Dogs sneeze for mostly the same reasons that people sneeze. Sneezing is when air is suddenly expelled through the nasal passages or the mouth so a dog can do this just as you can, even though his mouth and nose are shaped differently. The body is typically trying to get rid of something irritating through…
Shedding coat is the way your dog adapts to weather and temperature changes during the year. Wolves and other canids also shed their coat, but most dogs are a little different from wolves. Wolves have long outer guard hairs on their coat that can be up to four inches long. These guard hairs are slick…
Dogs usually run away by accident. A dog doesn’t usually intend to run away or get lost. Dogs don’t think like that. Your dog lives in the moment. He could love you more than anything in the world and be very happy but he obeys his instincts. So, if the gate is left open and…
Dogs have been living with us for thousands of years. They are domesticated as opposed to their relative the wolf. However, dogs still have many instincts that wolves have and, in certain circumstances a dog will bite. We usually consider some of these reasons for biting acceptable or unacceptable, depending on the situation. A dog…
Trembling is common with lots of dogs. Sometimes it can be an indication of a health problem but for many dogs it is perfectly normal. Dogs can tremble when they are excited or very happy, for example. Some dogs, especially shorthaired dogs in cold climates, will tremble if they get cold. Chihuahuas and Whippets, for…
Dogs snore for similar reasons that humans snore. They can snore simply because something is blocking their airway to some extent. There are lots of common reasons why something could block your dog’s air passages and result in him snoring: Obesity: Being overweight or obese is very common in pets today. A dog that is…
Pant. Pant. Pant. Have you seen your dog panting on a hot summer day? Or after he’s been running? Why the heck does he do do that? Dogs pant to cool themselves. When dogs get hot and their body temperature rises, they can’t sweat through the pores in their skin like people do, or like…
Dogs use many kinds of vocalizations to communicate and howling is one of them. Wolves and other canids also howl. Dogs will howl if they are lonely, to announce where they are to other dogs, if they are injured or in pain, or in response to certain high pitched sounds such as sirens. Howling is…
To a certain extent, it is normal for dogs to lick their paws. They do this as part of their self-grooming and cleaning the same way that they lick other parts of their body. However, some dogs can lick their paws much more than normal. They can chew on their paws, make them red, and…
Licking is a natural behavior for dogs but not for humans so when your dog licks you, it requires a little interpretation on your part. Dogs are licking or being licked from the time they are born. Puppies are licked by their mothers right away to warm and dry them and help them start nursing….
Poop eating is probably every dog owner’s least favorite behavior problem. Not every dog does it but if you have a dog who likes to eat poop, it can be a real trial. Why do dogs eat poop? It’s one of those behaviors where there are lots of theories but not a lot of definite…
No one really knows why dogs eat grass but there are some theories. Most vets, canine behaviorists, and others think that it’s a normal behavior for dogs. Some dogs will do it if they have an upset stomach. They will try to find different kinds of grass until they find some that makes them vomit….