Is Back-To-School Season Worrying Your Pet? Follow These Helpful Tips!

Dog back to school tips

When family members return to school at the end of summer, your dog may feel confused and lonely. There’s plenty of time for humans to prepare for the change in routine, but dogs often have no idea what’s going on. Even though dogs can’t speak the same language as us, there are still ways we can help them feel comfortable with summer ending. Mars Petcare’s IAMS Brand conducted a survey on pet behaviors during the back-to-school season. The popular dog … Read more

5 Serious Illnesses Caused by Canine Dental Disease

Dental health is one of the most neglected issues in dogs. Yet, neglected teeth can quickly lead to canine dental disease other serious–and often fatal–diseases. Dr. Kathryn Primm, owner of Apple Brook Animal Hospital, and Dr. Denise Petryk, Director of Veterinary Services at Trupanion Pet Insurance, shared with us some of the illnesses that can result from poor dental hygiene. #1 – Heart Valve Infections Dr. Primm: “Mouth bacteria can travel and settle on the heart valves. Bacterial endocarditis (infection … Read more

Is Your Dog Reverse Potty Trained?

Pee puddles in the kitchen, mysterious smelling stains in the hallway, “packages” soiling your favorite living room rug— a dog that hasn’t yet grasped the concept of house training is an unpleasant situation. It’s normal to see gradual improvements in a dog’s bathroom habits within a few weeks of training, but for some dogs, the path isn’t that easy. Reverse potty training is something that can happen to puppies, newly adopted rescues, and even resident dogs that have lived in a … Read more

What Are Dogs Thinking When They Stare Into Our Eyes?

You may remember the classic TV show Lassie featuring a faithful Collie who inevitably saved the day in each episode. Lassie would whine, dance and stare daggers at her humans until they followed her to the site of that week’s calamity. Have you ever wondered if there is more behind your own dog’s stare than just love and adoration? Could it be that they are trying to tell us something with their intense gaze? In 2015, a study published in the journal, … Read more

How To Help Your Dog Overcome His Separation Anxiety

Does the sound of you picking up your car keys make your dog quake in fear? Have you gotten complaints from your neighbors that your dog barks nonstop every time you leave your house? Do you often come home to destruction, especially around doors and windows? Your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. This problem can be debilitating for your dog and frustrating for you. Helping your dog overcome separation anxiety isn’t easy, but it is possible. Symptoms of … Read more

The 3-3-3 Rule: Set Your New Rescue Dog Up For Success

Bringing home a new dog is exciting, joyful, and often overwhelming. You worry about choosing the right food, how long potty training will take, and whether or not they will fit in with your lifestyle. If you are stressed, just imagine the anxiety your pup must feel! Many rescue dogs have lost a family member or been abandoned by the people who promised to love and protect them. Some have spent years in an institutional shelter setting, while others are … Read more

Bulldog Puppy Training: The Surprising Truth About When to Start

Bulldogs, with their muscular build, distinctive wrinkled faces, and resolute demeanor, have carved out a niche for themselves as family favorites. Historically bred for bull-baiting, today’s Bulldogs are gentle and affectionate, and make for delightful companions. If you’re the proud new parent of a Bulldog puppy, you may be pondering the question of when to initiate their training journey. This guide aims to offer insights into this pressing question, ensuring your Bulldog matures into a well-mannered adult. Pinpointing the Perfect … Read more

How To Help Your Newly Adopted Rescue Dog Settle In

The day a rescue dog gets adopted is the day they say “goodbye” to life in the shelter. They say “hello” to people who love them and want to share their comfortable home, and many would assume that it’s the best day of the dog’s life. It’s a day that will change their life forever, but for some pups, the feeling of being overwhelmed may cloud everything else. Whether you know your new dog’s history or not, there’s no doubt … Read more

Ask A Vet: Why Does My Dog Sniff People’s Privates?

Does your dog seem to always have his face in people’s crotches? Embarrassing, isn’t it? Well, don’t be too embarrassed. Dogs see the world with a different sense than we do. In addition to sight and sound, they depend on their sense of smell dramatically more than humans. When they approach you in this way, they are not just being a “space invader”. They are trying to gain information about the person through a scent inspection. To a dog, the … Read more

7 Tips & Tricks To Make Being Home Alone Less Stressful For Your Dog

You come home from work thrilled to be greeted by your four-legged best friend, but it’s soon obvious you weren’t the only one who had a rough day. Stinky accidents, chewed up belongings, destroyed furniture, another noise complaint from the neighbor—they’re all signs your dog gets stressed when home alone. Whether it’s extreme separation anxiety or a general loathing of being left alone, not being able to safely stay home alone is a problem. You hate the clean-up, but your … Read more

Does Your Dog Hate Car Rides? Try These Tips

For many dogs, the jingling of car keys signifies excitement and adventure. But for others, the same sound inspires pure dread. Travel anxiety and car sickness often go hand-in-hand, making even the shortest trip a potential nightmare. Luckily, there are several ways you can help your pup relax and enjoy the ride! Motion sickness is most likely to affect puppies and younger dogs because the structures within the ear that control balance do not fully develop until adulthood. If your dog’s … Read more

This Is Why Your Dog Stares At You While They’re Pooping

Have you ever noticed how your pooch seems to stare at you while going potty? Not all dogs do it, but most do. And there’s a good reason for it. While we enjoy privacy when using the bathroom, it turns out our dogs want the exact opposite. Your pup not only doesn’t want to be alone but also wants to be able to see you and know that you’re there… watching. The reason for this somewhat awkward moment finds its … Read more

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

If you’ve ever seen dogs eat grass, you may be wondering whether or not you should be worried. Is it normal for dogs to eat grass? Could it hurt your dog? Why do they do it? Should you be concerned if your dog vomits every time he eats grass? We know you have questions and concerns about your dog eating grass, and we’re here to help. (related: best pet safe weed killers) Here are 6 things that you should know … Read more

Why On Earth Does My Dog Eat Poop?

For those of you with a dog at home or those of you who love dogs, you know that some of their habits aren’t very polite. In fact, some doggy behaviors are downright confounding and a little nasty. Yes, I’m talking about consuming poop. Not all dogs do it, but if you have one who does like feces, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Why do dogs eat poop? It can be quiet worrisome if you have a pup … Read more

How To Train Your Dog Not To Jump On People

Dog jumping up

Some dogs love to jump up when they’re excited or seeking attention. It may be cute the first time around, but it can quickly get out of control without proper training. Dogs don’t mean to cause trouble when they jump; they just want to greet people and play. So, correcting this behavior requires certain training methods to keep your dog content while preventing them from jumping on people. For this training topic, we’ve consulted Paige Gordon, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog … Read more

My Dog Pees from Excitement When I Come Home – 9 Tips to Help

If you’re the proud parent of an excitable pup, you know the joys and frustrations of having a pup that pees when they get overly excited. It may seem like a hopeless battle, but there are steps you can take to help your pup learn to stay dry during those exciting moments. Here’s what you need to know to stop your dog from peeing when they become excited. 1. Talk to Your Vet The first step in helping your pup … Read more

9 Ways To Tell Your Dogs You Love Them In Their Own Language

Showing love to dog

Pup parents know that our dogs love us deeply, even though they do not express it in the same manner as humans do. Recently, behavioral research saddened dog lovers when it showed that most dogs don’t like to be hugged. That’s not to say that our pups don’t enjoy receiving affection; they live for our love and approval! Try showing them your devotion in a language they can understand. 1. Gaze Deeply Into Their Eyes Dr, Brian Hare, Professor of Cognitive … Read more

Your Personality May Affect The Way Your Dog Learns To Behave

When it comes to training dogs, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Dogs can develop behavioral issues for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, dogs’ problem behaviors can be corrected with the right treatment (and some time and patience). A team of UPenn researchers wanted to understand how best to accomplish this. Since dogs learn so much from their people, the researchers considered how we, the parents, may affect our dogs’ training. The study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, indicates that people’s … Read more

Study Shows That Our Dogs Have Profound Personality Changes As They Age!

dog personality cover

It turns out that our canine companions are not so different from us after all! After a recent study on canine behavior, we now have proof that our dogs really do mature as they age.

As dog parents, we have always known that our dogs change as the years go by. While we can acknowledge the differences in our adult dogs compared to their puppy selves, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact changes. Thanks to this study, it’s no longer a mystery!

dog personality

To determine how our furry friends change as the years go by, Borbála Turcsán and her colleagues set out to study a group of 217 Border Collies. With each pup ranging from 6 months to 15 years of age, they were able to gather an array of results based on each canine age range. Four years later, the remaining dogs were asked to return to perform the same activities once again.

This canine personality study wanted to dive into all aspects of problem-solving and obedience that our dogs may experience throughout their lives. To get the most accurate results possible, the team broke the study into 6 categories.

  • Exploration test: The dogs were sent into a room to explore the area and different objects in the area, while the owner stood in the room, ignoring them.
  • Frustration test: The experimenter dangled a piece of sausage on a string in front of the dog’s face, just out of reach, for one minute.
  • Novel object test: The dog was shown a self-moving toy and was allowed to interact with it for one minute.
  • Ball playing test: The dog parent threw a ball three times and allowed the dog to retrieve it.
  • Obedience test: The dog parent gave the dog four commands (sit, lie down, stay and come) while the experimenter was distracting the dog with noises.
  • Problem-solving test: The dog parent showed their dog how to remove the lid of a bin to get food from it, and then the dog had one minute to remove the lid themselves and get the food.

By performing these tests on the same dogs 4 years apart, the experimenters could come to a few conclusions based on canine personalities. While the more adventurous and curious canines were still similar to their younger selves, their level of excitement declined significantly as they aged.

dog personality

 “Dogs that are active and curious when young will remain active and curious when they get old, but only compared to other dogs. A dog’s personality changes over time, and, on average, every dog becomes less active and less curious as they age.” – Borbála Turcsán

Overall, the experimenters found that a dog’s ability to problem solve improves until the age of 6 and then remains stable. While their excitement for novelty objects doesn’t change much during the first 2 years, their novelty excitement does fade significantly after 3 years of age.

One thing that did not change, however, was a dog’s ability to handle frustration. While their problem-solving ability did increase until the age of 6, their frustration levels remained the same as they aged. This was a bit surprising to the experts, as they thought their frustration tolerance would decline.

dog personality

While this study dove into multiple aspects of canine behavior, one thing is for sure all around. Our dogs do mature as they get older, and their need for exercise significantly decreases.

“Dogs get less active with age, and that should give hope to the people who have puppies that are too active. And while they become less oriented to problem-solving and novelty-seeking as they get older, they remain obedient and social, which is probably the most important thing for owners.” – Dr. Katherine Houpt

While dog lovers already know that their favorite furry friends change with time, it’s nice to see a study dedicated to proving it. We can’t wait to see future research on our beloved companions and hopefully understand them better than ever before!

H/T: nbcnews.com

The Human “Sniff Test” Is Not The Preferred Introduction For Dogs

Dog Sniff Test

Whenever we see a dog, we want to meet them. It’s impossible not to fall in love with a dog at first sight. So, many humans have become accustomed to introducing themselves to new pups. This usually involves extending your hand to the dog and allowing them to sniff you first. It’s the universal sign that a dog approves of you. Or, so we thought. As it turns out, the “sniff test” is anything but relaxing for a dog. In … Read more

5 Unexpected Reasons Why Dogs Don’t Like Certain People

Getting on a dog’s good side might seem as easy as having a pocket full of treats and knowing the trick to a good belly rub, but our four-legged friends aren’t always easy to please. They’re quick to judge a person’s character, and there are some people they simply don’t like. It could be a specific person in the dog’s family, a friend of their owner’s, or a random person they meet on the street—but dogs know a foe when … Read more

10 Commands Every Dog Should Know

Sit The most basic of commands, this is one of the first cues taught. Asking a dog to sit ensures a calmer more focused response to the next cue.  Focus Other phrases used are watch, watch me, look. The focus cue provides the owner with their dog’s undivided attention.  It is a step by step process that is worth the effort once the cue has been mastered.    Down Some owners prefer lay, lay down, on the belly. Whatever terminology … Read more

Study Reveals That Dogs Have Rebellious Teenage Phase

The teenage years are tough for humans. We balk at authority, engage in risky behavior, and think we are entirely immune to any and all consequences. A groundbreaking study has revealed that dogs go through a similar teenage phase. It is fraught with raging hormones and rebellious behavior, just like humans. Read on to see if your dog’s defiance could be tied to this passing period. Pooch Puberty Impacts Behavior Humans become teenagers when their bodies go through puberty. The … Read more

Has Your Furry Best Friend Developed A “Quarantine Quirk”?

As the weeks have worn on, quarantine has made us all behave a little differently. Example? Pajama pants have become acceptable workwear for a lot of us. And in this strange time of undefined schedules and isolation, humans aren’t the only ones feeling kind of weird. Our cats and dogs know things aren’t quite right too. But the manifestations of their unsettled feelings often leave us scratching our heads in confusion. Shannon Shoaf, a cat mom in Clearwater, Florida, reports … Read more

13 Ways We Confuse & Frustrate The Heck Out of Our Dogs

When we love our dogs like family, we sometimes forget that they don’t understand us quite like our human relatives. Sometimes we try to have full-on conversations with them or unknowingly send them body language signals that are interpreted differently in the animal kingdom. For these reasons, we’ve compiled a list of 13 common things humans do that stress dogs out. If you’ve done any of these things, don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone. However, by being more aware, we … Read more

7 Reasons Your Dog Won’t Stop Licking You

Dogs love to lick. They lick themselves, each other, and of course, they lick their humans. It’s a fact that all dog lovers observe. Have you ever stopped to wonder why, though? If you just ate a salty snack, it’s pretty obvious. Your fingers are tasty! But what about all the other places your dog loves to lick? We scoured the internet to come up with 7 solid reasons your dog won’t stop licking you. # 1- You Are Tasty … Read more

Study: Gazing Into Your Dog’s Eyes Releases Your Love Hormone

Oxytocin is the so-called “love hormone”. It is responsible for helping us feel bonded with each other and promotes trust. It floods the systems of new mothers when they hold their freshly born babies. When couples physically show love to one another, oxytocin courses through both bodies. The bonding and fuzzy feelings promoted by oxytocin aren’t limited to interactions between humans. Turns out, your love hormone is released when you look into your dog’s eyes, too. Oxytocin and the Positive … Read more

Scientist Says Dogs Hate Hugs. He’s Wrong. Here’s Why.

Hugs are such an essential part of the way human beings show affection for one another. So naturally, we’ve extended that physical gesture to the dogs we love too. It seems simple and logical enough, but some scientists and ethicists debate whether dogs want to have arms wrapped around them and faces pressed into their fur. So which is it? Have cynical researchers completely missed the point or are we dog huggers in total denial? Let’s look at both sides … Read more

5 Mistakes Most Owners Make (And 1 You Probably Are Too)

Whether you’re new to raising a dog or if you’ve been doing it for years, you’ve probably made plenty of mistakes. A dog is so much more than just a cute companion because they have a lot of specific needs. Many dog lovers make the same mistakes as they raise their pups, but it’s never too late to make a change for the better. It’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them as you get to know your dog. … Read more

Top 5 Ways Your Dog Reads Your Emotions

Dogs have a remarkable ability to sense our emotions. Some people say they know us better than we know ourselves, and science backs up that theory. The slightest increase in blood pressure alerts them when our stress level is rising, while a quick glance at our facial expression lets them know whether we are happy or angry. Our dogs can even influence our emotions just by gazing into our eyes. How do they tune into our innermost feelings? And how … Read more

Study Shows That YOU Are Making Your Dog Jealous

It’s official, your dog can succumb to the green-eyed monster called jealousy. It’s not in your head pup parents, your dog can experience feelings of jealousy when your world is not currently revolving around them. A new UC San Diego study on canine behavior proves that your dog not only makes you the center of their universe, but they also display jealous behaviors when you give other furry friend’s attention. We’ll dive into the details of this canine study so … Read more

Dog Behavior

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Should you be worried if you catch your dogs eat grass? Here we'll share with you the real reasons why they do it and if it's major cause for concern.