Dogs

WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?
... What do these three dogs have in common? Are they nasty or downright vicious?
No - they're "alpha". They've taken over the leadership of the families that love them. Instead of taking orders from their people, these dogs are giving orders! Your dog can love you very much and still try to dominate you or other members of your family...

Why Do Dogs Bite?
The vast majority of dogs are safe, reliable companions. But even a friendly dog may bite if threatened, angry, afraid or hurt. Some dogs can be described as...

Aggression
A dog's bark may be worse than his bite, but most of us would rather not find out one way or the other. Growling, baring teeth, snarling, snapping, and biting are all aggressive behaviors, but dog aggression includes any behavior meant to intimidate or harm a person or...

Barking
If you've ever wondered if your dog's bark is worse than his proverbial bite, the answer may lie no further than your next-door neighbor. Some canine behavior problems, such as...

Crate Training
Pet crates are an excellent way to train your dog and provide it with its own sanctuary.

Destructive Chewing
Sooner or later every dog lover returns home to find some unexpected damage inflicted by his or her dog...or, more specifically, that dog's incisors and molars. Although dogs...

Digging
"I dig because I can." It's the motto of dogs everywhere, and completely normal behavior.
Yet the reasons behind the activity are varied. Your dog may dig to seek...

Dog Toys: You Need Them
For dogs and other animal companions, toys are not a luxury, but a necessity. Toys help fight boredom in dogs left alone, and toys can even help prevent some problem behaviors from...

Dominant Dogs
For some people, the phrase "top dog" isn't just a saying. It actually describes their dog. If you've got a dog who likes to boss you (or others) around, chances are you've got a...

Escaping
Does your dog's ability to escape from the back yard have you convinced that he's nothing less than a hairy Houdini? Your never-ending attempts to keep your pet confined to your yard may...

Fear of Thunder
While a good "kraack" or "boom" may have been good while Batman was taking down the Joker, such startling sounds are no joke for your dog. Firecrackers, thunder, and...

Fearful Dogs
Fear comes in all shapes and sizes, especially for your furry, four-pawed friend. Whether in response to a stranger or startling noise, your dog may display certain body postures...

Grooming
Grooming your pets doesn't mean that they have to be made-up and untouchable; it simply means that you're taking good care of their health by keeping a watchful eye on their hygiene...

Introducing Pets to a New Dog
From "the leader of the pack" to "the top dog," plenty of simplistic metaphors come from the canine world. But relationships between canines can be pretty complex, beginning with...

Canine Introductions
Domestic dogs are social animals. This means that they naturally live together in groups which have a social structure called a dominance hierarchy or "pecking order." Dogs also...

Urine-Marking Behavior
Much like the miners during the Gold Rush, dogs and cats are territorial animals. They "stake a claim" to a particular space, area, or object. They let other people and animals know about...

Bringing Up Puppy
Who can fathom the mind of a puppy? Squirrels drive them crazy, garbage is their favorite snack, and immediately after chewing your one-of-a-kind, handmade leather jacket into...

Living With a New Puppy
“Why Crate Training Will Save Your Sanity”

Puppy Behavior Basics
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially for dogs. The fact is, well-socialized dogs are more likely to have well-socialized puppies. Pups often mirror their mothers' calm or...

Puppy Chewing
Whoever thought that raising a child is the toughest thing to do may not have raised a puppy. After all, at least babies can wear diapers! Much like infants and toddlers, though, puppies...

Puppy Housetraining
Housetraining your new puppy can be easy and effective if you dedicate the necessary time and patience. A successful plan includes supervision, confinement, and...

Puppy-Proofing Your Home
One of the most important things you can do for your kitten or puppy is to give him a safe environment to live, play, and explore in. You can think of young cats and dogs much like...

Puppy Nipping and Rough Play
It's not always easy to convince a new puppy not to bite the hand that feeds him . . . pets him . .
or plays with him, for that matter. When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths...

Separation Anxiety
Everyone needs a little time alone now and then—unless of course you are a dog who suffers from separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit behavior problems when...

Socializing Your New Puppy
Little puppies don't come into our world with ready knowledge about humans or the world in which we live. They need to learn all about us— about car rides, vacuum sweepers...

Submissive and Excitement Urination
With one second left in the championship game, the basketball player has to make one free throw to send the game into overtime and keep her team's hopes for victory alive. A hush...

Suggested Reading - Dog Training
So, are you looking for what Timmy had with Lassie? Great! Work at it and it can be yours.