Behavior Archives - Canine Journal

23 Top Dog Attacks By Breed: Top States & Stats

Owning a dog is a wonderful privilege and a huge responsibility. Along with the many positive benefits having a canine companion brings. Unfortunately, some occurrences, like bites and attacks, can be scary. Some breeds are more prone to biting than others, and owners must be aware of this. Canine attacks happen for a variety of reasons. Circumstances, ownership, care, and genetics all play a role. We discuss dog attacks by breed and get into the details owners need to know.

two dogs fighting in grass about to bite each other

Dog Bite Statistics (Most Common Breeds & How Likely Are You To Get Bit?)

According to a study from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, and 800,000 of those bites result in medical care. The U.S. population was approximately 328.2 million people in 2019. That means a dog bites 1 out of every 73 people. These are scary statistics. But scary becomes a lot less so when you’re armed with the right information. From the top breeds to be wary of, to considering your behavior around animals, to why dogs bite in the first place, we give you an arsenal of information so that you can bite back in the dog bite debate.

Why Do Dogs Lick Their Wounds?

We’ve all heard the expression “licking one’s wounds” (meaning to recover after defeat or embarrassment). It’s believed that this saying originated hundreds of years ago from people observing animals licking their injuries after a predator’s attack. Have you ever wondered why dogs and other animals lick wounds in the first place? And is it beneficial or harmful to their healing?…

How To Stop Your Dog From Whining & Reasons They Do It

If dogs could talk, oh, the tales they would tell. The truth is that dogs communicate in many ways, and one of the more vocal ways they communicate, both with humans and other animals, is through whining.

Dog Body Language Guide: What Is Your Dog Trying To Tell You?

Dogs can’t talk, but they have an effective way of communicating with their body language, showing signals to indicate their feelings. As we learn to recognize how dogs communicate, we can better understand what our furry friend is telling us. You don’t have to be Cesar Millan to know when a pup is happy, hurt, or angry. Dog facial expressions and dog tail and ear languages are ways to find out what your dog might be thinking.

Two dogs playing rough (Caption: Why Do Dogs Growl When Playing?)

Why Do Dogs Growl When Playing? Fighting, Tips To Avoid, And More

You roll up to the dog park, and Fido is excited to play with all the pups. After a little bit, Fido has selected his playmate, and you notice the dogs are growling at each other while playing. Are they being aggressive, or are they just playing? How do you know when playtime has escalated to aggression? And why do dogs growl when playing? We’ll help you understand why your dog growls when playing, so you can monitor the situation and ensure it doesn’t turn into aggression.

Barking Mad: Why Dogs Bark And How To Stop It

The doorbell rings, a school bus drives by, a dog is across the street or you’re standing in the kitchen, it doesn’t matter what you do, it seems like Fido is barking at everything. Why is Fido barking and how can you stop it?…

little corgi puppy playfully wags its tail from behind

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails? What Does A Wagging Tail Mean?

Most of us pup owners assume that when our dogs wag their tails it means they’re happy, but that’s not always the case. It turns out that dogs use their tails to communicate a variety of different feelings, some of which can be negative. So it’s important to know how to interpret tail wagging. What does it mean when a dog wags its tail? We’ve uncovered all the common reasons dogs wag their tails and what each can tell you about their current state of mind.

Lab next to fence (Caption: Tips For Separation Anxiety In Dogs)

How To Deal With Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Are you unable to leave home without your dog destroying the place? Or maybe your neighbor calls your landlord to complain about the howling pup? If this story sounds familiar, there’s a chance your dog is suffering from separation anxiety. So, let’s explore what dog separation anxiety is and how you can help your dog overcome his fears.

Pretty funny hound dog sleeping on a sofa

Why Do Dogs Twitch In Their Sleep? Are They Okay?

If your dog occasionally twitches or looks like he’s trying to run when he’s snoozing, you may wonder what the heck is going on. Is he dreaming of something fun or frightening? Scientists have studied many aspects of animal sleep patterns and habits, and we’ll explore their findings about this typically normal canine behavior. But we also share the signs when excessive twitching or other movements during sleep could be a red flag.

Beagle dog sleeps on the couch on his back

Why Do Dogs Sleep On Their Backs? It Means More Than You Might Think

Of all the goofy positions you can find your dog in, one of the most hilarious contortions is when they’re asleep on their back with their legs splayed wide open or pointed in the air. It doesn’t look all that comfortable from a human perspective, but it must be for our furry friends, right? If you’ve ever wondered why dogs sleep on their backs and what it means, we’ve uncovered all the reasons.

7 Common Dog Sleeping Positions & What They Mean

Almost nothing’s more adorable than watching our furry friends sleep, but sometimes our pups can get into the most amusing body contortions when they’re in for a big old snooze. Most canines have several sleeping positions they prefer, but what do they all mean? Why does your pup spread eagle on the floor or go belly up with his paws in the air to catch some z’s? We’ve uncovered what the most common dog sleeping positions can reveal about your dog and some interesting tidbits about canine snoozing habits.