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.
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?…
As dog parents, we all know our pups can perform some pretty repulsive displays of behavior (especially when we have company over). A dog licking its butt is arguably one of the worst. Why do dogs lick their buttholes? Find out why this behavior could indicate a health concern that requires your attention.
Dogs like to roll in smelly things. What is it about poop, dead things and other smelly stuff that makes our dogs dive in? Find out why he loves smelling nasty and how you can stop this behavior…
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.
Our dogs can act weird sometimes. One of those things that make them special is when they chase their tail in circles. Spinning in a circle like a tornado. But why do dogs chase their tails? The answer is part scientific and hereditary, and each dog might have a different reason he will do the behavior. Let’s find out why a dog chasing tail is so fascinating and if it should be a concern.
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.
It’s hard to resist a dog’s adorable exposed belly without giving it a good rub or scratch. When you do this with your pup, does she become excited, wiggly, or kick out her hind leg? We know most dogs enjoy a good belly rub, but what exactly are they feeling? Can dogs be ticklish like humans?
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?…
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.
Having an aggressive dog can cause a lot of concerns for owners. Often, it can be challenging to take your dog on walks or into any public setting when you’re always concerned about approaching other dogs. This scenario puts stress on you and your dog and makes it feel like an impossible situation. There is hope. Lots of dogs respond positively to different training techniques and programs. Get informed and start working toward what might work for your furry friend…
Saying goodbye to your dog is difficult no matter what the circumstances. In my family’s case, we had to bid farewell to one of our dogs because he was becoming more and more aggressive. This decision wasn’t made lightly, but ultimately, we knew it was best for us all…
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.
