Happy Dog Happy You

Mouthing and nipping are two different issues. Mouthing is a communication skill to get you to do a particular thing. Less pressure, less annoying, but still not particularly charming. Nipping is a puppy thing; it is interactive and playful. Nipping puppies are bossy and manipulative and need a firmer regimen.
Mouthing is often an attention-getting behavior. […]

Never allow your puppy to bite. This sort of thing will become a bad habit and be hard to break later on.
If he bites your hands, give him a tap on his nose or under his chin. He will probably yelp, but he needs this lesson as early in life as you can give it […]

Puppies and dogs that jump up on you are only looking for attention, and it is your duty to give it to them.
If, when you enter a room, your puppy dashes over to greet you, bend over to pet him. If you simply stand where you are, he will probably want more of a greeting […]

There are many recognized classifications of dog aggression, including dominance-related aggression; fear aggression; maternal aggression; play aggression; displaced aggression; pain aggression; and barrier/frustration aggression. Most dogs who display aggressive behavior fall into more than one of these categories.
A dog’s bite was likely a result of a combination of barrier aggression and pain aggression.
 Dogs who are […]

Even the gentlest, most loving dog can be induced to bite. Dogs’ teeth are important tools, and every dog is aware of their potential use as offensive or defensive weapons.
Every dog has a bite threshold (a point beyond which, if pushed, he will bite). Some dogs’ bite thresholds are low; some are high. Aggression is […]

A dog over six months old who is still having accidents is a problem.
Unless he is having accidents because he is ill or neglected, you should come down hard on him and get the job of housebreaking over and done with. This includes the dog who is busy marking his territory off within your home.
You […]

A dog over six months old who is still having accidents is a problem.
Unless he is having accidents because he is ill or neglected, you should come down hard on him and get the job of housebreaking over and done with. This includes the dog who is busy marking his territory off within your home.
You […]

Can you really keep you dog from running away?
Many dog owners think that running away can be solved by property training the dog, which is teaching him to stay within boundaries of your property. 
The dog is a roaming animal. The notion of property training is against his very nature.
Therefore, you can property train him, but […]

There are lots of good reasons to teach your dog not to jump up.
Any dog can learn to deliver tons of affection from the floor and to forgo scaring people, knocking over little kids, tearing and messing up clothing, and acting like a mad dog just because you brought in the mail.
So what do you […]

Dogs of any breed, size or type can suffer from stress.  In fact, a certain amount of stress is necessary for a healthy life.  Hunger produces a form of stress that motivates us to find food, which is a healthful activity. 
However, a pet dog that receives a doting owner’s petting and praise on demand all […]