resource Guarding In Dogs: Why It Happens & How To Handle It Safely
Resource guarding isn’t about dominance or defiance. It’s a response to perceived risk. This guide explains why dogs guard food,…
Think You Know Which Dog Breeds Attack The Most? The Truth May Surprise You
January 15, 2026
Think You Know Which Dog Breeds Attack The Most? The Truth May Surprise You
Owning a dog is a wonderful privilege and a huge responsibility. Along with the many positive benefits having a canine…
Dog Barks At Nothing… Is It A Ghost, Or Am I The Crazy One?
January 15, 2026
Dog Barks At Nothing… Is It A Ghost, Or Am I The Crazy One?
Your dog stares into the corner of the room. Nothing’s there. Then the barking starts. It’s late; you're half asleep,…
How To Teach A Dog To Sit Using The Ancient Art Of Butt Placement
January 15, 2026
How To Teach A Dog To Sit Using The Ancient Art Of Butt Placement
Yes, there’s an ancient method for getting your dog’s furry butt on the floor, and it’s surprisingly effective. And it's…
When Your Dog Ignores You: What’s Really Going On
January 15, 2026
When Your Dog Ignores You: What’s Really Going On
If your dog listens sometimes and tunes you out other times, it’s easy to wonder what changed. In most cases,…
Can Dogs Smell Fear? Science Explains How Dogs Sense Human Emotions
January 14, 2026
Can Dogs Smell Fear? Science Explains How Dogs Sense Human Emotions
Your dog stiffens before you even realize you’re nervous. Your palms sweat, your heart rate rises, and suddenly your pup…
Doggy Dan: The Online Dog Trainer Review
January 8, 2026
Doggy Dan: The Online Dog Trainer Review
Doggy Dan may be just what you need. The Online Dog Trainer (aka Doggy Dan), is one of New Zealand's…
Rehoming An Aggressive Dog: When Is It Time To Say Goodbye?
January 8, 2026
Rehoming An Aggressive Dog: When Is It Time To Say Goodbye?
Saying goodbye to your dog is difficult no matter what the circumstances. In my family's case, we had to bid…
Why Does Your Dog Follow You To The Bathroom? A Vet Uncovers 10 Reasons
January 2, 2026
Why Does Your Dog Follow You To The Bathroom? A Vet Uncovers 10 Reasons
It’s happened to every dog owner… you go to the bathroom, and your dog can’t help but join you. They…
When Your Dog Poops & Stares At You… Here’s What It Means
December 17, 2025
When Your Dog Poops & Stares At You… Here’s What It Means
Have you ever glanced over at your sweet pup while on a walk, only to discover they are mid-squatting and…
How Do Dogs Communicate With Each Other? The Hidden Language You’ve Been Missing
December 16, 2025
How Do Dogs Communicate With Each Other? The Hidden Language You’ve Been Missing
If you’ve ever watched two dogs meet, sniffing, circling, freezing, then suddenly exploding into play or tension, you’ve witnessed a…
What Smells Do Dogs Hate Most? These 10 Might Be In Your Home
December 8, 2025
What Smells Do Dogs Hate Most? These 10 Might Be In Your Home
What smells do dogs hate? It’s a question I never really thought about until I started walking Falkor, my Poodle…
Why Do Dogs Like Sticking Their Heads Out The Car Window?
December 2, 2025
Why Do Dogs Like Sticking Their Heads Out The Car Window?
Ah, the open road — sun shining, tunes bumping, and that unmistakable image of pure canine joy: a dog’s head…
Why Do Corgis Sploot? The Science (And Sass) Behind That Adorable Pose
December 2, 2025
Why Do Corgis Sploot? The Science (And Sass) Behind That Adorable Pose
You’ve seen it — that unmistakable pose where your Corgi drops flat on the floor, back legs stretched behind them…
Why Dogs Sigh: The Drama Behind That Deep Breath
December 1, 2025
Why Dogs Sigh: The Drama Behind That Deep Breath
On most afternoons, right when I’m hitting that mid-day slump, my little dog Falkor wanders over like he’s checking on…
Socialization Secrets: Why Your Dog Acts Wild Around Strangers
November 26, 2025
Socialization Secrets: Why Your Dog Acts Wild Around Strangers
Ever wonder why your sweet dog suddenly turns into an angry or overexcited tornado the moment a stranger shows up?…
Why Do Dogs Lick Everything? (Even the Couch, Floor, and You)
November 26, 2025
Why Do Dogs Lick Everything? (Even the Couch, Floor, and You)
Your dog licks the floor like it’s a five-star buffet, your feet like you’re made of bacon, and your face…
Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads? Science Says It’s Not Just “Aww”
November 24, 2025
Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads? Science Says It’s Not Just “Aww”
Your dog does that dramatic little head tilt, and you melt. But what if that cute moment is more than…
How To Stop A Dog From Digging Holes Under Fences, In Bed, In Yard & More – Why Do Dogs Dig Holes?
November 19, 2025
How To Stop A Dog From Digging Holes Under Fences, In Bed, In Yard & More – Why Do Dogs Dig Holes?
Why do dogs dig holes? Is your yard starting to look like a minefield? It's important to know that your…
Can Dogs See Ghosts? A Deep Sniff Into the Paranormal
November 14, 2025
Can Dogs See Ghosts? A Deep Sniff Into the Paranormal
Can dogs see ghosts? My dog barks like an absolute maniac at nothing, all day and all night. At least,…
Bell Training For Dogs: The Communication Trick Every Owner Should Try
November 7, 2025
Bell Training For Dogs: The Communication Trick Every Owner Should Try
Have you ever considered bell training your dog? It is a method in which you train dogs to use a…
Dog Agility Training: Turn Your Chaos Goblin Into A Backyard Athlete
November 7, 2025
Dog Agility Training: Turn Your Chaos Goblin Into A Backyard Athlete
Your dog’s got Olympic energy and zero boundaries. Couch parkour? Elite level. Zoom call sock theft? Unmatched. And somehow, they’re…
Wait… Dogs Can Be Ticklish?! What Happens When You Find The Spot!
November 4, 2025
Wait… Dogs Can Be Ticklish?! What Happens When You Find The Spot!
If you’ve ever caught your pup mid-scratch-session, leg flailing and eyes full of betrayal, you’re not alone. Dog parents everywhere…
Do Dogs Understand Death Like We Do? The Answer Might Surprise You
October 31, 2025
Do Dogs Understand Death Like We Do? The Answer Might Surprise You
Science says dogs may not think about death the way humans do, but growing research and countless heart-wrenching owner stories…
Your Dog’s Bored — Here’s How To Fix It In 5 Minutes A Day
October 31, 2025
Your Dog’s Bored — Here’s How To Fix It In 5 Minutes A Day
Most dog parent think their pup needs longer walks. In reality, the secret to calm, happy dogs is working their…
Wait… Why Is My Dog Licking Another Dog’s Ear?
October 29, 2025
Wait… Why Is My Dog Licking Another Dog’s Ear?
You glance over at the dog park and, yep, your pup is tongue-deep in another dog’s ear. Gross? Sweet? A…
Why Is My Dog Obsessed With Licking Other Dogs’ Mouths?
October 16, 2025
Why Is My Dog Obsessed With Licking Other Dogs’ Mouths?
If you’ve ever taken your pup to the dog park, you’ve probably seen it: two dogs sniff hello, then one…
How to Train a Dog Without Treats – Yes, Even Your Stubborn Gremlin
October 14, 2025
How to Train a Dog Without Treats – Yes, Even Your Stubborn Gremlin
So your dog only listens when you’re holding a chicken nugget hostage? Same. Mine used to stare me down like…
Dog Anxiety: Why Your Pup Acts Like You Died Every Time You Leave The Room
October 13, 2025
Dog Anxiety: Why Your Pup Acts Like You Died Every Time You Leave The Room
You step out for coffee. Your dog acts like you vanished into a black hole. Chewed shoes, dramatic howling, pacing…
Best Dog Training Collars: Educator vs Dogtra vs SportDog vs PetSafe vs Pet Resolve vs PetSpy vs SpotOn vs Halo & More
October 9, 2025
Best Dog Training Collars: Educator vs Dogtra vs SportDog vs PetSafe vs Pet Resolve vs PetSpy vs SpotOn vs Halo & More
These wireless collars allow you to train your dogs to obey you when they're off-leash, giving your pup room to…
Paw-Licking: The Canine Version of Doomscrolling Or A Red Flag For A Serious Health Issue?
October 9, 2025
Paw-Licking: The Canine Version of Doomscrolling Or A Red Flag For A Serious Health Issue?
Do you think your dog is licking his paws too much? Occasional paw licking is a normal part of a…
New Dog Bite Statistics Revealed: Top Dog Breeds Linked To Bites & Bite Risks
October 5, 2025
New Dog Bite Statistics Revealed: Top Dog Breeds Linked To Bites & Bite Risks
According to a study from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States…