Every morning, sharp at 6, my cuddly GSD comes to nudge me out of bed with his nose, as if to say, “Wake up, mommy, it’s time for my walk.” His dinner time is 8 pm, and if his dinner is delayed by a few minutes, he’s there by my side, making those puppy eyes,…
It’s a scene many dog owners know too well—an ambulance or fire truck passes by, sirens blaring, and suddenly your dog throws back his head and howls in response. As a mom to a very vocal German Shepherd, I’ve experienced this too many times to count. So, why do dogs howl at sirens? Is it…
Watching a dog discover a mirror is always a laugh riot. When my first German Shepherd saw himself in the mirror for the first time, he spent ten minutes barking at his twin in the glass and trying to attack the “intruder.” As I have learned over the years, this behavior is not uncommon. Dogs…
How do dogs communicate, with each other and with us? Knowing the answer to this question is critical for successful pet parenting as it also you to pick up on cues and respond to your dog’s needs and reactions the right way. Much like us, dogs also use facial expressions and body language, in addition…
Do dogs have emotions? Pose this question to any pet parent, and the answer will likely be, “Duhhhh! Of course, they do.” After all, we’ve all seen our pets jump up and down with excitement and joy when we walk through the door at the end of a long day. Or pull a long face…
I had a brush with the very scary tendency of resource guarding in dogs when our adopted GSD, Prince, became so overly possessive of me that he started raising his heckles and baring his teeth if anyone approached me while I was with him or when I stepped out of the house. He was 4…
There is no denying that we share a unique and deep bond with our canine companions. And we love them dearly too. But can dogs love us back? Are they capable of experiencing this emotion? If so, are they capable of expressing their love? Every pet parent knows the answer to these questions in their…