It is so easy to find photos and videos of kids and dogs like this online. A young child showing affection to her dog by laying on top of her family dog while he is sleeping. In this image, it even looks like it may have been posed. In other words, someone (perhaps a parent or another trusted adult role model) asked the little girl to do this for the sake of an image. Let’s delve into this topic – should a child lay on a sleeping dog? [Read more…] about Should A Child Lay On A Sleeping Dog?
dog growling
Your Dog’s Leave-Me-Alone Spot
How does your dog or puppy let you know he/she wants to be left alone or just wants to say NO? My Dawson has his Leave-Me-Alone spot where he sits just behind a living room seat. [Read more…] about Your Dog’s Leave-Me-Alone Spot
What Does It Mean When Your Dog Plays Keep Away?
I was asked by a man the other day about when his dog growls during play. Specifically, he shared how his dog loves sticks and playing keep away. He described it as his dog teases with bringing the sticks up to him, only letting go with a growl. His question was whether he should wait to engage with his dog until his dog drops the stick. Below I answer that and also share some tips for playing with your dog and tugging with your dog. [Read more…] about What Does It Mean When Your Dog Plays Keep Away?
Instead Of A Bad Dog, Your Dog May Be Distressed
I encourage you to give this some thought. Thinking you have a bad dog can cause you to use punishment to change. Instead consider that your dog’s barking and growling may be caused by distress. [Read more…] about Instead Of A Bad Dog, Your Dog May Be Distressed
Tight Spaces Can Cause Dogs To Growl
Tight spaces can cause dogs to growl. Just ask Ginger. The other night she was resting in the darkened, narrow hallway just outside her human mom’s closed bedroom door. During the day when she is resting in the open, first floor living space and her young human brother approaches, her body language clearly shows she wants his attention but not on this occasion. When her brother approached, she growled and air snapped at him when he came closer. [Read more…] about Tight Spaces Can Cause Dogs To Growl
Why you should never punish a dog’s growl
Because warnings are a GOOD thing, that’s why. If your dog is growling, it has already tried to communicate with other non-aggressive body language that it is not comfortable in that situation; but that communication failed [Read more…] about Why you should never punish a dog’s growl