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Dogs and Open Car Windows

Experts estimate that dogs can catch a whiff of something thatand#39;s one million times less concentrated than what humans can detect With so much sniff power, itand#39;s hardly surprising that they stick their heads out car windows They could care less about the scenery What theyand#39;re after are smells If youand#39;re driving through town at 30 miles an hour and your dog has his nose out the window, he knows whe.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Understanding Your Dogand#39;s Hearing

Dogs hear a lot better than people do, partly because their ears are incredibly mobile They have 15 different muscles that can move the ears in all directions This helps them detect and understand sounds no matter where theyand#39;re coming from Head cocking is a tool they use to hear clearly Dogs shouldnand#39;t be doing it all the time, however When they are, they may need some extra help to hear Spea.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Body Language: Your Dogand#39;s Movements and What They Mean

Dogs use their bodies and paws to express a variety of different things Below are some examples and what they mean Dog crouches with front legs extended, rear up, and head near the ground: This is the classic play-bow and means simply "I want to play!" Stiff-legged, upright posture or slow, stiff-legged movement forward: "I am in charge around here!" and "I challenge you" A dominant dog .....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Interesting Comparison Study With Wolves and Poodles

Some instinctive social behaviors of the wolf may be left unexpressed in the dog simply because the opportunity never arises for them to be expressed in a new social setting But even when dogs range freely in wild or semi-wild circumstances, they show distinct divergences from their wild ancestors As part of his behavioral study of the wolf, Erik Zimen raised a pack of poodles and a pack of wolv.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

The Submissive Dog

The submissive dog, like the fearful dog, will try to appear smaller, but will rarely raise his hackles The submissive dog will either scoot along the ground in a sit position to get closer to the dominant entity or roll over on the ground to expose his belly and genitals, displaying vulnerability to the aggressor The dog may even urinate during this display The head of a submissive dog is held.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Why Dogs Cock Their Heads To The Side

It wasnand#39;t by accident that advertising for the company RCA once featured a dog cocking his head in front of a speaker horn Thereand#39;s something about this position that most people find utterly adorable Dogs know it, too, which is why they do it, even when they arenand#39;t trying to hear anything in particular We give them a positive response, and they remember that Also, dogs tilt their heads for v.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Sending Your Dog Mixed Messages

Dog behavior problems are frequently the result of unclear communication The owner may not even be aware that the messages he is sending to the dog are confusing The owner of a well-trained Standard Poodle was unaware of her confusing messages during an epic long session of grooming The Poodle tired and attempted to sit The owner, wanting the dog to remain standing, yelled "Donand#39;t sit" The dog.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

How Dogs Use Their Tails As Signals and Gestures: Part 2

Tail position is an important indicator of social standing and mental state of a dog There will be some variations, of course, depending upon the natural tail position of the dog: a West Highland white terrier will carry its carrot-shaped tail higher than a golden retriever its flowing, feathery tail, and a greyhoundand#39;s relaxed tail position is lower yet Almost horizontal, pointing away from t.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Measuring Your Dogand#39;s Intelligence

Some dog owners and dog trainers expect their dogand#39;s level of thinking and smartness to be the same of humans, when being trained This mistaken assumption about dog psychology can be devastating to the expectations of both the dog owner and the dog itself Trainers shouldnand#39;t assess canine intelligence against human standards Each individual canine may possess his own unique talent If the occ.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Understanding Why Dogs Roll Around In The Dirtiest Of Things

No one really knows for sure why dogs love to roll in stinky things, but people who study animal behavior have some pretty good idea Some experts believe that dogs like to mark themselves with their territory A dog wearing a bit of woodchuck carcass or horse poop on his neck and shoulders is a lot like a man wearing a big gold chain around his neck It says something about him and where he lives.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

Preventing Fear and Mistrust In Your Dog

Dogs become fearful when the ownerand#39;s correction is too abusive For a correction to be effective and convey accurate information to the dog, it must fit the transgression A puppy that is teething and nips does not need, and will not understand, a correction fit for the dog who has just bitten someone because the personand#39;s hand touched his food dish Unnecessarily abusive corrections will inhibit t.....More on Compass Dog Psychology

The World According To Your Dogand#39;s Eyes

Like tourists who assume everyone speaks English, or should, it is second nature to us to think that the world looks pretty much the same to all creatures, great and small, including our dogs For example, we rarely give much thought to the optical processes that turn light into vision; we assume that our visual version of reality is reality Even those of us who wear glasses fall into this way.....More on Compass Dog Psychology