Animal Behavior Category

Dogs and humans share common threads of history. Our relationship can be traced back tens of thousands of years — possibly even hundreds of thousands, by some estimates.  Experts theorize that dogs were first domesticated towards the end of the last ice age. That would mean dogs have been around longer than pottery, farming, or…

A good night’s rest is the foundation for a productive day — not just for humans, but for dogs, too.  From puppyhood to the golden years, a healthy sleep pattern is essential for a dog’s well-being. We humans can relate! No one works well after uncomfortable, interrupted sleep. Getting enough sleep can impact dogs’ learning…

Getting a new pet is an exciting, lifelong commitment for a pet owner.  However, this change will also be a lifelong commitment for any pets you currently have in the household. When they experience a consistent routine, animals get comfortable with their living situation pretty quickly.  When you add a new pet to this mix,…

Dogs have different ways of expressing their emotions than people do. When they feel discontent, they’ll show you through a few familiar patterns. For one reason or another, a dog may decide to fixate on an undesirable habit — and this can happen out of nowhere. It may not necessarily be the owner’s fault that…

  Terriers. Some might say they’re the Joe Pesci of the dog world: small, fearless, spirited, and irreplaceably distinctive. Unlike Joe Pesci, who’s largely retired from the spotlight, terriers continue to be highly visible and popular around the world (please don’t come after us for saying this, Mr. Pesci!). Originally, these dogs were bred by…

Having a pet in the home certainly changes our day-to-day life in huge ways.  Pets bring out the nurturing side of their humans, and, in turn, they become better caregivers, but how can having a pet improve a person’s own wellness? Mental health is impacted by many factors and is, in some ways, far less…

“Music is the universal language of mankind,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote. But could that appeal transcend across species? Countless dog owners tell tales of pups who have a strong relationship to music and sounds: both those they prefer and those they’d rather do without. Other dogs seem to largely ignore the background tunes, no…

You know what they say: when you want to live happy like they did on the homestead, that’s when it’s time to “get a long, little doggie!” Groan if you want, but jokes like that are emblematic of the adoration owners of long dog breeds hold for their precious pups.  Dogs with “long but low”…

So you’ve decided to adopt a second dog, and you’re worried about how your furry friend at home is going to react.  It’s true that some animals don’t respond well to a new addition to the family, but those negative responses are generally developed out of fear. Animals need consistency, and your pup has grown…

It’s true that, in many respects, every dog breed is a little bit different. They may have personality traits, diet preferences, and activity levels, all of which can be impacted by their breed lineage as well as their immediate family’s genealogy. Learning these unique traits about your dog can help you connect with them better…