Average Reading Time: 2 minutes, 17 seconds

Cultural attitudes about dog ownership have changed fairly dramatically in the 21st century, especially in western countries. When I was a boy growing up in the 1970s in the United States, dogs were considered something that you provided food, water and occasional veterinary care when needed. Most dogs lived in the owner’s backyard virtually 100% of the time. They were not commonly considered part of the family like they are in most households today.

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There are some subjects relating to dog ownership that are quite polarizing. Whether you should crate your dog or not is certainly one of them. Some people view crating dogs as cruel, akin to putting them in a jail cell. Other dog owners view it as a way to give their dog some peace and quiet.

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes, 44 seconds

You hear it all the time:

”I have a bad dog; she’s dangerous.”
”Bill needs to get rid of his bad dog.”
”Debbie’s dog is a bad dog and should be put down.”

Before I go any further, let me expound on the type of “bad dog” I’m writing about, since there are two types. The first type has to do with dogs who have poor manners. By “poor manners” I’m talking about dogs who annoyingly jump on people, chew on shoes, bark constantly, etc. You get the idea. This type of “bad dog” would more properly be described as unruly. I don’t like when people apply the “bad dog” moniker to these types of behaviors, but it’s a more acceptable use of this term than it is with the second type of “bad dog” detailed below.

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Do dogs feel things in the same way as humans? This is a question I’m asked frequently. Quite frankly, if you’re a dog owner, it’s a question you probably ought to be asking yourself.

After personally working with thousands of troubled dogs, my personal opinion is that, yes, dogs do have many, if not all, of the same or similar emotional feelings that humans do. I have that belief for both scientific and experiential reasons. But, I do have one caveat; I’m not so sure dogs feel things exactly like we do.

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You’ve heard dog trainers on TV say something to this affect, “Your dog is not a balanced dog.” Apparently, this must really be bad. They say it with such authority that you have to assume this must really be a “thing”. I mean, they are on TV. We all know that everything on TV, and on the internet for that matter, is true.

Average Reading Time: 4 minutes, 57 seconds

You have finally located the dog you want to adopt from a local rescue organization or animal shelter. She’s pretty; she’s the age you want; she’s the breed you want; she’s the size you want; she’s friendly; she’s healthy; everyone in the family loves her.

These are things that are important when selecting a dog to adopt. However, there’s another dimension that adopters frequently overlook. Does this dog have any serious behavior issues? As someone who works with dogs with major behavior issues, I can confidently tell you that some problematic behaviors can dramatically and negatively impact the dog ownership experience.

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I’m going to review and grade the eight most common dog collars and comment on how effective and humane they are for reducing pulling. I’m going to start with the least effective (#8) and work toward the most effective (#1). One of the key variables in my review is how humane these collars are. Punishing types of collars lose points fast with me.

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In the fall of 2014, I had my once-in-a-lifetime dog euthanized for health reasons. He had become so debilitated and sick that the vet was adamant it was time. To say I was heartbroken is the understatement of understatements. I am still sad and find myself reflecting and crying at times about the loss of this absolutely magnificent animal.

His name was Fred. He was a beautiful German Shepherd. Godspeed Fred.

After his death, I had two questions. Will I see him again? That’s a very interesting question I will address in a future article. The other question I had was, how will Fred’s death affect my other living dog? My other dog was a sweet-as-can-be Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Reagan. They enjoyed each other’s company.

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My wife and I were walking around a Junior College near our home last week when we observed something that was distressing to both of us. A young man was walking his beautiful adolescent-looking German Shepherd. This man was almost a parody of what I hate to see in abusive dog owners: muscled up with a tank top, yelling “heel” every three seconds and constantly jerking the leash. Upon closer observation, I noticed his dog was wearing a metal prong collar.

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“Does my dog need to have a lot of dog and human friends to be happy?” As a professional dog trainer, I hear this question all the time from my clients. Our society tends to be a social one, and often we feel most happy when surrounded by a lot of friends and attending events like concerts, parties and other social gatherings. Social media is a part of our everyday lives. So, the question is, are our dogs the same way? Do they need friends and social outings to be happy? Are they sad and lonely without them?

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Dog rescue’s job is to take millions of unwanted dogs each year from across the country and find them loving forever homes. These dogs primarily come from dog owners who voluntarily surrender their dogs, strays picked up on the streets and municipal animal control shelters.

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Some dog owners think a doggie peephole could be a gift to their dog while others just don’t want the ugly hole in their fence. Are they good or bad for dogs? What’s the real story?

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Housetraining can be an issue for puppies as well as adult dogs. I frequently find adult dogs who have never been properly housetrained - this article applies to these dogs too. If you have a properly housetrained adult dog who abruptly develops housetraining problems, there may be more going on.

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“My dog is a picky eater – What can I do?” is a common question for many dog owners. It’s actually a much easier behavior problem to address than most dog owners realize. Money motivates people, but food is the monetary system of dogs. Food is an important variable in a dog’s behavior and needs to be controlled by the dog’s owner and not by the dog. I’ve provided five ideas below to help you get a handle on this.

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Dog Behavior FAQ #74: Why do veterinary employees take my dog to the back to take blood, etc.?

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"Why do some people have such a problem with punishment styles of behavior modification in dogs? I'm specifically talking about some of those used by Cesar Millan in his controversial TV shows. Seems like he has fixed the dog by the end of the episode and the owners are happy. What’s the problem?"