Home » Archive by category "Behavior" (Page 4)

Do Dogs Speak Chinese? How Dogs Communicate

Sometimes we think they do. Humans have been sharing their lives with dogs for approximately fifteen thousand years, according to some studies. Since we’re different species, we behave, communicate and see the world in a lot of different ways. Humans communicate essentially through speech, although non-verbal communication skills (such as knowing how to interpret body language and facial expressions) can also play a vital role in our lives. Dogs, however, focus their communicative signals on body postures. They can also communicate through sounds and scents, although these can be harder for us to correctly interpret and understand. However, the majority of dog owners can tell the difference between the various types of sounds their dog produces; they can also link a particular meaning to each one of those sounds: the high-pitched barking means Uncle John has arrived from work, whilst the repetitive whining means he’s hungry. Dogs can also howl...
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Behavior Modification for Dogs

Dog behavior modification can be a relatively complex subject. Unfortunately, many dog training shows make it look easy and simple; the majority of them are based on outdated and counterproductive methods that are responsible for the suppression of the dog’s communicative signals and may also severely damage his welfare and mental health. Real behavior modification should only be done by trained professionals who understand and know exactly what they are doing. It can be done using techniques such as systematic desensitization, counterconditioning, LAT, BAT and others. These techniques are based on the use of positive reinforcement, which means they respect the dog’s well-being. In systematic desensitization, we expose the dog to the stimulus that scares him in a gradual and controlled way; the purpose of this technique is to decrease the intensity of the dog’s response. For example, if the dog is afraid of hair dryers, we’ll start by showing...
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Activities to Do Indoors With Your Dog

On cold, rainy, or snowy days when you and your dog just can’t be outside for extended periods of time, how can you keep your pup entertained? While you may want to cuddle up on the couch with a cup of coffee and a good book, your dog may have other plans. Avoid this situation by arming yourself with a few tools to entertain your dog and wear him out, leaving you with some time to yourself. Hide and Go Treat For the nosy hound in your life, “hide and go treat” is a fun game that can keep a dog entertained for hours. Simply hide treats around the house (the tougher to find the better), and leave it up to your pup to find them. You can make the game even more difficult (and entertaining) by hiding a treat filled, frozen KONG somewhere in the house. Once your dog...
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Canine Coprophagia: Poop Eating (and How to Stop It!)

Yuck – there’s nothing more disgusting than seeing your furry friend eat their own poop, and what makes it even worse is when they come over to you afterwards looking for a great big doggie kiss! So why does your dog do this, and how can you stop this revolting habit? Well, fellow dog lovers – read on to find out. Poop eating (or coprophagia) is the practice of eating stool – for our dogs, this may mean that they chow down on their own poop, their littermate’s, or even the poop of another pet in the house. In certain situations, coprophagia is perfectly normal for our canine companions; mother dogs will clean up their puppies’ feces to keep the nesting area clean and odor free, for instance, and most puppies go through a stage themselves where they naturally investigate everything with their mouths – yes, even poop! Most dogs...
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Help! My Dog Ignores Me!

Have you ever been utterly embarrassed by your out of control dog as he continues pulling on leash and ignores your every command? Now is not the time to give up! Your dog is ignoring you for a reason, and it is something you can change in a relatively short amount of time! Why Does My Dog Ignore Me? Simply put, your dog has no positive emotions that he finds more reinforcing than whatever it is that he is doing while he ignores you. Don’t feel bad, though! It is not that your dog doesn’t love you, he just doesn’t know what else to do when you are trying to get his attention. Instead of giving up, it is time to give him a reason to pay attention to you! Dogs that have been rescues or gone through trauma are especially prone to ignoring their humans. This is because they...
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Better than a Gym Membership: What Energetic Dogs Do to Motivate You to Exercise More

“Take me for a walk, instead.” Those appeared to be the thoughts of my beagle when he sat down in front of my Health Walker Plus machine. He refused to leave. I could not use the walker. If I did, the steps on it would bump into him. So I chose to get off of it for his safety.   After numerous occasions of Rocky repeating this behavior I realized I needed to change my exercise routine. I had to get outdoors more with Rocky. Fast forward 12 years – and although I still have my walking machine – Rocky has continually shown me outdoor walks is more fun. It’s more rewarding too. I mean, just look at this smile: If you’re looking for more motivation to stay fit, choosing an energetic dog breed such as the Siberian Husky, Dalmatian, Border Collie, or Australian Shepherd – will certainly get you outdoors more....
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Review on the ThunderShirt

As dog owners, it saddens, frustrates, and upsets us to see our dogs filled with anxiety. We want to help, soothe, and comfort them, and show them that there really is nothing to be afraid of. But sometimes no matter what you do, you cannot calm them down. Most dog owners turn to medications for severe anxiety, however if you want to avoid medicating your dog, you should try the ThunderShirt first. The ThunderShirt is an anti- anxiety vest (also known as a pressure wrap) and it was created for dogs who are petrified of thunderstorms. The company started out with just the ThunderShirt, and over the years has evolved into an entire company on anxiety relieving products for both dogs and cats, and now goes by the name ThunderWorks. The ThunderShirt is of course still their best selling product. The best way to describe how a ThunderShirt works is...
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Your Dog & The Dog Park; Are They a Good Match?

Everyone loves to see their dog run and play freely without the restrictions of a leash or small yard. It’s even more fun when our own canine companions can romp and rough house with other dogs of all ages and sizes. This is why dog parks were created, remember, a tired dog is a happy dog. They give our pets the ability to play, exercise and socialized among their own kind. However, if you have ever been to a dog park you have probably also seen the one or two dogs and their owners who just did not belong there. How do you know if your own furry best friend is a good fit for the publicly open dog park in your area? Know Your Dog First Your dog’s temperament and health will play a major role in whether or not your experiences at the local dog park will be...
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How Dogs Love Us

As a pet owner, you may often times wonder if your dog really loves you. You know he’s loyal and loving, but does he share the same emotions for you that you share for him? Or does he love you like a child loves a parent? Perhaps his love is more one of respect and devotion as a canine feels for the leader of the pack. For many years, scientists struggled with the study of emotions in pets, and especially the bond that is undoubtedly felt between a dog owner and their canine companion. It was once understood that pet love only went as far as their need for food and shelter, and we as owners were seen as nothing more than a resource. Now, new science is finding that the dog brain shares similarities in emotions, including love as humans do! Neuroscience and Your Dog Emory University in Atlanta,...
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Why Even Small Dogs Need Training

We’ve all experienced it: we’ve all walked into a friend’s house, an owner of a tiny pocket dog, and had that dog jump up on our legs, on our lap. Small dogs can often be the most aggressive, and while some people may chock this up to a Napoleon Complex, it does stem for an actual evolutionary need. Because of small size, they have to make up for physical dominance with personality dominance. And while some people believe this to be cute, most people are disturbed and annoyed with these small dogs. Though they have small jaws, their bites and barks can be just as bad as a large dog’s. In addition, small dogs are far more likely to jump up onto a lap and demand attention than large dogs are. This can be extremely annoying to visitors, especially if they do not like dogs, or if they have an...
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