Answering this question isn’t as simple as it sounds. Of course! you may say, explaining how you’ve seen it for yourself when you’ve lost one dog and another was left behind. Or you might be someone who rolls your eyes at the idea that dogs—or any beings other than humans—are capable of such a complex emotion as grief. Even scholars are divided: some insist that most animals have emotions; others argue that emotions are uniquely human; and still others fall somewhere between the two positions.[i]

Historical Perspectives On Animal Emotions

For most of the last two thousand years, while the lay public wholeheartedly believed that animals had emotions, the majority of Western philosophers scoffed at the idea, insisting that animals have nothing more than instincts that require no conscious thought. Charles Darwin strongly differed with this approach, arguing that emotions are found not just in humans, but across all species.[ii]  This was in keeping with the Enlightenment of the 17^th and 18^th centuries, when philosophers began to put forth the idea that animals possessed reason and could suffer.[iii]  By the end of the 19^th century, even the most unyielding scientists were accepting the concept of sentience, the capacity of humans and animals to experience feelings and awareness.

That belief was all but extinguished by the emergence of Behaviorism in the early 20th century. Its adherents insisted that science needed to put an end to using terms like sensation, perception, desire, and emotion, since they had no objective reality.[iv]  For much of that century, Behaviorism reigned, along with the view that false science was responsible for the mistaken belief that animals had emotions.

Then came the mid-1980s when many scientists, spurred by discoveries from pioneering animal behaviorists, along with anecdotes from long-term field studies by researchers like Jane Goodall, developed a renewed interest in animal sentience and how animals feel.[v]^,[vi]  That interest has continued to this day.

New Attitudes Toward Animal Grief

Which brings us back to the question of grief, and whether animals—dogs, specifically—are capable of feeling grief after the loss of another dog. Recent studies say yes, and that’s backed up by the experiences of countless dog caretakers. While not even the most astute scientist or animal behaviorist can know with absolute certainty what dogs know and feel about death and dying, researchers have come closer than ever before to being able to say with some degree of certainty that dogs do mourn the death of another dog in their household.

Anthropologist and author of How Animals Grieve, Dr. Barbara J. King, maintains that even though humans have a rational awareness of death and its finality, the ability to mourn doesn’t depend upon that understanding. “Our own ways of mourning may be unique,” she says, “but the human capacity to grieve deeply is something we share with other animals.”[vii]

What Studies Reveal About Grief in Dogs

To understand animal grief, researchers generally impose two preconditions: first, that the animals actively choose to spend time together; and second, when one animal dies, the survivor’s normal behaviors change, sometimes drastically, and sometimes to the point of death.[viii]  In 2022, a team of Italian researchers completed a years-long study on these kinds of changes, and came to the conclusion that the emotional bonds dogs form with humans often extend to other animals in their household, and that the death of a companion dog can result in behaviors that would typically be identified as grief and mourning.

Among the dog caretakers in the study, 86 percent observed negative changes in the surviving dog’s behavior; more than a third said the changes lasted between two and six months, and a quarter reported that they lasted longer than six months.[ix] The study rejected the theory that the caretaker’s own grief was simply being reflected onto the surviving dog, and determined that the changes in the dog’s conduct were genuine. Interestingly, researchers also found that what mattered most in terms of the degree of grief was not how long the two dogs had lived together, but the strength of their bond.[x]

When one dog in the household dies, the surviving dog may not understand that the separation is permanent, but they clearly feel the loss…which we know by observing their behavior. In 1996, the ASPCA conducted the Companion Animal Mourning Project, which found that when a dog’s companion dies, two thirds of surviving dogs showed a number of behavioral shifts, including appetite loss, sleep disruption, lethargy, increased vocalizing, avoiding play, clinginess, disorientation, and in extreme cases, wasting away.[xi]  Many of these behaviors are not unlike human mourning over the loss of a loved one.

The Nature of Grief in Dogs

Yet there remains a major problem hindering investigations into animal emotions: in the absence of a Vulcan mind probe, animal minds, just like the minds of our fellow human beings, are essentially private and unknowable, especially so because animals can’t tell us how they’re feeling. This adds fuel to the fire laid by old-school scientists who reject any theory that ventures into the territory of animal feelings. Renowned biologist and behavioral ecologist Marc Bekoff says that even if one day we discover that a dog’s brain activity is similar to a human’s when that person reports being happy or sorrowful, “some skeptics hold tightly to the view that it is impossible to know what animals are truly feeling, and that therefore these studies are fruitless.” He suggests that one reason for this intractable unwillingness to study animal emotions is because these researchers fear being labeled “soft” and “nonscientific.”[xii]

Bekoff and others believe that we need to consider not just empirical data, but also anecdotal evidence, like that provided by dog caretakers when they observe the apparently-grieving actions of their dogs after the loss of a companion dog. They argue that caretakers provide consistently reliable and accurate information about and interpretation of their animal’s behavior, evidence that simply wouldn’t be available to an outside observer in a laboratory setting.[xiii],[xiv]^,[xv]

“Even if joy and grief in dogs is not the same as joy and grief in chimpanzees, elephants, or humans, this does not mean that there is no such thing as dog joy or dog grief,” says Bekoff.[xvi] As heartbreaking as it is to see our beloved companions go through the painful process of grief, by recognizing that grief we can help them heal and cope—and perhaps ease our own grief as well.

In the end, we’re confronted with the question, What is the nature of grief? We may as well ask, What is the nature of love? since the two are so inextricably intertwined. As Barbara King reflects in How Animals Grieve, “What stands out…is not the hypotheses of human uniqueness, but the discovery that other animals do grieve, and that they grieve because they have loved.”[xvii]

[i] de Vere, Amber J. and Kuczaj, Stan A. II. “Where are we in the study of animal emotions?” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science. 2016. Accessed through ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amber-De-Vere/publication/ 304250629_Where_are_we_in_the_study_of_animal_emotions/links/5b2bc122a6fdcc8506b7118d/

[ii] Ekman, Paul. “Darwin’s contributions to our understanding of emotional expressions.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Dec 12, 2009; 364(1535):3449–3451. Accessed through National Library of Medicine PubMed. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2781895/

[iii] Duncan, Ian J.H. “Animal Welfare: A Brief History.” La Fondation Driot Animal: Éthique & Sciences. (Proceedings: Animal Welfare: from Science to Law). https://www.fondation-droit-animal.org/proceedings-aw/animal-welfare-a-brief-history

[iv] Katsnelson, Alla. “How do we know what emotions animals feel?” Science News April 8, 2022 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/animal-emotion-behavior-welfare-feelings

[v] Duncan, Ian J.H. “The changing concept of animal sentience.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science Volume 100, Issues 1–2, October 2006. Accessed through Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159106001110

[vi] Rowan, Andrew N., et al. “Animal sentience: history, science, and politics.” Animal Sentience 31(1). May 12, 2022. Accessed through WellBeing International. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1697&context=animsent

[vii] King, Barbara J. “Humans Are Not the Only Creatures Who Mourn.” Scientific American. Sept 1, 2015. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/humans-are-not-the-only-creatures-who-mourn/

[viii] ibid

[ix] Coren, Stanley, Ph.D. “Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of a Canine Housemate?” Psychology Today. March 1, 2022. Reporting on study noted in endnote 10.

[x] Uccheddu, Stefania; Ronconi, Lucia, et al. “Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) grieve over the loss of a conspecific.” Scientific Reports 12, article number 1920. February 24, 2022. Accessed through Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05669-y#citeas

[xi] Hunter, Tammy, DVM; Llera, Ryan, BSc, DVM; Buzhardt, Lynn, DVM. “Do Dogs Mourn?” VCA Animal Hospitals. No date. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/do-dogs-mourn

[xii] Bekoff, Mark. “Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures: Current interdisciplinary research provides compelling evidence that many animals experience such emotions as joy, fear, love, despair, and grief—we are not alone.” BioScience, Volume 50, Issue 10. October 2000.Accessed through Oxford Academic Journals. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/50/10/861/233998

[xiii] Martens, Pimm; Enders-Slegers, Marie-José; and Walker, Jessica K.  “The Emotional Lives of Companion Animals: Attachment and Subjective Claims by Owners of Cats and Dogs.” Anthrozoös, 29(1). 2016. Accessed through Taylor & Francis Online https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/08927936.2015.1075299?needAccess=true

[xiv] Loc sit Bekoff, Mark.

[xv] Panksepp, Jaak. “Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions.” ISBN 978-0-195-17805-0. Oxford University Press. September, 2004.

[xvi] Loc sit Bekoff, Mark.

[xvii] King, Barbara J., Ph.D. How Animals Grieve. ISBN 978-0-226-43732-2. Oxford University Press. April 17, 2014.

The post Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of Another Dog? appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

• Sounds that are not audible to humans
• Smells that their sensitive noses detect but humans can’t
• Boredom and attention seeking
• Pain
• Something they want
• Anxiety

Determining the cause of barking depends on the individual context. I always talk to my dogs to tell them what was going on, and you should, too.  Expert Kathy Callahan, a Whole Dog Journal contributor, explains this beautifully in her article, “How to Talk to Your Dog,” clearly demonstrating how important this can be.

For example, I have categories for my dogs and dismiss them with an “I’ve got this” tone of voice. Years ago, I attended a seminar by noted dog trainer Pam Dennison. She taught us to name people seen by the dogs, like saying, “It’s just Uncle Fred” and sounding dismissive. It works wonderfully with my crew.

My categories include:

• It means just that. It means, “You’re fine. It’s nothing.”
• This is someone we will greet/who comes into the house.
• A person we see regularly but don’t greet.
• People we see in the neighborhood who are working, like mowing.
• Vehicles with sirens.
• A passing vehicle.
• Any delivery person.
• Not here. A sound that’s far away and safe.

This is a growing list of categories that I use to communicate with my dog.

Why Is My Dog Barking All of a Sudden?

Your dog has sensed something that our human senses cannot pick up on. It’s not nothing; it is an alert thing. When it happens, it happens. Some categories of things that cause your dog to appear to bark at nothing include:

Sounds: Your hearing will never be as astute as your dog’s.  Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of going to the door/window that your dog is focusing on. That sound may become vaguely audible to you or you might see a chirping squirrel that your dog can hear but you cannot. Dismiss this with, “It’s nothing.”

Smells: Scent is another thing that can fall into my “it’s nothing” category, if I cannot detect the source. It’s worked well thus far with my super sensitive adolescent livestock guarding dog. The trick is to sound confident that you have things handled and dismiss the thing with your voice. Follow that with some soft verbal reinforcement when your dog accepts your decision.

Boredom: It’s important to know how much enrichment, both physical and mental, that your dog needs every given day. All dogs are different. Age, activity level, intelligence, health, and fitness status need to be taken into consideration. Truly, all dogs need both mental and physical enrichment. The higher energy the dog, the more mental enrichment they need. Keep that in mind when determining the cause of the barking. Your dog may be bored and need to go for a walk.

Pain: If the barking is new, especially with no identifiable cause, consider pain. It’s never a bad idea to rule out a medical issue. Pain causes so much mental anguish in any sentient being.

Desire: Is their toy stuck, do they want to play, are they hungry, do they want to be closer to you? Look around and see what the context is. We humans spend so much time zoning out with electronics these days, we often miss things that are right there, like our dog needing help fetching his toy under the couch.

Anxiety: This is another potential cause where the context needs to be thoroughly looked at. Is your dog only barking at night? The dark can cause anxiety in some dogs, especially those who may be losing their sight or feeling vulnerable in some way. Sudden barking, especially at night, may also mean that they sense something going on outside that you haven’t.

Note: Barking at night or barking for no reason can also be a sign of canine cognitive dysfunction in  your dog, including the same sundowner’s syndrome that people get.

So, before you exclaim, “Why is my dog barking at nothing?” put your detective hat on and find the something. Then, start working on an “It’s nothing” cue that tells your dog you’ve investigated the problem, telling your dog everything is just fine.

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When a dog successfully snags food (or other items) from atop the counter or table, trainers call this “counter surfing.” Left to their own devices, most dogs—at least those tall enough to reach the counter—will experiment with this behavior thanks to the never-ending supply of tasty tidbits we humans insist on keeping there.

Set Your Dog Up for Success

Dogs love to gamble. I mean, they REALLY love to gamble. If something works for them—even once—you can bet they’re going to try it again, especially when the payoff was great—like a sandwich. When your dog is young or otherwise new to your home, it’s wise to employ some management around the house to make it less likely she will have the opportunity to experiment with counter surfing. Nothing makes us tidier around the house than a dog in training! Avoid leaving items of interest on counters and tabletops, and casually redirect your dog’s attention to an appropriate object when she’s sniffing around surfaces you’d prefer she ignore.

Teach the Behavior You Want

It’s easy to identify what we don’t want our dog to do. We don’t want them to counter surf. Great. What should they do instead? Dogs repeat behaviors they find reinforcing. Counter surfing is self-reinforcing—a dog is reinforced by the item he helps himself to. When we reward dogs for behaviors that are incompatible with counter surfing, the unwanted behavior decreases. Here are two ideas:

1. Teach Your Dog to Stay on a Mat in the Kitchen: If your dog is busy gluing himself to his dog bed while in the kitchen, he can’t be hopping up to steal things from the counter. Teaching a dog to calmly remain in one spot (sometimes called “place training”) is useful in many scenarios. In this instance, the dog learns there’s no need to investigate the countertops for rewards—you’ll deliver rewards to his spot. Don’t be stingy about it. As your dog learns to stay on his bed, make sure you reward generously so that it remains worth it—in your dog’s mind—to play the game our way instead of following his instinct to see what goodies he can find and enjoy on the counter.
2. Actively Teach Your Dog to Ignore Food on Counters and Tables: Another great option is to reward the absence of interest in food on a table or counter. In this training set up, the dog is rewarded for not moving toward the easily surf-able food. In the early stages, the forbidden food should be low-value and the rewards are high value. Train on-leash, and at an initial distance where it’s easy for your dog to be correct. Trainer Emily Larlham offers a great explanation and demonstration of this method on her Kikopup YouTube channel.

Rehabbing a Successful Surfer

If your dog is an experienced counter surfer, you’ll want to employ a combination of training and management. Training will help teach the desired new behavior, but it won’t happen overnight. In the meantime, you need to drastically reduce your dog’s opportunities for counter surfing. Every time your dog successfully surfs, he’s self-rewarding and the behavior will continue.

• When you’re not in the position to actively train for the behavior you want, make it nearly impossible for your dog to practice the unwanted behavior.
• Pay attention to your dog’s behavior with the goal of interrupting and redirecting when you suspect surfing is imminent. For example, as your dog walks alongside the counter, head up, nose twitching, there’s a good chance jumping up will soon follow. Interrupt this behavior pattern and encourage her to run and get a bone or toy and praise your dog for engaging in that behavior instead.
• Another option—especially in the early weeks of your rehab training—is to simply avoid the temptation by keeping your dog out of the kitchen, especially during high-temptation activities like meal preparation, and when you know your attention will be elsewhere and you won’t be able to keep an eye on your dog’s behavior.

Remember—every successful surf makes the behavior more likely. Even if you reprimand your dog when you catch him in the act.

A Word on Using Punishment for Counter Surfing

Verbally reprimanding a dog for counter surfing—if you catch him in the act—will interrupt the behavior in the moment but will also likely teach your dog not to counter surf when you’re around. Ideally, we want our dog to understand the better choice is simply not to surf in the first place, whether or not we’re watching.

That’s not to say I don’t interrupt dogs who counter surf—I do, and it’s in a tone that clearly indicates my displeasure. But when I do this, I know it’s a Bandaid, and a clear sign I need to up my training and management game.

Some trainers recommend elaborate booby traps using soda cans strung together and interwoven among a treasure your dog would love to jump up and steal. The idea is that the ruckus of the cans falling will startle the dog enough to prevent future attempts. While this might work on the occasional dog, many dogs, once again, learn to avoid surfing when they recognize this type of set up, or they’re willing to risk the ruckus in order to reap the reward.

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So, what is idiopathic aggression in dogs and can it be cured or successfully managed?

What is Idiopathic Aggression?

Idiopathic aggression in dogs is aggression that is explosive in nature, unprovoked, and appears suddenly, often without warning. According to Overall (1997)[i], dogs in the midst of an idiopathic aggression episode may foam at the moth and twitch. Seizures can cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out. Indeed, it can be difficult to identify the overlap between behavioral and neurological diagnoses. Idiopathic aggression appears to be most common in dogs aged 1 to 3 years of age.

Research by Wojewodzic and Sell-Kubiak (2024)[ii] which looked into aggressive behavior in the English Cocker Spaniel breed identified a number of risk factors. These included:

• Males were more likely to show aggression compared to females
• Aggression towards people and other animals increased with age
• English Cocker Spaniels adopted from a shelter were more likely to display aggression towards people
• Dogs that did not have a pedigree or Kennel Club certification were more likely to display aggressive behavior

A separate study by Engdahl et al (2023)[iii] also found that male English Cocker Spaniels were more likely to show aggression compared to females. Interestingly, they also found that aggression was higher in solid-colored dogs.

We still don’t know exactly what causes idiopathic aggression because it’s a very difficult condition for researchers to study as they are unable to induce it.

Symptoms of Idiopathic Aggression?

The main symptom of idiopathic aggression in dogs is intense and unpredictable outbursts of aggression which seemingly occur out of the blue. These episodes of aggression often appear like an overreaction to a relatively benign situation and can be dangerous, especially if there are children or other pets in the home.

Behavioral signs may include freezing, staring, dilated pupils, showing the whites of the eye (whale eye), and baring teeth which can rapidly escalate to biting and lunging. Owners often report that their dog appears “possessed” and even confused during and immediately following episodes of idiopathic aggression.

How is Idiopathic Aggression Diagnosed?

Fortunately, idiopathic aggression is a very uncommon condition. Most dog owners mistakenly believe their dog has idiopathic aggression when in fact, the aggressive episodes they have witnessed are a symptom of underlying illness, pain, fear, or anxiety or are related to resource guarding behavior.

Idiopathic aggression in dogs must be diagnosed by a veterinarian as it is a complex condition and can be difficult to diagnose. Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical and neurological examination and may run a blood analysis and other tests to inform their diagnosis. If your regular vet is unsure of how to diagnose rage syndrome in dogs, they may refer you to a specialist who is more experienced with the condition.

A thorough veterinary examination and health and behavioral history are vital to assist in distinguishing between idiopathic aggression and aggression resulting from illness, pain, fear, anxiety, or resource guarding.

How to Manage Idiopathic Aggression in Dogs

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for idiopathic aggression because the underlying causes remain poorly understood. If your dog has been diagnosed by a veterinarian as having idiopathic aggression, management of the condition is paramount to ensure your safety and your dog’s welfare. In many cases Idiopathic aggression can be successfully managed by taking the following steps:

• Avoid using punishment, such as yelling or physical corrections, as punishment can escalate aggression and prolong the problem.
• Identify any triggers for aggression and avoid them when possible to help prevent strengthening the neural pathways in the brain from previous responses.
• Work with a qualified professional to learn how to effectively manage and use behavior modification strategies, such as desensitization and counterconditioning.
• Your vet may prescribe medication for your dog to support management and address any fear or anxiety which may be contributing to the aggressive outbursts.

According to Dobson (2012)[iv], in extreme cases, management may not be possible or feasible to ensure the safety of the adults, children, and other pets in the home. For dogs displaying severe aggression over a long period of time and where the triggers are widespread, unavoidable, and relatively benign (e.g. normal, everyday events), the high degree of safety risks, difficulty and stress of permanently, consistently maintaining the required precautions and the impact on human and canine quality of life, together with a poor prognosis for improvement, lead to serious consideration of euthanasia as the most appropriate course of action.

The good news is that the vast majority of cases of aggression in dogs are behavioral rather than pathological in nature and caused by factors such as pain, illness, fear, anxiety, or resource guarding. Fortunately, these types of aggression can be successfully managed and modified under the guidance of a qualified, positive reinforcement focused trainer, certified applied animal behaviorist, or veterinary behaviorist to achieve significant improvement, maintain good welfare, and reduce the risk of injury to people.

[i] Overall, K. L. (1997). Clinical behavioral medicine for small animals (pp. xvi+-544).

[ii] Wojewodzic, D., & Sell-Kubiak, E. (2024). Effect of dogs characteristics on aggressive behaviour towards humans and other animals in English Cocker Spaniels. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 275, 106293.

[iii] Engdahl, K. S., Brodbelt, D. C., Cameron, C., Church, D. B., Hedhammar, Å., & O’Neill, D. G. (2023). Demography and disorders of English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 10(1), 4.

[iv] Dobson, J. (2012). Human-directed canine aggression. Veterinary Times, 42(45), 14.

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Dogs that are playing often exhibit loose, bouncy movements and relaxed facial expressions. Their ears might be perked up or floppy. Playing dogs may be vocal, but those vocalizations typically include excited barks, yips, or even playful growls. These sounds are often exaggerated and accompanied by other playful behaviors. Dog play is important for training and development. However, things can turn aggressive quickly, which is why dog owners need to remain vigilant.

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Are Dogs Playing or Fighting?

It’s important to note that even playful interactions can sometimes escalate into fights, especially if one or both dogs are feeling stressed, overexcited, or threatened. “While excited barking and other vocalizations are signs of play, if they are sustained, not welcomed too intense, they can also cause things to escalate, says Allie Bender, a dog behavior consultant and the co-author of “Canine Enrichment for the Real World.”

Sometimes other environmental triggers cause escalation (e.g., a person walking by, a car passing). “Another dog entering the environment can absolutely change the dynamics. Really any environmental change can cause changes in behavior. And then there are kiddos who don’t yet have self-regulation skills and escalate because they can’t calm themselves back down from playing well,” Bender says.

Signs of dogs at play

Things to watch for that signal healthy play, according to Shelter Playgroup Alliance protocol and Bender, include:

• Wagging tails, especially when accompanied by other playful behaviors.
• Playful growls or barks that often accompanied by a happy expression on the dog’s face.
• Playful nipping is a common form of play, but it should be gentle.
• Play bows, where they lower their front end while keeping their rear end raised. This is a clear signal of playful intent.
• Taking turns being dominant or submissive. They may chase each other, wrestle, or engage in mock biting.
• No sustained aggression or intent to harm. Playful interactions generally involve brief periods of aggression followed by playful behaviors and rest.

Signs Your Dog Is Aggressive (Or About To Be)

To get ahead of a fight, watch for signals that things are getting serious:

• Tense muscles, raised hackles, and a stiff tail are often signs of aggression or fear.
• Intense sustained growls or snarls and pinned ears are often a sign of aggression or submission.
• Aggressive behavior during otherwise playful biting or nipping, especially if excessive or accompanied by other aggressive behaviors.
• Growling or snarling is a common sign of aggression, especially when accompanied by other aggressive behaviors.
• Baring teeth is another sign of aggression, and it is often accompanied by growling or snarling.
• Lunging or biting is the most obvious sign of aggression, and it should always be taken seriously.
• Stiff rigid bodies. Aggressive dogs often have a stiff or rigid body, and they may also have their ears pinned back or their tail tucked under their body.

If things do escalate, it’s important to quickly and safely break up the dog fight. How quickly depends on where the interactions are taking place and who’s involved.

“For me, what point to step in depends on the situation. For example, if two dogs who have lived together for years are playing and I know they have a history of appropriate communication and healthy play skills I may wait longer to step in if I see yellow flags,” Bender says.

How to Tell If Puppies Are Playing or Fighting

Puppies introduce a different dynamic. If you are dealing with young dogs who don’t have a relationship and are playing at a dog park, daycare, or a new play date, you may want act sooner. “In those situations, I may interrupt more frequently than is necessary, even before there are yellow flags. That way I’m encouraging them to take breaks and giving everyone a moment to regroup before choosing to engage in play again,” Benders says.

Remember, if you’re concerned about your dog’s behavior or interactions with other dogs, it’s always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist. They can provide personalized advice and help you address any issues you may be facing.

The post How to Tell If Your Dog Is Playing or Fighting appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

While there is not yet a scientific explanation for this behavior, there are theories.

“I am not aware of any scientific studies that have been done looking at why dogs do this, or how common it is,” says Dr. Melissa Bain, a veterinary behavior specialist and professor of clinical animal behavior at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “One thought is that it is an evolutionary behavior, in which a dog will mask its scent with feces. It generally is the feces of another animal, not of dogs. There is also a hypothesis that it may be scent marking. Instead of the thought that they are depositing the odor onto themselves, they are depositing their odor onto the feces to mark their territory.”

“Wolves and wild dogs used to roll in poop to mask their scent, which is useful when hiding from predators and sneaking up on prey,” agrees Dr. Ivana Crnec, of Veterinarians.org. “Modern dogs, despite evolving past the need to hide and hunt, are still true to their ancestral heritage.”

Dr. Crnec noted that rolling in poop and dead things is very common in dogs.

“Dogs roll in their own feces and poop from other animals like cowpats and fox poop,” she says. “Interestingly, rolling is not limited to poop. In fact, dogs enjoy rolling in all types of smelly, organic matter.”

What To Do About Dogs Who Roll in Poop

Dr. Bain says if dog owners witness poop rolling, there’s likely not much to be done.

“Likely there is not a whole lot to do in the moment aside from trying to get the dog away from the area by calling the dog away and rewarding [her] with a high-value treat,” says Dr. Bain. “However, that high-value treat may not be any better than the feces in which the dog is rolling. In that case, they should either ignore the dog [or] walk away.”

She says prevention is key to keeping dogs from rolling in poop.

“Keeping the dog on leash will almost always prevent these incidents,” she says. “This is especially important if you know that you are going to an area such as a barn. If the dog is rolling in things in their yard, they should be sure to keep the yard clean.”

She says it’s generally not harmful to a healthy dog, but there may be parasites or other infectious diseases in the feces that can be transmitted to the individual dog, other dogs, or people.

“This would be if [the] feces were to be ingested inadvertently,” she says. “It also can be stressful for some owners when they continually have to clean up the dog and the house, especially if the dog doesn’t like baths.”

Dogs Roll in Poop

However gross it may seem to humans, rolling in poop is pretty normal dog behavior.

Dr. Crnec says there is no determined pattern for dogs rolling in poop and the habit is seen in all breeds, ages, and genders.

“However, interestingly, regular rolling is more common in certain breeds such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Jack Russell Terriers, and mixed-breed dogs,” she says.

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Whiskers, also known as vibrissae, play a crucial role in your dog’s perception of the world around him and trace back to his breed’s ancestry. For example, hounds and terriers have longer, more pronounced whiskers, while other breeds without the genes for hunting and tracking may have shorter or less-prominent whiskers.

While whiskers may vary in appearance across breeds, all dogs have them and understanding their function will help you make informed decisions about their care and answer questions such as should you cut your dog’s whiskers (no!).

Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers?

Whiskers are sensitive and embedded in follicles that connect to nerves, allowing dogs to detect even small movements and changes in their environment. The role of whiskers includes:

• Navigation. Whiskers help dogs navigate their surroundings by providing information about objects, obstacles, and potential threats. This is particularly important in close quarters because dogs’ sense of sight is better suited for longer distances. Supplemental vibrissae extensions have even been found to assist blind dogs
• Sensory awareness. Whiskers are sensitive to touch and pressure, detecting even the faintest breeze or the presence of nearby objects, enabling dogs to react quickly to changes in their environment.
• Detecting prey. In their primal days, whiskers were crucial for hunting. They helped dogs detect prey, track their movements, and avoid obstacles in the dark.
• Expressing emotion. Along with body posture, tail position, and vocalizations, whiskers play a subtle role in expressing a dog’s emotions. For example, when a dog is relaxed, their whiskers typically rest in a natural position. If a dog is curious, whiskers may become more erect or twitch. When a dog feels threatened or aggressive, their whiskers might flare out sideways or downward, indicating discomfort or a readiness to defend themselves.
• Protection. Whiskers can serve as a protective mechanism. For example, those near your dog’s eyes may trigger a reflexive blink when they are touched, helping to shield the eyes from potential harm.

Can You Cut Dog Whiskers?

While your dog’s whiskers will grow back if you cut them, it’s important to remember that you’re compromising their sensory abilities. Trimming whiskers might tempt you for aesthetic reasons, especially if you’re showing your dog and need to meet specific requirements.

“If you touch his whiskers, your dog will often reflexively blink because of the information the whisker transmitted to the brain: Something is near the face, protect the eye! Whiskers serve an important sensory and protective function for your dog,” says Syracuse, N.Y., veterinarian and Whole Dog Journal contributor Dr. Andrea Lee. This sensory area is particularly concentrated in the regions associated with whiskers, which highlights their importance for a dog’s neurological function.

If your dog’s whiskers are becoming overly long or matted, consult with a professional groomer who can trim them carefully without compromising their functionality. Your veterinarian can also provide advice on how to maintain your dog’s whiskers and keep them clean and healthy.

The post Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers and Should You Cut Them? appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

What is Canine Dysfunctional Behavior?

Canine dysfunctional behavior is an idiopathic condition, meaning that we don’t yet know what definitively causes it. It is believed that dogs with canine dysfunctional behavior are deficient in mirror neurons, which are believed to be important for helping dogs and puppies “mirror” other dogs’ behaviors when socializing. Canine dysfunctional behavior is currently poorly understood but is thought to mimic a number of autism-like behaviors in humans. Indeed, researchers have identified dogs as a model for many human neuropsychiatric conditions, including ASD due to the similarities in symptoms.

Symptoms of Canine Dysfunctional Behavior

Although a definitive list of symptoms of canine dysfunctional behavior is currently lacking, there are a number of common symptoms that are believed to indicate canine dysfunctional behavior. These include:

Obsessive compulsive behaviors

These include repetitive or stereotypical movement or actions such as tail chasing, circling, fly snapping, excessive licking or chewing, or pacing in the yard along a well-worn path. Obsessive compulsive behaviors interfere with normal function and can negatively impact wellbeing and welfare.

Inappropriate responses to situations or stimuli

A dog with canine dysfunctional behavior may overreact in response to stimuli or situations considered quite normal for a dog. For example, they may yelp in response to gentle touch, over-react to sudden noises, or shut down and retreat from unfamiliar environments or situations.

Poor communication

Dogs with canine dysfunctional behavior may be poor at communicating their feelings and emotions with us and other dogs through their behavior and body language. For example, avoiding eye contact.

Trance-like behavior and episodic aggression

Sudden explosive aggression and trance like behavior have been observed in dogs and is believed to be linked to canine dysfunctional behavior.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Canine dysfunctional behavior is difficult to diagnose due to its similarity to several other conditions such as canine compulsive disorder, canine anxiety disorders, and other neurological disorders. Furthermore, canine dysfunctional behavior is not yet well understood. If you believe canine dysfunctional behavior is the cause of your dog’s behavioral issues, it’s best to seek professional help from your veterinarian for a thorough examination and informed diagnosis. This may involve a referral to a veterinary specialist for further investigation.

What Does the Research Say?

Currently, very little research exists investigating canine dysfunctional behavior in dogs. However, the available research has found that some dog behavioral issues such as tail chasing in Bull Terriers may serve as an indication of autism-like behaviors. Tail chasing is a stereotypical behavior closely associated with owner-directed explosive aggression, trancing, social withdrawal, and a persistent obsession with objects (Topál et al., 2019) [1]. Furthermore, dogs that tail chase have been found to cope poorly with stressful situations. Interestingly, male dogs are affected more often than females (Moon-Fanelli et al., 2011 [2]) which is also the case with autism in humans.

In another study, results from a dog owner survey on the social behaviors of Miniature and Standard Poodles indicated autism-like behaviors in individuals of these breeds (Zamzow, et al., 2017 [3]). It has also been found that puppies that react negatively to being touched by a human handler are more likely to be withdrawn from the guide dog training program than more sociable subjects (Asher et al., 2013 [4]). In a study by Protopopova et al. (2014 [5]), dogs that showed a predisposition for stereotypic behaviors differed from the normal population in terms of their cognitive flexibility. The researchers found that they showed increased resistance to extinction in a reversal learning task.

How To Manage Canine Dysfunctional Behavior

There is no known cure for canine dysfunctional behavior. However, identifying your dog’s triggers can be help you manage or avoid the situations that may set your dog off and exacerbate their behavior. It is also important to understand that some aspects of canine dysfunctional behavior may not improve, such as your dog’s social interaction skills, and these dogs are best managed in a way so as to avoid causing distress.

Dogs that have been diagnosed as having canine dysfunctional behavior may benefit from the implementation of a consistent routine including regular exercise and mental stimulation to help minimize stress and anxiety. They may also benefit from behavior modification training to improve their ability to cope with triggering stimuli or situations, and in some cases, your veterinarian may prescribe medications to help reduce anxiety and compulsive behaviors.

References:

[2] Moon-Fanelli, A. A., Dodman, N. H., Famula, T. R., & Cottam, N. (2011). Characteristics of compulsive tail chasing and associated risk factors in Bull Terriers. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 238(7), 883-889.

[3] Zamzow, R. M., Lit, L., Hamilton, S., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2017). Characterizing autism-relevant social behavior in poodles (Canis familiaris) via owner report. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 131(2), 139.

[4] Asher, L., Blythe, S., Roberts, R., Toothill, L., Craigon, P. J., Evans, K. M., … & England, G. C. (2013). A standardized behavior test for potential guide dog puppies: Methods and association with subsequent success in guide dog training. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 8(6), 431-438.

[5] Protopopova, A., Hall, N. J., & Wynne, C. D. (2014). Association between increased behavioral persistence and stereotypy in the pet dog. Behavioural processes, 106, 77-81.

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No, it’s not because your dog is suddenly terrified of his food bowl, or that he’d rather have a blue bowl than a red one, or that he just likes to make a mess. However, even researchers and dog behaviorists can’t say with absolutely certainty why some dogs exhibit this carrying-food-to-another-place behavior. The best these experts can offer are theories about why some dogs prefer to eat their food somewhere other than their food bowl.

As with so many dog peculiarities like digging, or licking, or circling before lying down, there’s general agreement that part of the answer lies in the domestic dog’s wolf ancestry. When the pack made a kill, the parents would feed first, after which the juveniles would have to compete for the best pieces, then drag them away to avoid having to fight the rest of the pack for them. “Fighting is obviously very risky,” explains Dr. Julie Albright-Keck with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, “so most animals, especially subordinate ones, will go to great lengths to avoid an altercation.”

A slightly different take comes from some experts who think that dogs who feel chronically vulnerable or who exhibit a lower social status could be more motivated to carry their food to a different place so no other dog can get to it—even if they’re the only dog in the home. Again, this could be related to the tendency among the dog’s wild ancestors for young or more passive members of the pack to grab their share of the kill, then take it somewhere else to guard it from competitors. “Even though a domestic dog may not be in danger when eating, it may be that instincts override everything else,” explains veterinary health expert Dr. Gary Richter.

This food-moving behavior doesn’t appear to be associated with specific breeds. While some studies show that smaller dogs do this more than larger dogs—many going so far as to carry their entire food bowl elsewhere—other experts have found that more wolf-like dogs such as Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, and Great Pyrenees also tend to take their food to other places to eat it.

Another theory is that some dogs may take their food to another place to eat it because of the desire for companionship. We know that wolves hunt and eat in a pack, and there’s a chance that your dog wants its “human pack” with him while he eats. “By nature, dogs are social creatures and the company can motivate them to eat,” says canine behavior expert and trainer Shelby Semel.

Dr. Liz Stelow of the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine echoes this sentiment, explaining that the reason some dogs want companionship at mealtime may be because they receive an emotional reward for eating. “Some owners create a relationship with the dog around food,” she says, “especially if he has a history of being a picky eater.” Over time, the dog has come to expect—and enjoy—his caretaker’s verbal encouragement, possible hand-feeding, and general attention. This can lead to the dog feeling more rewarded by eating in the caretaker’s presence than alone.

Another possible reason your dog might be taking food from his bowl is the bowl itself. “If you’re feeding your dog from a metal bowl,“ explains Dr. Holly Ahlgrim, Urgent Care veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center of Seattle, ”it’s possible that the clinking sound created by food being pushed around, or a dangling collar tag, may be irritating or upsetting your dog. They may be chewing their food away from the bowl to avoid the sound.”

A related issue is the dog who, contrary to taking his food somewhere else to eat it, won’t let anyone near it. It’s a perfectly normal canine behavior to protect a food source, since in the wild, food protection behavior evolved to keep other dogs away from a meal. Even though in most cases the modern family dog doesn’t really need to protect his food from a scavenger, this behavior is innate, harkening back to the dog’s past as a wild animal. This is related to a behavior called caching, where an animal hides or buries a food resource to save it for the future.

But even in wolves, food guarding is less often actual aggression than it is a threat display. This can include growling, baring of teeth, or snapping and while this kind of behavior can be disturbing to us, it seldom results in a bite. In a study of 3,226 dogs, 41 percent of the dogs showed vocal behaviors towards humans during resource guarding, but only 15 percent escalated to biting, and of those, less than 10 percent caused an injury. Regardless, any time a dog exhibits this type of threat display, you need to be extremely careful in your approach to avoid being bitten. If you are at all uncertain of how to address this issue, consult with a qualified behaviorist.

One other strange behavior some dogs exhibit around food is covering the food bowl. Veterinary researcher Dr. Myrna Milani explains that most of the time, the dog that tries to hide their food—whether with a blanket, a pair of socks, or anything else they can find—is uncomfortable with something in their immediate environment that makes them not want to eat at that specific time or in that specific place. “If an animal doesn’t feel secure in its space it won’t eat, no matter how tempting the food you offer it,” she says.  Any number of things can spark that insecurity, including an unfamiliar human or other animal nearby, unusual activity in the home, or even a change in where the dog is being fed. If this behavior happens often, it’s worth doing some detective work to figure out what’s bugging your pup.

In the end, if your dog decides to transport his kibble to the living room to eat it, the worst case scenario is that you step on an errant pellet and have to clean it up. But other than that, there’s nothing to worry about: it’s perfectly normal, if a little exasperating, dog behavior!

The post Why Do Dogs Take Their Food to Different Places? appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

Even renowned scientists and dog behaviorists don’t know for sure. Oddly enough, even though this is a very common canine behavior, there have been almost no formal research studies on the phenomenon. (There is, however, significant research on excessive and prolonged circling that’s related to canine obsessive-compulsive disorder and neurological issues. More on that later.)

Of course, none of this has stopped people from speculating on the reasons for this behavior. One theory is that it’s a holdover from the domestic dog’s wolf ancestors, who needed to check their surroundings for threats before settling down to sleep. Another idea is that dogs circle to chase away any pests that might be hiding in the weeds that would disturb their sleep. Others believe that it’s because dogs need to flatten tall grass and underbrush to make a comfortable “nest” for themselves and their pups.

Let’s take a look at each of these theories.

Looking for Dangers

Dr. Leslie Irvine, who researches the roles of animals in society and is the author of If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection With Animals, relates it to instinctive wolf behavior. “In the wild, the circling would flatten grasses or snow and would drive out any snakes or large insects.”  She also speculates that circling and flattening the area would have left a visible sign to other wolves that the territory was already claimed.

This circling action also may have enabled wolves to position themselves with their noses to the wind in order to quickly pick up on a scent that signaled a potential attack.  One other thought is that ancient dogs could have circled to look around and make sure all their pack members were accounted for before going to sleep.

Getting Comfortable

One reason the dog’s wild ancestors circled may have been to simply create a relatively flat, circular spot to lie in. In tall grass, circling could enable the wolf to pat down the area and scoop out any rocks or other uncomfortable objects with their paws to make a soft spot. Today, of course, most of our companion dogs have soft dog beds or blankets to lie on . . . but like so many instinctual behaviors, the impulse to circle remains.

The notion that dogs circle in order to get comfortable is supported by other animal experts, who are skeptical of the notion that scouting for threats and predators is the reason for this circling behavior. Behaviorist and veterinarian Dr. Christopher Pachel believes the behavior is most likely associated with preparing the ground for a comfortable resting spot. He adds that there could also be what he calls an “unwinding” aspect to circling, which dogs often display when they’re shifting from an awake state to a resting one.

This “nesting” instinct is supported by an experiment run by renowned dog behaviorist Dr. Stanley Coren. He discovered that when dogs are presented with a soft, uneven surface, they are much more likely to turn in circles before they lie down, and often scratch or paw at the material to arrange it to their liking. When are given a flat, smooth surface, far fewer dogs exhibited the circling behavior.

Controlling Body Temperature

After circling, many dogs choose to lie curled up rather than stretched out. This position helps them regulate their body temperatures and conserve heat around the core of their bodies, especially in cold climates. Many Huskies, for instance, curl into a ball to sleep in the snow to prevent heat from escaping; they usually tuck their noses between their hind legs and tails, and cover their faces with their bushy tails, which protects their noses from the cold and allows them to breathe in warm air. At the same time, other pack members will gather together in a tight circle to effectively share body heat.

Aligning with the Earth’s Magnetic Field

Chances are, this is something you didn’t realize (I certainly didn’t!), but studies have proven that under calm magnetic field conditions, at least 30 percent of dogs prefer to eliminate with their bodies aligned along the North–South axis. Why dogs choose to align with the earth’s geomagnetic field when eliminating remains a mystery: do they do it consciously because they can actually sense the magnetic field, or do they simply feel better or more comfortable when aligned to it? It has been posited that the same could be true of dogs’ circling behavior: a way to position their bodies in relation to the earth’s magnetic field. In fact, at certain times several species of mammals spontaneously align themselves with respect to the magnetic field lines, including grazing and resting cattle, roe deer and red deer, and hunting red foxes.

When Circling is a Problem

Usually, we find circling behavior simply curious and amusing, but there are times when circling can indicate serious problems. If you believe your dog is circling excessively or the behavior appears suddenly, becomes more pronounced, or shows up alongside other symptoms, consult a veterinarian.

A dog persistently walking in circles often signals a forebrain dysfunction, which can include brain tumor, stroke, brain inflammation such as encephalitis, or hydrocephalus (brain swelling from a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid).

Another cause of excessive circling can be canine peripheral vestibular disease, caused by lesions in the middle and inner ear that affect balance and can result in persistent circling. It can stem from ear infections, head trauma, tumors, or it may be idiopathic (having no identifiable cause). The idiopathic form is especially common in older dogs, hence the antiquated name, “old dog vestibular syndrome.” Today, however, we understand that this disease can occur at any age, so that term has been replaced by canine idiopathic vestibular disease.

Orthopedic disorders like arthritis, spinal cord, or back problems can also underlie excessive circling, since dogs in pain will often circle to find a more comfortable position.

Persistent circling has also been seen in dogs with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by repetitive, exaggerated behaviors which interfere with normal, activities and functioning. The same is true for dogs with with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). As with human dementia, this is a condition related to the aging of the brain, and is most often seen in dogs nine years old and older. That being said, it’s important not to assume that your older dog’s behavioral changes such as repetitive circling are a result of CDS, since many dementia symptoms can be caused by other medical issues.

In the end, if your pup circles once, twice, or even three times before settling down for a nap, there’s no need to worry. We may not be able to explain exactly why they do it, but there’s no doubt that it’s very normal and predictable canine behavior.

The post Why Do Dogs Circle before Lying Down? appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

The owner was at her wit’s end—a common place to be during puppyhood—saying, “We need to be able to eat in peace!”  She had read that she should teach the puppy “place” so that he’d calmly lie on his bed during dinner hour.

That is a lovely vision, indeed, but it’s a very high bar for a 9-week-old puppy. There’s a more realistic way to create a peaceful kitchen table scene for the humans that works beautifully for your puppy, too.

Why Is he Acting This Way?

First, let’s think about this from the puppy’s point of view. (That is, of course, the smartest kick-off to solving any dog issue. If you want your answers to be long lasting, they have to work for the canine partner, too.)

So, why is the puppy being so annoying during the family dinner? First off, his nose is basically screaming at him: “OMG, there’s food!” A dog has more than 200 million scent receptors in his nose compared to our measly six million. If dinner smells good to you, just imagine what it smells like to him!

Combine that with the deeply rooted survival instincts that tell him to grab nutrition whenever he can, and of course he’s going to make a beeline for your plate.

If that weren’t enough, consider another motivating factor: togetherness. This little puppy only recently left his real family, where he spent every waking hour surrounded by littermates and mom. He’s not used to being alone, and wow does it feel terrific when this whole new family is all together, particularly if they were off at work and school all day.

So, to recap, this little pup is very naturally over-aroused because of the excitement of the food and the thrill of the togetherness. Now that we think about it, we humans can’t get cranky about that, right? As the adults in the room, we just need to help our little toddler navigate this moment in a way that works for us all.

Planning Ahead to Meet your Puppy’s Needs

Since we can expect a pup to have big feelings around our human dinner hour, that means we’re able to make a plan ahead of time. What can we do? How can we structure this regular occurrence to bring out the best in the pup and teach him the behavior we’d like to see? Try putting this three-step plan into action at mealtimes:

1. Address the food issue with a frozen Toppl. Rather than keeping the pup on a different eating schedule, give the puppy his dinner at the same time you sit down at the table, so that he’s busy enjoying his own delicious meal instead of lusting after yours.

If you’re thinking, “But it only takes him 20 seconds to snarf up that scoop of kibble,” you’re right! That’s why you’ll want to freeze his dinner to make it last.

Take that same scoop of kibble, add some water and a spoonful of plain yogurt to make a slurry. If you’re inspired, add a dollop of peanut butter or canned pumpkin. Even more inspired? Add a few veggies like carrots and beans.

Use that concoction to stuff a few Toppls, and then freeze them. (Toppls, a chew-resistant toy made by West Paw, have a wider opening than Kongs, so the pup is more likely to enjoy them to the very last drop.)

If you’re thinking it feels a little mean to make food harder to eat, remember that it is natural for a canine to forage for his food. In fact, this session of chewing and licking will be deeply satisfying for your puppy. Studies have shown that for dogs, chewing and licking can be calming, lowering heart rates and reducing anxiety.

2. Address the togetherness issue with a nearby crate. Rather than isolating the puppy elsewhere during this rewarding moment of family togetherness, make a plan to help him be a part of it.

My favorite way to structure this is to have the puppy’s crate in the kitchen, so that he can enjoy his Toppl while being included in the family dinner. He can listen to his people, smell and see everything — but you’re helping him develop the habit of lying quietly nearby during mealtimes. Keeping him confined but happily busy keeps him from practicing unwanted habits like jumping, biting, barking, and whining.

3. Address the engagement issue with timing. If the Toppl and crate don’t work well immediately at your house, think about what happens for the hour before dinner. Has the pup had a chance to engage with everybody in the room? If they just walked in the door after being away, it may be hard for the puppy to settle.

Try adjusting your timing a bit. Build in a high-engagement 15-minute game in the yard or the rec room to give your pup a chance to connect the way he needs to, before asking him to sit quietly just feet from his favorite people without touching them.

Over time, all of this becomes a deeply ingrained pattern, and trust me when I say that patterns can be the unsung heroes of a relaxed interspecies life. When something simply becomes “how we do it,” there’s no need for a bunch of cues and direction. In this case, the pup starts to look forward to your dinner hour as the time he gets to run to his crate and enjoy chewing and listening.

If you still want to work toward using “place” during dinner, this is a wonderful first step. You are teaching how to hang out quietly nearby the family while they’re eating. Next you can start separately teaching how to go to “place” for a few seconds, then for a minute. As you strengthen those behaviors over time, one day you can marry them in that beautiful “place” on the bed during dinner. But for now, with your little one? The well-timed Toppl-and-crate combination will do the trick.

The post Is Your Puppy Ruining Your Family Dinners? appeared first on Whole Dog Journal.

Maybe all of the above. You can rest assured they’re not doing it to drive you crazy or to exact revenge on you for skimping on their treats.

The Role of Genetics

Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to digging.  In Dachshunds, for example, a key breed characteristic is digging to follow small prey into underground burrows and tunnels. This instinct is so strong that merely finding a disturbance in the soil can be enough to stimulate their prey drive, and thus inspire the digging behavior. The same is true for breeds like terriers, beagles, schnauzers, and even hounds. And of course, when those dogs end up discovering a tasty morsel like a grub after digging—or they actually encounter that elusive gopher, which in turn triggers a wild and gleeful chase—that digging behavior gets reinforced.

That being said, it’s important not to equate breed with behavior: although a dog’s breed can help us predict how likely a certain behavior is to occur, breed alone isn’t responsible for an individual dog’s disposition: in fact, breed accounts for less than ten percent of a dog’s overall behavior. Certified behaviorist Victoria Schade says that “a dog’s overall life experience is a better predictor of the way they’ll interact with the world around them than what their breed standards says.”

And yet, all dogs are “hard-wired” to dig: their ancient ancestors dug to locate or hide food, to find a place to give birth, to create dens to keep their pups safe and warm, to mark their territory, to find cooler ground to lie in on hot days. Even though many of these traits have no real purpose in our modern world, they’re so engrained in dog DNA that the behavior endures. As annoying or destructive as it may appear to us, in most cases digging is a perfectly rational, innate canine behavior.

In recognition of this, the AKC has even developed an Earthdog Test that measures how good a “digger” your dog really is in pursuing and finding rodents underground.

Other Reasons That Dogs Dig

Studies have clearly shown that not just a dog’s breed, but his personality, current environment, anxiety level, as well as earlier life experiences can have a profound effect on digging behavior. For instance, if you live in a place where summers are hot and your dog is a thick-coated Nordic breed like a Samoyed, Siberian Husky, or Malamute, you’re much more likely to see them digging a hole to get to the cooler ground below.

Aside from instinctual hunting impulses and the desire to regulate their body temperatures, there are other reasons why your dog might become a digging fool.

Hoarding. In their wolfish past, canines instinctively dug holes in order to stockpile food for lean times or for winter when food was scarce. This can be seen in today’s dogs, when even though their caretakers provide ample food, they may revert to this behavior by burying items like bones.

Escape. In most cases, escape routes involve digging under, jumping over, or even climbing up fences. These canine escape artists might want to reach another dog for play or mating, they might have been prodded by a child teasing them from the other side of the fence or another dog acting aggressively, they might want to socialize with humans at a neighborhood get-together (or, like my dog Frankie, simply hang around construction workers at a neighbor’s house because she thinks that being with people means it’s a party), they might have been frightened by something in the yard, or they may simply want to explore.

Attention-seeking. It may seem counter-intuitive, but some dogs dig holes in order to get their caretaker’s attention. It doesn’t matter if the human’s reaction is negative, because for the dog, simply having the attention of their caretaker is enough. Certified animal behaviorist Maddie Messina explains it this way: “If digging earns them attention from their human companions, dogs may continue the behavior as a means of seeking interaction. There’s nothing more rewarding to a social animal like a dog as their human giving them attention, so if a dog learns this works for them, the unwanted behavior will be reinforced.” And it will continue.

Lack of space or exercise. Animal researcher Dr. Johannes Odendaal makes the point that large and active dogs kept in a small back yard often suffer from insufficient exercise due to lack of space. Unless their caretaker takes pains to walk them frequently, digging can become their way of exercising.

Anxiety or boredom. Some types of dog behaviors have boredom or stress as an underlying cause; digging becomes just another way for them to cope with tedium, extreme energy, or emotions. Research shows that separation anxiety in particular can cause many destructive behaviors, including compulsive digging. For instance, if a dog with separation anxiety is confined in a yard while their caretaker is away, it may start digging, explains veterinarian Dr. Stacy Johnson. “These dogs may incessantly dig—even to the point of injury—to reunite with their owner.” A dog that’s highly motivated to do something but is physically unable to do it may start digging in frustration: an example would be a dog that feels territorial aggression toward another dog, but is prevented from acting on that territoriality because it’s behind a fence.

Play. We know from interacting with our dogs that their mouths and front legs are the main sources of their kinetic energy: they play tug-of-war, carry around toys, wave their legs in the air when they get a belly-rub, and use their feet to paw at us. It makes perfect sense that if they’re looking for a way to entertain themselves, they’ll chew on an object or dig holes. (Or dig a hole and bury their treasure in it!) We humans may see it as destructive behavior, but for the dog it’s probably just a form of play.

To scent-mark. Observational studies show that dogs often dig at or scratch the ground after urination or defecation, which can deposit scent from the urine or feces as well as from the scent glands on their feet. In addition, some researchers believe that the ground disturbance may act as a visual cue to other animals. However, at this point these theories are very speculative, since the behavior hasn’t been formally researched enough to arrive at unequivocal conclusions. “Stand by for more discussions of why dogs ground scratch,” says ethologist Dr. Mark Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals. “There still is much to learn, and it’s clear that there is much more going on than meets our eye.”

When Digging Becomes a Problem

If your dog is being truly destructive in his digging, one strategy is to redirect and reward him for digging in a designated digging spot. That might be something like a corner of the yard, a sandpit or sand pile, or even a kiddie pool containing either sand or scraps of old fabric and toys.

If the behavior appears to be extremely repetitive or compulsive and the dog is in genuine distress, you need to get professional veterinary advice so she can be properly diagnosed and treated.

As for training your dog not to dig, that can be problematic at best. First, you need to determine what’s at the root of his problem digging. Is it boredom? Lack of exercise? Frustration? Aggression? Is he just having fun? Or is there something more serious going on that needs veterinary consultation? Each one of these causes requires a different approach and, unfortunately, the reality is that no matter what you do, you’ll probably be unsuccessful in your efforts to make him stop, since digging is as natural to him as eating.

But no matter what the underlying reason is for your dog’s digging proclivities, chances are that you may have to simply grin and bear it and recognize that she’s just being a dog.

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