Behavioral problems of Dogs

It may provide a laugh on YouTube videos, but when we come home and see our dog has strewn garbage all over the floor, it can be a real pain. Not only do we have to clean up a mess, but it also leaves us with a worrying doubt. Since the garbage contains spoiled food and inedible objects, we should wonder...

Walking our dog is not only important for exercise. It is a vital opportunity to meet and interact with other dogs and people. Proper socialization is necessary for young dogs to be able to interact in a healthy way later in life. Just as important is the fact that dogs enjoy being around others, it is often...

As Konrad Lorenz, an Austrian zoologist and ethologist, once said, aggression in itself is just one more drive that an individual presents and that helps him survive. However, when a dog is aggressive with another dog this creates a poor quality of life and stress for the dog. Consequently, it is considered...

We may have understanding of why a dog licks their own feet. Licking helps to keep clean their paws, one of the dirtiest parts of their body. This might lead some to feeling a little offended since dogs are also known to enjoy licking human feet. If we assume this means we have dirty feet, we need to...

While dogs will lick you as a sign of love and affection, a dog that won't stop licking you all of a sudden might have an ulterior motive. Even when the purpose is affection, it can be a sign the dog is insecure and needs more reassurance than normal. Such insecurity can stem from various factors in their...

Dogs communicate with us in many ways, one of them is by whining or crying. This behaviour usually indicates that something is wrong. However, what does it mean when a dog cries and whines at night? And, what can you do to help? In this AnimalWised article we're going to go through the different reasons...

Dogs communicate in many ways, dog wagging, whining, barking and even growling. These behaviours have different meaning as they try to communicate their different emotions to their caregiver. In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about why your dog is growling at you, the meaning and how to stop...

Thunder storms can be scary for anyone. It's raining but every now and then we hear a loud sound of thunder and sometimes we can really feel it too. For dogs, this sensation is even stronger as they are very sensitive to sounds and even the static buildup in their environment. If your dog is scared...

It can often happen that some of us decide to adopt a dog as a precursor to having a larger family. Although having a dog is a rewarding experience in itself, some may see it as helpful preparation for the responsibility of having a child. However, they may not always think of how the dynamic might change once...

One of the most troublesome behavior that a dog can do is urinating where they shouldn't. This situation is usually quite stressful for many companions. However, there are ways to train your dog to stop urinating at home. In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain why you're dog may be urinating...

Dog bite levels can cause varying degrees of damage to a person or animal. Our puppies will often nip at us playfully as they are exploring their environment and testing their boundaries. This is a normal part of canine development and something we often find amusing. Compare this to a vicious attack...

Dogs defecate. It is a fact of dog nature and something we need to be very considerate of as a canine guardian. Since humans have domesticated dogs, the responsibility of cleaning up their feces is firmly on us. Picking up their poop is not always the most pleasant part of caring for dogs, but it has various...

Most dogs will bound at the door when the slightest possibility of going for a walk presents itself. If the word ‘walk’ is mentioned or you pick up their leash, the dog often becomes very excited. This is because dogs want to explore their environment, smell new scents, mark their territory and meet...

While all dogs will have their own personalities, it is not uncommon for dogs to ignore people. With strangers, many dogs are reserved or are simply so strongly bonded to their guardian that they do not have interest in other humans. However, a dog ignoring their owner completely is not common and likely...

Humans have different customs and personal preferences when it comes to interacting with others. Dogs are also individuals and will have certain quirks which make them unique. However, there are some basic behaviors which all able-bodied dogs should display. Smelling each other's butts is one such behavior....

A dog biting our feet is something we hope will stop when they are a puppy. It is a very common occurrence when the dog is young. Even though nipping at our feet while we walk can provide a tripping hazard, there are important reasons why they bite us. Most dogs will be educated to stop inappropriate...

It's quite common to see a puppy or dog bite and chew their leash when you take them out for a walk. However this behavior may surprise you and leave you wondering why. It can also be quite uncomfortable when taking them out on a walk. For this reason, in this article of AnimalWised, we are going to...

Perhaps you have just welcomed a new dog to your home and they are afraid of you. Or maybe this behavior presented itself all out of a sudden. It's clear that having a scared and unhappy dog is not ideal for anyone in the household. This is why in this article from AnimalWised, we are going to help you...

Although it may seem strange, dogs may find it desirable to eat toilet paper. This unusual behavior can be accompanied by ingestion of other inappropriate objects and is usually a concern for their companions. This is because eating toilet paper can lead to health issues. If you are wondering why your...

Buying accessories for our dog can be a very enjoyable experience. We look for something which interests them, is practically useful and, if we're lucky, which has a little style. When choosing the right bed for our dog, we hope that they will appreciate the gesture we make by giving them something comfortable...

At home, on the street, on public transport... In the daily lives of our dogs, it is almost inevitable that they encounter stairs. Yet how many times have we seen a frightened dog on a flight of stairs being dragged by force or carried up and down by their guardian? Or perhaps you have seen dogs paralyzed...

A dog's affectionate nature means they are generally inclined to shower us with love. Despite this, there are many mitigating factors. While breed, history and education are all important, each dog is an individual. Knowing that dogs are generally inclined to enjoy our company, finding out that one doesn't...

Many dog guardians talk about their animal companions as if they are their children. This is because the devotion, loyalty, affection, sensitivity and joy inherent in their being makes them feel part of the family. We often idealize them over actual blood relatives. As with family, however, boundaries are...

The act of biting is part of a dog's body language. Although not very pleasant, it is necessary given how much they rely on their mouth to interact with their environment. While we might associate biting with aggression, there are many reasons a dog might use this behavior. Understanding why a dog bites can...

Unlike most humans, dogs use their mouths to interact with almost anything in their environment. As a puppy, they have to develop this skill so they are able to prosper. This can lead to them biting everything in sight as they explore the larger world around them. It is a natural instinct which we should...

While we want to ensure all of our interactions with dogs are healthy, there are circumstances when we might want them to stay away from certain places. This can be for both the benefit of the dog and ourselves. Whether we want to stop them peeing in our yard, keep them away from dangerous objects or simply...

Does your whole house smell like dog urine? If so, you’ve come to the right place! If a dog hasn’t been trained correctly or is suffering from a health problem, it’s likely that it won’t be able to control itself in the house. If your dog is peeing in the house, make sure not to scold it, but rather opt...

Dogs express their emotions, moods and thoughts through bodily expression. In fact, when communicating with humans and other dogs, canine body language is key when it comes to understanding. However, like dogs use their tails to express joy, they also use certain parts of their bodies to express discomfort...

The gluttonous behavior of the dogs can, at times, be funny. However, when it comes to a dog eating rocks, this is a serious and dangerous problem which needs to be addressed accordingly. If your dog appears to be eating everything and anything, it can easily ingest toxic chemical substances, excrement or...

Despite the many animal rights organizations across the world standing up to protect dogs, animal abuse against canines is still pervasive. We only need look at the many videos on social media showing dog rescues for dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or severely abused. When we see a dog in need...

Are you wondering ‘Why has my dog started pooping in the house at night?’ Is your dog suddenly acting or behaving differently? There are many different causes behind a dog’s change in behavior, some include an acquisition of new fears, anxiety, stress and more. But what do these changes mean and how do...

We love our dogs so much they can do no wrong. We have accepted the responsibility to care for them, the responsibility which domestication asks of us. This involves cleaning up their mess and training them to defecate in suitable areas. It's the same responsibility guardians of other dogs have taken...

Our dogs display a wide range of emotions, many of which seem to make sense. When you grab the leash, they get excited. When you feed them a treat, they are evidently happy. When there is an aggressive situation, you might see them look scared. There are times we may have to ask ourselves why is my dog...

While any dog can exhibit aggression, male dogs have some specific concerns regarding their interaction with each other. The triggers to these conflicts may be similar in that genetic factors, trauma or inadequate socialization when a puppy can be indirect causes of fighting. Whatever the cause of these...

If you share your life with a dog, you will notice that they have some particular personality traits or characteristics. Some of them may be typical to their breed, others may be completely idiosyncratic. How they relate to people outside of their family will also vary depending on the individual dog....

For dogs, licking is part of their habitual way of interacting with their environment. They do it to other dogs, other animals and even with we humans. Whether due to higher standards or a weaker immune system, licking in this way doesn't come naturally to us. When our dogs do it, their biological make...

Do you know what it means for a dog to be humanized? Well, it is a phenomenon that has lately become more frequent and popular. This concept revolves around humans transcending our way of seeing the world to our animals. Treating dogs like children, dressing them up in costumes and celebrating their...

Dogs roll on dead animals and other stinky materials as a part of their territorial behaviors. As with much canine behavior, rolling around in dead animal remains is an activity we may struggle to comprehend. We may think they just enjoy filth, but there are reasons behind this action, some of which...

Have you noticed that your dog has recently been chasing shadows compulsively? If so, this behavior should not be ignored. At first it might seem fun or funny, but a dog that is excessively chasing shadows could be showing warning signs. Chasing shadows can occur as a result of serious stress and behavior-related...

Behavioral problems in dogs should not be something that is ignored. In fact, behavioral problems in dogs should be taken very seriously, as it in one of the main reasons behind dog abandonment. It is important that if you notice behavioral problems in your dog: you deal with them as soon as possible....

Canine aging is a natural process in which a dog’s organism undergoes morphological and physiological changes, which can also intervene in behavior. Like us, when dogs reach a certain age, they can experience certain changes when performing behaviors and actions. These changes favor the appearance of behavioral...

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), up to 6.5 million animals are abandoned every year in the USA alone. One of the main reasons for abandonment is the aggressiveness these animals can develop either towards people, animals or other dogs. Many people with...

Barking is the main form of canine communication. Even though barking is a behavior characteristic of the species, in some cases barking can become a problem. Barking, if excessive, can appear as a negative symptom or as a behavioral problem linked to insufficient or inappropriate training or education. Do...

Unfortunately, the mishandling of Pit Bulls by some dog owners has caused pit bull dogs and their fellow friends to suffer an unjustified bad reputation around the world. Although it is true that genetic inheritance does influence the temperament of a dog, its behavior will depend fundamentally on its...

We're sure that playing with your dog is one of your favorite activities, be it a puppy or an adult dog. Play not only strengthens the bond between canine and human, but also constitutes as good exercise for both, allowing for a way to take advantage of time spend together having fun. Sometimes a dog...

The Yorkshire terrier is a small dog that is easily trained, it is not usually an aggressive dog. However, if they have received a bad education in the first months of life or have suffered a traumatic experience, they can become an aggressive dog that is difficult to treat. If you have noticed a change...

A fairly common problem that dog owners need to resolve is pica: the consumption of things that aren't part of a dog's diet. For example, it's not uncommon to see a dog eating socks, shoes or plastic toys. Pica is a compulsive disorder that not only ruins your possessions but can also endanger your dog:...

A dog is considered man's best friend. The bonds that dogs are able to create with people are hard to break, because they provide company and a loving and unconditional loyalty that is almost impossible to compare with other forms of affection. However, who has not got angry with their a dog, whether...

Introducing our dog to friends and family is something that every owner should be able to do, however, some dogs can show insecurity and even fear when they approach unknown people and even people they have previously seen. If this is your case, it will be important to consider going to a specialist...

A dog eating feces is not necessarily a problem, as long as it is infrequent and the feces itself causes no significant health issue. Frequent consumption of feces is serious health issue and eating feces which is contaminated with pathogens can be cause life-threatening diseases. The consumption of poop...