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.

Dog Obedience Tips: Patience Is Key

By: Michelle Schenker | Updated September 18, 2018 | Filed Under: Training | Comments: 13
Girl with Dog Jumping

One of the most frustrating aspects of bringing a new dog home is teaching obedience. Obedience training can include a wide variety of skills including housebreaking, not biting, listening and responding to your commands, and more. While the variety of commands you may desire to teach may differ, teaching obedience will ensure a well-behaved dog who understands basic commands and what is expected from it. Using these dog obedience tips will help get your relationship with your pup off on the right paw…

Read More »

Puppy Crying Or Whining In Crate (Day Or Night): How Long To Let Them, How To Get Them To Stop, And More

By: Sally Jones | Updated May 5, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior, Puppy | Comments: 189
Puppy crying in crate (Caption:How to Stop Your Puppy from Crying in its Crate)

Is the joy of your new family member wearing thin because your puppy won’t stop crying and whining in his crate? His crate is supposed to be his happy place, and nothing is more frustrating than when it’s a torture chamber instead. The good news is, there’s a lot you can do to nip the crate whining in the bud so it doesn’t become a prolonged problem. These tips can help stop your puppy from crying in crate so you’ll both sleep at night.

Read More »

Dog Bite Statistics (How Likely Are You To Get Bit?)

By: Guest Author | Updated March 29, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior | Comments: 493
Two dogs playing (caption: Dog bite statistics)

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.

Read More »

Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt? (Is It An Unhealthy Habit?)

By: Kimberly Alt | Updated March 3, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior | Comments: 3
Puppy sniffing dirt (caption: Why do dogs eat dirt?)

Dogs love digging holes in the ground, but what happens if they take it a step further and eat the dirt? In addition to making them a muddy mess, is ingesting soil harmful to your pup? First, you need to determine the frequency of your dog’s dirt disposition. If your dog consumes soil infrequently, it’s probably fine (but it’s always good to discuss this with your vet). However, if your dog routinely devours dirt, there may be cause for concern…

Read More »

Dog Eating Wood: How To Make Them Stop

By: Alex Schenker | Updated March 3, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior | Comments: 172
Dog chewing on piece of wood

Dogs chew on wood because they like chewing on things. That’s why you see dogs play with chew toys, and why chew bones and treats are so popular with dogs. While it’s fairly common for a dog to chew on wood (especially if you use sticks or small logs to throw to them when you’re playing fetch) your dog will thank you if you help them lay off the wood. Why?…

Read More »

Help! How Do I Stop My Dog From Digging Holes?

By: Alex Schenker | Updated March 3, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior | Comments: 109

At first, you may think that you’ve got to do whatever you can to stop your dog from digging holes in the yard. But as it turns out, the dog may be doing this for an important reason. Instead of getting upset at your pup, consider why he or she might be making a minefield out of your backyard. Here are some common reasons your dog might dig holes in your yard and how to stop a dog from digging…

Read More »

How To Deal With Separation Anxiety In Dogs

By: Kimberly Alt | Updated February 25, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior, Household | Comments: 8
Sad dog (Caption: How to Deal with Separation Anxiety in Dogs?)

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. In this article, we will explain what dog separation anxiety is and how you can help your dog overcome her fears.

Read More »

Aggressive Dog Training Tips: Calming The Beast

By: Sally Jones | Updated February 22, 2021 | Filed Under: Behavior, Training | Comments: 148
Dog barking (caption: Aggressive dog training tips)

Most of the time, when you see an aggressive dog, he was not born that way. An owner of this type of dog may not fully understand how to train their pup. This lack of training often leads to aggressive behavior because the dog responds to situations using his instincts since he has never been taught differently. Learn why it happens and how to get your dog to stop aggressive behavior.

Read More »

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass? (And How To Train Them To Stop)

By: Sadie Cornelius | Updated September 30, 2020 | Filed Under: Behavior | Comments: 46
Dog eating grass (caption: Why Dogs Eat Grass: How To Stop)

Our dogs often do things that we struggle to understand. One of those things is eating grass. While we may feed our dogs a perfectly well-balanced diet and provide them with all the stimulation they need, they may still take to consuming grass. There are many theories behind just why our canine friends impersonate cows chewing cud, and we are going to take a shot at the reasoning behind them…

Read More »