Related Articles
A Dog’s Reaction to a Stranger’s Touch
Some dogs believe everyone they meet is a friend. Other dogs respond depending on how they are approached. Still others will warn a stranger to keep their distance. Touch is a major part of a dog’s life with us. Most dogs enjoy belly rubs, massages, scratching at the base of the tail. Each dog has […]
Resource Guarding Dogs
In another articule, “Why is Your Dog Growling at You”, I wrote about one of my dogs, Murphy, who guarded an old toy that I found partially buried in my front garden. My gentle Murphy went so far as to growl and lunge when I didn’t read her body language correctly. In the 6 years […]
Assessing a Pet’s Temperament
The ASPCA has devised a test called SAFER – Safety Assessment for Evaluating Rehoming. This test is used to predict aggressive behavior in dogs so that if possible, behavior modification may be implemented. The assessment takes place out of the kennel in a quiet room and lasts about 10 minutes. Trained professionals usually perform the […]


