Worried about your dog and new baby? Discover the reassuring truth: dogs rarely see babies as prey. Learn the key safety periods, how dogs truly perceive infants, and actionable steps for a harmonious home.
Standard dog training often worsens fear and anxiety in sensitive dogs. Learn why obedience-based methods fail anxious dogs—and what actually helps.
Is your dog bored or anxious? Learn why 'giving your dog a job' is the key to channeling natural instincts, stopping bad behavior, and creating a happier, more fulfilled canine companion. Practical tips inside.
Bringing home a new dog is exciting, but first-time owners often discover the learning curve is steeper than they expected. After working with hundreds of families, I’ve noticed I approach first-time owners very differently than experienced ones — not because they aren’t intelligent, lack commitment or care, but because they’re working from assumptions that just don’t match how dogs actually learn.
We’ve all seen them—the modern “training” collars that promise a quick fix for all kinds of dog behavior problems. These collars are really just old-school shock collars (also called e-collars) with a built-in buzzer. While the electric shock function is increasingly recognized as aversive and inhumane, many well-intentioned dog owners are drawn to the “buzzer” or “vibration-only” mode. It seems like such a harmless beep or gentle nudge, a simple way to get your dog’s attention.
Barking is one of the most natural things a dog can do—but when it becomes constant in the backyard, it can strain relationships with neighbors and even cause stress for the dog. The key is to understand why your dog is barking and then take steps to make things quieter and calmer for everyone.
Here are eight ways to stop your dog’s backyard barking:
You’ve seen it a hundred times: one minute, your dog is a perfect angel. The next, they’re a blur of fur, tearing laps around the coffee table, skidding across the floor with a wild look in their eyes. It’s a scene of pure, unbridled chaos… and it’s completely normal.
Aggression is the number-one reason dog owners reach out to me. It’s also one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood behavior problems. When someone says, “My dog bit me,” or “My dog bit someone,” fear and frustration often take over—and myths quickly fill the gaps where knowledge is missing.
People often ask me, “Scott, what’s the number one thing I should pay attention to in my dog’s behavior?” It’s a fair question. As dog owners, we’re told to keep up with diet, exercise, training, socialization, enrichment, vet visits, and the list goes on and on. All of that matters.
When people ask me, “Who makes the best dog owner?” they usually expect me to name a type of person. Maybe someone who works from home or someone with a big fenced yard. Maybe they’re thinking about people who had dogs as kids and grew up knowing all the basics.
But the truth is, none of those things guarantee success. I’ve seen dogs thrive in apartments and struggle in sprawling houses with massive backyards. I’ve met first-time dog owners who completely turned a difficult case around, and I’ve seen seasoned dog people miss the mark.
When a dog shows aggression, it’s natural to want the problem solved quickly. Many owners, hoping for a fresh start, turn to “board and train” programs—where a dog lives at a training facility for days or weeks, receiving daily sessions with a trainer.
It sounds ideal: the trainer “fixes” the problem while you go about life, and you get your dog back transformed. Unfortunately, for aggression cases, the reality can be far more complicated—and in some cases, harmful.
About ScottScott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a certified dog behaviorist. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression and phobias in dogs six months and older. Learn More |
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I hear some form of the following almost every day, “I’m not worried about my dog biting children; there is no reason to teach my kids about dog safety.” The reality is that the majority of dog bites to young children are from known dogs, e.g., the family dog and neighborhood dogs.
Read MoreExercising your dog is important. Increased exercise for a client’s dog is one of my most frequent recommendations as part of a treatment plan for problem behaviors. There are many misconceptions about how to properly exercise a dog. Below I’ve provided some things to consider when exercising your four-legged friend.
Read MoreDogs provide information about their emotional state through their tails. While happy dogs may wag their tails, sometimes wagging can mean something else. A wagging tail generally indicates happiness with the exception of flagging.
Read MoreWe’ve all heard some version of the following, “That dog bit me out of nowhere.” The person is talking about a dog who appeared to be at ease and then suddenly and without warning bit that individual.
Read MoreMany dog lovers have multiple dogs in their homes - including me. However, as with just about everything in life, too much of a good thing can be problematic sometimes. Actually, math is the problem. The specific math formula (I promise no further math after this) is: nCr = n!/r!(n-r)!
Read MoreTaking your dog for regular annual exams with your veterinarian is a New Year's resolution that may be more important than you previously realized. The reason your dog's annual exam is so critical is simple.
Read MoreYou might think that dogs wouldn't have serious behavior issues regarding food, but just like humans, they do. I've provided information on three types below. "Doggie Table Manners Gone Bad" Compulsive disorders are manifested as repetitive behaviors that are excessively repeated for no apparent reason (think OCD in humans).
Read MoreDogs can be profoundly resilient both physically and emotionally. They don't appear to hold grudges or consciously dwell on the past. This is why rescued dogs can make outstanding pets and severely injured dogs adapt so well to their handicaps.
Read MoreWhat implied promises do we make to our dogs when we bring them into our homes? This thought occurred to me recently while attending the wedding of a nice young couple (yes, I was paying attention to the ceremony). As I listened to their wedding vows, I realized that we essentially make these same kinds of "vows" to our dogs when they become part of our household.
Read MoreDog behavior specialists and behaviorists use a scale when assessing dog bites. This is essential when diagnosing aggression issues and providing a prognosis. There are many scales, but the one that is most commonly used is Dr. Ian Dunbar's Dog Bite Scale.
Read MoreI hear it every day, "My dog is dumb." To be sure, there are dogs that are, um, well, not as smart as others. However, almost all dogs are pretty bright and even the ones that aren't can do some pretty amazing things when taught using the correct methods.
Read MoreThe most common behavior issue I see is aggression. Below I've listed three major categories of dog aggression with a brief description. Fear Aggression. Simply stated, these dogs have learned and have been reinforced for using aggression as an offense-is-the-best-defense strategy for dealing with things that scare them.
Read MoreYes, dogs can have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) that manifests as tail chasing, licking their paws until there is an injury (lick granuloma), fly snapping (biting at imaginary flies), flank and blanket sucking (literally sucking on their rear legs or on inanimate objects), pica (eating non-food items) and the list goes on.
Read MoreI was recently taking a walk with my wife, Barbara, at one of our favorite parks. We came upon an older couple that was sitting on one of the park benches with their two beautiful German Shepherds. I asked if it would be okay for us to approach their dogs. The husband replied, "No. They are highly protective of us. You know how German Shepherds are."
Read MoreHumans are incredibly resistant to letting go of long held beliefs - even when faced with evidence that should point us in a new direction. The following popular beliefs can get in the way of our relationship with our dogs and decrease our effectiveness when training them.
Read More"My dog, Chester, tears things up when I'm away at work. Today it was the drapes! I know he's doing this to get back at me for leaving him alone all day. When I come home he looks guilty and cowers."
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Uncover the truth behind dog aggression. Learn why barking, lunging, or snapping is a symptom of fear, not a "mean" personality. Discover the 7 common types of dog aggression and how understanding triggers leads to effective behavior modification, not just labeling.