Big Sky Dog Training

04/16/2025

Many dog owners are familiar with a dog's unwanted usage of "p*e mail," more accurately known as "urine marking." Here's how to stop it.

04/11/2025

Veterinary nurse shares causes, symptoms, and effective solutions for dealing with anxiety in dogs to help your pet find calm and comfort

04/06/2025

Commercial dog food toppers can be a convenient way to entice a dog to eat, and add some additional nutrition to a dog's diet.

03/28/2025

It's sad, but sometimes the right dog ends up with the wrong people. In those cases rehoming a dog is the best option for both.

03/26/2025

Fixing separation anxiety in dogs can be difficult. It's all too easy to get frustrated with your dog's destructive behavior.

02/23/2025

Dogs can get ringworm from direct contact with other dogs or animals with an infection, or from contact with surfaces that host ringworm spores.

02/19/2025

One dog food expert shares 4 homemade low-fat dog food recipes for you to try! Plus 5 owners describe their special-needs dogs' diets.

02/18/2025

02/17/2025

How do you stop a dog from barking? Well first you need to identify why the dog is barking before you can address it.

02/10/2025

Crate training a puppy can give your dog a safe space of their own that they feel comfortable in for their entire life.

02/09/2025

Dogs can get worms by eating things contaminated with parasite eggs. This can be dirt, leaves, another dogs f***l material, or other items.

01/25/2025

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

01/19/2025

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

01/19/2025

Could you evacuate your home in 15 minutes, with you and your pets and everything you need for days, weeks, or months?

01/19/2025

Vet approved Reviewed & Fact-Checked By Dr. Chyrle Bonk DVM (Veterinarian) The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » There are a lot of wonderful aspects of owning a dog, especially the positive benefits both you and your dog get fro...

01/19/2025

Dogs are normally destructive for one or more of five reasons, none of which involve spite, malice, or "getting even." The five reasons are:

Stress: Simply put, physical activity relieves stress. A stressed human may pace the floor, go jogging, chew her fingernails, or tap a pencil on the table or a foot on the floor.

Chewing, digging, and other destructive behaviors are stress relievers for dogs. Stress-related destructive behavior can be relatively mild, or turn into full-blown separation anxiety.

Teething: A young dog can be in mild to somewhat severe discomfort when his new teeth are pushing through the gums, and until they are fully emerged at 18-24 months. Chewing helps relieve teething pain, which is one of the reasons puppies and adolescent dogs are such dedicated chewers.

Boredom: Busy dogs need something to do. The herding breeds especially can be workaholics; if you don’t give them a job, they’ll create one, and it may not be one that meets with your approval.

High jinks: Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and young dogs are particularly driven to explore the world around them, as so much of it is new and exciting. Does this taste good? Does this feel good? Is this fun to play with? In addition, baby dogs and juveniles tend to have high energy levels, and sometimes go on a rampage in a burst of feel-good energy, similar to a teenager who trashes the house with a beer party when his parents unwisely leave him home alone for a weekend.

Habit: If a dog is poorly managed and allowed to repeatedly engage in destructive behavior during his formative months (the first one to two years) he may develop destructive behavior habits that can continue throughout his life. In contrast, if he is well managed for his first two years, he is unlikely to pick up destructive behaviors later in life – unless his environment changes drastically and causes him undue stress.

For more information on managing dog demolition, purchase Destructive Chewing, an ebook from Whole Dog Journal.

12/27/2024

Grain free dog food can be good for dogs who have a grain allergy or sensitivity it isn't necessary for all dogs as dogs are omnivorous.

12/26/2024

Dog owner's don't instinctively know how to correct dog behavior. These five simple steps though will encourage your dog's good behaviors