Behaviour
Why does my dog howl?
From sirens to an empty house, howling is one of the oldest ways a dog talks. Here is what sets it off, when it is nothing to worry about, and when it is worth a closer look.
Dogs
Behaviour
Behaviour advice for dogs, written from real experience.
Behaviour
Why does my dog stare at me?
From the soft gaze on the sofa to the hard fixed stare over a food bowl, dogs say a lot with their eyes. Here is what your dog's stare actually means, and the version worth taking seriously.
Behaviour
How to introduce a new dog to your home
A rushed first meeting is the most common reason two dogs get off on the wrong foot. Here is the neutral-ground, slow-build method that gives dogs the best chance of settling in together.
Behaviour
Why does my dog guard its food or toys?
A stiff body over the food bowl, a hard stare when you walk near a chew, a low growl if someone reaches for a toy. Resource guarding is common and usually manageable, but it needs the right response, not punishment.
Behaviour
Why does my dog eat poop?
Coprophagia is one of the most common questions owners ask, usually out of horror rather than curiosity. Here is why dogs actually do it, what genuinely helps, and the few cases where it is worth a vet visit.
Behaviour
Why does my dog dig?
A cratered lawn, muddy paws, a hole under the fence. Digging is one of the most normal things a dog does, and the fix is almost never "make it stop". Here is what your dog is actually doing, and where to point it instead.
Behaviour
Why does my dog follow me everywhere?
The bathroom, the kitchen, the two steps to the kettle. Here is why your dog shadows you, when it is ordinary company, and the point at which following tips into something worth working on.
Behaviour
Why does my dog lick me so much?
Licking is one of the most misread dog behaviours there is. Here is what your dog is actually saying, when it is affection, when it is a request, and when constant licking is worth a closer look.
Behaviour
Why does my dog eat grass?
Grass-eating is one of the most common things owners ask me about, and it is usually nothing to worry about. Here is why dogs do it, and the few times it is worth a closer look.
Behaviour
How to help a dog with separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is real distress, not bad behaviour, and it responds to patient training rather than telling off. Here is how to recognise it and help your dog cope with being alone.
Behaviour
Why does my dog bark so much
Barking is not one problem but several, and the fix depends entirely on why your dog is doing it. Here is how to work out the cause, and what actually quietens each kind.
Behaviour
How to keep your dog calm during fireworks
Fireworks terrify many dogs. Here is what actually helps, from preparing a safe den in advance to what to do on the night, and what to avoid.
Behaviour
Why your dog won't settle in the evening
You have walked them and fed them, and still they pace, whine, and pester all evening. Here is what is really behind it, and how to teach a dog to switch off.