Unless Dexter is particularly territorial or crotchety toward other dogs, I don't think a new puppy should be a problem. Introducing a puppy to an older dog can work wonders by bringing out the "inner puppy" in a senior pet, provided the two dogs are compatible. Because he has always been a part of a team, I'm sure Dexter is lost without his brother dog. I...
The answer is, do not allow your dog off the leash, period, unless inside an inescapable enclosure. This answer works and will keep Betsy alive. When she is inside a fenced area or on a leash, work on developing obedient responses that are truly willing on the dog's part. "Pretty" obedient isn't good enough to save a dog's life. I never take chances with my...
Your dog is not playing a "psychological game" with you, no matter how much it may seem like she is. Elimination behavior is biologically based, and only develops behavioral aspects once owners start assigning more meaning to it and responding to their incorrect interpretations. The first step with an elimination problem is to rule out possible underlying...
What an unfortunate, horrible situation for the puppy! And how upsetting for your family, living next door and knowing what is and is not going on with it. I don't suggest dognapping; it is illegal, and as you have suggested, he probably would replace the dog anyway. I think the best approach is to have your parents ask their neighbor if they can continue...
I think, based on the circumstances you are describing, I'd advise against getting a dog at all, unless you can keep it indoors or create a safe, climate-controlled outdoor area for it. As much joy as a dog might give you, I'd advise you to be the one to suffer and do without, if the alternative is causing a dog to suffer. Because it is so terribly hot...
Ideally, you would bring your dog indoors with your family so that he could live as part of a social group, as nature intended for this species, and as a companion to human beings, as humans intended for this species. But if he must be an outdoor dog, my suggestion is to leave his coat alone, other than to trim exceptionally long furnishings. His hair...
Well, because I've owned both (and still have both) male and female dogs, I am hard-pressed to really advise . . . I love them equally. There are differences, however, but they are loose generalizations, not hard-and-fast rules. Males (of pretty much every breed I've owned/worked with) tend to be larger. They often come across as more easy-going, especially...
Because they can! Just kidding; people have come up with many hypothetical explanations for this most familiar canine behavior. Most sum it up by saying, "They do it when they are happy" or "to show love."
Actually it is thought that the back-and-forth motion of a wagging tail helps to transmit scents released from the dog's anal glands. This helps other...
Dogs have their own language in which they communicate using eye contact, facial gestures, body postures and vocalizations. They vocalize in different tones and volumes specific to various triggers, which possibly could be interpreted correctly by someone who really knew dogs in general and the individual dogs doing the vocalizing in particular. Perhaps...
It is a great responsibility you've taken upon yourself with many possible "what ifs" and doubts created along with your dog's impending puppies. But it does sound like you've been careful in planning your breeding and in trying hard to place the puppies. You are an ethical owner, and you are not the only one; but yes, many people do fail their pets over...
Although you may not be aware of it, I’d be willing to bet something is (or was) there. No, not aliens! Possibly an airplane passing overhead caught your dog’s attention, or maybe flying insects or even bats. I doubt your dog actually is appreciating astronomy and barking at stars, but stranger things have happened. Something has caught her attention and is...
Many people do leave their dogs indoors while they work during the day; it is reassuring for them to know their pets aren’t getting hurt or into trouble while they are away. When destructive or elimination problems cause owners to want to "put the dog out" when they aren’t home to supervise, my suggestion is to do some training and some strategic...
I suggest you read dog books that address canine body language and emotions to try to gain some better generalized understanding of dog behavior. As for your own creative little dog? She is learning you are highly responsive, trainable "pets"! She doesn't even have to try hard! She simply stares at you expectantly and you provide her with a wide range of...
There are confusing amounts of equipment available to new dog owners, and many conflicting opinions regarding which to--or not to-- use. I personally feel it is HOW equipment is used that creates problems for owners and risks for dogs. I'll try to give you a rundown of the most common control devices available for dogs and the pros and cons of each as I see...
It is not the breed of dog, but the individual personalities involved (both canine and human) that make dogs more or less compatible in a given family. Statistics show more than 40,000 facial bites per year reported involving children under the age of 4 occurring in their own homes. These bites are the result of unrealistic expectations from human adults....
