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.
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.
There’s almost nothing more adorable than when our dogs tilt their heads at us. It’s such an endearing behavior and impossible to resist gushing over your furry friend. But why do dogs tilt their heads? Is it merely for your loving praise? It turns out there are several different reasons our pups cock their heads to the side, and it’s not just to put on a cute display for us.
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.
Although all dogs do it, butt sniffing is offputting for many owners. After all, it’s a bit embarrassing when your dog sticks his schnoz right into the rear end of a fellow canine while you’re on a walk or at the dog park. Just why do dogs smell butts? The reason isn’t nearly as gross as it seems. And it’s more important to dogs than you might think.
As dog owners, we know all too well that our furry friends aren’t skilled in the art of social graces. And crotch-sniffing tops the list of their faux-pas behavior. After all, when your pup shoves his snout in someone’s crotch, this intrusive behavior is downright embarrassing and usually disconcerting for the recipient. So, why do dogs sniff humans’ private areas? It turns out, our pups have a perfectly good reason. Still, it’s unwanted behavior for all humans involved, so we’ll give you tips on how to curb this natural canine instinct.
Do you think your dog is suffering from mental and emotional issues? Is there such a thing as a dog psychiatrist? Yes, the pet equivalent of a shrink is a behavioral therapist. Of course, pet counselors don’t use talk therapy like their counterparts for humans, but they do have expert training in techniques to help pets showing a variety of worrisome and harmful behaviors. We’ll help you know how to tell if your dog needs counseling, how to find a certified pet therapist, and more.
Is your dog constantly licking, and you have no idea why? Licking is a very natural way for dogs to communicate with one another. After a mother has her pups, she licks them to help them start breathing and clean them. This initial licking sticks with dogs throughout their lives, and they use it for many reasons. Licking for dogs is similar to humans biting their nails — both release pleasurable endorphins, which create comfort and relieve stress.
Have you noticed a change in your dog’s behavior? Does your dog seem more aggressive or anxious than normal? It could be that your dog has a behavioral issue that needs diagnosing and they could benefit from behavioral therapy. Find out how behavioral therapy could help eliminate unhealthy behaviors.
Friends, dog lovers, it’s time we had the talk about a…sensitive topic. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but let’s try to be mature about it, shall we? Let’s talk about humping and why our furry friends do the bump n’ grind on other dogs, our legs, their beds and the occasional throw pillow…
Pup owners have a tendency to anthropomorphize their dogs. After all, many of us consider our furry friends as beloved family members. It’s natural for us to attribute human behavior, emotions, or traits to our pups. So, when your male dog humps another male dog, you may wonder, “is my dog gay?” We’ll dive into the fascinating science of animal sexuality to help you understand your pup’s behavior.
Why do dogs dig holes? Is your yard starting to look like a minefield? It’s important to know that your dog isn’t intentionally trying to be malicious and ruin your landscaping. Instead of getting upset with your dog, consider why your dog may be digging holes in your backyard. Here are some common reasons your dog might dig holes in your yard and how to stop a dog from digging.
We’ve all been there. You’re hanging out with your pup and all of a sudden she lets out a long, deep sigh. Is your pup feeling content or is something bothering her? It can be hard at times to know what’s going on with our furry friends. We know that our pups use different types of vocalizations to communicate their feelings, but what does it mean when a dog sighs? We’ll shed light on the reasons your pup sighs and when it’s a possible sign that something might be wrong.
