Your dog used to bounce up when you opened the bedroom door; now there is a pause, a stretch, a slow heave to standing, and then he is fine. Older dogs sleep longer and deeper, and the bed they sleep on starts to matter in a way it never did when they were young. You … Read more
Digging is one of the most normal dog behaviours there is, and also one of the most annoying when it wrecks a lawn. Digging almost always has a reason: instinct, boredom, cooling down on hot days, burying food or toys, or escaping under a fence. Every dog owner with a garden knows the scene: a … Read more
Why Do Dogs Bark at Strangers? Barking is how dogs talk — the problem is not that a dog barks, but that some dogs bark at every unfamiliar person they see, on walks and at the front door, and cannot switch off again. That kind of barking usually has a reason — fear, territory, excitement, … Read more
A bored dog will not just sit quietly — boredom and spare energy are behind a lot of digging, chewing furniture and shoes, and barking at nothing in particular. Enrichment toys help because they give that energy somewhere sensible to go, working the brain as well as the body. Best Dog Enrichment Toys for Bored … Read more
Senior means the last 25 percent of expected lifespan: giant breeds can be seniors at 5 to 7, while small breeds often are not seniors until 10 to 12. Twice-yearly vet checks are the common guidance for senior dogs, because health can change fast. Senior dog care starts with a shift in timing: a dog … Read more
Dogs jump to greet face to face and get attention, and any attention — talking, touching, pushing away, even scolding — can reward the jump. The core rule is simple: jumping turns attention off, four paws on the floor turns it back on. Most dogs jump up because it has worked: jumping gets faces closer, … Read more
Dog sleeping positions give clues about comfort and temperature, not fixed messages. Side sleeping usually suggests a relaxed dog who feels safe, with the belly partly exposed. Curled up in a donut conserves body heat and protects the belly, and is common in cooler weather and new surroundings. A dog flat on their side, legs … Read more
Dogs pull mainly because pulling works: it has always got them to the smell, the dog or the park gate faster. Reward the walking you want — praise and treat the moment the lead hangs loose and your dog checks in with you. Leash training a dog that pulls works by reversing what pulling pays … Read more
Dogs lick people because licking is normal, learned behaviour: mothers lick puppies from birth, and adult dogs lick for affection and bonding, for salty taste and familiar scent, to ask for attention, and to show appeasement. Your reaction teaches it — laughing, stroking, talking or even pushing the dog away can all reward licking. The … Read more
As a rule of thumb, about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight a day, or roughly 40 to 60 ml per kilogram. Do not ration to that number: healthy dogs should have free access to fresh water unless your vet says otherwise. The short answer to “how much water should a dog … Read more