Behavior & Training

A dog that threads between your ankles is usually after closeness, reassurance or a game. We could not find an American Kennel Club article on this exact habit, so this guide uses the closest AKC sources: its article on why dogs sit on their owners’ feet, from American Kennel Club, and its AKC leg-weave training

Why does my dog sleep by the door? It’s one of those questions that nags at you the second you notice the habit. Let’s sort it out. Your dog might be guarding you, angling for attention, marking the spot as his own, or claiming a little authority. The same behavior can also mean he’s curious

A dog that presses against you all night is common, and the reasons are mostly ordinary ones. Two sources cover the sleeping side of it: American Kennel Club, which explains why dogs get close to their owners and burrow in, and VCA Animal Hospitals, which weighs up whether sharing a bed is a good idea.

Two paws on your chest the moment you walk in is one of the most common complaints from dog owners. The American Kennel Club calls jumping up a natural canine behavior and explains why dogs keep doing it and how to train a better greeting. This guide follows that article. Short answer: dogs jump to

Barking at people is one of the most common complaints from owners in apartments and shared buildings. VCA Animal Hospitals calls barking a natural behavior and says it is a territorial warning, and also a response to separation, new stimuli, indecision, anxiety or frustration. The ASPCA adds that the same bark can mean different things,

Caught your dog kicking grass and wondered what on earth he’s doing? Dogs pull all kinds of odd stunts, and if you’re a hands-on owner you’ve almost certainly stood there asking why dogs kick grass and whether you should do anything about it. It’s a funny thing to watch, that sudden burst of back-leg digging.

A lot of dog ownership is just paying attention. You spend months learning what your dog’s quirks actually mean, and no two dogs read the same. The two of you figure it out as you go. One question lands in my inbox more than almost any other: why does my dog sleep on top of

Cats and boxes are practically a meme at this point. Dogs are harder to pin down. Their comfort zones move around, right up until yours stakes a permanent claim on the dark gap under your bed. If that sounds like your house, welcome to the club. And you’re probably here asking the same thing everyone

To cuddle is to hold something close for warmth and affection. When your dog cuddles you, it is usually doing both at once: borrowing your body heat and telling you, in the only language it has, that it trusts you. So why do some dogs melt into your lap while others keep their distance? Both

Treats do most of the heavy lifting in dog training. Reach for one fast, mark the behavior, and your dog learns. Fumble in a coat pocket for ten seconds and the lesson is gone. This guide walks through the dog training treat bags that keep rewards a half-second away, so you stop losing those teaching

Smart dogs find trouble fast. A bored Lab or a wound-up Border Collie will clear a flimsy barrier the second your back is turned, and the stairs are usually right there. That is why the best dog gate for jumpers earns its keep. It holds your dog where you put them, and it lets you

Plenty of dogs love to wedge themselves between your legs to sleep. Most of the time it reads as affection and trust. Once in a while, though, it points to something that needs your attention. So a small, harmless looking habit is worth a second look. Why does my dog sleep between my legs? The

Urine marking is one of the ways dogs communicate. Best Friends Animal Society says a dog may mark for territorial reasons, as a response to stress or anxiety, or because of hormonal influences in intact males. This guide explains how to tell marking from other urination problems and what to do about each. Marking is

Ask any owner what keeps them up at night and “my dog getting out and getting hurt” lands near the top of the list. It happens more than people admit. Some dogs bolt once in a blue moon. Others are repeat escape artists who turn your fence line into a daily puzzle. A loose dog

A dog takes the edge off a rough day and hands you joy for free. Having a friend who never tires of your company is one of the best parts of dog ownership. Still, you’ve probably caught yourself asking why does my dog sit on me? Dogs share more with us than people expect. Loyalty

Long before memory-foam mattresses, some Aboriginal Australian groups slept curled against their dogs on cold nights. The warmth was practical. The companionship, they believed, kept bad spirits at a distance. These days most owners worry about the opposite question: should the dog really be up here at all? Dogs do plenty of odd things. A

The ASPCA calls aggression the most common and most serious behavior problem in dogs, and the number-one reason owners seek help from behaviorists, trainers and veterinarians. If your dog is growling, snapping or lunging more than before, the first step is working out what is behind it. This guide follows the ASPCA’s classification and its

Barking and lunging on walks is usually called leash reactivity. The American Kennel Club defines a leash-reactive dog as one that becomes overly aroused by normal situations while on leash, and Best Friends Animal Society says it comes down to two main causes: fear or frustration. This guide follows those two sources on what drives