Innocuous Behaviors Archives - Page 3 of 4

All About Dogs

Happy Hump Day?

You knew that your dog was excited about his new toy, but you didn’t know he was that excited. The first time you walk in on your pooch masturbating can be a bit of a shock, especially if he’s your first dog and you’re not used to the behavior. You might feel grossed out, confused about what’s going on, worried that something is wrong, and perhaps even a little bit amused. Whatever your reaction, there are some things that you should know about dog mounting and masturbation so that you don’t overreact (or underreact) to your humping dog. Why

July 4, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Why Dogs Nudge

If your dog is wagging his tail, it’s probably a safe bet that he’s happy. If she’s growling, there’s a good chance she’s upset about something. But what about nose-nudging? What does that mean? While I wouldn’t necessarily call this a subtle form of communication, it is certainly a more nuanced one in that a dog nudge can have a wide variety of meanings depending on the context. Below are just a few of the possible things that your pooch may be trying to tell you. Come On, Let’s Go Dogs that are bred to herd animals often use nudging

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

10 Facts You May Not Know About Dogs

Do you think you know everything about our canine companions? Think again! Check out these 10 surprising facts about dogs. Your Dog is as Smart as a 2-Year-Old Toddler There’s a reason your tot and your pup get along so well: they speak the same language. Or at least, they likely understand roughly the same number of words and gestures — 250! Dogs and Cats Both Slurp Water the Same Way This may be hard to believe since dogs are such messy drinkers, but just like cats, our canine friends bend the tip of their tongue and raise liquid in

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Three dogs play outside displaying their different temperaments

All About Dogs

Why Dogs Do The Things They Do

All dog owners want to know why dogs do the things they do. But many times the answer lies within the human behavior, not the dog’s. This is especially apparent when discussing the difference between temperament and behavior. The difference between “temperament” and “behavior” can be defined in terms of the dog’s natural state versus learned behaviors. Yet, while these two terms have different definitions, they are not completely independent of one another. Temperament = natural state Behavior = action based on temperament Sit, stay, down: learned behavior A dog is capable of learning many things, both from mimicking other

June 18, 2015 No Comments

a dog sits on the floor waiting for attention

All About Dogs

Why You Should Live Like Your Dog

Studies show that owning a dog can improve your health, but did you know that it can also provide valuable lessons on how to live a happy life? If you take the time to notice, your dog gives you pointers on how to live life to the fullest each and every day. Six Simple Steps Be Loyal Dogs are faithful, reliable, loyal, and they love unconditionally. See the People in your Life with New Eyes After a long day at the office, who or what are you excited to see? Is it your dog’s cute mug and wagging tail? There’s

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Is Your Dog Stalking You?

There are so many rewarding things about being a dog owner. There’s the unconditional love, someone to always keep you company, and to greet you when you come home. I am blind my guide dog is a five year old yellow lab named Nash. In the three plus years we have been together, we have been on airplanes together, a cruise to the Caribbean, even on TV together. Like Forrest Gump said, “we go together like peas and carrots”. We have rarely been apart. One of my favorite things about being a dog owner is hearing the pitter patter of

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Taking A Bite Out Of Bites

Every year in America alone, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs, and half of those are children. According to a CDC report, 20% of dog bites are severe enough to require medical attention. Sunday is the beginning of Dog Bite Prevention Week, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), so today I’m going to tell you all about why dogs bite and how to avoid getting bitten. Why Dogs Bite There are five main reasons that a dog may bite, and being aware of them is the first step toward prevention. They are: PossessivenessA dog may bite to

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Do Dogs Dream?

Most Pack Leaders have experienced this before: You’re watching TV to unwind after a long day when suddenly you hear whimpering and scratching. What’s going on? Is your dog okay? You race to check on him only to discover that he’s fast asleep — he must have been having a dream! But is that really what’s happening when dogs move and make noises in their sleep? After all, it’s not like the dog can confirm this by waking up and telling us what he or she was dreaming about. Though we may never get an absolute confirmation like this, there

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Obsessive Dog Chasing Shadows

Dear Cesar, I have a Border Collie and Australian Shepherd mix and she loves to play fetch. But lately my dog has become obsessive with chasing shadows. She will stand in the back yard and stare at shadows all day and chase the shadows. Even when we bring her inside she will find a shadow on the wall and bark at it and chase it forever and not stop. I can get on to her and she will stop for a minute until I turn my head and go back to it or find another one to drool over that

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

The Ritual Of Feeding Your Dog: Negative Behaviors

Food carries a powerful message in the dog world. Puppies work for food by waiting patiently for their mother. This is a form of psychological exercise, and it’s important for a healthy state of mind. Domestication has brought about a change in the way dogs receive their meals and in the way they behave before mealtime. Dogs will often become excited, anxious, or aggressive at the prospect of being fed. If you feed your dog when he displays negative behaviors, you are reinforcing the behavior, and it will almost certainly reoccur. I feed many dogs at the same time with

June 17, 2015 No Comments