Dogs

Behaviour

Behaviour advice for dogs, written from real experience.

Behaviour

How to introduce a new dog to your home

A rushed first meeting is the most common reason two dogs get off on the wrong foot. Here is the neutral-ground, slow-build method that gives dogs the best chance of settling in together.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog guard its food or toys?

A stiff body over the food bowl, a hard stare when you walk near a chew, a low growl if someone reaches for a toy. Resource guarding is common and usually manageable, but it needs the right response, not punishment.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog eat poop?

Coprophagia is one of the most common questions owners ask, usually out of horror rather than curiosity. Here is why dogs actually do it, what genuinely helps, and the few cases where it is worth a vet visit.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog dig?

A cratered lawn, muddy paws, a hole under the fence. Digging is one of the most normal things a dog does, and the fix is almost never "make it stop". Here is what your dog is actually doing, and where to point it instead.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog follow me everywhere?

The bathroom, the kitchen, the two steps to the kettle. Here is why your dog shadows you, when it is ordinary company, and the point at which following tips into something worth working on.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog lick me so much?

Licking is one of the most misread dog behaviours there is. Here is what your dog is actually saying, when it is affection, when it is a request, and when constant licking is worth a closer look.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog eat grass?

Grass-eating is one of the most common things owners ask me about, and it is usually nothing to worry about. Here is why dogs do it, and the few times it is worth a closer look.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

How to help a dog with separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is real distress, not bad behaviour, and it responds to patient training rather than telling off. Here is how to recognise it and help your dog cope with being alone.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why does my dog bark so much

Barking is not one problem but several, and the fix depends entirely on why your dog is doing it. Here is how to work out the cause, and what actually quietens each kind.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

How to keep your dog calm during fireworks

Fireworks terrify many dogs. Here is what actually helps, from preparing a safe den in advance to what to do on the night, and what to avoid.

Sarah Lin

Behaviour

Why your dog won't settle in the evening

You have walked them and fed them, and still they pace, whine, and pester all evening. Here is what is really behind it, and how to teach a dog to switch off.

Sarah Lin