Behavioral Issues

Many clients during an initial evaluation express their concern over the manners that their dog has at the door. The dog barks continuously at the door after someone knocks or rings the door bell. The dog acts aggressively when someone comes in. The dog jumps up on the guest. Some clients state that people do…

How many times have you seen a car driving by and you notice that there is a dog on the drivers lap and also probably sticking their head out the window.  This is a severe distraction for the driver that can easily lead to a car accident.  The front passenger seat is not much better….

Dogs react to their environment in the best way that they know how.  There in lies part of the problem.  If they do not know how to cope, they usually either go into Fight or Flight mode.  The dog thinks, ”  Can I take the problem out with force or can I get away from…

What You Should Know About The Kinds Of Dog Aggression Animals that live in groups have to be able to communicate in order to cooperate and avoid disputes. Communicating involves a set of postural and facial signals that indicate the animal’s mood and intent. Affiliative (Friendly) Behavior decreases the social distance between participants in an…

Few things cause more distress in a dog and its owner than Separation Anxiety. The dog can become destructive, vocalizes loudly, soils in the house and is some cases will even defecate on the owners bed. The behavior may not be as bad as this. The dog may only pant, or pace alot. All is…

Many times people come across a situation in training their dog and they get frustrated when the dog will not obey. They blame the dog by yelling at it, giving physical corrections, an may even end the session in a bad mood. They blame the dog for its performance. We must get into the mindset…

Few people understand what proper socialization is, and how critical it is to reducing dog bites. Proper socialization- the act of teaching the dog to not react by de-sensitizing him to those things he will encounter in daily life. The positive exposure of the puppy to many situations and environments that the puppy may encounter….

There are many different reasons why dogs bark. In most cases, the barking is actually a signal that another behavior problem exists and if that problem is addressed- many times the dog will stop barking on his own. These are six common causes for barking. Excited Play Alert Barking Fearful Alarm Barking Dominance Barking Territorial…

Is the puppy engaging in friendly nipping and mouthing or serious nipping and mouthing. Friendly nipping occurs during excitable greetings or during playtime with a puppy that is less than 5 months in age. Puppies explore their environment by touching and tasting everything. Puppy nipping is also a form of social play between puppies and…

Dogs are happier, confident and secure in an environment where the rules and exceptions are consistent. Owners that teach a dog that a behavior is acceptable sometimes, and then gets angry at the dog for the behavior at other times will almost always have a difficult time eliminating the problem. Consistency is crucial in treating…