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.

Small Jack Russell Mix Dog With One Eye closed Laying on Sofa Growling

What Does Dog Growling Mean, And When Is It A Problem?

What does it mean when a dog growls? If you have a dog who growls and snarls often, you’re likely wondering if she’s overly aggressive, not well-trained, or suffering from other health or behavioral issues. Dogs growl for different reasons, and it’s often simply a normal way they communicate. However, in some cases, dog growling can signal an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. We’ll help you try to figure out why your pup is growling in different situations and when it’s a cause for concern.

Dog lifting leg up peeing (caption: Why Do Dogs Mark Territory?)

Why Do Dogs Mark Their Territory?

We adopted our one-year-old dog, Kopa, who was neutered a little over a month before we adopted him. Within the first few hours of bringing him home, he marked in the same room three times. He was used to being an outside dog, so when he had free roam of the house, he was ready to declare everything his own by lifting his leg. To say we were frustrated with his marking was an understatement. We knew that this was an instinct for him, but cleaning up the messes was a nightmare for us. How do we stop his marking so we can trust him in the house? Here are some tips on why dogs mark their territory and how to stop it.

Dog Digging (Caption: Why Do Dogs Bury Bones?)

Why Do Dogs Bury Bones? How Can I Stop It?

You may find your dog burying a toy or bone, then digging it up and reburying it elsewhere. This is very common. In fact, your dog may even “bury” items inside on furniture or carpeting. Sometimes they’ll even bury things in piles of laundry. So the next time you’re looking for the TV remote, car keys or your cellphone you may want to look under the couch cushions and in your laundry! Find out why they do this and how to get them to stop…

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 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?

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 barking (caption: Why Dogs Bark)

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?…

Dog biting person's neck (Caption: What To Do If Your Dog Bites Someone?)

What Do I Do If My Dog Bites Someone?

So many questions come to mind when you think about what would happen if your dog bit someone. What do I do to stop my dog? Is everyone ok? Do I need to call for help? Do I report the incident to someone? Could I get sued? Your dog biting someone could possibly be one of the worst things you could imagine. Not only could someone get seriously injured but your dog could be taken away from you. It’s important that you know what to do should your dog bite someone…

Dogs eating poop (caption: Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?)

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop (And How To Stop It)

My 4 month old black lab Daisy is eating her own poop. How can we get Daisy to stop eating her poop? Not only is it gross, but when she gets to it first thing in the morning, she ends up throwing up shortly thereafter. What are some easy suggestions to get her to grow out of this puppy habit fast?…

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