Anything repeated often enough can become a habit. I totally fell in love with scruffy ten-month-old Jack Russell mix Max yesterday. I had the perfect evening with him and his humans. It began with just me and the daughter who is in her late teens. Then mum arrived followed by two male school friends Read more…
It’s a kind of vicious circle. A constantly challenging, easily aroused puppy can get us down. Our resulting loss of patience makes puppy worse. Days start badly Their days with sixteen-week-old Luna start badly as the easily aroused puppy fights against having her harness put on. The exasperated lady admits Read more…
Trevor, an absolute sweetie, was extremely agitated by my being there. He is a small, very young-looking black Staffie age ten. He never stopped pacing, chewing and panting all the time I was there. Two-and-a-half hours. This is how he behaves when anyone comes to the house. When alone with Read more…
Chewing everything, jumping up and toileting in the house. Chewing and toileting indoors are enough to drive a patient dog owner mad! These are the negatives. Marley is beautiful. He is affectionate, gentle, brainy and funny. They have been very fortunate with their older dog, an unusually placid German Shepherd. Read more…
Stress. Is it cause or is it symptom? It’s like merry-go-round. Chicken and egg. Barking for attention = stress = barking for attention Barking at the neighbour’s dog = stress = barking at the neighbour’s dog Shredding the mail = stress = shredding the mail Wild excitement before meals = stress Read more…
Barking for attention is ultimately guaranteed to succeed. What constitutes attention to Stella? Anything involving a human looking at her, talking to her or touching her – or all three at once which is usually the case. She may be glared at. She may told QUIET. She may be pushed away. Stella is Read more…
He barks at people coming into his home. He loves people when he’s out. Border Collie Bud is friendly and relaxed with everyone when out of the house. He likes to say hello. At home he is a different dog. When someone he doesn’t know comes to the door he barks and gets very Read more…
Females fighting – nipping things in the bud before they escalate to something worse I have just been to another family that really pulls together where their dogs are concerned. They have a situation with two females – a Labradoodle and a Rottie, both a year old. The two dogs got Read more…
‘Jumps up, bites, barks and digs’ – this is how the lady described their 8-month-old English Bull Terrier/Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix in their first message to me. If he doesn’t get the attention he wants he may either bark, or go on the rampage, tearing about from room to room Read more…
When I say ‘out of control’, I don’t mean Gizmo needs more ‘being under control’. The six-month-old Dalmatian needs more self-control. This is impossible when he is bored stiff and unfulfilled and when his antics are what gets him the craved-for attention. I go to so many young dogs and Read more…