Dog Behavior Archives

All About Dogs

Why Do Dogs Bury Things?

Dogs like to bury things. Sometimes that means finding a bone or a toy under a fresh pile of dirt in your backyard. Other times, it may mean discovering the TV remote at the bottom of the laundry basket under all your dirty clothes, or wondering how your phone got under the couch cushion. Though these things may seem different, they are all really signs of the same thing: your dog’s natural instinct to keep “his” things safe and protected — regardless of whether or not they’re actually his. Why do dogs do this? Short answer: because it used to

October 5, 2023 No Comments

A sad dog looks out the window while his owner is at work for the day. Learn how to recognize the signs of depression in dogs and how to help your furry pal.

All About Dogs

Warning Signs of Dog Depression

Dog depression is similar to the kind we as humans experience. There are all kinds of ways to tell if people are depressed. They might stop eating — or eat more to dull the pain. They might cry a lot more — often unexpectedly. There’s a good chance they’ll start withdrawing from life by avoiding friends and family members and possibly even calling in sick to work. And, of course, they can simply tell us they’re not feeling good. Our dogs don’t have this option, but that doesn’t mean they can’t feel sad or depressed. While there’s not as much

July 11, 2023 No Comments

Two alpha dogs show their dominance by fighting. Dominant dogs can be trained to be calm and submissive. It takes patience and consistency for best results.

Agression

5 Keys To Handling A Dominant Dog

Like humans, very few dogs are natural-born leaders, but you may wind up with a dominant dog that would typically take the lead position in the pack. If you are not the Pack Leader, this can cause problems, as a commanding dog will gravitate toward being in charge. However, if you take steps to establish yourself as the pack’s leader, you can have an excellent and balanced relationship with a dominant dog. Understanding Dominance in Dogs Dominance is a natural behavior in dogs, but it can lead to aggression and other behavioral issues if not properly managed. By understanding the

July 5, 2023 No Comments

An dog finds something to dig for in her backyard. Learn how to help stop your pet from putting holes throughout your lawn and garden.

All About Dogs

How Can I Get My Dog to Stop Digging?

Hi Cesar, My boyfriend and I have three dogs. Two are Rottweilers (three years old and one-year-old), and one is a Labrador retriever (nine months old). Our dogs love to dig, and now our backyard is in shambles. We tried burying their poop in the holes so they would not dig anymore, but that didn’t stop them. We are moving to a new house and want to break them of that habit. Is there something else we can do to stop the digging? Please help!Sincerely,Cindy Kozma Cesar Millan’s Answer: Hi Cindy, We know that digging can be harmful to people’s

May 26, 2023 No Comments

A dog on the beach chases and bites her tail to relieve itching from fleas. Learn to help your pup break this behavior if the tail chasing becomes obsessive.

All About Dogs

Dog Chasing Tail Obsession

Dear Cesar:We have a ten-year-old lab/pit bull mix. He is housebroken and can do a few tricks. The only problem is he LOVES to chase his tail. Whenever someone comes into the house, or even if there is any loud noise, he chases and chases and chases until he catches his tail. He can walk down the hall with it in his mouth and climb into his chair.He came from the shelter about eight years ago, and I thought this was a behavior he did there to keep himself occupied. Can you help?Lois Harvey Cesar Millan’s Answer:Dear Lois,For dogs, some

February 10, 2023 No Comments

Two dogs engage in a friendly game of wrestling on a summer afternoon. Learn how you can tell the difference between aggressive play and good play behavior.

Dog Behavior

Good and Bad Play Behavior

I am a Cesar fan and have a question regarding dogs at ‘play.’ My first obvious thought is that if your dogs have the energy to play, they need more exercise, correct?’ In any event, what types of play do you allow in your pack? I have a very playful two-year-old, high-energy Doberman named Klohee.’ She gets along well with other dogs: play bows, lays down to bait them to play, etc., but is quite obnoxious at times about playing, i.e., does not know when to stop.’ Even after exercise, she always has enough energy to play with other dogs.’

January 23, 2023 No Comments

A cute puppy plays fetch in the backyard with his owner. Games like fetch, hide-and-seek, tugging, and chasing are great ways to play with your pup.

Dog Behavior

Puppies And Exercise: How Much Is Too Much?

I’m often asked, “Is there such a thing as TOO much exercise for a puppy?” I feel that as long as you are careful and attentive to your puppy, the puppy is the best one to tell you what too much exercise is. Puppies often do not have enough muscle tone to take long runs, but there are always exceptions. Most puppies will tell you when they have hit their limit, and it is vital to resist pushing them beyond this point. Some Things to Be Cautious About Dangers of Over-Exercising Puppies Your puppy is growing just like a human

September 9, 2022 No Comments

A German Shepherd on a walk with his owner barks because he senses danger ahead. The body posture also suggest he is ready to attack the threat.

Barking and Howling

Why Dogs Bark

Dogs use a variety of cues to communicate with each other and humans. They verbalize thoughts, feelings, or opinions through growls, whines, or barks that can be loudest when it’s time for them to take action on something they don’t want you doing! If your dog barks, there is a reason why. It may be simply a response to a stimulus, like a jogger running by the house—or it may be your dog’s way of asking for help. It would be best if you found out why dogs bark to stop them from barking. Some Reasons Dogs Bark Barking is

September 2, 2022 No Comments

A puppy has collected his owner’s shoes while she is away at work. Separation anxiety is causing the dog to chew on items that are forbidden.

Cesar Milan Dog Nation

Steps to Stop Dog Chewing

It’s happened to all of us. We come home from a long day at work, and our dog is excited to see us. But when we enter the door, we realize that our house has been turned into a disaster zone. Chewed-up furniture, shredded pillows, and god knows what else… It’s enough to make you never want to leave your dog alone again. But don’t worry – there are ways to stop your dog from chewing everything in sight. This post will outline tips and tricks for preventing your pup from ruining your favorite things. Understand Why Your Dog is

August 17, 2022 No Comments

Small dog barks at others on a walk in the grass.

Agression

How To Stop Barking

Dogs have a natural need for barking. It is their primary way of communicating after expression and body posture. Dogs will bark as a warning to protect their pack and territory. They will also bark to express excitement. Those forms of barking are rarely a nuisance and don’t last long. That is why nuisance barking almost always has the same cause and the same solution. When a dog barks excessively, it’s telling you that it is bored and is looking for stimulation or a challenge. Pack Leadership Inevitably, excessive barking indicates there is a problem with the human, and not

July 18, 2021 No Comments