Dog Behavior - What To Do When Your Dog Is Being Bullied

What are the signs of “dog bullying” and how can you prevent your dog from being bullied by other dogs?

There are dogs out there that bully other dogs when in a “doggie environment”, such as a dog park, dog daycare, or a beach area designated for dogs and their owners. Often, bullying takes place in large groups, regardless of the size. Most of these dog bullies are of the large breed and prey on smaller dogs, although there are also smaller breeds with a strong, dominant personality whom bully on other dogs of all sizes.

The next time you take your dog to the daycare, the park, or other places where there are other dogs around, observe how he behaves toward the other dogs and vice versa. Find out if your dog is being bullied by other dogs or if your dog is the one who does the harassing to other dogs.

Dog bullying comes in many shapes and sizes. You can tell that your dog is being harassed by other dogs if he is being surrounded by them, ganging up on him, jumping at his face, and growling at him, often for no legitimate reason. Below are other signs of a dog that is being bullied by other dogs:

1. A dog that is almost always happy around other people and dogs, but nervous and scared around the “bully” dogs.

3. One that is repeatedly mounted.

3. One that is continually being taken away from his toys, water, or certain spots.

4. One that is being attacked, beaten, pinned to the ground, and pushed around.

5. One that is continually being menaced.

6. In worst cases, one that is being bitten or badly hurt.

These acts are not right and should not be tolerated. Repeated display of these behaviors are not only hurtful to your dog in a physical way, but can also be mentally damaging.

It is important to find out what is causing the harassment to occur among these dogs and put an end to the improper behavior. Some dogs are just real bullies, without any direct reason for acting that way. Keep in mind that in many cases, it only takes one bully to rev up other dogs and follow his behavior. In this case, separating the dog from the playgroup will solve the problem.

Another reason for dog bullying is improper or lack of supervision from the owner or staff member in the day care. Dogs that aren't properly watched over tend to get out of control while playing, and that's when the bullying starts. Therefore, when you take your dog to a day care, make sure that there is enough staff members to supervise all the dogs and that they are being looked after at all times. And lastly, whether it is at the park, the beach, or your neighbor's house, make sure to keep an eye on your dog at all times.

Exercise – Walking, A Great Way To Exercise Your Dog

Exercise – Walking, A Great Way To Exercise Your Dog

Did you know that your dog will become inactive, dull, and overweight if he is confined inside your home for long periods of time? Not only that, but he is also likely to develop some type of behavioral problem like excessive barking or chewing, and will have a tendency to develop an aggressive, destructive behavior. Therefore, exercise is not only important because it keeps your dog happy, it is vital for your dog's physical well-being, as well as his mental health.

Exercise is also an excellent approach for you to bond and spend some quality time with your beloved pal. In addition, exercising your dog is also a great benefit for you personally to stay fit, active, and get your heart pumping. So all in all, exercise is an activity that can benefit both you and your dog and is part of the joy of being a dog owner.

Walking

A simple exercise that you and your dog can enjoy is walking. Your dog requires daily exercise, and walking is an excellent activity that both you and your canine friend can be a part of.

The slow, gentle movement of walking helps you and your dog in several ways: It tones your muscles, provides oxygen to your heart, and is beneficial to your lungs. If your dog is not used to walking or if he is a little overweight, start him off with a short 15 minute walk. Slowly built up the pace as he gets more used to it.

If you are the type of person who loves to just go out for a walk and feel the breath of fresh air, then a 1-2 mile of daily walk is all it takes to keep your dog fit, and maybe even more if you are up for the challenge. Your dog will certainly love it, especially if you have one with a high level of energy.

However, if you do not have the time for long walks, or maybe the idea of walking for 2 miles is simply not your idea of fun, then your dog will be just as happy if you can only take him for a quick walk around the block twice a day.

Dog Parks – 3 Rules Every Dog Owner Should Know When Visiting The Local Dog Park

Dog Parks – 3 Rules Every Dog Owner Should Know When Visiting The Local Dog Park

All across the country, more and more designated property areas are being built specifically for dogs. This is a wonderful trend that should be taking place in every city across the United States. For example, California has dog parks in Runyon Park and Laurel Canyon that became so popular, they were soon overcrowded and new dog parks had to be created. Now across the state in places like San Diego, Long Beach, Palm Springs, and Santa Monica, provide areas that are designated for dog owners to bring their pets to socialize and play with other dogs.

These dog parks are like heaven to our pets. For those of you fortunate enough to have a dog park located near you, you undoubtedly understand how happy these dogs are when running around having fun with the rest of the animals. They get to roam off leash, meet and play with other friendly canines, and even make new friends.

It is almost as if dogs become somewhat human in terms of socialization when they get to be active at a dog park. Dogs get together in groups and form packs, like socialized “clicks” if you will, as people often do. You can even see the smile on their faces as they run from dog to dog meeting each other and forming friendships.

3 Tips For The Dog Owners

Considering how much fun taking your dog to a dog park can be, there are a few mistakes that some dog owners make when visiting these areas. People often forget to properly balance their dog's emotional needs while visiting the park.

1. One of the biggest mistakes most people make is to completely depend on the dog park for fulfilling their dogs needs. In other words, because these areas are so enjoyable for the dogs, many owners start to neglect affection when they are away from the park. Somehow they think that the one or two hours spent at the dog park negates the animal from needing other simulation when away from the park. Doing so may cause your pet to become increasingly detached from you. This will cause behavior problems and distress at home.

2. Another mistake dog owners tend to make is letting their dogs run loose in the park and not looking over them closely enough to avoid problems. The main issue that I am referring to is that of aggression and dominance over other dogs in the area. Because all of the animals will be excitable and full of high energy, it is quite easy to misread your dog and miss the fact that he may be dominating another dog or puppy. While you may consider his actions playful, sometimes they are quite the opposite, and he may be in the process of starting a dogfight.

3. A third issue which you may want to consider when visiting the dog park with your pet is to include yourself in the activity. All too many people come to the park and let their dogs run free while sitting idly aside watching all the fun. You must interact, watch your dog and be careful of other more dominant dogs taking over. Place boundaries and keep your animal behaved. These are things that you cannot do when sitting on the bench reading a book or magazine. Think of your dog as a child, you would never take your child to the park and totally ignore his actions until it's time to go home.