by Gabriel Riesco | Mar 20, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Fun Doggy Wisdom, Mindfulness & Psychology with Dogs
As pet parents, we often anthropomorphize our furry friends and assume they experience emotions similar to our own. One of the common emotions we attribute to dogs is anger. Have you ever wondered if your dog is mad at you? Well, the answer is not that simple.
Dogs do not experience emotions in the same way that humans do. While they can certainly show signs of discomfort, fear, or happiness, anger is not an emotion that dogs experience in the same sense that humans do. However, dogs do have their own ways of communicating discomfort, annoyance, or frustration.
So, how can you tell if your dog is upset?
Here are some signs to look out for:
- Body language: A dog’s body language can tell you a lot about their emotional state. If your dog is upset, they may avoid eye contact, have a stiff body posture, or growl.
- Barking: Barking can be a sign of annoyance, frustration, or anger in dogs. If your dog is barking excessively, it could be a sign that they are upset.
- Refusing commands: If your dog has been trained to follow commands and suddenly stops following them, it could be a sign that they are upset, frustrated or overstimulated.
- Avoidance: If your dog starts avoiding you, it could be a sign that they are upset. They may stop coming to you for attention or treats or may hide from you.
It’s important to remember that dogs do not hold grudges or have long-term memories of negative experiences in the same way that humans do. Never take it personally!
There can be certain triggers that can activate an emotional response that sets them up into a “red zone”. Sometimes this trigger could be a human for a variety of different reasons even if that human never did anything bad to that dog. So, if your dog is acting out, it’s likely due to a recent event, a change in their environment or a trigger that sets him/her off.
In conclusion, while dogs may not experience anger in the same way that humans do, they can still show signs of discomfort, annoyance, or frustration. As pet parents, it’s important to pay attention to our dogs’ body language and behavior to better understand their emotional state. If you think your dog is mad at you, try to identify the cause of their discomfort and make changes to improve their overall wellbeing.
© Gabriel Riesco, Pawmos Dog Training LLC | All Rights Reserved March 2023
by Gabriel Riesco | Feb 22, 2023 | Fun Doggy Wisdom, Puppy Training
Puppies are adorable little bundles of energy that bring joy to many households. As they grow and develop, it’s important to understand at what stage they grow the most. A good frame work is to divide it into basically 4 stages:
The first stage of puppy growth occurs during the first few weeks of life. During this time, puppies are born with a very low birth weight and are primarily focused on survival. They will spend most of their time sleeping and nursing, and will not experience much physical growth.
The second stage of puppy growth begins around the age of 4-6 weeks and lasts until around 3-4 months of age. During this time, puppies will experience a rapid growth spurt, and will gain the majority of their weight and height. This is the stage when puppies will grow the most and where they still need a lot of sleep.
The third stage of puppy growth begins around 3-4 months of age and lasts until around 6-8 months of age. During this time, puppies will continue to grow, but at a slower rate. They will also begin to develop their adult teeth and will start to lose their baby teeth.
The fourth stage of puppy growth begins around 6-8 months of age and lasts until around 1 year of age. During this time, puppies will reach their adult size and will begin to develop their adult body shape. They will also begin to reach sexual maturity during this stage.
It’s important to keep in mind that different breeds of dogs will have different growth patterns and will reach different milestones at different times. However, understanding the general stages of puppy growth can help you better understand and care for your furry friend.
It’s worth to pay attention that puppies grow the most during the second stage of growth, which begins around 4-6 weeks of age and lasts until around 3-4 months of age. This is when they will experience a rapid growth spurt, gaining most of their weight and height. This is also usually when they are still teething and their attention spin is very low, so they can get a little more feisty.
© Gabriel Riesco, Pawmos Dog Training LLC | All Rights Reserved December 2022
by Gabriel Riesco | Feb 18, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Dog Problems. Behavior Modification, Fun Doggy Wisdom
Dogs are known for their playful and curious nature, and a common behaviors is chasing their tail. But why do dogs chase their tails? Here are some of the reasons behind this behavior:
- 1. Entertainment : Some Dogs need more mental and physical stimulation than others. In order to stay healthy and happy sometimes they tend to resort to self-entertainment, such as tail chasing.
- 2. Fixation or obsession. Some dogs can develop an obsession or fixation and they can’t stop doing it for a long period of time. When this happens it feels off and it does not look like entertainment from the outside. Sometimes they can injure themselves
- 3. Instinctual behavior: Chasing their tails may be an instinctual behavior passed down from their wild ancestors. Wild dogs used to chase their tails to catch fleas, ticks, and other parasites.
- 4. As an outlet of excitement and happiness. Some breeds like Pomeranians tend to spin around as an outlet of excitement and expression of happiness.
- 5. Attention-seeking behavior: Dogs love attention, and some may chase their tails as a way of getting it from their owners. If the dog receives positive reinforcement, such as attention, treats or praise, for chasing its tail, it may continue to do so as a way of seeking attention.
- 6. Medical Reasons: In some cases, tail chasing can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as skin allergies, anal gland problems, or neurological disorders. If your dog is excessively chasing its tail, it is important to have it examined by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.
In conclusion, tail chasing is a common behavior among dogs and can be driven by a variety of reasons, including boredom, instinct, attention-seeking, and medical conditions. It is important to understand the underlying cause of the behavior and provide the necessary stimulation, attention, or medical treatment to keep your dog happy and healthy.
© Gabriel Riesco, Pawmos Dog Training LLC | All Rights Reserved December 2022
by Gabriel Riesco | Feb 10, 2023 | Fun Doggy Wisdom
A wet nose on your dog does not mean a runny nose. Your dog is not sick. Quite the opposite, you should look out if your dog’s nose is dry. A dry nose doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog is sick, but it could be a sign of dehydration, so it is always a good idea to keep an eye on their water intake.
Dogs have wet noses for a few reasons. One is that a wet nose helps them to absorb scent chemicals. When a dog sniffs something, the moisture on their nose picks up scent particles and carries them to the olfactory receptors in their nose, which helps them identify the scent.
Another reason is that a wet nose helps dogs to regulate their body temperature. Dogs cool off by panting, which evaporates moisture from their tongues and noses. A wet nose helps to speed up this process, allowing them to cool down more quickly.
Lastly, a wet nose also helps dogs to stay hydrated. Dogs can lose a lot of fluids through panting, so a wet nose is an indication that they have enough fluids in their body to keep them hydrated.
In summary, dogs have wet noses to help them absorb scents, regulate body temperature, and stay hydrated. It’s an important feature that helps them to survive in their natural environment.
© Gabriel Riesco, Pawmos Dog Training LLC | All Rights Reserved February 2023