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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As a full-time dog behavior specialist, I meet with dog owners, rescue organizations and veterinary practice employees almost every day. There are at least seven questions I am repeatedly asked by them. I’m surprised by some of them.
Read MoreYou and your spouse met a new couple at one of your kid’s soccer games a few months ago. At each subsequent game it becomes obvious that both families really get along. Before you know it, everyone is having dinner together.
Read More"It has to be one of the greatest ironies in veterinary medicine that all psychopharmaceutical medications are developed using animals…before being approved by the FDA for use in humans and only then used clinically in animals."
Read MoreVirtually every dog I see is not getting the respect it deserves from its owners. Let me explain why I feel this way. If you’ve brought a new dog into your home recently, you know what a hassle it is to incorporate this new guy into your life.
Read MoreWhen selecting a dog breed, it’s important to consider the time and resources available to you for the care of your new dog. While individual dogs are different, breeds can provide a good indicator of what your responsibilities will be with your new family addition.
Read MoreDo you ever get questions soliciting your expert advice but the questioner really has already decided what they’re going to do? One of those questions I frequently get is, “Scott, we’re thinking about getting a new puppy to help our 12 year old Lab feel young again. Is that a good idea?”
Read MoreThe following is an email I recently received: “Scott, we have a Border Collie mix named Brutus that was starting to show signs of aggression around people. We hired a highly recommended dog training company who taught us to show dominance to Brutus by using a prong collar and correcting him…”
Read MoreIt’s easy to find a really cute puppy from an enormous number of breeders these days, both legitimate breeders and puppy-mill breeders. Fact of Life: Once puppies reach about 16-20 weeks of age they start looking and acting like dogs; they grow up fast.
Read MoreEvery large city has animal ordinances (regulations) regarding the care, treatment and control of dogs. Violating these regulations can result in a citation or even criminal prosecution. I’ve worked with animal services in different cities and find that many of the local residents aren’t aware of some of the more obscure, but important, animal ordinances for their city.
Read MoreIt’s been my experience that many dog owners who have either dog or human aggressive dogs tend to underestimate their dog’s potential to hurt other dogs or humans. In addition to possible injury, there are also both civil and even criminal legal issues to consider.
Read MoreProper exercise is an important part of helping dogs with behavior issues such as aggression and separation anxiety. It’s also quite beneficial for a dog’s mental health even if he or she doesn’t have behavior issues.
Read MoreOne of the greatest unanswered questions for dog lovers is, “Does my dog love me?” For a real dyed-in-the-wool dog lover, this ranks right up there with, “Do dogs go to heaven?” Can dogs feel the same way about us as we feel about them? Can they actually love us?
Read MoreI see a lot of not-so-entertaining dog behaviors such as aggression, separation anxiety, resource guarding, compulsive behaviors, etc. I have to be honest; it gets me down a little sometimes. On the other hand, there are six normal and healthy dog behaviors that I really enjoy watching. Here are six of my favorites.
Read MoreAfter aggression, the most common serious behavior issue I deal with is separation anxiety. Simply stated, separation anxiety in dogs is anxiety that dogs experience when they are left alone. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that humans can suffer from separation anxiety too.
Read MoreToday’s article is about a form of anthropomorphism (i.e., treating dogs like humans) that drives me crazy. It’s the habit that some dog owners get into of being shocked and disgusted when their dog does normal “dog things.” Breed of dog and price paid for the dog don’t impact these behaviors – much to the dismay of some frustrated dog owners.
Read More“Socializing” is a term you frequently hear in the world of dog training and dog behavior. Socializing your dog sounds like something we all want to do for our dogs; it sounds like something good.
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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.