There’s an unspoken reality in the dog world when it comes to treating dogs with aggression issues toward dogs or even humans. It’s the problem of unqualified dog trainers taking on aggression cases they’re just not equipped to safely and properly handle.

The dog training industry is kind of like the Wild West. In most parts of the world, including the United States, literally anyone can call themselves a “dog trainer” or “behaviorist” without a lick of formal education or experience. One day someone is managing a coffee shop, and the next they’re charging $150 an hour to “fix” aggressive dogs with a shock collar in hand and a YouTube certification.

If your dog suddenly starts staring at "nothing," growling at invisible objects, or acting aggressively out of nowhere, you might wonder, is my dog psychotic? While dogs can display behaviors that seem eerily similar to human psychosis, the truth is more complex—and is often tied to medical or environmental causes. Let’s break down what’s really going on when dogs act "crazy" and what you can do about it.

My daughter brought something to my attention recently that I was completely unaware of. If you have a fairly recent model of Apple’s iPhone (iOS 15 or later), you have an automatic dog breed identification tool! With 350 identified dog breeds in the world, this can be pretty handy.

I show you how to use this feature below.

Almost all dog owners have been there—you call your dog’s name, give a command, and… nothing. Your dog acts like they didn’t even hear you. It’s easy to assume they’re being stubborn and get mad at them, but in reality, dogs don’t ignore their owners out of spite. If your dog regularly “tunes you out,” there’s a reason behind it—and the good news is, you can address it.

First off, let me say this—if your dog has had an aggressive outburst to other dogs or even humans, you’re not alone. Dogs, just like humans, can have moments of fear, frustration, and overexcitement. In dogs, these moments can sometimes cause unexpected aggressive behaviors like growling, barking, and lunging. The good news? There are steps you can take to manage these situations and make your dog feel more secure in those moments.

Dogs are seen as our beloved companions—I know I see mine that way—but when a dog bites someone, the legal implications can be significant. I’ve been involved as an expert witness in many dog bite cases, and from that experience I can tell you that you want to do everything you can to, 1) keep your dog from ever biting someone, and, 2) understand your liability as a dog owner.

There are two things that are absolutely essential when looking for a competent and effective dog trainer or dog behaviorist. I’m going to tell you what those two things are in this article.

Why Choosing the Right Dog Trainer Matters

Exercising caution when selecting someone to help you with your dog’s behavior issues is more important than you may think. Why? Because dog trainers virtually worldwide are required to only have the following in order to train dogs and get paid for it (and even this requirement is optional): business cards.

After working with many thousands of dogs and their owners, here are the top 15 things I’ve learned about dogs and their owners. These are presented in no particular order.

1. Barking is not the problem; it’s a symptom of an issue.
   This is best explained with an example: When dogs bark at people or dogs, they’re usually barking because they want to scare away the scary people or scary dogs (scary to them, that is). The real issue is they are fearful of these things, and the fear/arousal is what needs to be addressed.

When it comes to puppy socialization, the advice can be confusing: should you prioritize behavioral development or protect your puppy from potential health risks? This article explores the pros and cons of taking your puppy to public spaces like dog parks before their vaccinations are complete. We'll also provide guidance on how to balance health and behavioral considerations for your pup.

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many of us feel the weight of the winter season. But have you ever wondered if your dog might feel the same way? While science hasn’t definitively proven that dogs experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) like humans, there’s reason to believe they might. Here’s what you need to know about how the changing seasons can affect your furry friend’s mood and how to help them stay content through the colder months.

Have you ever wondered why some dog trainers still cling to shock collars like they’re a magic solution for all behavior issues? I wonder about this all the time. I don’t understand it, because we now know better.

Animal behavioral science has progressed significantly in the last 25 years, especially when it comes to dogs. Decades of research—on both dogs and humans—have made one thing clear: using fear and pain to modify behavior might work in the short term, but it’s a recipe for long-term problems.

When dealing with dog behavior issues rooted in fear, two factors often stand out as the biggest variables: the dog’s territory and the things it finds scary. Let’s unpack these two and see how they impact your dog’s behavior—and what you can do about it.

Dog owners often wonder if their own stress or anxiety might be affecting their dog's mood and behavior. After all, our pets are incredibly perceptive, and many people report that their dogs seem to pick up on their emotions. But just how much of an influence do our feelings have on them, especially when it comes to anxiety?

I get a lot of questions about handling aggressive behaviors in dogs, and one thing I hear all the time is, "When I punish my dog for being aggressive, it seems to work—at least for a while. Why does the behavior end up getting worse later on?"

I understand your dilemma. You’ve got a dog that’s snapping, growling, or worse, and you’re frustrated. You just want the behavior to stop. It’s completely natural to want to step in and do something about it, and punishment can seem like a quick fix. In the moment, it might feel like you’ve solved the problem because your dog stops what they’re doing. But here’s the thing—what seems like improvement now can backfire later.

Let me explain why.

William looked at me and asked a question that most dog owners probably think about but never seem to ask out loud. He asked, “Scott, you’re the dog expert; what do dogs think about all day?”

To divine the truth in that question, you might think that we need to be able to converse with dogs to discover what’s going on in their canine craniums.

After working with thousands of clients, I’ve found there are four key dog owner perspectives that can predict the likelihood of success in working with dogs with behavior issues. I see the importance of these four elements of successful treatment in every case I work with. They’re all essential and are reliable predictors of success.