Dog poop, it’s something you have to deal with every day if you own a dog. I like to tell people considering their first dog that if they can’t handle the idea of getting cozy with dog poop, they should consider a small aquarium instead. I’ve provided a list below of seven things to consider in the daily management of all things dog poop.

Earlier this month I was walking one of my dogs and passed a lady walking her beautiful Border Collie. I would estimate this lady’s age to be in her mid-forties. She was wearing workout clothes and was walking at a fairly brisk pace with her dog.

Liver. Seriously. Is there any person on planet earth who really likes liver? Covering it with an inch of gravy does not count as liking it either. There are only a few things that virtually every dog doesn’t care for either. As you read through the list I’ve prepared below, you’ll probably say “But my dog loves that!” to one of the items.

Almost every dog barks a little when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the front door. My personal dogs usually give about three half-hearted barks and then immediately settle down; this is normal for most dogs and is usually nothing more than arousal. This article is not about normal front-door dog behavior. It’s about dogs with territorial aggression that typically exhibit the following when someone knocks or rings the doorbell.

When Linda M. first came to see me in May of this year with her dog, I had no idea that the story behind her beautiful dog was so remarkable. Quite frankly, I didn’t believe her story at first - but it turned out to be true and moving.

I enjoy taking my personal dogs to the dog park. Dog parks are great for most dogs, but not all. Many dog owners really like taking their dogs to the dog park. When I ask new clients what their primary behavior objective is with their dog, they frequently respond, “I want my dog to enjoy the dog park.” Truth be known, many owners enjoy dog parks more than their dogs do.

Do dogs go through puberty and adolescence? Yes, just like humans. It is also associated with behavior changes as is true with humans. The adolescent period for dogs normally occurs around 6 to 24 months of age. This can vary by breed and size of dog but is normally in this range.

It’s official; AKC’s most popular breeds list is out for 2020. Dog breed popularity in the United States can be faddish depending on what celebrity owns what breed at the moment. Tracking breed popularity is almost like tracking the stock market and, like the stock market, you can frequently really overpay. I’ve listed the top 20 breeds for 2020 compared to their 2019 ranking below.

It’s common knowledge in the dog and animal behavior consulting profession: dog aggression of all types is increasing across America. Since almost all dog aggression is fear based, it makes me somewhat melancholy to think an increasing number of dogs are experiencing this. The most important question is, why?

A new client walked in my door recently. She was a middle-aged woman who was nicely dressed and very well spoken. She came with a large and beautiful female sable colored long-haired German Shepherd. I must admit that the dog was so beautiful it caused me to ignore this new client for a moment - this is the kind of dog I call “leash candy”.

It seems like some of the most effective dog training advice I provide dog owners is actually fairly simple. The following is an example of a tip that is simple but extremely powerful when training your dog at home.

My wife, Barbara, and I said goodbye two days ago to our sweet sweet boy, Reagan (pictured above). He was 11 years old and died of a rare liver disease. Words cannot express how immensely blessed we were to be his caretakers, nor can they express our level of sadness at this time. Godspeed sweet Reagan; thank you for all of your love and loyalty. You will be immensely missed and forever in our hearts.

“Should I get a dog?” is a question that all prospective first-time dog owners ask themselves as well as those dog owners who are thinking of adding a dog. I’ve worked with thousands of dog owners in my behavior consulting career and have put together my list of things to consider before getting a first dog or adding another dog to your family.

The picture you see with this article is of my Great Pyrenees, Luke, relaxing in his crate. Luke frequently chooses to spend time in his crate voluntarily; I leave the door open so he is free to do this. Dog owners have mixed feelings about crating their dogs. Some feel it’s like putting their dogs in jail while others feel it’s a great “dog cave” or safe sanctuary for their dogs.

Dog breed is not the ultimate predictor of how well a specific dog will fit into your life, but breed types do have disposition tendencies that need to be considered. Picking the right breed, or breed mix, is especially important for first-time dog owners.

Of all the creatures on earth, have you ever wondered why humans and dogs seem to really “get each other”? Dogs really enjoy being with us. They appear to read our moods and our motives. They are forgiving of our worst transgressions. Their love is…unconditional.