Obsessions Archives - Cesar's Way

An dog finds something to dig for in her backyard. Learn how to help stop your pet from putting holes throughout your lawn and garden.

All About Dogs

How Can I Get My Dog to Stop Digging?

Hi Cesar, My boyfriend and I have three dogs. Two are Rottweilers (three years old and one-year-old), and one is a Labrador retriever (nine months old). Our dogs love to dig, and now our backyard is in shambles. We tried burying their poop in the holes so they would not dig anymore, but that didn’t stop them. We are moving to a new house and want to break them of that habit. Is there something else we can do to stop the digging? Please help!Sincerely,Cindy Kozma Cesar Millan’s Answer: Hi Cindy, We know that digging can be harmful to people’s

May 26, 2023 No Comments

A dog on the beach chases and bites her tail to relieve itching from fleas. Learn to help your pup break this behavior if the tail chasing becomes obsessive.

All About Dogs

Dog Chasing Tail Obsession

Dear Cesar:We have a ten-year-old lab/pit bull mix. He is housebroken and can do a few tricks. The only problem is he LOVES to chase his tail. Whenever someone comes into the house, or even if there is any loud noise, he chases and chases and chases until he catches his tail. He can walk down the hall with it in his mouth and climb into his chair.He came from the shelter about eight years ago, and I thought this was a behavior he did there to keep himself occupied. Can you help?Lois Harvey Cesar Millan’s Answer:Dear Lois,For dogs, some

February 10, 2023 No Comments

A dog stares at her owner from the other side of the room.

All About Dogs

Why Is My Dog Staring At Me?

You’re sitting watching TV — but your dog only has eyes for you. You’re cooking dinner, and the pooch is laser-focused on your face. You head to the bathroom and… you get the idea. If there’s one thing almost all dogs do well, it’s stare at their owners. And stare. And stare. But why do they do it? There are four main reasons: attention, confusion, desire, and direction. Four Reasons Dogs Stare Attention Your dog wants you to notice her. This one is often tied into desire because she wants you to do something for her, but it’s not necessarily

August 24, 2020 No Comments

Chewing Things Up

Help! My Dog Won’t Stop Chewing On Himself

It’s perfectly natural and normal for dogs to occasionally chew on their legs, feet, ears, and tails. This behavior is no different than when you scratch an itch — it provides relief. However, if you notice that your dog is constantly chewing herself, it may indicate a deeper problem — particularly if the chewed area has become sore, red, inflamed, or furless. So what is going on? It may be because of one of the following problems: Dry skin Your dog may be biting himself in an attempt to relieve the itchiness of dry skin, which could be caused

August 10, 2020 No Comments

All About Dogs

Rude Crotch Sniffer

Dear Cesar, My friend has a dog who is a very rude crotch sniffer. We work together, and she brings her dog to work every day. She doesn’t do it to me, but our clients sometimes get the business end of her nose. I usually catch her before she goes for it, but her owner can’t always get there in time. She says, “That’s what dogs do!” And, “Cesar says you should let them sniff you.” I say, “Cesar wouldn’t approve!” What do you think? Sylvia Tucson, Arizona Cesar Millan’s answer: Dear Sylvia, I do agree that, to

August 6, 2019 No Comments

All About Dogs

Obsessive Dog Licking

Dear Cesar, I have a 3-year-old toy Australian shepherd dog named Gina. She is an absolutely wonderful dog with a few challenges, one in particular that I need some advice on… obsessive licking. She is completely obsessed with licking all the time! My dog licks the air, your arms, your face, in your mouth, other dogs, furniture, herself, etc. She also experiences anxiety and fear and I wonder if the licking may be a result of that. Is there anything that we can do to help control this? Sincerely, Jeni & Gina Jeni, I think you’re correct that

July 12, 2019 No Comments

All About Dogs

My Dog Eats Everything

Dear Cesar, I have a 1-year-old pitbull named Raven. I have followed your methods since day one, and she is well-behaved dog and an awesome ambassador for her breed. But, there’s one problem we are unable to overcome: food obsession. Raven is walked and or biked twice a day. She’s a low-medium energy dog. I can tucker her out very easily. As far as Discipline goes I use the “touch”, say no, and put the food back (if I can). When I leave the room, I command her to come as well. Raven gets into trouble when no one is

July 10, 2019 No Comments

All About Dogs

Why Do Dogs Chase Their Tails?

Man’s best friend can provide all kinds of fun and laughter just by being a dog, but perhaps nothing is more amusing than when your pup suddenly starts to obsess over her own tail and begins spinning around in circles, trying vainly to catch it. This is a sight that can incite laughter in even the most serious of people, but why exactly does it happen? Can it develop into something more serious? Why do dogs chase their tails so suddenly and obsessively? Why Does My Dog Chase Its Tail? Here are a few reasons dogs chase their tails. Boredom

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Prey Drive Problem

Cesar, My dog is obsessed with cats, squirrels, birds, lizards, anything alive that moves. Does that mean she’s unbalanced? Is this normal, natural instinct? This summer, she’s been spending more and more time in our backyard stocking her prey, and less and less time in the house with the human pack. What am I doing wrong? -Lindsay Cesar Millan’s answer: Hi Lindsay, First, I’d like to remind you that the human tells the story and the dog tells the reality. Prey drive is a natural instinct because dogs are predators and hunters – this is something the human has in

June 17, 2015 No Comments

A dog waits on the sidewalk to cross the street.

Agression

Chasing Cars

Dear Cesar: I have a nine-month-old female Yorkshire terrier with several issues, most importantly one that may get her killed. She is only five pounds and wants to chase cars. A very dangerous combination. Correcting her, having her sit and look at me, walking in the opposite direction and even distracting her with toys is not working. What should I do? I try to walk her for an hour every day and play games with her and other dogs in my apartment complex. What is the next step? Please help!!! There are other issues I am working on, but this

June 17, 2015 No Comments