Tag Archives | dog behavior
Credit: Pinterest - My Gunnar looks lovingly into my face like this.

Do dogs recognize human emotions?

Many people who have a dog would vouch for their pet’s ability to detect our emotional state. But can science actually prove it? And, if a dog does understand our emotions, how do they do that?

Read full story Comments { 2 }
dog pulling on leash

How to Teach Your Dog to Maintain Etiquette in Unfamiliar Situations

Even the best behaved dog can become nervous, excitable or reactive in a new situation. Bernie the Boxer, that erudite canine composer, has some practical advice for we dog guardians to help our beloved pooch maintain his/her best self, even in novel or difficult situations.

Read full story Comments { 3 }
Fake Service Dog pic

Tightening the Leash on Fake Service Dogs

Having a service dog is a privilege, but it comes with the not so great benefit of a disability serious enough to warrant the need for such a dog. Unfortunately, like those who use a handicap sign for parking when they are perfectly able to walk, more and more people are claiming their precious pooch […]

Read full story Comments { 6 }
dog getting pet on the head-2

How NOT to greet a service dog.

What is the correct way to greet a service dog — or any dog for that matter. Here are the “dos & don’ts.”

Read full story Comments { 0 }
P1020657.JPG

The Newfoundland as a Service Dog?

Larger dogs might be more helpful as service dogs for some types of disabilities, such as balance. The Newfoundland is highly regarded for its calm disposition, stable temperament and working history. What are the pros and cons for using this breed as a service dog? With help from McKenzie, the “Newfie” belonging to Tom and […]

Read full story Comments { 33 }
The Gossip

Ten Most Difficult Dog Personalities: Does your dog have one of these?

We humans always seem to try categorizing people by personality types.  Each decade, it seems, there is a new personality “test” (e.g., Myers-Briggs) or “survey” (questions that attempt to decode who we are or who we’re dealing with). If people have personality “types,” then perhaps dogs do too!  So, we thought we’d provide a synopsis […]

Read full story Comments { 7 }
Crazy nerd scientist silly veterinary man with dog at lab

Surprising things we do that dogs do NOT like!

We love our dogs and we think they love us.  And they do!  But the kind of affection we show to other people is, often, exactly the actions even the best dogs can barely tolerate.  Of course, dogs can’t tell us what they like – or don’t like.  But animal behaviorists who study dog reactions […]

Read full story Comments { 8 }
Ha...ha... Figure out this one, buddy. Am I happy, sad or just teed off over this silly sweater.

A Tale of Tails

Does a dog’s wagging tale tell us how he’s feeling? Scientists think they may have unlocked a key to the emotional communication of a dog’s wagging tail. Most of us know that a wagging tail expresses not only happiness but a host of emotions. In 2007, Italian researchers reported that a wag to the left […]

Read full story Comments { 6 }