List of articles № 6
Instruction: what to do if a dog has eaten a spoiled product.
When a dog consumes a decomposed food item, the body may react quickly. Recognizing the early indicators of gastrointestinal distress can prevent severe complications. Typical manifestations appear within minutes to several hours after ingestion.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know that a dog is «scanning» you with its gaze.
As a canine behavior specialist, I define “scanning” as a focused, investigative gaze that a dog directs toward a person to gather information. The behavior combines visual attention with subtle body cues that indicate the animal is assessing the individual’s emotional state, intentions, and environment.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog shakes a toy from side to side.
Dogs shake toys side‑to‑side as a direct expression of predatory and grasping instincts. When a canine grasps an object, the forelimb and jaw muscles generate a rapid lateral motion that mimics the dismemberment of prey. This action triggers a cascade of neural pathways originally evolved for hunting, reinforcing the behavior through dopamine release.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to teach a dog not to be afraid of being groomed.
Negative past experiences often form the foundation of a dog’s anxiety toward grooming. When a dog has endured a painful nail trim, a harsh brush stroke, or an abrupt restraint, the memory can trigger a physiological stress response at the mere scent of shampoo or the sight of clippers.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog barks constantly for no reason.
When a dog barks continuously, the first step is to classify the bark. Accurate identification guides effective intervention. Observe the circumstances surrounding each episode. Note the time of day, location, and any preceding events. Pay attention to the dog’s posture, ear position, tail movement, and facial expression;. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to create ideal conditions for a whelping dog.
A whelping box must provide a secure, comfortable environment that protects newborn puppies and supports the dam’s natural instincts. Choose a sturdy, insulated container with smooth interior surfaces to prevent injuries. The box should be large enough for the mother to lie down, turn, and stand without crowding the litter, yet low enough for the pups to reach the floor when they begin exploring.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog does not play with other dogs.
A dog that consistently avoids play with other dogs often carries a history of adverse encounters. When a canine experiences aggression, injury, or intimidation during previous social interactions, the brain registers the event as a threat. The resulting stress response-elevated cortisol, heightened vigilance, and avoidance behavior-becomes the default mode in future encounters.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to break a dog's habit of nipping at heels.
Nipping is a rapid, low‑force bite that a dog delivers with the teeth closed only partially. The contact is brief, often accompanied by a sharp snap of the jaw, and it typically targets moving objects such as a person’s ankles or heels. The behavior originates from the instinctual prey drive that compels a dog to chase and capture moving targets.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog has broken a claw.
When a dog’s claw is fractured, the first step is to gauge how serious the injury is. Immediate visual cues include: Active bleeding that does not stop after applying gentle pressure for a few minutes. Large gaps or misalignment of the claw segments, indicating bone involvement.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand that a dog is trying to get your attention.
Dogs communicate their needs through a limited set of behaviors that become more pronounced when they seek interaction. Recognizing these signals allows owners to differentiate between a genuine requirement-such as a need for food, water, or relief-and a desire for play or affection.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog acts like a puppy even though it is an adult.
Puppy-like behavior refers to actions typically observed in young dogs that persist into adulthood. These actions include spontaneous play, frequent bouts of high‑energy activity, and a tendency to explore the environment with the mouth. An adult dog displaying such traits may:. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to teach a dog to «sit up».
Understanding the behavior that underlies a dog’s willingness to raise its hindquarters is essential for successful training. Dogs naturally sit when they feel secure, when their weight distribution is balanced, or when a cue signals a pause.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog is afraid of loud household appliances.
As a veterinary behavior specialist, I define noise phobia as an intense, involuntary fear response triggered by sudden or repetitive sounds. In domestic settings, appliances such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and blenders often produce frequencies that exceed a dog’s tolerance threshold, leading to avoidance, trembling, or escape attempts.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to prepare a dog for a flight on an airplane.
As a veterinary travel specialist, I advise owners to verify each airline’s pet policy before booking. Policies differ in carrier dimensions, weight limits, fee structures, and permitted animal classes. Carrier specifications : Most carriers require a hard‑sided crate that fits under the seat.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog always chooses the same place to sleep.
Dogs repeatedly select the same sleeping location because it satisfies core safety and security needs. The chosen spot offers physical protection from drafts, sharp objects, and sudden movements. By occupying a familiar area, the animal reduces exposure to unpredictable stimuli that could trigger a fight‑or‑flight response.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a dog not to bark at its reflection.
Dogs often react to their reflections because the image presents an unfamiliar stimulus that triggers a threat response. The mirror produces a moving shape that matches the dog’s own size and gait, yet the lack of scent and audible cues creates a mismatch.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog has eaten a rubber toy.
When a dog swallows a rubber toy, immediate visual assessment is the first critical step. Look for changes in behavior, breathing, and gastrointestinal function. Any deviation from the animal’s normal state may signal obstruction or irritation.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know if a dog sees colorful dreams.
Brain activity during sleep provides the most reliable window into canine dreaming. In dogs, as in other mammals, sleep divides into non‑rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) stages. NREM shows high-amplitude, low-frequency waves;. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog places a toy on your lap.
Dogs form selective attachments that influence how they request interaction. When a canine places a toy on a person’s lap, it signals a specific relational cue rooted in the bond established through shared experiences, consistent caregiving, and mutual responsiveness.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog is afraid of a brush.
When a dog reacts fearfully to a grooming brush, the underlying cause often lies in previous unpleasant encounters. An abrupt tug, a painful brushstroke on sensitive skin, or a sudden loud noise while brushing can create a lasting association between the tool and discomfort.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to make the life of a blind or deaf dog fulfilling.
Blindness and deafness in dogs arise from a range of genetic, developmental, infectious, traumatic, and age‑related factors. Understanding these origins is essential for designing effective support strategies. Genetic predisposition accounts for a significant proportion of congenital sensory loss.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog has become afraid to go outside.
Understanding why a canine suddenly hesitates to leave the house requires a systematic assessment of environmental, physiological, and psychological factors. The introductory phase of any investigation establishes the context, outlines the scope of inquiry, and highlights the implications for animal welfare and owner safety.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a dog not to wipe its paws on the sofa.
As a canine behavior specialist, I explain that a dog’s impulse to drag its paws across a sofa originates from innate drives. The primary instinct is to clean the paws after outdoor contact; rubbing against a textured surface removes debris and distributes scent glands located in the pads.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog has ingested human medicine.
Common household medications frequently cause accidental canine poisoning. Over‑the‑counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are highly toxic at doses as low as 10 mg per kilogram of body weight. Antihistamines (diphenhydramine, loratadine), decongestants (pseudoephedrine), and cough suppressants (dextromethorphan) can produce severe central nervous system depression or cardiac arrhythmias.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know that a dog «respects» you.
Understanding canine respect requires separating human moral language from observable animal behavior. Dogs demonstrate respect through actions that reinforce social hierarchy, acknowledge leadership, and promote cooperative interaction. Recognizing these signals enables owners to gauge the quality of the bond and adjust training accordingly.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog hides its toys from you.
Dogs often conceal their play objects as a manifestation of hoarding and resource guarding. This behavior originates from an instinct to protect valuable items that ensure survival or comfort. When a dog perceives a toy as a limited resource, it may store it in a hidden location to reduce the risk of theft by other animals or humans.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to teach a dog to go around obstacles.
Training a dog to navigate obstacles yields measurable benefits for both the animal and its owner. The practice develops physical coordination, mental stamina, and reliable behavior in unpredictable environments. Enhanced agility: Regular obstacle work strengthens muscles, improves balance, and increases flexibility, reducing injury risk during everyday activities.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog is afraid of swimming.
A dog that hesitates at the water’s edge often carries a memory of a distressing encounter. The incident may involve a sudden splash, a strong current, or being forced into water before the animal was ready. Such episodes create a strong association between water and discomfort, leading to avoidance behavior.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to help a dog with a food allergy.
Food allergy is an immune‑mediated response to specific dietary proteins. In affected dogs, the immune system produces IgE antibodies that recognize a particular ingredient as harmful, leading to the release of mediators such as histamine. The reaction triggers inflammation of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or both, and may manifest as itching, redness, ear infections, vomiting, or diarrhoea.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog licks your ears.
As a canine behavior specialist, I observe that ear licking is a direct expression of the dog‑human bond. The act originates from ancestral pack grooming, where individuals maintain group cohesion through oral contact. When a dog extends this behavior to a human, it signals recognition of the person as a social partner.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a dog not to chase cyclists.
Dogs chase for several instinctual and learned reasons. Understanding these drivers is essential when modifying behavior toward cyclists. Prey drive - Rapid movement triggers a natural hunting response. The speed of a bicycle mimics fleeing prey, prompting an instinctive pursuit.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog starts losing fur in patches.
When a dog develops patchy fur loss, recognizing the specific pattern of alopecia is the first step toward an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Visual inspection should focus on the shape, distribution, and symmetry of the affected areas.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know that a dog remembers kindness.
As a canine behavior specialist, I observe that the enduring connection between humans and dogs manifests in measurable responses when a dog recalls positive treatment. The following indicators reliably reveal that a dog retains memories of kindness:. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog dislikes it when you sing.
As a canine auditory specialist, I explain that dogs perceive sound far beyond the human spectrum. Their hearing extends roughly from 40 Hz to 65 kHz, with peak sensitivity between 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Human speech and most singing occupy 85 Hz-1 kHz, yet vocal melodies often contain harmonics and overtones that reach several kilohertz.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to teach a dog to be ashamed on command.
Understanding “ashamed” in a canine context requires separating human moral concepts from animal behavior. Dogs do not experience guilt or shame as abstract judgments; they react to social cues that indicate disapproval. When a dog perceives that an action has led to negative feedback-such as a sharp tone, a withdrawn gaze, or a brief isolation-it may exhibit a submissive posture, lowered head, and avoidance of eye contact.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog is afraid of large dogs.
A dog’s apprehension toward larger canines typically stems from identifiable factors. Direct trauma such as a bite or aggressive encounter creates an association between size and danger. Insufficient exposure to big breeds during critical socialization periods leaves the animal unaccustomed to their presence.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to properly bathe a puppy for the first time.
When preparing for a puppy’s inaugural bath, collect all necessary items beforehand to ensure a smooth, stress‑free process. Gentle, puppy‑formulated shampoo stored in a sealed container Soft, absorbent towels large enough to wrap the puppy securely Non‑slip mat or rubberized tray to line the tub or sink Adjustable temperature water source with a low‑flow faucet or handheld sprayer Wide‑mouth bowl or shallow tub that allows the puppy to stand comfortably Soft brus. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a dog tries to climb into your arms.
Dogs convey intent through a compact set of visual signals. When a canine approaches a person and attempts to mount the arms, several body‑language elements converge to express a request for close contact and support. Erect ears or forward‑tilted pinnae indicate focused attention on the human.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to curb a dog's aggression towards other animals.
Fear‑based aggression arises when a dog perceives another animal as a threat to its safety. The reaction often includes stiff body posture, a fixed stare, growling, and a rapid escalation to snapping or biting if the perceived danger persists.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a dog steps on glass.
When a canine steps on a shard of glass, the first priority is to prevent further injury. Approach the animal calmly, speak in a low tone, and avoid sudden movements that could provoke panic. Place a firm hand on the dog’s chest to restrict forward motion while keeping the neck free, allowing the animal to breathe normally.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59