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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William looked at me and asked a question that most dog owners probably think about but never seem to ask out loud. He asked, “Scott, you’re the dog expert; what do dogs think about all day?”
To divine the truth in that question, you might think that we need to be able to converse with dogs to discover what’s going on in their canine craniums.
Read MoreAfter working with thousands of clients, I’ve found there are four key dog owner perspectives that can predict the likelihood of success in working with dogs with behavior issues. I see the importance of these four elements of successful treatment in every case I work with. They’re all essential and are reliable predictors of success.
Read MoreDog bites are bad. Period. However, many people don’t realize when dogs aggressively bite humans, they almost never do so at full power.
Read MoreCan dog owners communicate to their dog that they don’t need to be afraid or aggressive toward specific people? I happened to run into one of these dog owners at our Bass Pro visit.
I was sitting on one of those uncomfortable benches in the shoe department trying on a couple pairs of boots when a 45ish kinda scruffy-looking man walked his medium-sized mutt within a couple of feet. The dog had raised hackles and immediately began to pull toward me and bark. You don’t need to be a dog behaviorist to know that this doggie was unhappy being near me. Don’t worry, I’ve learned not to take these things personally.
Read More“Scott, I don’t know what’s wrong with my dog. She’s always nipping and growling at me. She keeps me from getting on my bed, won’t let me get near her when she’s eating, and hates it when I try to pet her. But, for whatever reason, she loves my wife.”
This was what I heard when first talking to Mark (not his real name) on the phone. He sounded very desperate, and I thought I had a good idea of what was going on with his dog, but my premature diagnosis turned out to be very wrong.
Read MoreIf you're struggling with an anxious or aggressive dog, you might find relief in the latest episode of the Grumpy Dogs podcast. In this episode, I delve into the world of behavior medications, specifically anxiolytics, and their potential to transform your dog's behavior. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how these medications work, why they aren't a one-size-fits-all solution, and how they can complement behavior modification techniques to yield improvement in many cases.
Read MoreIs your dog sweet as pie off-leash, but turns into a barking, lunging maniac the moment you clip on the leash? This is a common issue many dog owners face, known as leash reactivity. This episode of the Grumpy Dogs Podcast aims to uncover the mystery behind this frustrating behavior and offer practical tips to manage it.
Read MoreCan dogs truly feel remorse after they bite someone, or is it just our interpretation of their behavior? Uncover the reality behind canine emotions as I address common myths about dogs and their reactions to biting incidents. I'll dive into the instinctual behaviors of dogs, shedding light on how they respond to stress and fear.
Read MoreHow do your properly socialize your fearful or aggressive dog and make them more calm and sociable with other dogs and humans? Find out in this episode of the Grumpy Dogs Podcast with me. We'll explore the critical techniques you need to master for properly socializing dogs with fear and aggression issues.
Read MoreDominance aggression is one of the most misunderstood types of dog aggression. As a result, treatment is frequently counterproductive and continues the cycle of aggression and stress for the family.
In this episode we explore dominance aggression, providing clear explanations and practical examples to help dog owners understand this behavior. We also discuss treatment strategies.
Read MoreNavigating the choppy waters of canine territorial aggression just got smoother. Our latest discussion zeroes in on the strategies needed to manage dogs with a keen sense of trepidation when it comes to visitors coming into their home.
Read MoreUnlock the mystery behind your dog's sudden growls and watchful eyes when guests arrive. Our latest episode offers a deep dive into the realm of territorial aggression in dogs, and why your four-legged friend might be more on edge in the sanctity of your home than in the great outdoors. Explore with us the trifecta of triggers that provoke this protective stance: the craving for security, the shock of unexpected visitors, and the perceived lack of escape routes. We don't just lay out the problem; we arm you with strategies to identify and quell these behaviors before they escalate to dangerous levels.
Read MoreIn this latest podcast episode, an effective strategy for handling dogs that are reactive to dogs and/or humans is explored. This strategy uses dog parks as a key element in this behavior modification technique. The traditional concept of socialization is re-evaluated, with a focus on controlled exposure to triggers from a safe distance, such as outside the dog park fence. This approach avoids direct confrontation in hectic environments, which can worsen a reactive dog's anxiety.
Read MoreEver feel like you're at the end of your leash with your reactive dog during walks? I'm Scott Sheaffer, and in today's Grumpy Dogs podcast, I'm going to share the third step in the process that will change the way you and your pooch experience approaching dogs and/or humans while out on a walk that get your dog revved up.
Read MoreCould deciphering your dog's subtle body twitches and tail wags be the key to addressing their deepest fears and aggression? My latest podcast episode looks into the language of your loyal companion, giving you the tools to interpret their silent signals that can prepare you to work on your dog's fears and aggression. You'll learn to navigate their emotional landscape and guide them through recovery at their own pace.
Read MoreAverage Reading Time: 30 seconds
Today we are unveiling a transformative 12-part series addressing the fear and aggression your four-legged friend might be grappling with to other dogs or humans. In this first episode I'm going to show you how you can change your dog's daily leash walks into a powerful behavioral therapy session to treat reactivity toward other dogs and/or humans.
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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.