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Canine Behavior/Questions Answered by Expert Anne Springer, B.S., Dip., CAPCT
| Subject | Date Asked |
| dog behavior | 3/27/2012 |
| Q: we adopted a 2 year old male(bullet)5 months ago. He is really pretty well behaved except he barks ... A: If he's barking at you indoors, you should not yell or bother with timeouts. You may accidentally ... | |
| Feisty Golden Retriever Puppy | 3/24/2012 |
| Q: We have a 14-week old female golden retreiver puppy who wont stop biting, and she bites more than a ... A: Unfortunately, you may be increasing aggression in your puppy by using that pinch collar. She is in ... | |
| Dog Incontinence Problem? | 3/19/2012 |
| Q: We have a new houseguest staying with us. Our dog has started wetting the floor and the carpet which ... A: If the behavior started when the house guest arrived, it would be a very highly unusual coincidence ... | |
| Chow Chow anxiety | 3/18/2012 |
| Q: Our chow is now 11 years old and is now developed, I think, some anxiety issues. She is healthy ... A: Any behavior change of this type warrants a visit to the veterinarian. There are many things that ... | |
| Older dog and New Puppy | 3/15/2012 |
| Q: Hopefully this will be a quick question with an easy solution. I am somewhat familar with dog ... A: It's never too late to train a dog, but trainers who use "dominance theory" are using an outdated ... | |
| Older dog and New Puppy | 3/13/2012 |
| Q: Hopefully this will be a quick question with an easy solution. I am somewhat familar with dog ... A: I would not correct Maggie. You can allow her to gently correct the puppy or ask him to keep his ... | |
| Introducing puppy to two older dogs | 3/12/2012 |
| Q: I have two shih tzu's aged 2 and half, they have grown up together. One is a female spayed and the ... A: I think that the pup may be fine with your female at this point. If there's going to be trouble ... | |
| Introducing puppy to two older dogs | 3/11/2012 |
| Q: I have two shih tzu's aged 2 and half, they have grown up together. One is a female spayed and the ... A: I suspect they will accept the puppy. Adult dogs usually do, unless the pup is over 5 months of ... | |
| Introducing an aggressive dog into a home with a cat. | 3/9/2012 |
| Q: Good morning. My sister needs to get rid of her dog. Her dog is almost 4 years old and has recently ... A: I don't really have much to go on here without asking you some questions first - What breed is the ... | |
| my american bulldog 8 month old pup | 3/6/2012 |
| Q: will my pupo grow ouy of being shy but mostly i have a house hold of 7 people but he is strongly ... A: This is from the American Bulldog breed standard "Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness ... | |
| Bulldog aggression towards my cat | 3/5/2012 |
| Q: I have 2 English Bulldogs. They are sisters and are 2 years old. We got them when they were 5 months ... A: Not without some help from a qualified behaviorist, and even then, I have my doubts. This is ... | |
| Chow/Shepherd Mix (Runs from other dogs) | 3/4/2012 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old male thats been neutered, Chow/Shepherd mix. His features are more Shepherd then ... A: How about not forcing him to interact with other dogs??? Clearly he's very uncomfortable. This ... | |
| My dog suddenly acts scared of me | 2/29/2012 |
| Q: We've had our dog (20 lb. mix breed) for 14 years. Suddenly, whenever I cough (not loud) she acts ... A: Whenever a dog changes its behavior suddenly, I recommend a vet check even she was recently in for a ... | |
| Beagle won't sleep through the night! | 2/6/2012 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I got a 3.5 month old beagle puppy several weeks ago. We are still working on ... A: Is there some reason he cannot sleep in your bedroom as before? If it was working, why not ... | |
| Bonding | 2/3/2012 |
| Q: Is there a way to bond with dogs that aren't mine? I am a pet sitter and find it quite difficult ... A: Firstly, you should understand that there should be no "pack leader mentality" - we now know, from ... | |
| Strange behavior outside | 2/1/2012 |
| Q: We have a dog (that we got from a rescue 4 years ago and is about 4years old now) that is extremely ... A: She seems like an anxious dog from your description. If this were my dog, the first thing that I ... | |
| Dog biting/herding?? | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: We adopted, Ellie, a 20 lb. terrier mix 4-1/2 months ago. She's learned to sit, stay and come. When ... A: Maybe my Helium article from last October will help you think up some ways to engage this dog's ... | |
| crying | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: Help! I have 2 jack russells. They used to live with me at home and everything was fine, then I ... A: Whenever a dog's behavior suddenly changes, the first thing I recommend is for it to have a complete ... | |
| Dog biting | 1/2/2012 |
| Q: My dad moved in with me and has a dog.(weiner/chihuahua I think)The dog is VERY protective of my ... A: You really need professional help. Unfortunately, it sounds as if your dad's dog was never properly ... | |
| Female Dog Marking | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: I just adopted a 4 year old dog. She came very well-mannered and house-trained. However, I ... A: Dominance is simply a relationship between individuals involving access to resources, rather than a ... | |
| Siberian Husky | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a pure Siberian Husky male , almost going to be 4 years old, since last year he attacked 2 of ... A: Neutering doesn't always solve aggression problems, although I would certainly consider neutering a ... | |
| New puppy intergration into the family? | 12/24/2011 |
| Q: We have a 2 year old male Cavalier (Charlie)which we have had since he was 8 weeks old. Yesterday ... A: I guess my first question would be whether Charlie was socialized with other dogs when HE was ... | |
| will male rottweiler and male german shepherd be good together?? | 12/16/2011 |
| Q: i have an 9 month male german shepherd. i want to get an 8 week old male rottweiler. will i have ... A: A lot depends upon the individual dogs' genetic makeup as well as how you raise and train them, but ... | |
| dog behavour | 12/10/2011 |
| Q: i have a 18month old female jack russell spayed. recently my daughter 17 month old black labrador ... A: Personally, I don't allow my own dogs to eat together. I think it just makes them guardier about ... | |
| Jack Russell aggression | 12/8/2011 |
| Q: I have 6 JRT, two parents ages 2.5 years (Hazel) and 1 year (Boomer) and four pups that are a few ... A: You need to rehome Zelda before she is killed. I don't know how much more plainly I can say that. ... | |
| Our New Rescued Puppy | 12/4/2011 |
| Q: I just rescued a 5 month old lab mix and was hoping to train it to be a therapy dog for my son who ... A: I am going to try to answer your questions as you posed them, so will incorporate them after your ... | |
| Seperation Anxiety-Poo issue-HELP | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: adopted 7 weeks ago what we believe is a Dachshund/Carin terrier mix. He sleeps in a crate next to ... A: Dogs are social creatures and do not like being alone. When they take that to excess we call it ... | |
| german shepherd puppy | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: My german shepherd puppy is 6 months old we got him when he was 12 weeks and we noticed on walks he ... A: It sounds as though he didn't get enough socialization playing off leash with other puppies during ... | |
| Rescued Doberman acting mean | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: We have a Doberman from doberman rescue. Had him for nine days now. He Was regarded at the rescue as ... A: Report this to the rescue immediately, so that they can be prepared if you have to return the dog at ... | |
| Neutered dog | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: We have two male puppies that just had a bath today and suddenly our long neutered male starts ... A: There are a variety of reasons why dogs hump. Sometimes, it's play, sometimes it's practice for ... | |
| Dog barks after greeting other dogs? | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: We have 2 dogs we recently adopted, a chihuahua and a chihuahua yorkie mix, both neutered males ... A: I would not take a Chi to a dog park unless there is a section for small dogs, in which none of the ... | |
| Sudden Behavior Changes | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I have one peekapoo (Sasha) who is about 3 1/2. We have Madison who is the same breed who is coming ... A: I do think dogs can be very affected by things like roofers banging on the house. I also know that ... | |
| Dog jumping while we're out | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: We have recently (3 weeks) adopted a 15 month old Jack Russell. He is very loving and a great ... A: Chances are that your dog has found something interesting on the counters in the past, so has been ... | |
| Dog barking whining at door wanting to go outside | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1 1/2 yr old shorkie. Just recently (w/I last month), he goes from door to door whining or ... A: I guess my first question would be to ask you if you have ever been to a training class with your ... | |
| english bulldog aggression | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I adopted a super friendly, loving male english bulldog with spina bifida when he was 1.5 years old. ... A: Any time a dog exhibits sudden aggression, the first thing to do is have a thorough exam by a ... | |
| change in behaviour | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: we have recently (1 weeks ago) brought a dog from another family, a 4 year old male cavalier king ... A: I would have his vision checked at your first vet visit just to make sure it isn't related to that. ... | |
| Border collie must have something in her mouth | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: Hey just wondering if you'd be able to answer this question that I can't figure out. My 2 year old ... A: Without actually seeing your dog, my educated guess is that this represents "displaced herding ... | |
| Leash aggression | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a mini schnauzer who is aprox. 3-5 yrs old. I have had her almost 1 yr. She was a rescue and ... A: clicker training is very useful in the kind of behavior training that this situation requires. Many ... | |
| Swimming | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: I adopted a dog from the pound about 6 months ago. This dog is AMAZING. He is a Lab/German Shepherd ... A: Dogs are social animals and are likely to want to be with you. Unfortunately, without seeing video ... | |
| odd behavior in a rescue dog | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: My parents, both in their seventies, have adopted their second senior rescue dog. Their new fellow ... A: Think of this from the dog's perspective. He may have been dumped at a shelter, where things are ... | |
| recent rescue chewing on EVERYTHING | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: we just adopted our second rescue 2 weeks ago, a retriever/collie mix (we think). She's about 19 ... A: Two weeks isn't a long time! She's probably still quite anxious, and chewing is something dogs do ... | |
| Fear of outside | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: I rescued a 2 year old American Foxhound 4 months ago. She is terrified of the outside. I can get ... A: I am a fellow hound owner! Unfortunately, what happens to a lot of hounds is that they were ... | |
| Neurotic about food | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: Good morning, and thanks in advance for your help. I received Baxter, a 6.5 year old Lhasa Apso ... A: I would IGNORE his whining completely. Obviously, his previous family gave in to his demands, or he ... | |
| prey drive | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: What causes a dog to be oblivious to anything when in prey drive? I am fostering a golden retriever ... A: Normal canine behavior, that's what! We are so used to seeing dogs whose predatory instincts have ... | |
| Dog does not take me seriously | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: I am a bit at a loss with this new 1 year old yellow Lab we recently rescued. I want to say first of ... A: Without seeing it, it's hard to say. However, dogs that have been trained using corrections are ... | |
| dog issue | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: ok my dad got gave a Australian cattle dog when it was a puppy his name is blue. any ways i am the ... A: Of course he's aggressing at you, you have been aggressing at him. This is a dangerous situation. ... | |
| refusing to go in crate | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I have recently adopted a Lab mix that is one year old. She had learned to go inside the crate by me ... A: I suspect she has simply learned that once you put her in the crate, she'll be there for hours. ... | |
| traumatized labradoodle | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: This dog is a rescue that the shelter found in a pin with 20 other dogs. She just stays in a corner. ... A: You are on the right track by offering food. However, I would let the dog come to you versus you ... | |
| Disco gets anxious in the car? | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: My dog Disco is a 2 1/2 year old border collie. I've had him since he was 7 weeks old and we've been ... A: This is not an uncommon phenomenon, especially with herding breeds. I think it has something to do ... | |
| Aggressive Black and Tan Coonhound | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: My fiancé and I adopted a beautiful 2 year old Black and Tan Coonhound, Tilly, from our local ... A: I have a hound, too, whose bark is scary to others (the Coonhound bark is loud, isn't it LOL) but is ... | |
| seperation anxiety | 6/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a dog thats a sheperd/retreiver mix, and shes great except for one thing... i think she has ... A: If she isn't destructive, it's not full blown SA, but this should be nipped in the bud so you don't ... | |
| need advice | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: Good day, I have a pack of 6 dogs.I've heard that dogs should be fed apart and then others say they ... A: You have a lot of dogs, and without meeting them, I can't be exactly sure what's going on between ... | |
| adopted dog doesnt like husband | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: We adopted a shelter dog two and a half weeks ago, He has come along way with me, the mommie of the ... A: Many timid dogs are more afraid of men than women and children. And, a newly rescued dog often is ... | |
| Suddenly spooked pup | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: My dog Brady is a Beagle/Lab mix, almost 9 months old, neutered, and the sweetest, friendliest guy ... A: It could be that he has become noise phobic or has some kind of physical issue going on (we always ... | |
| nipping | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: My dog Brutus is a 5 year old male neutered Boston Terrier. He is the light of my life. He is very ... A: When a fearful dog is unpredictable in choosing his targets, there isn't much that you can do except ... | |
| lost and lonely? | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a 4yr female black lab. I got her at 8 wk and she has always been with my son's male black ... A: I think that depends. If her only companion was the other dog, and she was never properly ... | |
| Peeing off the wee pad | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: I adopted a 4-year-old chihuahua 3 months ago. She uses a pee pad inside a litter box. However, ... A: Unfortunately, sometimes when we think we are training a dog to go on pads, what they really learn ... | |
| Fear aggression | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a 4 1/2 year old male Border Collie who has demonstrated fear aggression over the past few ... A: For now, can you crate your dog, or separate him from them, when there are children visiting? I ... | |
| behavoiur | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: hi i have a pup about 4 months old she is a lab/retriever cross she is great with the people that ... A: It sounds as though she has not had much in the way of socialization. Puppies should meet lots of ... | |
| puppy agression problem | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a 7 week old Rottweiler puppy and he has been with us for a week. He doesn't have any problem ... A: Well, first of all, I don't know where you got this pup, but in many states it's illegal to remove a ... | |
| excited barking | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a 3 1/2 year old, male, Havenese dog. His name is Odie. I have been able to train Odie ... A: One thing you can do is put barking on "stimulus control" - here's an example of a trainer putting ... | |
| 6 month old puppy prefers crate to people | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: We just got a 6-month old 3/4 standard poodle 1/4 lab pup, 10 days ago. He is friendly, never has ... A: You probably just have a normal puppy who just doesn't care to be in the traffic pattern, or prefers ... | |
| Separation of half-siblings? | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: For three years I have been an aunt to two wonderful bichon frises who are half-siblings (same ... A: I think this depends on how you manage it. At some point in their lives, one dog will outlive the ... | |
| rehousetraining a newly adopted dog | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: Recently my 2YROLD min pin, which I adopted a month ago, had done well with housetraining until ... A: I question, in situations like this, whether something (anything at all) has changed in your ... | |
| my Buddy | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: my dog is a Chihuahua and Pomeranians mix is acting strangely. he was licking my pant leg for a ... A: I don't know for sure, but whenever you see sudden changes in behavior like that, they often signal ... | |
| Severly shy dog | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old Golden/Aussie rescue named Gracie. She has been with me for a little over a ... A: This sounds like a dog that was completely under- or un-socialized as young puppy. The optimal time ... | |
| High prey drive SBT | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a 2yr Staffordshire Bull Terrier bitch (in Aust) that has a strong prey drive. We have not ... A: I would advise you to get this book: http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB1126 It comes in ... | |
| Female/heat/aggression | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I have an almost 2 year old female Saint Bernard. She is the most loving and spoiled little girl ... A: In my opinion, you invite trouble when you leave pets unspayed and unneutered, and when you leave ... | |
| jess | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: i have a cage that my dog uses as her bed,why does she get aggressive when anyone goes near it she ... A: Dogs do this for different reasons. Some dogs are territorial and defend their bed, or yard, or ... | |
| excessive lickinh | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: My 3yr old part pitbull part chow female dog will not stop licking EVERYTHING! From the rug to the ... A: Even though it seems your dog licks inanimate objects, rather than herself, it does seem a bit ... | |
| son chewing mother's ear | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a six year old male pit who has never been separated from his mother. They are so close and ... A: No, I think she would discipline him if it bothered her. However, do not assume that he, or she, ... | |
| greyhound-trainable with high prey drive? | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: I recently adopted a 2-year-old female hound and signed her up for weekly obedience classes with ... A: She is probably food motivated, but way too anxious or aroused for the group class environment. We ... | |
| RESCUE/FOSTER DOGS | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: MY HUSBAND & I rescued two boxers brother and sister on nov. 14 they are great.no problems as of ... A: You should not be allowing your resident dogs to act aggressively toward the mastiff, so I commend ... | |
| beagle behaviour | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: I have adopted an 8 month old male beagle puppy from rspca. he had no training at all when I got ... A: Isolating him for long periods may make things worse, not better. A better strategy is to practice ... | |
| stuck like glue | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: we adopted a year old shar-pei lab mix who is the sweetest dog. She can't be out of sight and almost ... A: This article provides some good suggestions: ... | |
| beagle behaviour | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I have adopted an 8 month old male beagle puppy from rspca. he had no training at all when I got ... A: It sounds as though he may have some level of separation anxiety. There's an inexpensive, but good ... | |
| extremely timid rescued dog | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently took in an EXTREMELY timid Chihuaha mix dog, literally off of the streets. At first, you ... A: How old is he? If he's young, it could just be a normal fear period that he will get over. ... | |
| Germans Shorthair urinating | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old female germans shorthair...hunter and family pet. Over the past three ... A: I can't be sure what's causing it, but whenever a dog that was previously house trained begins to ... | |
| female pit | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: i have a female pit almost 2 yrs old...i also have a male in the house..oh course he goes crazy when ... A: Dogs hump for various reasons, but some intact females have an excess of testosterone in their ... | |
| New Morkie with Old Lab | 11/21/2010 |
| Q: We just brought a new 5 month old puppy into our home. We have an 11 year old lab and the puppy is ... A: Without seeing it, don't know, but my guess is that your older dog is not well socialized to small ... | |
| New Morkie with Old Lab | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: We just brought a new 5 month old puppy into our home. We have an 11 year old lab and the puppy is ... A: The extent of their relationship will probably depend on how well socialized your older dog is ... | |
| fear at its highest | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I recent purchased a cane corso mastiff,7 month old from a not good reputable breeder. The dog was ... A: Unfortunately, when puppies are not properly socialized with people while they are still young, they ... | |
| 16 month old intact male - growling | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I have my 16 month Rottie in obedience class last week the Travern same age male. Got to staring at ... A: I'm sorry, but I don't agree with your trainer regarding physical corrections. If you read the ... | |
| Fighting Westie Males | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: I own three Westies Mom age 4, Dad age 4, and son age 1. Mom went into heat and both Dad and Son had ... A: Until they are neutered it's best to keep them separated so that they do not fight. When you take ... | |
| Getting my girl out to exercise | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: Springer, I have a Pure bred Lhasa - rescue - just turned 3, female. Most of the time, getting her ... A: When dogs are reluctant to move, the first thing I recommend, just to be on the safe side, is a ... | |
| Wheaten Terrier and baby | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: My daughter's 3 year old male Wheaten Terrier, Barley, is driving her nuts. He was a fine,active dog ... A: Without seeing this, I can't really say whether this is nervous agitation, or something else, but ... | |
| Lab chases her tail viciously til bloody | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: I have an adopted 3 yr old lab that becomes very aggressive towards her tail. She has a 6" tail and ... A: This is an issue for a qualified animal behaviorist. Ask for a referral from your nearest vet ... | |
| my dog bites | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: I bought my dog from a home and the mother was barking constantly at me when i was there. I was ... A: My advice is to seek assistance from a qualified behaviorist or a positive trainer who is ... | |
| health | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: when I take him for walks he continually barks at other dogs and/or people is this normal I didn't ... A: Without seeing how your dog is behaving while he's doing the barking, it's hard to tell. Some dogs ... | |
| Dog snarls when told no | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: Someone I know is having an issue with their dog snarling anytime they tell it no or use any type of ... A: The behavior is fixable, but only if the people change their tactics. It sounds as thought they are ... | |
| Rescue Collie with agression | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: my girlfriend and I just got a 6yo rescue collie named Ozzy from a shelter in Kent, WA. The dog is ... A: This is hard to say, without a complete evaluation, but it's possible, since he is a herding breed, ... | |
| Female Yorkie/Spayeding | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: we recently adopted a female Yorker from another family, she was almost 4 years old when we received ... A: I think that her spaying may simply have coincided with the "honeymoon period" that is typical of a ... | |
| aussies that nip/bite | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old mini aussie. Her herding drive is pretty extreme and I am at a loss as to how ... A: A "mini" is not considered an Australian Shepherd by the registering organizations, but because the ... | |
| My dog | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a three year old rat terrier and jack Russell terrier mixed. We have had her for seven months ... A: If she begs, ignore her. Most dogs generally beg because they have been fed at the table at some ... | |
| Neck biting | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I dogsit my daughter's 6 month old female retriever occasionally. When she comes over she ... A: That's not my advice at all, and in my opinion, is exactly the wrong thing to do. Aggressive ... | |
| Yorkie car aniexty or sickness | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a yorkie that use to be fine travelling but now I am not sure if its car sickness or just ... A: Your dog may always have had some mild discomfort and so she is getting more anxious every time she ... | |
| Neck biting | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I dogsit my daughter's 6 month old female retriever occasionally. When she comes over she ... A: As long as the dogs are not yelping, there's no blood, all the body language is fluid and curving, ... | |
| grass eating | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: Why do my dogs eat at my lawn ? They are loved and well cared for. A: It is thought that some dogs eat grass because they like it, others do it in order to vomit (either ... | |
| Hello | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: i have some concerns about a issue with my dog. The situation is we have had a Basset Hound named ... A: Bobo may not have had much social experience with other dogs beside Nutmeg, so another dog may well ... | |
| puppy growling/barking at strangers | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a six month old german shepherd/landseer newfoundland mix. We got him from a rescue where his ... A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is something that may not be completely fixable. ... | |
| Behavior | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: Springer, thanks in advance for reading this. I have a pure rescue Lhasa Apso, female, 2 & 1/2 years ... A: If this were my dog, I would probably (just for peace of mind) have her checked for any joint ... | |
| phantm pregnancy | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: Please can you tell me the best way to deal with with this? My Bichon Frise has this condition after ... A: Because the problems are likely hormonal, and not just behavioral, there's nothing that I know of ... | |
| phantm pregnancy | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: Please can you tell me the best way to deal with with this? My Bichon Frise has this condition after ... A: I would spay the dog. She will never have another heat, thus no phantom pregnancies. Unless you ... | |
| Dog behaviour modification | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: We have 5 dogs, live in a fairly remote area in Fiji, and have behavioural problems with our ... A: Unfortunately, training and managing dogs requires that all parties be on the same page. So, your ... | |
| pit bull puppy | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: i found my 4 1/2 month old puppy eating the cat food and i told him no and tryed to pick him up and ... A: It's not uncommon for puppies, or dogs, to not want to give up a valuable resource. However, if ... | |
| Hand biting | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: We have a 5 year old, neutered male boxer 8rfoster dog staying with us. When we went to pick him ... A: OK, thanks. If he isn't breaking skin, that's really good. It shows he has good bite inhibition, ... | |
| New Puppy rescued peeing in house | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: My Wife, kids, and I recently rescued a Lab/Pit mix female from a kill shelter. She is a very ... A: Maybe this "cheat sheet" will help you, however, please do take this pup to the vet and have her ... | |
| Hand biting | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: We have a 5 year old, neutered male boxer 8rfoster dog staying with us. When we went to pick him ... A: I would like some additional information before answering. When he jumps at them and bites, does he ... | |
| My dog is afraid of going outside at night | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: My family and I have a golden retriever/border collie mix named Sunni. We got back in May of '09, a ... A: One possibility is that something scared him when he was outside at night, and he may be a "one ... | |
| Female dogs started fighting | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 rottweiler bitches. Keo is 8 years old and spayed and Maya is two and a half and unspayed. ... A: I didn't say that. In my opinion, if she turns out to be aggressive, you would want to spay her ... | |
| Female dogs started fighting | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 rottweiler bitches. Keo is 8 years old and spayed and Maya is two and a half and unspayed. ... A: Unfortunately, you may have a significant problem on your hands or not. Here's why. Spaying has ... | |
| Sudden onset strange dog behavior | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: Strange dog behavior-need help! 9year old mix black and tan coon hound. Excellent health, great ... A: It could be that she associated the noise with going out at night, or with certain areas. We call ... | |
| Onyx The Shih tzu | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 little shih tzu, they are mother and daughter. But the daughter Onyx decides she likes to ... A: Sometimes, dogs that were not properly socialized as young puppies develop fears such as this. Or, ... | |
| Second night back home | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: My sis couldn't take care of her 9 month poodle and gave it to me. He was doing great with me for a ... A: Dogs are creatures of routine, so he is probably scared and confused at the moment. Sometimes,it ... | |
| behavior | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: Springer, thanks for taking time to read this. Your background and experience is exemplary. 2 key ... A: Sometimes, this behavior is just because a dog is scared of novel things. Dogs that were not well ... | |
| behavior | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: Springer, thanks for taking time to read this. Your background and experience is exemplary. 2 key ... A: I can't say exactly what's happening, because I'm not there to witness the other circumstances ... | |
| Blind dog behaviour | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a 14yr old miniature poodle who I believe has now lost most of his sight. Our Vet confirmed ... A: You are his security, so it is very likely that he would be disconcerted without you at first. This ... | |
| my female pits | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: They are sister and they both are fixed. My question is in the last 3weeks they have been more and ... A: You may have to keep them separated permanently. Females that grow to dislike one another can get ... | |
| A rescue Poodle with fears surrounding eating | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I adopted a small (12 lbs) male Poodle, ~9yrs old, last December. I don't know much about his ... A: It sounds as though he is a generally fearful dog. The first thing I would try is to sit on the ... | |
| Crate Retraining? | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old border collie/retriever mix who is/was crate trained. When fostered by my mom ... A: She may have had a bad experience at the vet while in the crate (not that they did anything wrong, ... | |
| Dog nips at people's ankles | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old shepherd mix. She is very sweet most of the time. The only problem we have with ... A: Take her to class, or get some lessons from someone who knows herding dogs and uses positive ... | |
| English Cocker spaniel girl/boy choice. | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a 16 month old English working cocker spaniel and am about to get a brother or sister to make ... A: The way I like to add dogs is to make sure the first dog is fully trained, and has passed the age of ... | |
| dog behaviour | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: to prevent this ive picked him to try and prevent him from seeing the other dogs, ive tried tapping ... A: Please avoid tapping him or being stern. It really has no positive effect on this behavior, and ... | |
| Walking an Akita is becoming frustrating. | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I have had my male Akita now for about 19 months. He is a excellently behaved, respectable dog but ... A: I would stop pulling him. When you pull, you engage what is known as "opposition reflex" meaning ... | |
| male dominance | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 daschunds. one is just about 2 & the other just about 1. they have been together sine the ... A: The first thing I would try is to neuter both dogs. That often goes a long way toward reducing ... | |
| Running from cars and door | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: We just got a 6 month old Great Dane. When we try to take her outside she will not go outside. Once ... A: It sounds as though your puppy was never properly socialized, and it's very hard for her to accept ... | |
| Eating Bed | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a one year old Beagle named Buddy. Since we got him at 10 weeks old, Buddy has destroyed 10 ... A: There is a more indestructible bed, called a Kuranda bed. It's really more like a cot, but may ... | |
| puppy biting | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a 11 week old German Shepherd pup and she will not stop biting us i know she is only playing ... A: The best thing you could possibly do at this stage is to have her playing with other puppies off ... | |
| pug behavior | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I recently adopted a baby pug. She was 6 weeks at the time and now is 14 weeks. From ... A: I'm not surprised you are having difficulty - whoever sold you that puppy should have known that ... | |
| Nibbling/licking | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: Our Laso mix constantly nibbles or licks my husband and myself, our clothes & arms or on himself. Is ... A: Without seeing the behavior, I cannot tell you if it is a nervous habit, especially since I also ... | |
| my dog will not stop pacing | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: My lab/collie mix which is 6yrs old, all of a sudden at 240am started pacing around me in bed while ... A: Take her to the vet! Any time a dog exhibits unexplained new behavior, and seems to be having ... | |
| Comment | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Your statement to keep my dog out of dog parks where intact dogs are playing makes me furious - ... A: I was not being flippant at all, but you certainly are being defensive, and acting pretty entitled. ... | |
| dog barking | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old neutered male American Eskimo named Frosty. I currently live in an apartment ... A: Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, but barking is a very common activity for Eskies! Read this ... | |
| Dog Bites/Separation Anxiety | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: My daughter and her fiance rescued a 10 month old yellow lab named Sophie who most probably was not ... A: If you are describing the dog as "red zone" I assume you watch Cesar Millan. First, I want to be ... | |
| My rat terrier behavior has cahnged | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: She is usaually very energetic and lively . Now she seems skittish and will roll over on her back ... A: Any time a dog exhibits a sudden change in behavior, it's best to have your veterinarian examine her ... | |
| CAN I KEEP A ROTTWEILER AT MY HOME | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: SIR, I am a Dog lover from India. I have a Black Labrador Retriever Female of 1year 2months she ... A: Rottweilers are a working breed that requires a knowledgeable owner. They are safe to keep at home ... | |
| Psychological trauma | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I recently took my 1 year old dog to a friends house to meet his dogs. She was ok with the female ... A: She wasn't defensive for no reason. Some dogs are "one trial learners" and if they get attacked, ... | |
| Hello | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I am living with my grandparents and my grandmas dog has a weird habit. Mitsy is a pug and she is ... A: Sometimes dogs lick things out of stress. She might have started it when she was young due to the ... | |
| Introducing a puppy | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: We currently have two dogs, one Rotti dog 3 years old who has nervous aggression when out on walks ... A: If you have a male Rottie who is not dog friendly, your best chance for success would be with a ... | |
| my dog toby | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: on monday of this week my 16 week old patterdale terrier puppy was attacked outside a local ... A: This is very upsetting, since he is already at the tail end of his optimal socialization period and ... | |
| 3 Dogs Won't Sleep In Own Bed and Won't Give Us Privacy | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 Rat Terriers their names are Nala whom is a female and 1 year 4 months old, Violet whom is ... A: You could set up an ex pen (exercise pen) ... | |
| Weird Dog Behavior after Being Spayed | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: My dog went into heat, she is 9 months old, and about 2 weeks after the bleeding stopped, we had her ... A: I had a female who had false pregnancies (she was an anesthesia risk, so not spayed) and she got ... | |
| mix breed manners, deals with kids other dog | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have the opportunity to get a male 3/4 minature pin and 1/4 mini daschund, he is 18 weeks old, we ... A: To be honest, I don't feel that this mix is a suitable one for small children, although if you have ... | |
| 9 month old male husky afraid of my husband | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old male husky who is neutered. My husband and I purchased this husky when he was ... A: Sometimes, when you have what we call a "soft" dog, they are just naturally more fearful of people ... | |
| Puppies Behavior | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: Ok, well we just got a 10 week old lab puppy yesterday, and it wont stop whining. He also pees and ... A: He may be whining because he's nervous being without his litter mates and mom. As he gets more ... | |
| is this doggie ready for the little men in white coats? | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: My daughter, who is 30, has a mutt named Gracie. Heather ha had Gracie since Gracie was six weeks ... A: y daughter, who is 30, has a mutt named Gracie. Heather ha had Gracie since Gracie was six weeks ... | |
| is this doggie ready for the little men in white coats? | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: My daughter, who is 30, has a mutt named Gracie. Heather ha had Gracie since Gracie was six weeks ... A: Sometimes, dogs do express a preference for gender, but I certainly don't think it's a reason to ... | |
| behavior issues | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: my name is amanda. i have a 3 year old yorkiepoo, who is the love of my life. long story short... i ... A: Dogs often have regression about house training when the family moves, or there is some other ... | |
| My Mom Caught My Male Pomeranian Eating a Bunny Two Days In a Row | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Help! my mom called me today and told me that she caught my Pomeranian, Titan, chewing and eating on ... A: Dogs may be cute, but they are still predators;-) The way you keep your dog from eating rabbit is ... | |
| dog fight.. | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: here goes.. my two youngest 7 and 4 got in a fight today. The last fight they had was two years ago. ... A: Especially if these are females, and are injuring one another that severely, you may have to "crate ... | |
| American bulldog cross | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I'm getting an 18 month old male American Bulldog cross from a rescue centre for stray dogs. He ... A: Did the rescue center do a behavior evaluation on him? The fact that you didn't raise him from ... | |
| Adopted dog scared of boyfriend | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I adopted a dog yesterday. Tesla a 10 month old shepard/husky mix. When we picked ... A: Some dogs that have not had extensive social contact with men are afraid, mainly because they are ... | |
| PTSD in Combat dogs | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: Do you have information about K-9's used in combat that develop Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. I was ... A: I would venture to say that it is quite possible. We know that dogs develop phobias in response to ... | |
| dog is now afraid of food bowl | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: My dog recently became very afraid and timid around his food bowl. Same bowl he drinks water out of ... A: Have you tried changing his food? Sometimes, dogs have food sensitivities and become reluctant to ... | |
| westie is acting very odd.. | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old male westie, Bentley. He has always been kind of a baby about a lot of silly ... A: The first thing is that you want to make certain that the dog has no physical problem that is ... | |
| Housebroken, but has her favorite spot.... | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 dogs. One is a lovely 13+ year old Aussie, well trained, no issues really. We just got ... A: Sometimes, dogs urinate to leave a comforting scent, or to mark a territory (even females can be ... | |
| aggression of neutered male vs. unneutered male dog in dog park | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 4 1/2 yr old tibetan terrier (neutered) who socializes well with other dogs, but when an ... A: OK, well, that's a good thing, but it really doesn't matter that your dog is the neutered one. ... | |
| labrador killing chickens | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: WE HAVE FREE ROAMING CHICKENS AND FREE ROAMING DOGS. WE HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD LAB THAT HAS RECENTLY ... A: If you can't afford traditional fencing, maybe deer fencing would be an alternative. Allowing the ... | |
| aggression of neutered male vs. unneutered male dog in dog park | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a 4 1/2 yr old tibetan terrier (neutered) who socializes well with other dogs, but when an ... A: It *is* a problem with your dog (not that your dog is bad, but this is normal canine behavior, ... | |
| aggression toward people | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: My name is Lacey and I just got a 1 and a half year old kelpie at a vet center. He was left there ... A: First of all, we now have studies that prove that owner aggression causes dogs to become *more* ... | |
| Growling. | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: We have a 7 month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Charlie and we have him for 5 of those months. Me ... A: Most dogs hate being hugged, although they often like petting. If your dog doesn't, the first thing ... | |
| My dog and his baby. | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a royal standard party poodle named Redgy, he is two years seven months. I just got a few new ... A: Mice are a natural prey item for dogs, but because our dogs no longer have to hunt for their own ... | |
| rescued older dog | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Several weeks ago we accepted a female Chihuahua that is between 1 and 3 years of age that had been ... A: At this point, she is still adjusting to you, and that can take a few months with a really fearful ... | |
| Hyper-activity? | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm getting worried because a lot of websites I visit list hyperactivity in dogs as something that ... A: Dogs with Border Collie heritage can be quite energetic, and owners sometimes do characterize them ... | |
| Agression towards LITTLE dogs? | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: recently I rescued a 5 month old pit-bull, and she's as sweet as can be. I have a Maltese and a ... A: I'm sorry to tell you this, but Pit Bulls are considered a breed with dog aggressive tendencies, ... | |
| unsuitable behaviour | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I have an 11 month labrador, he was nuetered at 6 months but, he is still behaving sexually to some ... A: Actually, with dogs that are neutered that late, it is somewhat common that they have already ... | |
| resentful pit bull | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a pit bull between 8 months and a year old. I rescued him about 3 months ago. Lately if I all ... A: I think that your dog may be marking as the result of anxiety. This is a common situation following ... | |
| 1 dog v 2 young cats...help | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: have 6 yr old b.collie and 2x 1yr old cats.most of the time dog avoids eye contact and turns head ... A: It could, so long as the dog is not "guardy" about any other resources in addition to food. Some ... | |
| bad temper dog with guests | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I rescued a dog from the street about a year ago. He had a broken hip and could barely walk. We took ... A: I think you are probably right about this being fear related. When you know you are going to have ... | |
| sniffing vs.licking | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have two wonderful male Newfoundlands, ages 5 and 3. The older one has always given me "kiss" or ... A: It's very normal. I have four dogs, and only two of them like toys. Three of the four will lick, ... | |
| collie pup | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: i got two mail collie pups back in sept.they are brothers and are now 7 months old.one would be ... A: That's a question that might be better directed to your vet, although I can tell you that stress ... | |
| Barking | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I rescued a male miniture pinscher (Marley), back in November 09. The rescue service thought he was ... A: It sounds as though this dog never received adequate socialization, which needs to take place early, ... | |
| 1 dog v 2 young cats...help | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: have 6 yr old b.collie and 2x 1yr old cats.most of the time dog avoids eye contact and turns head ... A: This requires management, because you really can't prevent natural tiffs like that from happening ... | |
| dogs behaviour | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: me and my partner have been wanting to have a dog we have had three in the past all have been great ... A: It keeps happening because the dogs you tried to adopt are not adequately socialized with kids. ... | |
| new dog behavior | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: we recently learned of a dog who's owner was going to take it to the pound because she had 3 dogs & ... A: I have four dogs and I never let them eat near one another. I crate them or let them eat in ... | |
| Grown dog weeing in house at night | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old German Shepard and a 6 year old Border Collie. They are both house trained and ... A: This is a situation that I would refer to your vet. It's quite possible that someone has picked up ... | |
| negative trigger | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I am a professional pet sitter. I had a meet & greet last night with a female dog, 11 month old ... A: Non-confrontational greeting behavior would be: turning your body to the side, open mouth, squinty ... | |
| Jack Russel Terrier | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a female Jack Russel Terrier that is 5 years old. We have had her for almost 4 years. She ... A: When someone tells me that they have a dog that has suddenly become more aggressive, there are a few ... | |
| Dog pees in house | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I adopted an adorible yourie almost 5 years ago, at that time he was 5. He was abused and neglected ... A: First off, stop yelling at the dog. If you "correct" a dog more than 1-2 seconds after the ... | |
| dog excessive sniffing behaviour | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: my in law has a 8 years old snauchzer ( miniature ) . For the past few months , he's been so crazy ... A: I don't understand why this behavior would prompt someone to put a dog to sleep even if it is ... | |
| Trick Training | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I recently rescued a heartworm postive dog from Bowling Green, KY. She is undergoing treatment now. ... A: Here are some other links: ... | |
| Avoidance | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: We just adopted a 7 month old Sheltie 2 weeks ago. When we need to get ahold of her to take he ... A: Someone probably chased her, that's all, and I can guarantee that if you do it, she will continue ... | |
| Dog becoming aggressive | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I have a black lab, retriever mix. We got her off craigslist at 3 months old. Shes ... A: As you can see, the time to have started training was when she was 3 months old, but for most dogs, ... | |
| fabio miniture daschound | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: my miniture daschs 12 years old has suddenly started to be aggresive when touched when sleeping or ... A: Sudden episodes of aggression should first be evaluated by the dog's veterinarian, especially since ... | |
| A.D.D. and potty training | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: my Boston terrier I adopted 3 years ago at the age of 11 months is still not trained completely. ... A: Spinning is a stereotypical behavior, and she may require medication and/or behavior modification ... | |
| Thinks shes can pick when she comes in | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: We have a 9 mnth old collie cross. She's usualy a good girl but we've been having problems with her ... A: This just sounds like an adolescent dog with insufficient training of the recall, who has decided ... | |
| bassett hound not coming in from the cold | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: i have a 5 year old female bassett hound that has never really liked the outdoors. she has always ... A: I'm not sure what her problem is, since I can't be there to see her body language, but two things ... | |
| looking straight into dogs eye | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: shouldnt we look straight into dogs eye??? i meant, shouldnt a human stare into dogs eyes???? ... A: Staring is perceived as a threat by many dogs, and if your friend's dog is one of those, then yes, ... | |
| can a 15-year-old girl own a husky succesfuly? | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I'm 15 years old and my whole live i wanted a dog.Now i have actualy a change to get one so i did a ... A: If you live in an apartment, a Husky is probably not the right dog for you at this stage of your ... | |
| dog behaviors | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Our dog, Humpfrey (male), is about 3 years old and is a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix (approx 15 lbs). We ... A: First off, good for you for wanting to prevent problems instead of dealing with them after the fact. ... | |
| Keeping puppie busy | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: My fiance and I are getting our 2nd puppy today (our frist in 9 months old and in training). We've ... A: Sure - shop around at these sites: www.activedogtoys.com www.planetdog.com www.premierpet.com ... | |
| Adopted dog biting | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I adopted a small dog. For two weeks I stressed wanting an older dog that was very mellow, needed ... A: It sounds as if you are in way over your head with this dog. Any dog that bites and leaves you with ... | |
| English Springer Spaniels | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me if English Springers are droolers? A: Yes, many of them do. Not as badly as many of the Newfoundlands, but if you are a neatnik, or hate ... | |
| New 7months puppy night problems | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I have just bought a 7months old maltese. The first day I had him he did his buisness outside, the ... A: Here's the house training cheat sheet that I give my students: TAKE THE HEADACHE OUT OF “HOUSE ... | |
| labradoodle growling at baby | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I recently purchased a 2 1/2 year old labradoodle from a breeder. We have 4 children ... A: It sounds as though your dog may never have been socialized to very young infants, and this has me ... | |
| Fear aggressive Puppy | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: Is our dog really fear aggressive? We-my family and I-have an 8 month old Beagle puppy, and we got ... A: At the risk of a bad review.... Dogs are not wolves, don't live in static packs (even when they go ... | |
| cant leave her alone | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I got a datsun dog about 1 year old from a neighbor, every time I leave the house she poos and pees ... A: I assume that you mean a Dachshund. And, it does sound as though she has some separation anxiety. ... | |
| dogs | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: how do you know if your dog is traumatised or anxsious it started today and he hasnt had a injury ... A: I would say that if he has undergone two traumatic events, such as owner being in hospital, and also ... | |
| Dog Running Away, Won't Respond | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: We are having a serious behavior problem with our ½ Kusaz, ½ Great Pyr Mix, about 2.5 years old.. ... A: Your problem is not uncommon and is the result of our human inclination to think that dogs ... | |
| jealous dog? | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 1/2 yr old yorkie, who I will admit, babied, but also my husband did his share. but I am ... A: It's important for families never to leave a dog and baby/toddler/child unsupervised together. If ... | |
| Frightened by Rain | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: We have a terrier mix which was obtained from a shelter about 2-3 years ago. The dog is very sweet ... A: Gradual desensitization is usually helpful. Denver Dumb Friends League has a good article on this: ... | |
| female aggression | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 Siberian Huskies Rocco a 5 year old neutered male, Gracie a 3 year old spayed female and 6 ... A: You can't alter temperament traits, poor socialization, or issues related to hierarchical status by ... | |
| Behavior Change in Border Collie | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 yr. old border collie who is still extremely active. However, in the past week or so he ... A: The first thing I always advise when a dog has a sudden behavior change, is to get the dog checked ... | |
| Dog potty | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering getting a small Chinese crested male puppy and the main thing im worried about is ... A: Two walks per day isn't enough. Puppies can only hold it a short time. If you cannot be available ... | |
| Yorkie Growling | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: My male Yorkie who has just turned a year old has been growling and every dog he sees. He even looks ... A: Yes, I do. First, stop squirting him. His barking and lunging could be from fear (that often ... | |
| Sudden Aggression | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old Beagle, Pit Bull mix. I met both his parents and they are ineradicable sweet. ... A: I suspect that his experiences at the vet may have made him wary of handling by strangers. Not that ... | |
| puppy mill question | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: sorry to bug ya just a quick question. do you know the life span of a puppy mill dog compared to a ... A: That usually depends on whether the dog falls victim to one of the genetic disorders that can plague ... | |
| Sweet Bella | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Hey we have the sweetest little dog ever! Her name is Bella and she is 6 yrs. old. She is a Puggle ... A: It sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes the easiest way to train a dog to "quiet" is first to ... | |
| Stressed on walks | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a 6 year old Irish Setter mix a few months ago, and I'm not sure about her history. She ... A: This sounds like a dog that is fearful of novel situations, and that is usually due to inadequate ... | |
| What is causing my dogs to fight? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I have two dogs. Both are about 2 years old and both are fixed. They are both about the same weight ... A: Unfortunately, this sometimes happens as dogs reach the age of social maturity and are trying to ... | |
| training | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: .we found a stray dog and took him in. he is a cocker spaniel, and has been abused. the vet says the ... A: Don't spend any time feeling bad for him for being abused because there is nothing you can do about ... | |
| scared puppy | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday while cooking my smoke alarm went off really scaring my 6 month old puppy. Now he follows ... A: Your dog may have acquired "noise phobia" from the incident. Often, this requires desensitization ... | |
| sleeping behavior | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old toy poodle that has been with me since he is 9 weeks old; for the last week ... A: Any time a dog or puppy has a sudden change of behavior, I recommend seeing the veterinarian. It ... | |
| Yellow Lab suddenly skittish | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if labs can smell/sense medication that humans take. My mother was here this ... A: Dogs can sense many things, not the least of which is scent. So, the short answer to your question ... | |
| my dogs behaviour towards other dogs | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: i have got a 15 month male beagle,the problem i have got is his barking towards other dogs,he is not ... A: It may sound crazy, but some people actually teach their dogs to bark on a cue, such as "speak" and ... | |
| puppy biting | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: ive just got a 8 week old puppy shes a female staff cross with pittbul my friend has got her sister ... A: My advice is to find a good puppy class with a positive trainer and take your puppy for classes ... | |
| sudden change of behavior of dog | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: all of a sudden my male dog is humping me and panting and displaying extreme excitment - have had ... A: If he learned, pre-neuter, that this behavior feels good, he isn't necessarily going to stop ... | |
| puppy pulled from his dog pack | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I was given a American bulldog puppy. He was found with a brother, dad and mom as a pack. I am ... A: If your pup was older than 16 weeks when found, it is unlikely that he received much socialization ... | |
| wants to attack other dogs | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: My dog (Maltese x W.Highland Terrier) is 9 years old. For the first 3 years of his life, we walked ... A: If you had contacted me back when this started, I would have said that any time a dog suddenly ... | |
| "Toro" behavior | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: My question is related to why a male dog digs at the grass after peeing in the grass. I'm not sure ... A: This is not aggressive behavior, it's a normal "marking" behavior. Dogs have scent glands in their ... | |
| jumping up | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: my daughter has a doberman puppy, 5 and a half months old who likes to jump up on people. how can ... A: Dogs jump because part of their normal greeting behavior is to sniff the side of the other party's ... | |
| Please help. Formerly abused dog | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I got a neutered 3 year old male Boston Terrie/Chihuhua mic a few days ago. He had been being ... A: Don't force him to interact with your brother. Tell your brother not to make eye contact with the ... | |
| 1 year old Greyhound-Pom #2 in house | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: My daughter adopted a greyhound-pom mix last week while on a visit here and left him here ... A: He is not "sneaky," he's either not house trained, or he is afraid to eliminate in front of people ... | |
| 2 yo Palm-chi, feigning pain? | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I'd just like ask. My room mate and I have a palm-chi, she's 2 and only 5.5 pounds fully grown ... A: I have not known any dogs to feign pain, although they are quite capable of repeating a behavior to ... | |
| behavior | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Springer, My husband and I rescued a 7-8 month old Collie Smooth/Mix last month from the Humane ... A: I would have the puppy checked by her veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection, which is ... | |
| 2 year old Vizsla Behavior | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a female Vizsla that I just paid for from another family. I live in a subdivision and work ... A: You have adopted an extremely high energy breed, and it sounds as if she doesn't have nearly enough ... | |
| Two's company three's a crowd. | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have three kelpie dogs. An 11 year old a two tear old and a 15 week pup. The two young ones are ... A: Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of adding a third dog at the wrong time, and I think you ... | |
| dog paddling without water | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old male lhasa apso. I got him at 7-8 weeks of age. He displays a behavior that I'm ... A: It may be related, but I really can't be sure about that. Sometimes, small dogs just paddle because ... | |
| getting my dog to trust me | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I adopted a dog a couple years ago. Everything was fine. A few months ago, he was ... A: Unfortunately, some dogs are "one trial learners" and what they learn stays with them a long time. ... | |
| trying to determine if dog is aggresive | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: We have a 6 month lab and cocker mix. We have had her since she was 7 weeks old. She has been very ... A: A couple of things stand out for me. One, a dog is too young to be separated from its dam at age 7 ... | |
| dog anxiety away from home | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: My 7 year old lab has issues spending the night away from home. Only at night when it is time to go ... A: The reason she won't settle down is probably related to the disturbance in her usual routine, and ... | |
| My springer is aggressive | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: We have an 18 month old springer dog that lives in the house with 4 adults. He intermittantly gets ... A: Please have your dog evaluated by your veterinarian. Any time a dog displays sudden aggression, ... | |
| Dog anxiety/aggression | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: We rescued my dog from the local SPCA about 4 months ago. We think hes about 1 1/2 yrs. old. Hes a ... A: If he's fearful of new things, he may always be - dogs that are not properly socialized between the ... | |
| barking during the night | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: my daughter has a lovely doberman male puppy, four and a half months old, who barks during the night ... A: The one thing she should NOT do is speak to the dog! Eventually, the puppy may learn to quiet ... | |
| Jack | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: We adopted Jack from out local animal shelter two months ago. He is a mix, min greyhound/short ... A: Often, when people house train dogs, they make the mistake of scolding the dog for accidents ... | |
| Bull terrier Fighting | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: for some reason my young female keeps attacking the male and the male then retaliates and i end up ... A: I would suggest that you spay and neuter your dogs if you aren't going to breed them (she is way too ... | |
| chewing | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 month old lab and collie mix. She is everything i've ever wanted in a dog, but she has ... A: I'm not a veterinarian, and your vet may be your best resource as you try to figure out why your dog ... | |
| scared | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: i have a yorkie a little over a yr old. the other night, she was laying down, and when i picked he ... A: Again, I really think this needs to be discussed with your veterinarian, but it is quite common when ... | |
| seizure | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: i have a yorkie a little over a yr old. the other night, she was laying down, and when i picked he ... A: I don't know, but any time a small breed dog has an episode like this, a visit to your vet is in ... | |
| Re neighbours dogs behaviour | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I reside in the UK, behind my house my rear neighbours has three possibly four dogs rotweiller, ... A: Have you spoken directly to the owner about the possibility of adding some height to the fence, or ... | |
| dog biting | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 month old yellow lab who is very affectionate. He does this weird biting-mostly to me. ... A: This behavior is common in some dogs, and is a form of affection, so long as the bite is completely ... | |
| Aggression | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a 1 1/2 year old Chihuahua/Papillion mix from a rescue group 10 months ago. I have worked ... A: The fact that he can be ok with other dogs when he is in a safe environment and not on leash tells ... | |
| yorkie/cocker mix | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: 9 month old yorkie mix. When we are gone, he tends to run in and out of the doggie door and bark at ... A: If you don't want your dog harmed, then don't keep the dog door available to him when you are not ... | |
| New Rescue Dog Fearful of his Water Bowl | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: We just rescued a dog who wandered into our yard. He's extremely sweet but very fearful of his food ... A: First, I would make sure that if he has tags on, that they are not clunking against the bowl. That ... | |
| Therapy Dog | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: The training began with four weeks of puppy kindergarten. The second week of class she began to ... A: This doesn't sound like an "adolescent phase". It sounds as though you waited far too long to get ... | |
| Visiting Dog and Resident Dog Fighting | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 month old neutered cairn terrier. He is generally very good with other dogs and calm. I ... A: If your friend's dog is unneutered, that is part of the problem. Neutering can help reduce ... | |
| Scared | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: We have a pitbull/boxer mix 8 in a half months old we rescued and ever since we've gotten him he is ... A: He may have been come from a situation where he didn't get adequate socialization during the ... | |
| aggressive responses | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: I am writing for a family member who has a mixed breed dog they adopted recently. We are guessing ... A: I'm guessing that this is her way of telling the person to be still and not move. Some herding dogs ... | |
| refusal to go in house at night before crate time | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: First of all thank you for the opportunity to ask this question. I would like to know what you ... A: I would lure him in with some treats (chicken perhaps), and then do something fun for a while (not ... | |
| Aggression | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: In March, my daughter was arrested and I got custody of her 2 sons and 2 Rat Terriers. There were no ... A: Unfortunately, you may have to find another home for Ava. I'm concerned because of the dogs' ages - ... | |
| agression towards people | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 French Bulldogs. Amos is almost 2 years old and Zoey is about 4.5 months old. Amos was a ... A: There isn't anyone really close to you, but it might be worthwhile to give Susan Smith a call: ... | |
| polmeranian ignoring me | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: We have a polmeranian named Leo, we love the little bugger he is awesome however in the recent few ... A: You didn't say how old Leo is, how long you have had him, or how long he has been residing with your ... | |
| my dog growls at my 4yr old niece | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I just got a dog from a friend. He is half pikinese and half poodle. Hes about 3 yrs old and my 4 ... A: You should worry that he will snap - growling is a warning and needs to be taken seriously. He is ... | |
| dog won't eat | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: My 2 year old Portuguese Water Dog has been refusing to eat her food on and off for the past 8-12 ... A: The first thing to do is rule out any possible medical cause for her inappetance. While I don't ... | |
| My best friend might have to go | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I am need of advice. I have exhausted all resources and at the end of my rope. I have a four year ... A: You do not need a trainer, you need a qualified canine behaviorist, and preferably a veterinarian ... | |
| growling | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I was just curious about something that happened today and I know you can't know for sure but would ... A: It's possible, but I would have to have heard the tone to tell you for sure. Dogs often communicate ... | |
| barking | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: My question is I have a pure bred yellow lab and a pure bred shepard. Now the two dogs will run ... A: Fence running can turn in to unwanted aggressive behavior and should not be encouraged. The reason ... | |
| growling | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I was just curious about something that happened today and I know you can't know for sure but would ... A: Since I didn't see the encounter, I can't say for sure. However, in general, although people ... | |
| pooping in the house | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: We have a 2 yr old shepherd mix, she is a great dog but has some issues. she was abandoned in an ... A: The secret is to keep her contained indoors, or on a waist leash, so that she doesn't even get the ... | |
| my dog is afraid to go outside to pee | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: My foster Brittany suddenly developed a fear of going outside for any reason in the last few days. ... A: It would help to know how old your dog is, and if anything has changed in the neighborhood lately. ... | |
| Dog chewing | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a dog, she’s about 2 1/2 years old. We rescued her from a humane society so we’re not 100% ... A: I think that your instinct about being wrong on the exercise question is right on the money. Dogs ... | |
| dog | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: adopted beagle with no formal training has slept in bed with owners for 9 yrs. after one too many ... A: Dogs hate isolation. Maybe you could crate train him. That way, he would not be in bed with you, ... | |
| dog biting weedeater | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: My dog hates the weedeater. We have had him for 8 years. Never aggressive never bites. However, ... A: I don't understand why you think it's necessary for your dog to be outside when your husband is ... | |
| 9 month old lab puppy afraid of men | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My family is adopting a 9 month old lab puppy from the local shelter. We don't know much about him. ... A: Frankly, if a puppy is not socialized to men sufficiently during the first weeks of life (weeks ... | |
| scared of water | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: i have a 4 year old staffordshire bill terrier. she's scared of water. I've tried her in the bath ... A: Is there some reason she has to swim in a kiddie pool or at the beach? If it isn't fun for her, why ... | |
| yorkie that is scared to drink from water bowl | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: 3 weeks ago my yorkie name tags banged the side of his water bowl and it scared him pretty bad.Now ... A: First, get one of those tag holders that prevents the metal clanging noise, so that he is never ... | |
| dog behaviour | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: my dog keeps going on walkabout. She is a one year old cross labrador/pointer and is neutered. I ... A: In America, where I am, we generally don't let our dogs loose except in controlled areas, for fear ... | |
| please help. | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: my dog is about 2 years old and she has nerve damage from having distemperment. she cant really see ... A: It sounds as though she is afraid. A low vision dog may have trouble in the dark, where a normal ... | |
| 15 yr old dog. Strange behaviour | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: My dog is a 15 yr old staffie/lab/other things mix. He has usual problems associated with age ... A: Any time an older dog displays a sudden change in behavior, it's time to see the vet. Your dog may ... | |
| Dog Soiling in the house | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: My 3 year old German Shepherd all of a sudden started soiling in the house. He does it in the ... A: You may think there have been no changes, but review that again from the dog's point of view. Even ... | |
| New dog snapping and baring teeth at older dog | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old German Shepherd bitch who I've had from 12 weeks old. She is a lovely, docile ... A: In my opinion, these dogs are too close in age, and same gender, which does not always make for a ... | |
| My 3 yr. old Aussie won't come near me.. | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: 4 days ago I injured my knee and have to use crutches. I am very close to my dog, walk her every am ... A: It's not unusual for dogs to establish superstitions about strange objects. And Aussies are ... | |
| Older puppy dominance | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 month old pit bull female who is getting spayed in a few weeks. I had a temporary job for ... A: I would suggest finding a good clicker trainer or positive trainer in your area who can teach you ... | |
| pupppppy | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: My name is sarah and I had a question about dogs! So. I'm 20 years old and after this year, ill be ... A: I'm so pleased that you are asking questions before acquiring a dog - congratulations on wanting to ... | |
| How to find a good dog trainer | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old mixed breed male dog. He is wonderful and active but is becoming a handful, in ... A: Certification doesn't guarantee that a trainer is good. The first thing to do is narrow your search ... | |
| Dogs and Pools | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: We rescued a 3 yr old Bichon Frise 4 weeks ago. She has been a joy, very mellow and well mannered. ... A: One thing that some dog owners do is to use deer fencing. If you have a set up where you can fence ... | |
| My dog hates her lead | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I have an 18 month old French Bull Dog Poppy Rose she is loving mixes well with other dogs people ... A: Whenever a dog exhibits aggressive behavior, I advise the owner to have the dog examined by a ... | |
| Sudden Fear of Food Bowl | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: My friend's 9-year-old black lab Clancy has suddenly developed a fear of his food bowl in the past ... A: Any time a dog has a sudden change in behavior, I do think the first thing should be a check up. ... | |
| rough playing | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: A couple of months ago I found a she doggy about 5 months old and adopted her, she is extremely ... A: The reason the pup is rough is that he has not yet learned to inhibit his bite, and he has those ... | |
| Dogs and Pools | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: We rescued a 3 yr old Bichon Frise 4 weeks ago. She has been a joy, very mellow and well mannered. ... A: You should be very worried. Dogs don't see the way humans do, and even when they do, they can't be ... | |
| My Pitbull | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: How you doing? I have a 1 year old pibull and the past 3 days he hadn't been eating his ... A: What a horrifying thought - how could you even think of that???? Take him to the vet and care for ... | |
| 4 dogs never really trained poop and pee anywhere in house even if theyve just been out | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: 4 yorkie mixes ages 5 - 1 1/2 yrs. owners never crate or house trained. mainly we 'catch' them ... A: Since you are asking for help, I assume that you rescued these dogs, but house training is house ... | |
| 19 month old male English Bulldog | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: My English Bulldog loves to go to the groomers and to the vet. I take him for a bath every week! ... A: Some dogs are a bit claustrophobic, but in most cases this behavior is because he was not trained to ... | |
| Puppy barks when scolded | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: We have a 3 month old male Labrador Puppy (Jamie). He's quite playful and can also be very assertive ... A: Stop scolding the dog or he may become more aggressive. Instead, teach him to "give" up objects by ... | |
| trianing | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: How do i get my silky terrier to quit biting at are hands and jumping up on company when they come ... A: Dogs jump because their natural greeting behavior is to sniff the side of the other "dog"'s face. ... | |
| Our two English Bulldoggs! | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: my name is Jana,and i live with my husband overseas in germany. (Forgive my mistakes, i am german ... A: Unfortunately, you may have to find a home for one. This happens sometimes when people get ... | |
| Dashund | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I would really like to help my miniature Dashund from having anxiety attacks when I leave for more ... A: There's a very good book (inexpensive) that you may want to read. It's called "I'll Be Home Soon", ... | |
| dog agression/excitment towards other dogs | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I have recently adopted a rescue dog (5 days ago). She is an akita cross. She is very well bahaved ... A: She is probably curious and interested in greeting other dogs, which might be fine in a supervised ... | |
| gsd protective instincts | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10 months old gsd, but he still does not show protective instincts, is he still too young? ... A: I thought you said he didn't show any guarding instincts! You and your wife are his resources, so ... | |
| almost constant friendly nibbling | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 1/2 yr old Wheaten Terrier named Gus (about 45 lbs). I rescued Gus when he was 6 months ... A: What you are describing does sound like normal play. If you have a dog that is grabby about food, ... | |
| almost constant friendly nibbling | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 1/2 yr old Wheaten Terrier named Gus (about 45 lbs). I rescued Gus when he was 6 months ... A: It sounds like normal canine play. Some dogs just have a more mouthy style than others, but if you ... | |
| Aggressive Pug | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: We have a 3yr old pug who is very dominent and wonderful within our household. However she has such ... A: You cannot re-socialize a three year old dog, although you can make the threshold for aggression ... | |
| St. Bernard aggressive behavior | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 26 month old St Bernard, neutered male. He is very well mannered amongst my family. The ... A: I don't know what this dog's socialization history is, but it appears he does not fear people. ... | |
| German Shepard Timidness Problem | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a purebred german shepard he is 7 months old. We bought him from a reputable, so we thought, ... A: You did not buy from a reputable breeder, because reputable breeders generally have waiting lists ... | |
| Behaviour | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a cross Staff/Lab aged almost 7,he is quite large at 70+lbs. He is a very friendly dog and ... A: I really cannot tell you whether his behavior is appropriate or not without seeing it, but if he ... | |
| 12mth German Shepherd fearfull? | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a 12mth old German shepherd and over the past couple of months he's been acting a bit strange ... A: When humans approach dogs, they often do it frontally, looking straight at the dog. We think this ... | |
| Out of control? | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: Ok so I got a year old German Shorthair Pointer about 4 months ago. He's a beautiful dog who was ... A: Your first order of business is to train the little pup RIGHT NOW. He is probably a very confident ... | |
| Dog enuresis | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: Can imipramine be given to dogs for "bed-wetting"? We had 3 dogs, After we added a 4th dog, the 3 ... A: The two medications that are normally given for doggy incontinence are phenylpropanolamine (Proin) ... | |
| OUR DOG | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: WE GOT OUR SHEPARD/CHOW/AKITA MIX WHEN HE WAS 6 WEEKS OLD. WE HAVE A 14 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND ... A: You did get him about two weeks early, which does have an impact on some dogs being more nippy as ... | |
| Young dog incontinence | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: We purchased a 3 year-old male Cairn from a breeder a month ago; he had been neutered the week ... A: You are making matters much worse by scolding him, so stop that immediately. Your dog has what is ... | |
| WEIRD QUESTION - MALE PUPPIES | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: we just bought 2 male puppy maltipoos (same age but different liter)... they are displaying ... A: You should NOT "discipline" them except by ignoring the immediate issue and training them to do ... | |
| Fostering to Adopt Owner Wants to Occasionally Visit | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking into fostering with the intention to adopt a 3 1/2 year old golden ... A: I think it is heartbreaking to continually visit a dog that you have no intention of taking home, ... | |
| gsd protective instincts | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10 months old gsd, but he still does not show protective instincts, is he still too young? ... A: No, you should not be concerned about that at all. You want a dog that is social with the kinds of ... | |
| gsd protective instincts | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10 months old gsd, but he still does not show protective instincts, is he still too young? ... A: German Shepherds, if well bred, should have a stable temperament and not show signs of aggression. ... | |
| Pomeranian the eats dirt and digs | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1 yo female pomeranian. Every time she goes outside she will find the smallest stone loose ... A: When dogs eat things that are not food, it's called pica. When they eat stools, it's called ... | |
| Dog aggression - new onset | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: We have two beagles. Our first beagle we got when he was 3 months old he is now 1 1/2 years old. ... A: The bite that you took was what we call "redirected" aggression, and is very common. Instruct your ... | |
| Problems with new puppy and older dog | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: i really appreciate the opportunity to ask a question. I have a female six year wolf hybrid .She is ... A: I would not "discipline" her, lest she think that the pup predicts bad things happening to her. ... | |
| fighting littermates | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I adopted litter mates, one at 5 wks and one at 8 wks. The 5 wk old (Holly) was the runt. Both ... A: It is very difficult to keep two female littermates who decide to fight for real. At this stage, ... | |
| Overly Affectionate Pup | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I adopted Angel, an Akita-German Shepard mix, from the humane society about 6 months ago and she ... A: Maybe it's the photo, but she has a very "houndy" tail, and I'm not so sure about her other ... | |
| Dog going to the bathroom on the floor at night | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: Why does my 4 year old dog Maltepoo pee and poop on the floor EVERY night? It doesn't matter how ... A: Dogs don't generalize very well, so the fact that she is trained to ring bells at the back door ... | |
| aggressive behavior | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: We adopted a 2 yr old female choc. lab mix(unknown)from a rescue shelter almost 3 years ago - ... A: Just checking in to see how you are progressing. | |
| my rescued pitt bull | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I have rescued my 4 year old pit bull from a shelter about 3 years ago. She is the most loving and ... A: First, you may want to establish a pattern of being able to tell her that YOU want her to be ok with ... | |
| getting a new puppy | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: We currently have a rescue dog who we got 4 months ago. She is 6months old now and we all love her ... A: I would not get two females who are close in age, and I would not rush into this yet. Since you ... | |
| Jack Russell nibbles on bed sheets | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: We have 2- two year old Jack Russell Terriers, brother & sister. Buster the male just started ... A: Dogs often chew on fabric or other items to calm themselves. If your dogs are age two, they are ... | |
| Behavior | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old male German Sheppard. I had been doing some reconditioning with a trainer and ... A: German Shepherds are working dogs that need a job. So, stopping your training was probably a bad ... | |
| eye contact | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: when attacked by a dog is eye contact a deterrent signal to dog , how an expert knows that the dog ... A: Dogs consider direct eye contact to be a threat. To defuse the threat, the best thing is to look ... | |
| 3 year old lab misbehaving when alone | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Good Morning...I have a 3 year old lab that I rescued 1.5 years ago. She is perfect, I love her ... A: If she truly had separation anxiety, she'd be doing other things, such as trying to get out windows ... | |
| dog not acting like herself | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: About a week ago out 9yr old shihtzu started acting strange...not accepting treats, pawing at us, ... A: I would pursue this further with your vet. Pawing, acting scared and failure to accept treats may ... | |
| Excited Barking | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: G'day! Please help! We have a 7 year old male Jack Russell. Every time when we take him driving ... A: Try the technique outlined in this article: http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1125 Also, there is ... | |
| training | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Just got myself a 2 month old Schnauzer from a pet store where pee and poo was done in the cage to ... A: It is the reason you are having trouble - he's probably from a big puppy mill where he did the same ... | |
| Dog wetting Issues | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: His name is Buddy and, for the most part, his behavior is very good. However, lately he has been ... A: Is your dog neutered? If not, he could be urine marking to establish that the territory belongs to ... | |
| aggressive in car | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: We adopted a boxer mix, I think he also has pit bull in him at 6 months old from the shelter. We ... A: I'd like to direct your attention to this article on territorial aggression: ... | |
| Traumatized Dog | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old dog that goes to "Doggy Day Care", He is a fun loving dog that gets along with ... A: Without seeing him, I really can't make a determination, but I would say that if his behavior ... | |
| agressive puppy | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: i have two brothers,breed is half poodle/half foxy.they are 5 months old,i have had them for about ... A: Google "littermate syndrome" and you will find more information, but the fact is that raising two ... | |
| dog behavior.... | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: I have three dogs, one is a very well behaved 4 year old pit (cheyenne), the other we got about a ... A: Dogs compete for resources, so the best way to see that they don't fight is to separate them for ... | |
| Traumatized Dog | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old dog that goes to "Doggy Day Care", He is a fun loving dog that gets along with ... A: Since I wasn't there, I can't tell what happened, but in a sweet dog with no bite history that gets ... | |
| growling and barking | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 month old male miniature schnauzer that barks at all dogs and most people when I walk ... A: This is a condition we describe as "leash reactive". Dogs that do this are usually fine when off ... | |
| dog jealousy | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: My 8 yr old male collie/golden has begun snipping a my 1 yr grandaughter when she approaches me. ... A: You have become a "possession" and he is guarding you as a resource. Training can help you better ... | |
| Dog licking her kennel | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: Our dog sometimes licks her kennel. Usually it is in the corner and she has her teeth showing but in ... A: Without seeing it, it's pretty hard to determine why she does this, but the whining could be because ... | |
| dog behavior | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a wolf hound x greyhound. he is 2 years old, very loving and obedient dog. problem; during ... A: He either has a vision problem or he just needs training. Have his eyes checked, then, if there's ... | |
| Puppy question about crying | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I have an 8 week German Shep pup that I am crate training. I had the pup for about 5 days now and ... A: When you take him out at night, SAY NOTHING, except to praise him for pottying in the right place. ... | |
| my poddle stalks me! | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: One of our dogs is a poddle and his name is Blackie. He is a nice dog with a few behavior problems ... A: I doubt if he is stalking you exactly, but it may be that he is obsessing a bit on being close to ... | |
| Dog Licking Floor | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a five year old male miniature dachshund who is constantly licking my laminate floors. How ... A: Make sure that no odors from dropped food remain on the floors, or any other odors that dogs might ... | |
| growling at strangers | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have two rhodesian ridgebacks my female is 11mnths old, when we first got her as a pup she would ... A: The breed standard says that Rhody's are "reserved with strangers". That, coupled with her earlier ... | |
| agression toward children and other dogs | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I adopted a five year old male who, in two days has shown territorial agression/rageful behavior, ... A: Management of such dogs is essential, so you MUST insure that he does not get loose if there is any ... | |
| My dog is suddenly afraid of the hallway | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: Sandra, We have lived in the same house for 1 and 1/2 years and my dog is suddenly afraid of the ... A: Anything could have scared him. Maybe a big clap of thunder, or construction noise, or even a ... | |
| HELP!! my 9 MONTH OLD BOSTON TERRIER HATES MY HUSBAND | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: My name is Eve. I have a boston Terrier female and her name is Gussy. she is 9 months old. I have ... A: If you yell at her every time she appears frightened of your husband (the barking and growling may ... | |
| try to walk my 5 month golden retriever | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: who loves to play and run around the back yard with a family member or by her self. when it comes ... A: Good for you for not wanting to force or drag her!!! One thing you can try is to lure her with some ... | |
| Behavior problems.. | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: Hello, Sammy, my 19 weeks old Golden loves to put things in his mouth in the street. Anything that ... A: They usually do outgrow it if you handle it correctly. Here's the "cheat sheet" that my students ... | |
| my pet licks the carpet constantly, why? | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: my Pekingese licks my carpet every time he comes in from outside and when he wakes up. he licks the ... A: Some dogs lick out of boredom, others because someone dropped crumbs on the carpet a week ago! Dogs ... | |
| german shepherd | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: Our german shepherd rubs her body and rolls her body on the ground where another animal has died. ... A: Some people believe that dogs do this to cover their own scent, and that it's part of the way they ... | |
| Chow chow agression | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6 month old chow. He was raised with contact with children. Recently he has been agressive ... A: If he was raised with kids, were there any circumstances that made him uncomfortable? Did he get ... | |
| agressive behavior | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: My 7 month old Sheltie plays nicely for awhile then all of a sudden get very vicious. I need to know ... A: Actually, consider yourself lucky that your dog DOES growl at your son. Dogs that are reprimanded ... | |
| The humping Dragon | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old english bulldog. He is not fixed yet. He is very obedient and listens to ... A: You said it yourself - he is not fixed yet. Why are you waiting? That's probably the only thing ... | |
| does my dog not like me?? | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: My golden retriever, whom I have raise from a puppy NEVER greets me with the wild enthusiasm she ... A: Instead of thinking that she isn't enthusiastic, try to remember that you have become somewhat ... | |
| Dog Fight | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I am at a loss as to what to do. I have a 13 year old lab cross and a 2 year old lab.They have ... A: First, I'm glad you took the time to OFA and CERF your dog before breeding her, and I hope that if ... | |
| Dog training | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: We got a border collie /husky cross for the kids she is 3 months old . She has started to nip at the ... A: Get this dog into a positive or clicker training puppy class yesterday!!!! Dogs learn to inhibit ... | |
| dog seems to be shaking | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have 6 year old JRT. Since about 4 this afternoon not hungry and very tied.Looks like he may want ... A: Shaking can be a sign of pain, and refusal to eat is a sign of illness - get the dog to a vet!!!!! ... | |
| Biting springer spaniel | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: We have had him since 6 wk puppy, now 2. Recently castrated. He has always hated being groomed and ... A: When a dog bites you so severely that you must go to the hospital, then you really need to have a ... | |
| my dog is a goat!!! | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a dog that eats everything if given the opportunity. Paper, crayons, pencils, today it was ... A: First, check the quality of the food (good educational site for this is www.thedogfoodproject.com). ... | |
| Sudden destructive behavior | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: We have a 10yrold Rhodesian Ridgeback. When are gone we put our dog Lucian in the basement. The last ... A: He may have developed separation anxiety. There's a book by Patricia McConnell, called "I'll be ... | |
| Littermate Syndrom | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: My family is getting two littermates in about 5 days. In our family there are 4 members (me, my ... A: You are not getting "golden labs":-)) The correct term is "Yellow Lab". Anyway, I would usually ... | |
| Barking/aggressive Cocker Spaniel | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: my dog 'Tyson' is now one year old and is a lovely dog. However since getting the snip about 4 ... A: I think that this has more to do with his age than with the fact that he was neutered, which ... | |
| my dog wont go into the garden | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: my 11 month old collie used to go into the garden both front and back, i think he has been ... A: Some dogs go through additional fear periods during adolescence. They become fearful of things that ... | |
| Dog dominance behavior with other dogs | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: We have a 27 lb. male Brittany Spaniel,Buddy, 14 mos. old who is neutered. A problem we are having ... A: Buddy is just reaching the age of social maturity, when dogs start to figure out "where do I fit in ... | |
| 2 Female Shih-tzus Fights | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 female shih-tzus one of which is 18 months and blind,Penny, while the other is nearly ... A: It sounds as though your young dog may be challenging the older one for status in the pack now that ... | |
| New Puppy | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: My 4 month old golden retriever puppy humps my leg when its play time or we are out in public on a ... A: The best way to develop some "bite inhibition" in a puppy is to have her play with other puppies. ... | |
| blind puupy/can't walk | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: Yesterday I became the owner of a blind 7 week old puppy nobody wanted because he is blind. I ... A: Obviously, I can't diagnose your puppy's hind end problems, so you should see a veterinarian asap to ... | |
| New FEAR behavior of going for walks | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: PLEASE help! Our 4-years old Lab/Daschund/Beagle mix has developed a new fear of the outdoors. He ... A: Any time a dog displays a new and uncharacteristic behavior, I always want the owner to have a vet ... | |
| submision and anxity | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I just got a three year old mini poodle,female. She is very submissive, timid. She cowers at most ... A: There's an inexpensive booklet called "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell, that has lots of ... | |
| DEVIL ON THE LEASH | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback (Male)who is 5 1/2 mths and 35kg already. He is, as we speak, ... A: It sounds as if this is pretty normal puppy behavior. Don't push at him - it can make him think you ... | |
| Canine Marking-Boxer | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: My two year old boxer is a very well behaved animal. He was trained with my metro police department ... A: I doubt that he's doing it because he likes it. In fact, it may have more to do with what food he ... | |
| training of my unruly dog | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a year old german shepherd. She is very much interested in strangers and never cares a word. ... A: First, consider yourself lucky that your dog is so social. German Shepherd dogs do not have to be ... | |
| young Affen started biting visitors | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: My year and a half old neutered Affen has always barked unceasingly at visitors to my house, but ... A: This is called territorial/fearful aggression, and is common in dogs that are under- or ... | |
| Rescue dogs | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I recently rescued two dogs from a shelter rather than getting a young puppy. These are Australian ... A: My guess is that they may have been quite under-socialized to people, but it's good that they aren't ... | |
| Our rescue pup plays rough! | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: We recently adopted a dachshund/ poodle mix from our local animal shelter. By their estimated guess ... A: First thing to do is to see if your Chihuahua is really having a good time. You can do that by ... | |
| Digging holes | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: About 2 weeks ago my 5 year old mini doxie, Patches, all of a sudden started digging holes in the ... A: As far as the "Come!" training, your dog might just be finally feeling more confident, thus more ... | |
| Growling from Fear | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I adopted a Boxer/Lab mix at 4 mo. old. She is now almost 10 mo. old. She has always ... A: I suspect that your pup did not get adequate socialization when she was between the ages of 8-16 ... | |
| Growl - Play vs. Attack | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I volunteer at one of the animal shelter. These days I have been working with one of the dogs who ... A: I can't really tell you what her intentions were without seeing the interaction. Tail wagging is ... | |
| rescued puppy behavior | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: we have a toy poddle that we found in middle of nowhere, malnourshished, cold, wet flithy dirty, ... A: There's a very inexpensive booklet called "The Cautious Canine" that I would urge you to buy. It ... | |
| Barking | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: do you or would you recommend a bark control collor for dogs? My mom has two dogs and they bark an ... A: The first step I always recommend is to attempt to train the dog. ... | |
| Friendly to Some Dogs not Others | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: My lab mix is very friendly and sociable to some of the neighborhood dogs when we are out walking, ... A: You really can't. Dogs pick their own friends. One of the reasons this happens is that one or the ... | |
| Dog behaviour | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: My 3 year old bull terrier bitch urinates in her bed most nights even though her water is restricted ... A: I would not restrict her water necessarily, as that likely has no bearing on this. My guess is that ... | |
| Our female dogs are fighting | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I recently moved in together and we both have female dogs (Lee and Riley), along ... A: You may be causing more problems by splitting them up and "making them submit". I don't know how ... | |
| silky terrier aggression | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 1/2 year old male silky terrier, Arnold. I have had him since he was 6 months old and he ... A: It sounds as though he has had little obedience training and could use some. Terriers can often be ... | |
| Agressive dog behavior | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: My dog is half great dane, half coonhound. She is around 10 months old. She has very bad aggression ... A: You have a serious problem. This is a large dog, one that could do incredible damage to a small ... | |
| another "expert" problem with | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: community a woman named Shelly Davis is giving advice on here -she has No ... A: Can you give me some examples of her poor advice, and why it is causing you to feel this way? If ... | |
| labradoodle | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: i recently purchased a labradoodle from a breeder who kept the dogs in a large kennel in his back ... A: Clearly, you purchased from a disreputable breeder that cares more about his customers' Visa cards ... | |
| sudden onset of non-stop mounting | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: I have two male labs that are not neutered. One is 7, the other is 8. They would occasionally, I'd ... A: It could be that your older dog has either decided that this is feel good behavior, or he is feeling ... | |
| jealousy | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: First of all, thank you for all you do for the love of dogs. I have a 3 yr old dachsund/beagle mix ... A: No one is going to force you to use a clicker, LOL, but the principles of training are the same when ... | |
| Dog defecating problem | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: We have a three year old Golden Retriever that wants to constantly defecate in the grass right next ... A: I would temporarily restrict her access to the grassy area (you can get inexpensive deer fencing), ... | |
| post -grooming behavior | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: My 8mth maltese/Yorkie/Shitzu 7.5 lbs was groomed 3 days ago, but is behaving very unusual. 1st day, ... A: What's going on is that you need to brush your dog more regularly and if you do not know how to ... | |
| velcro dog | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: I am fostering a dog (spayed female 18 months)for the dog shelter. She came from a home where she ... A: It is extremely hard to undo the damage that is done when a dog is not well socialized during the ... | |
| Growling Puppy | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: my family just got a great dane puppy (3months old). We have only had him for 3 days and he growls ... A: It sounds as though he may not have been very well socialized. You don't have much time - get him ... | |
| Beagle | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old beagle who was house trained but lately i have problems with him urinating under ... A: Has anything changed in your household or neighborhood within the past two months? Dogs sometimes ... | |
| dog behavior circling | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: I have rescued a 3 yr old rottie. She has lived with neglect & beaten. She chases her shadow ALL ... A: This behavior could be due to a number of things. It could be a stereotypical behavior related to ... | |
| New puppy ignores older dog | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a two year old Kelpie desexed female and have just brought home a 10 week old Kelpie desexed ... A: I wouldn't worry yet, so long as your puppy is healthy and has vision and hearing. At least the ... | |
| puppy incontinence? | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: i rescued a female puppy (about 6 months old) , the neighbors had abandoned her in the street ( i ... A: There are two different medications that are designed to help spay incontinent dogs. One is ... | |
| Dog urinating on floor | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: Emma, my 3 year old Golden who is housebroken, goes approximately 4-6 months free of any accidents ... A: Fist, let me say that I admire your willingness to help your dog. Too many people approach such ... | |
| My dog recently became very needy | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: 4 months ago we rescued a 2 year old lab-weimarainer. He's been a wonderful dog! Affectionate and ... A: It's quite possible that he remembered his previous experience, but since you'll never really know ... | |
| golden retreiver ? homesick for former owners | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: 3 days ago we brought a 3 year old male golden retreiver into our home. He had been raised from ... A: Dogs mourn for their lost social group members. He probably cannot figure out why they have not ... | |
| My new puppy | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I have two dogs, a Spainal cross(6) and a Boxer(3) they have been together for three years . I might ... A: If your dogs are social outside your home with dogs they are unfamiliar with, and if you are getting ... | |
| shih shu behavior | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 1/2 yr old shih shu all he does is lick everything. People,himself,floor etc. I have ... A: It sounds as though your dog may have allergies. Dogs generally get inhalant or contact allergies ... | |
| westie attacks post!! | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: my female 8yr old westie has always attacked anything that is put through the lettebox and has even ... A: This is a self-rewarding behavior. Think of it this way. She knows an "invader" is at the door, ... | |
| rescued dog | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a part beagle about 2 years old about three weeks ago. He is a lovely gentle dog as long ... A: Dogs often chew out of boredom or anxiety. They don't do it for "spite", so I hope you don't think ... | |
| Lab and Maltese behavior | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: About 4 months ago I brought an eight month old Sharpei lab famale (Sasha) into my home. My ... A: Your dog is an adolescent, and so it isn't unusual to hear that she "forgets you exist" at times:-)) ... | |
| displaced aggression???? | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 kind gentle English Setters (bench) - 1 is 4yrs and other 3 yrs - both males. The eldest ... A: Since the aggression is so sudden, and from a sleep state, the first thing that came to my mind was ... | |
| what does this mean? | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: My dog stands between me and the kitchen counter all the time. I was just wondering if you could ... A: Without seeing the behavior, I have no idea. Possibilities include: he is a "leaner" and likes the ... | |
| Shyness, Fearfulness, Socialization Issues | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: We have a few questions regarding our dog, Tuula, an approximately 2 yr. old supposed Carolina Dog. ... A: Unfortunately, dogs' optimal socialization period, or the time when you would want to expose them to ... | |
| aggression in OES | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 males OES, Mak will be 10 years old on 8/21/08, is neutered (since 18 months after ... A: Neuter the dog. If your dog is not showing in the breed ring, he should have been neutered quite a ... | |
| Basset Hound Puppy Skin Problems? | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: Anne, Thank you for reading my question. We have a basset hound puppy (male). He is about 3 months ... A: What are you feeding the puppy? Some dogs are allergic to things such as chicken, wheat, soy. ... | |
| always bark at any noise | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: we have a two yr female bison who barks at any noise.how do we control that. A: I believe you have a Bichon. Although they are supposed to have a "cheerful attitude" according to ... | |
| littermates syndrome hype??? | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: Our boys, 8 & 6 years old, recently acquired two littermate golden retriever puppies when they were ... A: Good for you for trying to research this, though after the fact. But, bad for your "breeder" (I use ... | |
| Sad about my 3 Month Old Yorkie | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I just brought home 3 month old Yorkie sisters. One is smaller and was shy, the other was outgoing. ... A: Unfortunately, it isn't usually a good idea to purchase litter mates, especially same gender litter ... | |
| german shepherd(Hutch) behavior | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: why is it that when i let hutch off his runner he goes around in the yard but often goes astray and ... A: Don't feel badly, many people haven't taught a proper recall to their dogs. Once you learn how, ... | |
| dog defecating in house | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I have just fostered a retired greyhound a bitch of 4 years old. Have had her for a fortnight now ... A: There's a great little booklet, not too expensive, with some great hints for house training older ... | |
| pitbull/lab mix aggression | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a pittbull/lab mix in fall 2005. She was 14 months back then and she came from one of PA ... A: It is unusual for Pits to be aggressive to humans, but if she is, then the description of "came out ... | |
| Banshee Dog! | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: Our dog Zoey is 3 years old, sweet, energetic, and full of lively expressions. We don't know what ... A: Your dog is what we describe as reactive. Reactivity is sometimes due to fear, frustration, or ... | |
| affectionate nibbles | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: Our county animal control shelter was shut down by the state last summer due to the condition of the ... A: This mouthing behavior is more common in some breeds than others (quite a few Aussies do it, and ... | |
| high strung sheltie | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm looking for a suggestion on how to handle a pretty high strung sheltie. He's 8 mos old and ... A: These guys need training - that will give you more control, and them more mental exercise, which in ... | |
| dog snapping at air | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I adopted Cujo, a 7 yr. old Shepherd/Rott, a few years ago. For the past 3 months, he has the ... A: This behavior is known as a stereotypical behavior. Sometimes, it is caused by ear infection, or ... | |
| toilet habits! | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: We took in an abandoned dog 2 years ago. We believe she is about 7 years old. We live in the ... A: Dogs have no idea that one part of a yard is not the same as another part until you teach them, and ... | |
| rough or normal play | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: My husband brought home a female golden retriever puppy and we already have a 7-year-old female ... A: It's hard for me to say without seeing their reactions, but in general, if you gently remove the dog ... | |
| border collie life | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: A friends of mine is part of an animal association and she came across this scenario. I was just ... A: A Border Collie is a working dog, and needs something to do, a "job" if you will. Without seeing ... | |
| new puppy | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: when i went to get her all of the puppies ran up to me and i noticed she was the only one that ... A: Unfortunately, you don't have much time - get this puppy into a good positive training class ... | |
| eating | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: I would like to get back to you at another time about the obedience thing, but now it is an eating ... A: I'm wondering if she is "freezing" - which suggests to me, especially when you say she acts as if ... | |
| My 7 week old Golden Retriever puppy | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: My puppy is very smart but he pees without warning, I take him out and he pees outside, someone told ... A: It does have to do with his age. The older he gets, the longer he'll be able to hold it. Also, if ... | |
| dog chews door frame | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: Our German shepherd chews on the door frame, why does she do this and how can we stop her? Thanks. A: How old is she? If she is anywhere between 8 months and 2 years old, she is exhibiting normal ... | |
| My 7 week old Golden Retriever puppy | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: My puppy is very smart but he pees without warning, I take him out and he pees outside, someone told ... A: First of all, I don't know who gave you a seven week old pup, but he is too young to have been ... | |
| Rottweiler potty problem | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a 9-month old Rott/Shepherd mix. We got him at 8 weeks old last December. We also have a ... A: Your problem is that you never taught the dog where to go, it seems you just assumed he would know ... | |
| min pin always biting | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: my 4 month old min pin constancely bites. don't like to be touched, held,petted, loved on, she bites ... A: Dog aggression runs in this breed, but dogs generally play roughly with one another, so my advice is ... | |
| Canine rough play and toy aggression | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering why my big girl dog is being mean to my little dog Mei.I was also wondering why my ... A: If you can't find a trainer near you, you can look at these free lessons: ... | |
| my chihuaha is traumatized | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: my 4 yr old chihuaha had an accident. The dishwasher door fell on her. We took her to the vet and ... A: First, call your vet and ask if she should be seen again, or given pain medication. She may be ... | |
| Herding | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I adopted an Aussie from A.R.P.H. He is now 4 yrs. old. He is so smart, gentle, well behaved and my ... A: Well, since getting rid of the kids is not an option, you could at least not have your Aussie in the ... | |
| Canine rough play and toy aggression | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering why my big girl dog is being mean to my little dog Mei.I was also wondering why my ... A: If your dogs fight over toys, then perhaps it's best if they don't play with toys in each other's ... | |
| why wont he stop eating on the carpet? | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10 year old greyhound x and whenever we give him a treat he goes to eat it on the carpet. ... A: Hounds are comfort freaks, and most of them don't like to lie down on cold, hard floors. Why not ... | |
| Dog | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: i have a dog that i got from the kennel about a year ago.. her and her brothers and sisters were all ... A: This is not a house training issue - it sounds like submissive urination, and you are doing the ... | |
| destructive/dirty 6 month beagle/basset | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: My beagle/basset is 6 months old and can hold it when we are a wake or downstairs, but when he is ... A: Did you get this dog at a pet store? If so, they can be notoriously hard to house train, and keep ... | |
| dog broke his leash and chased the mailman | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: My chocolate lab broke her leash when the mailman was mailman was delivering mail so the mail man ... A: You should be concerned. Owners are usually responsible for the damage their dogs, or other ... | |
| Recent Rescue | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I recently rescued a German shepherd from the Houston SPCA about five days ago. They ... A: She's probably older than 5, as muzzle graying tends to happen later than that. Your veterinarian ... | |
| aggrestion | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 yr old German shepherd,He is being very agg. towards small children. He has not showed ... A: Any time a dog's behavior changes suddenly, a trip to the vet is in order, to make sure the cause is ... | |
| Fear Aggression or Dominance aggresion | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 1/2 neutered pomeranian. He's really sweet with the typical pomeranian behavior. I read ... A: How are you trying to "correct" him? If you are using harsh tones, or physically correcting him, he ... | |
| Urination | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a rescued/abused Siberian Husky in January of 2008. Female, 2 years old, about 40-45lbs. ... A: Do NOT limit her water all the time, although it is fine to limit her intake for an hour or so ... | |
| aggressive lunacy when sees other dogs | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: My 1 1/2 yr old beagle mix male is wonderful. We rescued him this past January, house broke ... A: Well, I agree that "no" doesn't work, and, frankly, the pinching and squirting doesn't either, and ... | |
| Border Collie on heat aggresive | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: My Collie is 10 mths old and has come into heat. She has always been very protective of her food, ... A: First, make an appointment to get the dog spayed. If you are asking such basic questions of me, ... | |
| shy | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I ahve a Shih-Poo, 4 months old. Just got her 3 days ago. She is very sweet, but very timid. She ... A: Try getting a copy of these books, which will have lots of helpful techniques for dealing with shy ... | |
| shy | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I ahve a Shih-Poo, 4 months old. Just got her 3 days ago. She is very sweet, but very timid. She ... A: Well, at least now you are educated, and will tell all your friends to find their breeders by asking ... | |
| puppy aggression? | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: I just introduced a 3 month old std poodle puppy to my pack of 3. The puppy seemed really quiet and ... A: That's great. I'm sure you'll be able to have a great dog, and it's nice to hear that you are ... | |
| My Dog Eats Everything | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old Jack Russell, Pug mix. And my problem is that he eats everything. If he finds ... A: You need to forget about scolding, and start training! Take a look at the lessons on ... | |
| terrier and rabbit | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: We have recently adopted a one year old terrier. Before coming to us, the dog lived with four young ... A: The simple answer is time. If the dog never gets into that room, and is never "rewarded" for being ... | |
| shadow watching | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: my boyfriend and I have 3 dogs 2 of them are boxer pit bull mixes and 1 is a full pitbull. Our ... A: Some pups, especially those of the working breeds, which Pits are, like to chase shadows. In some ... | |
| new puppy | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I got a new Miniature Pinscher puppy in May, I already have a 1 year old Corgi/Min Pin mix they seem ... A: My guess is that you may be overprotective, but you can figure this out. While they are playing, ... | |
| pooping in the house | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: he has been doing it the past few months but not very often. his owner did change his food about 2 ... A: It may be that the dog is becoming incontinent with age. It isn't always necessary to euthanize a ... | |
| mischief | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3yr old Lab we rescued from a shelter, his previous owners had no time for him so he needed ... A: Don't "correct" him. Teach him to "trade". When he takes something, go to the cookie jar and get a ... | |
| new dog | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: i have today bought a 10 mth old male husky, i have already got a 5 yr old staff and an 18 mth ... A: This is not something that I can solve for you via email. You really need a trainer or behaviorist ... | |
| anxiety | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old english bulldog. Within the last month or so she has become afraid of storms. ... A: This article on melatonin and thunder/noise phobia might interest you: ... | |
| Chihuahua Puppy, biting too much | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I just got a Chihuahua puppy 2 months old, I got him when he was a month. He is very smart he ... A: Firstly, I'm not surprised he's a nipper! Four weeks is way too early to have removed him from his ... | |
| 6 year old schnauzer who has taken to peeing on everything | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: We have 2 schnauzers 6 years old. One is very laid back and pretty easy going. The second is more ... A: I think this page might help: http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Marking.php The person ... | |
| keep on jumping on table and eat our food | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: my name is Zdenka, and I have a miniature schnauzer who just turned 4 years.It's a female. Her name ... A: First, you need to stop slapping the dog. That doesn't teach her a thing, except that you are very ... | |
| separation and jealousy | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a young male (uncastrated) street dog abroad about 4 weeks ago (2 of which in the holiday ... A: You are his security, which tells me he is bonding to you, which is a good thing. However, you ... | |
| my puppy's aggression... | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: How am I to keep a pup whose very unpredictable in it's behavior moods I call them. I have a 3 1/2 ... A: First, you bought from a less than knowledgeable breeder in the first place if she tells you to ... | |
| Aggressive female Yorkie | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: i had asked this question to another of the all experts and was treated very rude. she didnt ask any ... A: I'm sorry that you felt other experts were rude. Instead, they should simply have tried to educate ... | |
| NO PROBLEM ; JUST CURIOUS | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: We have a well-loved 10 year old 'pound puppy' [lab/border collie cross]and have noticed, throughout ... A: I'm not surprised that you said your dog has Border Collie in her! BC's are dogs that, if you agree ... | |
| VERY fearful longhaired min. doxen... 10 months old | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10 month old pure-bred miniature doxen who I have had for about 6 months now. I got her ... A: If you got her from a breeder at the age of four months, then the breeder apparently didn't do much ... | |
| puppy behavior | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a puppy 9-1/2 weeks old - sheltie. She is very active and independent. She is smart - heads ... A: The first thing I would do is take her to the vet and have her urine checked. If she is piddling a ... | |
| 9 month old male lab...dominance and possible aggression | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: This forum looks very imformative and empathetic so I am hoping to get some sound advice. I have ... A: If your trainer is using physical corrections on this dog, I urge you to find another trainer and to ... | |
| potty training rescue pup | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: A little over a month ago I adopted a 2-3 y/o cairn yorkie mix who apparently had be kept in a cage ... A: First of all, I liked your idea of tethering her to you. If she sits, you can lure her up with a ... | |
| 3 year old & new puppy | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: We have had a wonderful Toy Fox Terrier for three years now. She was about 9 weeks when we got her. ... A: If your dog was not well socialized to unfamiliar dogs as a puppy, then she is probably not a dog ... | |
| dog panting | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: My dog is a resue dog we have had him almost a year. He pants heavily when it storms or rains. ... A: It sounds as though he may have the beginnings of noise phobia. It could be that he was frightened ... | |
| Doberman Pincher | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: A man is losing his home and has abondoned a three year old doberman. I currently own a 11 year old ... A: Without meeting the dog, it's hard to say, but if you would like to give him a chance, it might be ... | |
| Dog Bite PTSD | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: Our 20-mo. old yorkie mix was a social butterfly at the dog park until he was bitten by a lab. He ... A: I would take him to a group class with dogs his own size. Then, he will be in a structured ... | |
| Jealous Schnauzer | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: My wife has a 2 1/2 year old Miniature Schnauzer, Griffin. I have a 4 1/2 year old Lab, Tucker. ... A: Well, the first thing I would do is to take both dogs (separately) to a good positive training ... | |
| Aggressive behavior in 3yr old lab toward new puppy | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: We have a 3 yr old lab who has been the perfect family dog until we brought home an 8 week old ... A: The mistake you may have made was introducing them in the house. This should have been done on ... | |
| abnormal behaviour | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: We have a year old blue whippet bitch called Kizzy. We have had her since she was 12 weeks old. She ... A: Have you checked with the breeder you purchased the dog from to see if any of his/her other dogs are ... | |
| great dane peed on MY bed. | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: We have a 1 yr. old great dane un-neutered male dog. He loves my husband a great deal and respects ... A: First of all, if you scold him for running away, he'll likely NEVER come to you reliably. Instead, ... | |
| Shih Tzu Habits | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I have had my dog for about a month. She is great and fits in at our house very well. But she has a ... A: This is really a question you want to discuss with your vet and here's why. A dog that is ... | |
| Going for the ankle shoes | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: We have an English lab that will be 2 in Sept. When some of my children's friends come over to ... A: It sounds like she is just untrained and has no manners, and not that she is aggressive. I would ... | |
| Sudden behavior change | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: My dog was acting completely normally (for her!) yesterday and all of a sudden she was cowering on ... A: Any time a dog exhibits a sudden behavior change that you cannot attribute to a known event, and ... | |
| Potty Training | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: I have had many dogs in the past and have had no trouble potty training them. Recently potty trained ... A: Rottie's are working dogs with a biddable nature, meaning they were meant to work closely with ... | |
| NOT going potty | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: We have a chow/lab mix who is 9 months old. I am his primary care giver and he is very attached to ... A: Cathy. Just FYI, it's not too late for your hubby to build a better relationship with your dog. ... | |
| leaving my dog alone while I work all day | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I am going back to work full-time and will be away for a full 9 hours each day. I have a 1 year ... A: I really can't answer that for your particular dog, but I can say that most dogs curl up and go to ... | |
| border collie aggression | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old border collie that is very aggresive towards new people. My husband and I ... A: If she hates new people, your job is to keep people safe while you change her basic feelings about ... | |
| Toy Aggression vs. Dog Aggression | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old female spayed pitbull mix, Fresa, who is wonderful with people, kids & dogs. I ... A: Sometimes, a dog that willingly gives up objects to adult humans will draw the line at children or ... | |
| ADDING A DOG | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: We currently have a six year male rottweiller/cattle hound mix. We are looking to get another dog ... A: First you must decide if your dog really even wants a playmate. Many older dogs don't. If your dog ... | |
| Timid/scared of people | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: Let me start out by saying I work as a receptionist at a vet clinic. We had a breeder come in saying ... A: It sounds as if you're trying all the right things, but IMO, Petsmart may not be your best bet if ... | |
| Over protective, very aggressive towards new people | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I am lost as what to do with my 9month old male min pin. He is absolutely cuddly, happy, loving when ... A: It sounds like you didn't do much research before getting this breed. "A little leery" doesn't do ... | |
| 5 year old Chihuahua male dog | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I received this dog at the age of 2. He was a breeder's dog, had no human contact with people except ... A: Pretty much the only way to do this is to constantly supervise the dog. Some owners choose crate ... | |
| Boxer Aggression | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 yr. old female boxer( Millie )she is large @ 80 lbs. She is very playful and energetic ... A: That's an important piece of information. Some dogs will be protective, or they will guard a human ... | |
| dog behavior toward older dog | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 shi Tzu's (Tess & Tallulah, and a 103/lb Lab.(River) One of the Shi Tzus (Tess) is 17 years ... A: Unfortunately, as dogs become aged, ill, or infirm, there is always the possibility of aggression ... | |
| Boxer Aggression | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 yr. old female boxer( Millie )she is large @ 80 lbs. She is very playful and energetic ... A: It's hard to say without seeing the activity between them, but if your sister's dog just showed up ... | |
| What to do? | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: We have a 2 year old cocker spaniel. I don't know what to do. We bought him from a breeder at 8 ... A: Your breeder may be right, but if you want to take one more step, have the dog evaluated by the vet ... | |
| Food and walking issues | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I adopted a lab/sharpei mix last October and we love him but there are a few things I wish I could ... A: I would stop allowing him to demand new foods. I would start by feeding him a really top quality ... | |
| PTSD behaviors | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: Our dog was a rescue from the most recent round of wild fires. When we got her she had no whiskers, ... A: I know you think that you are not telling her "It's OK", but your actions are doing just that, since ... | |
| Submissive Urination (?) | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: Our family adopted a Blue Merle Australian Shepard named Belle about 3 years ago, she was 1 1/2years ... A: First, stop pushing her nose into her pee. It does not give her any information, other than that ... | |
| Aggression is normally passive dog | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: First of all, I am an expert on this site in the orthopedic board so I do appreciate your time. ... A: If this were my dog, I would, for the time being, either contain her in another room (perhaps in her ... | |
| fearful dog just began fear biting | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: We have a beagle we rescued at almost five months of age. At that time she was suffering from ... A: If you cannot trust her to behave, then the best thing might be to acclimate her to wearing a muzzle ... | |
| scared dog | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a nine month old whippet/ mixed breed dog that we rescued from the pound about 6 weeks ago. ... A: Many dogs fear men more than women or children, and have never been abused. Most of the time, it's ... | |
| mournig | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: My 10 year old Rottwieler Bella died in her sleep a few days ago.My 8 year old male Czar( Bella son ... A: I know how sad this is for both of you. I'm old enough that I've lost several of the best ... | |
| dog aggression | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I have two dogs a blueheller cross and a retriever cross. My blueheller has an aggression problem ... A: I don't want to burst your bubble, but the truth is that sometimes two female dogs will take a ... | |
| Pack Mentality | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I have 3 rescued dalmatians males, all under 3 years old. They need lots of exercise and I take ... A: Unfortunately, this may not have as much to do with pack mentality as with the fact that they are ... | |
| Waking up too early | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: My 1 year old chihuahua/pekingese mix has been waking up really early lately. He usually sleeps ... A: Every time he barks to get out of the crate and you let him out, you are teaching him that if he ... | |
| Is this a mental illness? | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a 13 month old cockapoo named KoKo. I want to give you her background before I get to the ... A: One clue may be the age at which you got her. Normally, responsible breeders send pups home to ... | |
| Chihuahua | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a 7 month old male chihuahua that does not listen to me when I call him. He runs away and ... A: You're chasing him, and not offering him any reward for getting to you. This DVD will help you ... | |
| puppy scared of people | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: We have a G.S male puppy 13wks old.We have had him since he was 8wks old.The problem I have with ... A: Your trainer is right and your breeder is wrong. Never force anyone on your dog. Instead, have ... | |
| neighbor dog | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: there is a large pitbull next door that gets really angry any time anyone goes near his fence or ... A: You may not like my answer, but I would not interact with someone else's dog in this way without the ... | |
| Fearful rescue dog | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: We are thinking of adopting a female 9-10mth old houndx pup from the RSPCA. She seems very gentle, ... A: I know that you feel badly for this dog, as do I, but my first inclination would be to avoid ... | |
| yorkie | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: my yorkie is 2 years old he has had 3 different owners and has been abused and and not feed properly ... A: I would not worry about whether he was abused. Most dogs actually aren't, but they appear to be ... | |
| CLINGY LAB | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD LAB HE IS A MAMMAS BOY.SOMEONE THREW HIM AWAY WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 7 WEEKS OLD.I ... A: He may not have real separation anxiety, but sounds like he may be a controlling dog (by that, I ... | |
| Biting | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help urgently as it's almost D day for our Beagle. Our Beagle is an 8 month old make ... A: Aggression against the dog doesn't do anything but make the situation worse. Apparently, when you ... | |
| frequent licking | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: We have a 4.5 y.o. boxer/lab(we think)mix, adopted at 4 mo. from the pound. Very healthy, ... A: If she is whining, she could have pain or intense itching. She may have a urinary tract infection. ... | |
| dogs | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: i have 3 dogs , 2 males 1 female spayed, the one dog nutered.yorkie poodle female and shih zuh, the ... A: Neutering often does help with urine-marking and sometimes with aggressive behavior, too. I think ... | |
| Dog humping people | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old Husky named Wolf, and he has lately developed odd habits. For one, whenever I ... A: Short explanation of the phenomenon: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1498 The ... | |
| Yorkie in season | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: How long does a 6 lbs Yorkie stay in heat and how often do they come in heat? We cannot neuter our ... A: Proestrus normally lasts from 4 to 9 days and is when you first see bloody discharge (in some toy ... | |
| urinating in house | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: my 11 year old dog is urinating in the house. How can I stop her from this? The vet gave her ... A: Proin, or phenylpropanolamine, is used for spay incontinence. But, so is DES, or ... | |
| arthritic pain | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: A female beagle weighing about 35-pounds -- what can I give for pain. She is about 12-years old. ... A: Bill, this is really a question for a veterinarian. However, some of the pain medications for dogs, ... | |
| dog behaviour | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: My partner and i recently adopted a border collie from a local rescue centre which i must add has ... A: You will never know whether anything negative happened to her involving human hands being near her ... | |
| dog aggression toward cats | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: i adopted a Dobie from the pound that is not supposed to cat aggressive. I have two cats. He got ... A: If you decide that this dog is not ok for your household, please do not take him back to the pound - ... | |
| Dog isnt warming up to the new puppy! | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: We have a two year old female cocker spaniel named daisy and yesterday we adopted a 9 week old ... A: If your older dog did socialize with, or grow up playing with, lots of other dogs, from puppyhood ... | |
| Chihuahua aggressive when I'm approached | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: My daughter's 1 year old male Chihuahua is very sweet and good natured about everything EXCEPT: ... A: You may think he's your daughter's dog, but my guess is that he considers you to be his most ... | |
| urinary tract infection | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I'm at the end of my rope, not to mention my pocketbook, with vet bills to ... A: I would follow your vet's recommendations with regard to antibiotics, since he/she should have done ... | |
| dog not playing | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: Any suggestions about a 3 1/2 yr old lab mix that doesnt know how to play, we adopted her about ... A: While it isn't that common in Labs, some dogs stop being interested in physical play with other ... | |
| 9 month old boxer male agression | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: Our male boxer Tyson is nuetered. He is a very beautiful dog. He is very agressive towards other ... A: Read "Click to Calm". (amazon will have it) Lots of good suggestions in that book. If Tyson was ... | |
| my chihuahua | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I just got a 9 week old chihuahua puppy, and my other chihuahua seems to be very attached to her. I ... A: Sometimes dogs howl as a way of "calling" a departed pack member back to the group. Your puppy is ... | |
| aggressivness | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: my 4yr old 12 lb female jack russell tries to dominate my two mixed breeds (one is a yr old female ... A: If your larger dogs are biting her and drawing blood, this is a serious situation and you should ... | |
| Dog Behavior | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old female beagle named Snoopy. She is normally a very happy dog and still is for ... A: First, I hope your wife is doing better. My first thought was that, if this is sudden behavior, you ... | |
| Dog shaking and biting her tail | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old Shitz Su/ Yorkie mix that just started shaking and trying to bite her tail. ... A: Things that I would consider are: pain, fear, small dog shaker syndrome, sensitivity to cold, ... | |
| Yellow Lab VS. Old English Bulldogge | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: We have a 5 yr old hipper(still) yellow lab. We recieved a 9 month old, old english bulldogge in ... A: Oddly, I would have expected you to be asking about aggression from the Bulldogge, not directed at ... | |
| Dog urinates in house | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My dog periodically urinates in the house. She's really sly about it, for over 3 years I haven't ... A: If she "hides" and you haven't been able to "catch" her, my guess is that she has, at one time or ... | |
| my staffie bitch | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: she just finnished her season so we went for a long walk when we got back she were acting odd ... A: Intact bitches can have false pregnancies, and they perform various "nesting" behaviors at that ... | |
| Help with a panicked dog!! | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: Please help me, I'm at wits end! I am sitting here in tears because I don't know how to help my 3 ... A: The first thing I would have advised you to do is to go and have a consultation with your ... | |
| chin chattering | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: My dog has always had this chattering problem where her chin just, well, chatters for about 3-5 ... A: This is really a question for your veterinarian. Dogs can "chatter" when they are in pain (check ... | |
| weeing and destructive behaviour | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: i have a 4yr old greyhound/wolfhound x, suddenly shes got destructive;tearing her bed to shreds etc ... A: She may be exhibiting nesting behavior. Or, she could be marking the new bed. But, any sudden ... | |
| change in behavior | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: Liberty is a black lab, just turned 7. She spends her day in a 6*10 ft kennel and is always good ... A: Something may have made her insecure, but you'll probably never know what. Any time a dog begins to ... | |
| Canine Digging | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 12 year old female yellow lab. She grew very close to my husband during his battle with ... A: Dogs dig because they're dogs, and there's little you can do with scolding - it simply doesn't work, ... | |
| Titles | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: This may seem like a strange question, as a professional petsitter I have heard pet owners referring ... A: Gosh, I hate labels when it comes to dogs, but the term Omega generally refers to the lowest ranking ... | |
| help asap i have to get rid of my baby | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I dont know what to do hubby is making me get rid of my daushand / rat terrior mix puppy he is nine ... A: Free to a good home ads can be dangerous, because some people who don't have dogs' best interests at ... | |
| Dog collects sticks | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a year old lab who collects sticks out of our woods nearby and drags them to our front door. ... A: She's just trying to do her "job" as a retriever. Labs are hard-wired to want to retrieve, and if ... | |
| help asap i have to get rid of my baby | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I dont know what to do hubby is making me get rid of my daushand / rat terrior mix puppy he is nine ... A: All that is really needed here is to do some positive training and behavior modification with the ... | |
| mouthing/bitting | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: My six and half month old westie puppy is still constantly mouthing/bitting she will do this when we ... A: Some info that may help: ... | |
| drink too much | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a Karelian Bear Dog who I crate during the day when I go to work. Used to be at night, but ... A: Maybe you could teach her to drink from a Lixit bottle while she is in her crate. It just sounds ... | |
| high strung dog | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a two year old miniature schnauzer who seems to have ADD or something.No matter how long I ... A: Pet-alive probably isn't the answer. I find that some good solid positive reinforcement type ... | |
| active, happy to lazy inactive | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a 7yr. old border-collie lab.She has become very inactive lately.She usually loves going ... A: Any time there is a sudden change in a dog's behavior, it's time for a visit to the vet. This could ... | |
| Is my dog suitable for the dog park? | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: She is a shepphard mix. I love her very much, but I have a dilemma as to how to deal with some of ... A: I spotted your question and decided to respond, since I have quite a bit of experience running ... | |
| Behavior | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I was hoping you could recommend a book on how to make a dog NOT aggresive. I have a husky/sheparad ... A: There's very little you can do but make sure that these dogs are separated so that the old dog isn't ... | |
| dog changes behavior when people come into the house | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a 20 month old female (spayed) english bulldog. I have had her since she was 10 weeks. she ... A: One of the first things I like to teach any dog is absolute name recognition and attention to the ... | |
| dog changes behavior when people come into the house | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a 20 month old female (spayed) english bulldog. I have had her since she was 10 weeks. she ... A: At the age of social maturity, many dogs are trying to figure out where they fit in the pack. It's ... | |
| Fighting between Westie and Lhasa Apso | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: Please advise! We love our dogs but are beginning to think we may have to part with one of them. ... A: Now you know why most trainers advise prospective multi-dog owners to choose a male if they already ... | |
| my beagle mix is trying to bite me! | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: recently i found and adopted a beagle/terrier female dog and had her spayed. she is now approx 9 ... A: If your dog does not respect you, you may have accidentally spoiled her rotten in a way that tells ... | |
| Minisature Dachshund Problem | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I am in desperate need of some advice on what to do with a major miniature dachshund problem that I ... A: Ken, I clicked the wrong button and accidentally sent you a thank you note - not that I won't thank ... | |
| mouthing/bitting | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: My six and half month old westie puppy is still constantly mouthing/bitting she will do this when we ... A: Now you know why most owners of adolescent terriers would sometimes like to give them back LOL. ... | |
| Dachshund and bunny | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I am in teh FFA program. I had to get a rabbit to show in the fair. I have a one year old miniature ... A: For now, I think you should separate them - bunny doesn't need this kind of stress. But, to answer ... | |
| Miniature schnauzer peeing on me, other people and other dogs!! | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: How can I stop my male schnauzer from peeing on me, other people and other dogs. He has been ... A: One thing you can do is change the dynamic of who's in charge at your house. This is not done by ... | |
| House breaking a 1 yr old dog | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 yr old minature dashaund. We got him when he was only 5 weeks old. We have also crated ... A: Usually, if a dog is still having house training issues at this age, it's because something went ... | |
| behavior issue | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: Our 9 month old pup is very destructive and chews just about anything we give her...even the entire ... A: I didn't misunderstand her current age. What I meant was that, since she could not hold it that ... | |
| behavior issue | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: Our 9 month old pup is very destructive and chews just about anything we give her...even the entire ... A: You cannot punish a dog into being house-trained, so saying bad girl isn't going to work. I'm ... | |
| 7 mo. old schnauzer urinating in beds | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I have had my 7 month old schnauzer since he was 8 weeks old. He is house broken. Last week, when ... A: I think I can help you, but I'd like to get some additional information from you. First, is your ... | |
| behavior issue | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: Our 9 month old pup is very destructive and chews just about anything we give her...even the entire ... A: Just a couple of other points. You didn't say where you got your dog, but if she was purchased from ... | |
| dog behavior | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: My Maltese (5yrs old) has an unusual behavior of "licking the air",especially when he first wakes up ... A: You are right that Maltese are known for licking, as are Yorkies, and some other breeds. Dogs lick ... | |
| dog annoyed by kids | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old female boxer/golden retriever. She has always been a very loving dog especially ... A: Well, I can tell what NOT to do. Never punish her for growling at them. That's her only early ... | |
| dog | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: My mom's boss gave us her 5 month old male chihuahua. He gets very nervous when we hold him ... A: I usually tell people to train their dogs as if they were large dogs, except just keep them safe ... | |
| help | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: everytime she sees sumone or sumone cums the house she goes hypo and jumps every where and at anyone ... A: It just sounds as though she missed some basic training because of her situation. Go to Petco or a ... | |
| Weeing | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: we do have a older larger dog.thanks A: Several possibilities here: 1. Dog is not really house-trained yet. 2. If she's a spayed female, she ... | |
| 3 month old puppy who likes to bite and play | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: my puppy loves to bite and play bite she looks like a pirana. Her mom was a 5 lb poodle mix and vet ... A: Maybe this will help - it's a handout I give to people in my puppy classes: PUPPY NIPPING & ... | |
| Aggressive Chihuahua | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: 3 weeks ago my mom's boss gave her a 5 month old chihuahua(hairy coat). We have tried to train him, ... A: First of all, think what you must look like to a tiny little dog like that. To get a better idea, ... | |
| Dog poop on cement | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a 9 month old daschund that's about to lose its home because of its toilet habits. It ... A: Dogs often prefer one substrate over another. The simple solution is to go with the dog, pick up ... | |
| behavior problems | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr old cocapoo.He can be very protective of me.He's about 8 lbs and has always been mild ... A: I certainly don't mean to offend you or be rude, but I'm not sure I would feel comfortable dating a ... | |
| introducing full grown dogs | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: We rescued an adult female pitbull. we already own a three year old female pitbull. upon initial ... A: I'm afraid that you might not like my answer, but I want to be as honest with you as I can. ... | |
| pet doors | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: Why is it important for a pet to have a pet door? A: Unless you are gone for a very long time each day, and your pet would be extremely uncomfortable ... | |
| grinding teeth | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: my 11wk old bull terrier cross is often grinding her teeth and while she,s sleeping her legs ... A: I would not be worried about the twitching legs, as that is a sign that the dog is in REM sleep - ... | |
| trick of the trade | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I am a pet sitter who's 5' tall and weighs 113 lbs. A number of my clients have two dogs, some who ... A: Since I don't like to walk clients' dogs in prong collars, especially if they are reactive, my ... | |
| My one yr old pitbull bulldog mix | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I have recently gotten a 1yr old pit mix and I often find when I leave the house to go to work she ... A: Usually, dogs only howl for a short time after the owner leaves, maybe 15-20 minutes at most. You ... | |
| beagle barks at other dogs | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: We have a six-year-old beagle that we rescued two years ago. Whenever she hears or sees another ... A: Unfortunately, our first response as humans is often to try to "correct" what's "wrong", rather than ... | |
| dogs eating tree bark | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I understand that a dog eating tree bark could be evidence of something lacking in their diet. But I ... A: I am not one who believes that pica (eating of foreign objects) is always related to a lack of ... | |
| leash agression - part 2 | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: I just wrote you the question about the Chinese crested powder puff w/ leash aggression. There are ... A: I just wrote you the question about the Chinese crested powder puff w/ leash aggression. There are ... | |
| leash agression HELP | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a Chinese crested powder puff (male, 14 lbs) w/ leash aggression. Like most posts I read ... A: I tried to do this in Word so it would bold my answers, but it didn't work. I split your question ... | |
| hi | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: my 3 year old dotson is a ankle bighter. is is very hard and embarrising to have visiters. is there ... A: At three, your dachshund should already be out of the "obnoxious puppy" stage, so it seems that she ... | |
| TOILET TRAINING | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: A week ago I brought a Sydney Silky puppy (she is 3mths old). I have been toilet training by ... A: I'm not a big fan of leaving dogs outdoors for any length of time, especially puppies. That's often ... | |
| TOILET TRAINING | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: A week ago I brought a Sydney Silky puppy (she is 3mths old). I have been toilet training by ... A: House training is all about supervision, and I know it's hard to do when you have small children to ... | |
| Adopted dog with biting problems | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: We adopted a Chow Chow Golden Retriever mix about a week ago. He is super sweet and very excited. ... A: It sounds like your new dog could just use some obedience classes. My advice would be to find a ... | |
| insecure puppy | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: i bought a puppy about two weeks ago. she has her tail tucked in but she is calm. them a week later ... A: You seem to be doing the right things. If you bought a 5-6 month old pup, she is already past the ... | |
| bad behavior in adopted dog | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: we adopted a 3 yr.old Husky mix (looks like he might have Rottweiler or shepherd too) 2 months ago ... A: Shannon, I apologize if my answer confused you. The reason that I was concerned about your ... | |
Canine Behavior
Answers by Expert:
Anne Springer, B.S., Dip., CAPCT
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am happy to answer questions about: dog behavior and training, therapy dogs, training disabled dogs, training recently rescued dogs, and managing off leash play groups.
Experience
Professionally involved in teaching private and group lessons, and doing behavior consultations. American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer. Special interest in pet/elder issues, and in therapy dogs.
Organizations
Truly Dog Friendly
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
International Positive Dog Training Association
Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Publications
Gloucester Times
Cape Ann Beacon
Ipswich Chronicle
Beverly Citizen
Salem News
Examiner.com
Education/Credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Cum Laude. Diploma in Dog Obedience Instruction, Graduate of NY School of Dog Grooming, Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician - American Boarding Kennels Assn., Certified Pet First Aid & CPR, American Red Cross
Awards and Honors
2002 Caregiver Award from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, for Pawsitive Connections Program (pet/elder issues)
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