i have a 3mo. bbm who has start showing some dog aggression while at dog daycare. lots of bites to the face/neck area, pinning/standing over other dogs, HATES high arousal play, and seems to go over threshold very quickly when another dog gets the advantage on him. we attend puppy class, plan on talking with trainers there, but would you have any suggestions on how to keep him socialized while managing his aggression/selectiveness?

From my experience, training would be apart of your daycare experience. You can pay for additional training to help, but whomever is supervising the group should be correcting those behaviors immediately. Daycare shouldn’t just be a free for all, and…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
i have a 3mo. bbm who has start showing some dog aggression while at dog daycare. lots of bites to the face/neck area, pinning/standing over other dogs, HATES high arousal play, and seems to go over threshold very quickly when another dog gets the advantage on him. we attend puppy class, plan on talking with trainers there, but would you have any suggestions on how to keep him socialized while managing his aggression/selectiveness?Read more

I did visits to sled dog kennels this summer while I was in Alaska and the two that I got to see are very successful ones and the dogs love to pull bc they know they get to run. And Jeff King has dog wheels and treadmills where the dogs can run in one spot. But they also can tell f their dogs are getting tired or don’t want to pull or participate and for long races like the Iditarod will send them home if they need to. So like dogs really like to pull things as long as it isnt 2 much like horses

Very cool! I’d love to visit Alaska one day.

postmaster Smiling Dogs
I did visits to sled dog kennels this summer while I was in Alaska and the two that I got to see are very successful ones and the dogs love to pull bc they know they get to run. And Jeff King has dog wheels and treadmills where the dogs can run in one spot. But they also can tell f their dogs are getting tired or don’t want to pull or participate and for long races like the Iditarod will send them home if they need to. So like dogs really like to pull things as long as it isnt 2 much like horsesRead more

Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond to this! In a few years, once I’m finished with school, I’d like to adopt a "middle/ older aged" dog. I’ve been looking at the adoption pages at the local animal shelter and some older dogs seem to have issues like being scared of thunder or unfriendly with strangers. I’m worried about not being able to correct these behaviours. Do you think it’s easier to train a dog from scratch or to correct years of non action from previous owners?

“Easy” is going to depend on the individual dog and your capabilities. There isn’t a right or wrong answer for which one is easier because you could get a dog that was never trained properly and responds perfectly to your…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond to this! In a few years, once I’m finished with school, I’d like to adopt a "middle/ older aged" dog. I’ve been looking at the adoption pages at the local animal shelter and some older dogs seem to have issues like being scared of thunder or unfriendly with strangers. I’m worried about not being able to correct these behaviours. Do you think it’s easier to train a dog from scratch or to correct years of non action from previous owners?Read more

you are always sooo kind to people who ask you questions they should be asking a professional, and your advice is always so nice! i’ve never gotten over my dogblr being recommended as a good gsd blog lmao. i love this blog, seriously, it’s great!! <3

Haha thanks! Yeah, I give advice and my opinions, but I would never want it to substitute seeking professional help. There are some things you should not try to solve via Internet! Aggression is my number one red flag. I…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
you are always sooo kind to people who ask you questions they should be asking a professional, and your advice is always so nice! i’ve never gotten over my dogblr being recommended as a good gsd blog lmao. i love this blog, seriously, it’s great!! <3Read more

I saw a recipe for home-made dog treats, and I want to look into that more. Have you ever tried making dog treats before? What kind of things should I be on the look out for, in terms of bad or unhealthy ingredients and portions?

I’m not much of a baker, I think I’ve made treats before that just used banana, peanut butter, and oats. I like frozen treats you can make with stuff like yogurt, pumpkin, and fruit! Anyone have good recipes??

postmaster Smiling Dogs
I saw a recipe for home-made dog treats, and I want to look into that more. Have you ever tried making dog treats before? What kind of things should I be on the look out for, in terms of bad or unhealthy ingredients and portions?Read more

I need help with my dog. he’s suuuuuper aggressive. he likes to lay on our bed but whenever we move near him or touch him he barks and bites us. he has this window he likes to look out of and when he hears other dogs walking he starts barking and growling at us and at times attack us. if we get near him when he eats he’ll attack us too. his bites aren’t soft and more often than not cut through skin. please help I’m getting terrified of being around him :(

Unfortunately, you need help from a professional. This is not something you should attempt to fix on your own. This is a serious situation, and it is your responsibility to make sure he is evaluated by an animal behaviorist. The…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
I need help with my dog. he’s suuuuuper aggressive. he likes to lay on our bed but whenever we move near him or touch him he barks and bites us. he has this window he likes to look out of and when he hears other dogs walking he starts barking and growling at us and at times attack us. if we get near him when he eats he’ll attack us too. his bites aren’t soft and more often than not cut through skin. please help I’m getting terrified of being around him :(Read more

My Labrador retriever has bi-lateral vocal chord paralysis which makes it harder for him to breath when he is exited. He can be pretty laid back, but he can also get really excited when someone comes to the door or when I feed him. Any tips on calming him down when he gets too exited?

You could teach him a “settle” command. Amp up your dog (in the safest way possible) then abruptly stop and display a calm demeanor. Give him soft pets, have him relax, then reward him once he is sufficiently calm and use…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
My Labrador retriever has bi-lateral vocal chord paralysis which makes it harder for him to breath when he is exited. He can be pretty laid back, but he can also get really excited when someone comes to the door or when I feed him. Any tips on calming him down when he gets too exited?Read more