Why do dogs chew? Dogs, especially puppies, are extremely playful and investigative. While play with people and other dogs is an important part of socialization and social development, exploration and object play are important ways for dogs to learn about their environment. Therefore it is a normal behavior for puppies to investigate their environment by sniffing, tasting and perhaps chewing …
Dog Behavior Problems — Coprophagia
Why do dogs eat stools? While most cases of coprophagia appear to be purely behavioral, there are indeed numerous medical problems that can cause or contribute to coprophagia. These problems must first be ruled out before a purely behavioral diagnosis can be made. What are some of the medical causes? Any medical problem that leads to a decrease in absorption …
Dog Behavior Problems — Chase Behaviors
My dog chases animals, joggers, bicyclists, skateboarders – anything that moves – and I am worried he will get hurt. What can I do? Chasing and running after prey, nipping at heels and herding are normal dog behaviors. These behaviors are more strongly motivated in some breeds of dogs than others. In addition, some dogs may be motivated to chase …
Dog Behavior Problems – Greeting Behavior, Door Charging
My dog charges the door whenever someone knocks or rings the bell. What can I do? Door charging and uncontrollable excitement when visitors arrive is extremely disconcerting and potentially dangerous. Without proper control of your dog he could charge out the door and into the street where he might get injured. If this behavior is also accompanied by aggressive responses …
Managing Resource Guarding – Food Bowl
Do you live with a dog that is protective of his food? Signs include: gulping food, taking big bites, freezing or even growling. Research has shown that many owners find that managing food guarding behavior is easy and fits well into their lifestyle. It is frequently seen as a simple-to-follow lifelong solution. Below are some management tips recommended by the …
Management of an Aggressive Dog in the Home
Owners of aggressive dogs have a serious responsibility to keep other people and animals safe. Despite all of the publicity involved with dog bites, many owners dismiss or excuse their pet’s aggressive displays until there is a serious incident. Just because your dog has never bitten does not mean he won’t. The end result can be devastating for the dog, …
Dog Behavior Problems – Aggression Toward Children
What is the impact of canine aggression toward a child? Dogs are a wonderful part of many children’s lives. However, fearful or aggressive dogs pose an enormous risk to a child’s safety. Children can behave erratically, move in unpredictable ways and make a host of loud and sudden noises. Children are often very interested in dogs and may want to …
Dog Behavior Problems – Aggression Diagnosis and Overview
Though aggression can be a normal canine behavior, aggression is a complex, serious and dangerous behavior problem for dog owners. Expression of aggression may range from inhibited communication such as a warning growl, snarl or a snap and include, of course, severe uninhibited repetitive bites that may be quite injurious. The decision to keep or rehome a dog that has …
Behavior Counseling Aggression — Introduction
What is aggression? Aggression is defined as threats or harmful actions directed toward another individual and can include threat displays, lunging, growling, snarling, snapping, and biting. In animals, aggressive behaviors are a means of communication. Dogs and cats use aggressive displays, threats and attacks to resolve competitive disputes over resources (territory, food) or to increase their reproductive potential, or to …
Dog Behavior — What’s Normal and What’s Not
Dogs will be dogs. They’ll fetch, roll over, and beg. They’ll also chew, dig, and bark. Sometimes, they are cute, and sometimes, they are troublesome. Which canine behaviors are normal and which are problematic? Heritage and Behavior Some canine behaviors are innate. Long ago, dogs were bred to accomplish certain tasks. For example, a Border Collie may chase bikes because …
