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.

Puppy laying down in crate (Caption: How To Stop Your Puppy From Crying In Its Crate)

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

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.

Dog licking its face (Caption: Why Do Dogs Lick?)

Why Do Dogs Lick? Answers To Why They Lick People, Paws, Themselves, Wounds & 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.

Dog barking with teeth (caption: Aggressive Dog Training Tips)

Aggressive Dog Training Tips: Calming The Beast

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.

Dog standing backwards looking up (Caption: Why Does My Dog Walk Backwards?)

Why Does My Dog Walk Backwards?

Dogs have a lot of interesting behaviors. Sometimes these can be a sign of something severe, and other times it can just be a quirk. The same is true of a dog walking backwards. If your pup is exhibiting this behavior, we’ll help you understand what it could mean for him.

Dog rolling on ground in poop (caption: Why Do Dogs Roll In Poop?)

Why Do Dogs Roll In Poop? (And How To Stop It)

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…

Dog howling at the moon (Caption: Why Do Dogs Howl?)

Why Do Dogs Howl? Find Out Which Dogs Howl, Why & How To Stop It

Dogs use vocalization to express all kinds of emotions. Yips, barks, muffled snorts, and even sneezes all have meanings that a dog is trying to convey. The most primal, hair-raising sound a dog makes comes from deep in his throat when he holds his nose high, purses his lips, and howls like a wolf. But, what does it mean, and why do dogs howl?

Puppy sniffing dirt (caption: Why do dogs eat dirt?)

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

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…

2 dogs fighting (caption: dog-on-dog aggression tips)

How To Deal With Dog Aggression Towards Other Dogs

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…

Two dogs playing (caption: How to Introduce Dogs)

How To Introduce Dogs

Introducing dogs to each other can be tricky. Some dogs have aggressive tendencies that might not come out around you or other people, but in the presence of the right dog, they will attack or bite on instinct. The good news is that there are ways you can safely introduce dogs to each other to limit aggression and make sure you control the situation so that nobody gets hurt…

Dog with head tilted (Caption: Dog Body Language)

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.

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