Posts

Why do dogs kick their legs and whimper when they sleep?

  Your Dog Is Kicking and Whimpering in Their Sleep — What's Actually Going On? Here's how it started. Last week, I got up in the middle of the night to get some water. I walked past the couch and found my golden retriever fast asleep — all four legs pumping in the air, making these muffled little whimpers, eyelids fluttering. Like he was chasing something. Or running from something. I just stood there, frozen. He never woke up. Eyes shut the whole time. But his entire body was moving — legs, mouth, eyebrows, all of it. My first thought was: is he dreaming right now? What on earth is he dreaming about? My second thought, right on its heels: should I wake him up? I didn't. I stood there for maybe two minutes until he settled back down and kept sleeping, totally unaware. Like nothing had happened. But I couldn't fall back asleep. Dogs kicking, whimpering, even letting out low half-barks in their sleep — there's actually a pretty solid scientific explanation ...

Do dogs have a sense of time?

  The moment you walk through the door, your dog is there, tail wagging, as if they knew exactly when you'd arrive. Or perhaps it's the uncanny way they start pacing by their food bowl precisely when dinner is due. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Do dogs have a sense of time, or is it just a happy coincidence, a trick of our own human perception? I've been thinking about this a lot lately, watching my own furry companion, and it's a question that really gets you pondering the inner world of our canine friends. We humans, we live by clocks and calendars, by minutes and hours and days. But for a dog, does time tick by in the same way? Turns out, it's a bit more nuanced, and frankly, a lot more fascinating than just a simple yes or no. First off, let's talk about the basics, the internal rhythm that guides all living things. Dogs, just like us, have what scientists call circadian rhythms . Think of it as their own biological clock, running on a roughly 24-hour...

Why Do Dogs Always Sniff Each Other's Butts?

Image
 Why Do Dogs Always Sniff Each Other's Butts? Here's how it started. A few days ago I was out walking my Labrador when we ran smack into a Golden Retriever coming the other way. I braced for a barking contest. Instead, the two dogs circled each other once, and then — very naturally, very matter-of-factly — each one buried its nose in the other's rear end. I just stood there, holding the leash, watching these two dogs go face-first into each other's backsides, and I genuinely did not know what to do with myself. And then I started wondering: why, though? You've definitely seen this before. You probably never thought much of it — dogs just do that, right? No big deal. But think about it for a second. When humans meet, we shake hands, hug, make eye contact, exchange pleasantries. When dogs meet, their first instinct is to go straight for the most "private" part of each other's anatomy. If you actually sit with that for a moment, there's a lot ...

Why do dogs like to tilt their heads when looking at their owners?

Image
 What Is Your Dog Actually Thinking When It Tilts Its Head? I was scrolling through videos a couple nights ago and stopped dead on one I must have replayed six times. A golden retriever. Its owner talking to it. And then, mid-sentence, the dog slowly tilts its head to one side — maybe 45 degrees — ears drooping, eyes locked right on the camera. That one little move broke the comments section. "I'm dead." "Someone send help." "I'm literally going to the shelter tomorrow." I watched that video around 11 PM. Then I fell down a rabbit hole of research papers and didn't come up for air until past 2 AM. So what is actually going on when a dog does that? Most people's gut answer is: "It doesn't understand what I'm saying, so it's trying to figure it out." That's half right. And half wrong. The real story is both weirder and more interesting than that. Here's something most people don't know — dogs can he...

My 4 Tips for Owning a Dog and Living with it Successfully

My 4 Tips for Owning a Dog and Living with it Successfully Having a dog is one of the best things you can do for your life. They are extremely loyal, intelligent, and loving animals that will make you feel happy and excited, and give you the best kind of company every day. If you have been thinking about getting a dog for yourself but are not sure if it’s the right decision, read on to find out more about owning a dog from my perspective. You don’t need to own a dog just because everyone has one. You need to own one because you have thought this through and know it’s what you want in your life. Dogs are wonderful but they come with responsibility - especially if you plan on bringing them home with you! Here’s my take on owning a dog… There are different types of dogs out there. Which one should you get? It’s best to get a dog that matches your lifestyle and fits your living conditions. Certain breeds can be more suitable for families, some love being around children, whereas others are...

10 Ways to Make Your Dog Happy and Healthy - The Important Things You Need To Know

10 Ways to Make Your Dog Happy and Healthy - The Important Things You Need To Know Even if you think you know everything there is to know about dogs, you probably don’t know much. Because with so many breeds and types of dogs, it can be hard to keep track of all the information we need to take care of them properly. That said, caring for a dog isn’t difficult. In fact, most dogs are happy and healthy after just a little bit of work on your part. The trick is knowing what that work is and what they need in order to remain happy and healthy as possible. With that in mind, here are ten ways that you can make your dog happy and healthy. Give your dog plenty of exercise This one is a no-brainer, but it’s also the first and most important step to keeping your dog happy and healthy. Your dog needs to get exercise on a daily basis in order to remain healthy. And not just any amount of exercise, either. Your dog needs to get at least an hour of uninterrupted exercise every single day. This is b...

How To Choose A Puppy: 5 Steps to Take Into Account

Image
How To Choose A Puppy: 5 Steps to Take Into Account Image by kim_hester from Pixabay Picking the perfect puppy isn’t just about going to the pet store and picking one out of the bunch. There are a number of things you will need to think about first and foremost so that you don’t end up with a dog that doesn’t suit your household. In this blog post, we will take you through exactly what you need to consider before bringing home a new puppy. Puppies can be quite a big commitment, as well as an expensive one, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking all factors into account when making this decision. Below we list 5 steps that will help you choose your perfect pup. Know the Differences Between Breeds The first thing you need to do is determine what breed of dog you would like to have. Certain breeds will suit certain households better than others, as well as some, are more common in certain areas. The best way to go about this is to do some research on different breeds so that you hav...

7 Tips On How To Train A Smart Dog

7 Tips On How To Train A Smart Dog When you get a new dog, you typically want him to be as smart and obedient as possible. After all, who wants to deal with disobedient and unruly dogs? Everyone wants to have the type of dog that listens well, understands commands, and is very sociable. So how do you train your dog and have him understand what you want from him? Well, there are different ways to go about it. However, not all of them are perfect for every dog or owner. There are numerous ways in which you can train your dog, but you need to figure out which one is best for your pet. The tips below will help you understand how to train a smart dog fast and effectively. Establish a communication channel with your dog Dogs communicate very differently from humans. If you want to get your dog to understand what you are trying to teach them, you need to first understand how they communicate. If you want your dog to understand what you are trying to tell them, then you need to learn how they ...

How To Teach Your Dog to Swim and Be Safe Around Water

Image
How To Teach Your Dog to Swim and Be Safe Around Water Photo by Blue Bird on Pexels Keeping a dog safe around water can be a challenge. Dogs love to run and chase, and that’s why it’s important for them to know how to swim or find their way back home if they ever fall into a body of water. There are some great benefits for dogs who know how to swim. It helps them get exercise without straining their joints and ligaments. It also gives them another outlet for their energy so they don’t destroy your house while you’re away at work or school. Remember that your pet will likely have more opportunities to swim in warm weather, so it’s good to prepare them now. Here are some tips on how to teach your dog to swim and keep them safe around water no matter what time of year! Finding a Shallow Area to Teach Your Dog to Swim Look for a river, lake, or beach where the water is calm and shallow. You don’t want to start in a place where the current is strong enough to sweep your dog away. Your dog w...

Afraid of not having a good dog? Worried about not training? 10 years of unreserved teaching by dog ​​trainers

Afraid of not having a good dog? Worried about not training? 10 years of unreserved teaching by dog ​​trainers Because the IQ of dogs is not particularly high, we need to help us master the correct behavior and speech in the process of training dogs. The dog trainer's job is to teach the dog the basics of training. Of course, in addition to teaching methods, we also need to learn how to guide dogs. Only by mastering these skills can dogs be better integrated into our lives. Today, I bring you the unreserved teaching of a 10-year dog trainer, so that friends can learn about dogs slowly in the process of raising dogs. 1. Learn to obey The obedience of the dog is very important because it can only do one thing if the obedience is good. Because only after we learn obedience can we control him better. Just like us humans, if what we want to do is not well controlled all the time, it is difficult to achieve a good effect. To learn how to control it before training. First of all, you must...

What is the first thing to do when the puppy comes back?

What is the first thing to do when the puppy comes back? Many people bathe their dogs to keep them healthy. But some pet owners don't know what to do and worry about being bad for other dogs. It's actually not that hard to solve: first quiet the dog, and then start bathing it. These three steps are very important. 1. Clean environment The first thing to do is to bathe the dog. After the dog comes back, first use a vacuum cleaner to clean the environment. If you go to the pet store to take a bath, it is best before the owner goes to work. Secondly, after bathing the dog, it is best to brush the indoor floor, and then use a hair dryer to dry the moisture in the room. Of course, if the dog is tired of staying at home, the owner can also take them to the pet shop for a bath after they come back. Because puppies at home can easily make the house dirty, if the owner does not clean it at home, it will easily bring the bacteria and viruses on the dog into the home, causing more serious...