Dogs

(Picture Credit: ECummings00/Getty Images) Truly a team sport, agility combines skill, training, and human-canine communication in a display that’s as fun for spectators as it is for participants. In competition, a handler directs their dog through a sequence of obstacles — such as tunnels, hoops, weave poles, and seesaws — without ever touching the dog

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) You can tell a lot about the general health of your dog by taking a good look at her coat and skin. A healthy dog is a beautiful dog, and a coat that’s nice and shiny is a strong indicator that your pet’s in peak condition. Signs Of A Healthy Coat

(Picture Credit: Philippe Gerber/Getty Images) Cartoons, movies, and comic books are filled with scenes of beleaguered postal workers being chased by dogs. But beyond the light-hearted portrayal of the dog versus postal worker relationship in pop culture, it’s also a serious issue. Today the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued details about the number of dog

(Picture Credit: sestovic/Getty Images) Even dogs who feel that a bath is cruel and unusual punishment have to get one once in a while. While some dogs with short coats can get away with just a water rinse, most dogs need shampoo. Why do dogs need their own kind of shampoo? Why can’t they just

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Believe it or not, our canine companions get stressed. The circumstances and degrees of this can vary from dog to dog since no two are exactly alike, but it’s still something all dog parents must be wary of. Also, like humans, dogs can show their stress in different ways. To be

Some startled dogs nip, but you can help train the behavior away. (Picture Credit: Getty Images) Some dogs nip when they feel startled. While it may not be your dog’s fault that they bite in response to surprises, it is a behavior that you probably want to stop. The startle reflex is instinctive in animals,

Biting pant legs is normal, but you can train your pup not to do it. (Picture Credit: Getty Images) Biting everything that moves is normal puppy behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s fun to live with. Puppies explore their world with their mouths, just as human toddlers touch everything they can reach with their hands.

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Cars, squirrels, cyclists, skateboarders, cats, and joggers — they’re all would-be targets, any one of whom could lure a chase-obsessive dog into a potentially dangerous situation. The behavior can also trigger understandably hostile reactions from people who see it as aggression when a strange dog comes bounding after them. Advertisement Until

(Picture Credit: Purple Collar Pet Photography/Getty Images) Whenever we’re sad or depressed, we try to find things that will make us feel better. We’re also lucky enough to be able to communicate and vent out our issues to others who care about us when we need to. The same can’t really be said for our

(Picture Credit: Andrea Calzona/Getty Images) When it comes to our beloved dogs, we often think of how happy-go-lucky they are. We tend to think of them at their best, tongues out while running and playing in the backyard and having a great time. But sometimes things happen in life, and we, as pet parents, are

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Bringing a new dog home can be challenging, especially for first time dog parents. But whatever problems you’re facing, know that you’re not alone. If you hop onto our DogTime Facebook page you’ll meet lots of other dog parents with tons of advice and support for you. If that’s not enough,

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Everybody poops. That’s just a fact. But not everybody has a habit of giving digested food another round through the body. Eating poop is actually not all that uncommon among dogs. It’s called coprophagia, and it’s generally a natural behavior with a few different causes. So why is your dog eating

(Picture Credit: Cavan Images/Getty Images) You’re absolutely wild about your dog, and you’re not afraid to show it. But all the treats, toys, fancy collars, and comfy beds can’t let your dog know just how special they are to you. Sure, they appreciate all that stuff. But in order to convey love for your pup,

(Photo Credit: Meleva Steiert) I asked a friend recently if she kisses her dogs. She’s a big-hearted dog lover and regularly rescues and fosters animals in her suburban, Los Angeles home. She told me that she does kiss some of them, but others were not receptive, and one in particular would probably become violent if

(Picture Credit: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Recently, I became audibly and visibly upset about something going on in my personal life in front of my two dogs, Hank and Charlie. As I sat on the floor crying, Hank came and sat right next to me and licked my face. Charlie laid

Know the signs of dog aggression! (Picture Credit: Getty Images) Important: The following is meant to provide a general overview of dog-dog aggression. If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, seek help from a reputable behaviorist. Dog aggression toward other dogs is a very serious matter. Until your dog is successfully treated, keep them a safe distance

(Picture Credit: Davin G Photography/Getty Images) According to a new study published in Animal Cognition, dogs recognize you by voice. While most of us already had an inkling this was the case, it’s now a matter of scientific fact. Furthermore, the study suggests that dogs don’t even need a combination of their other senses to

Many dog parents have questions about clicker training. (Picture Credit: Agency Animal Picture/Getty Images) You may have heard a lot about clicker training when it comes to dogs. It’s a training technique that uses a clicker — a small, handheld device — to make a noise. Clicker training is most useful for teaching new behaviors

(Picture Credit: Geraint Rowland Photography/Getty Images) Just like there are certain people in the neighborhood you would rather avoid on your daily commute — you know that Mrs. Jones will keep you talking for hours!–there are also certain dogs that your dog may not be completely happy about interacting with. While you keep your head

(Picture Credit: Heather Paul/Getty Images) Sophie Jacques, an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University for Psychology and Neuroscience, is producing vital research on behalf of service dogs. In a recent study, she determined that some dogs understand more human words than others. Word recognition could predict other abilities that might help in choosing and training service

You can reduce your dog’s problem barking! (Picture Credit: Fly_dragonfly/Getty Images) Just as human language is multifaceted and multipurpose, barking allows a dog to communicate many different messages in a variety of situations. Barking can signal a request to their human, like, “Hey, I want to go outside!” It can also impart a warning, such

(Picture Credit: © Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images) Dog fighting and dog playing may look very similar to anyone who spends time around excited pups. Sometimes dog play can resemble dog fighting because many of the behaviors used during play are also used during fighting. But during play, dogs modify these behaviors so that they don’t inflict

(Picture Credit: Klavdiâ Volkova / EyeEm/Getty Images) Herding dogs love to, as you may have guessed, herd. That’s a good thing if you have a flock of sheep to take care of, but it’s not so great when it comes to house guests and kids. If your dog decides to herd guests in your home

(Picture Credit: Seregraff/Getty Images) Many dogs absolutely love the idea of a car ride, and some would prefer to stay on their own four paws to travel. Whether they enjoy the journey or not, some dogs bark incessantly only in the car. That can be a big distraction when you’re behind the wheel. Occasionally, you

Crate training has a lot of benefits for dogs! (Picture Credit: SolStock/Getty Images) New pet parents often have a lot of questions when it comes to crate training their dogs. It’s important for a lot of reasons. A crate can keep your dog safe while you’re away, reduce destructive behaviors, and help with housetraining among

(Picture Credit: Achmed Amzar / EyeEm/Getty Images) I am convinced that sweet puppy breath is nature’s form of Love Potion No. 9. Once exposed, you become intoxicated and powerless to do anything but reschedule your life so that you can spend as much time with your new puppy as possible. Days pass and you feel

(Picture Credit: dimid_86/Getty Images) There are many types of aggression in dogs, but perhaps none are more concerning than aggression directed toward humans. Human-directed aggression can be extremely dangerous, not just for a person who might suffer an injury, but for the dog who might get put down due to their aggressive behavior. While genetics

Training will benefit any dog! (Picture Credit: RobertoDavid/Getty Images) Training is the best investment you can make in your relationship with your dog. But first, you’ll need to learn how to communicate what you want in a way that your dog will understand. All dogs will benefit from training. It goes beyond learning tricks that

(Picture Credit: Ирина Мещерякова/Getty Images) One of the main reasons people surrender their dogs to shelters is unwanted or destructive behavior from their dogs. These can include aggression, excessive barking, escaping, chewing and digging, or any number of other behavioral issues. However, with a bit of training, most dog parents can reduce or eliminate these

Food aggression is dangerous for both dogs and their humans. (Picture Credit: Tatyana/Getty Images) Who owns the dog food in your house once it hits the bowl? Does Rover run you out of the kitchen when he is eating dinner? What happens if you need to take away a tasty bone or chew? If food, bones,