»
Home / Training & Behavior
Assistance dogs are those animals who give differently-abled people the chance to be more independent in daily living. The three main classes of assistance dogs are guide dogs for the visually impaired, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired, and service dogs for those with physical or mental / cognitive limitations.
Assistance dogs can help people with mobility limitations.
Most assistance dogs are donated to a regional office of a training organization like Guide Dogs of America, Dogs for...
By Susan M. Keenan 2008
Quite often, many dogs are left home alone for several hours for a variety of reasons. The dog might experience some loneliness, anxiety, or even depression should this be a new experience for him. In fact, the dog owner might also experience some anxiety or guilt over leaving his pet home alone.
Should the dog owner take the time to call his dog on the phone and talk to him? Is there any benefit for the dog? Or perhaps, the dog owner is only calling his canine to relieve...
If you think your four-legged friend understands what you are saying, according to a fascinating article in the latest National Geographic magazine, you could very well be right.
Source: National Geographic
By Virginia Morell
Photograph by Vincent J. Musi
A Border Collie named Rico was discovered in 2001 to have a similar language learning ability as a two-year child, with the same sense of principles that guide word learning. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology...
Has your dog ever bitten anyone? It can end up being your worst nightmare. What can you do? What should you do?
Medical Considerations
First and foremost, make sure your dog is current on all required vaccinations in your state and county. Obviously, this will include rabies, but some municipalities may require other shots as well. Ask your vet what immunizations are needed and when. If your vet doesn’t send reminder cards, be sure to mark the next scheduled shot dates on you calendar...
It’s always fun to take your dog to the dog park or to a doggie daycare, but how do you know if your dog will be safe from the other dogs there? What if your dog is the one who is endangering other dogs?
Size Matters
One of the first things you should consider when choosing a playmate for your dog is the relative size and strength of the two dogs. Small dogs have very often been hurt or even killed by playing with older, stronger dogs, even though no ill intent was present. Larger dogs,...
Dogs are born with several basic, primal drives: prey and food being primary among them. These two drives are somewhat related, as dogs in the wild needed to catch their prey in order to eat. To satisfy these twin drives, dogs will resort to nearly anything to make sure they get their food. What’s a dog parent to do when this drive turns to aggression?
Signs of food aggression
Food aggression manifests itself just as any other type of aggression. You need to monitor your dog for his...
