You’ve seen it a hundred times: one minute, your dog is a perfect angel. The next, they’re a blur of fur, tearing laps around the coffee table, skidding across the floor with a wild look in their eyes. It’s a scene of pure, unbridled chaos… and it’s completely normal.
Aggression is the number-one reason dog owners reach out to me. It’s also one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood behavior problems. When someone says, “My dog bit me,” or “My dog bit someone,” fear and frustration often take over—and myths quickly fill the gaps where knowledge is missing.
People often ask me, “Scott, what’s the number one thing I should pay attention to in my dog’s behavior?” It’s a fair question. As dog owners, we’re told to keep up with diet, exercise, training, socialization, enrichment, vet visits, and the list goes on and on. All of that matters.
When people ask me, “Who makes the best dog owner?” they usually expect me to name a type of person. Maybe someone who works from home or someone with a big fenced yard. Maybe they’re thinking about people who had dogs as kids and grew up knowing all the basics.
But the truth is, none of those things guarantee success. I’ve seen dogs thrive in apartments and struggle in sprawling houses with massive backyards. I’ve met first-time dog owners who completely turned a difficult case around, and I’ve seen seasoned dog people miss the mark.
When a dog shows aggression, it’s natural to want the problem solved quickly. Many owners, hoping for a fresh start, turn to “board and train” programs—where a dog lives at a training facility for days or weeks, receiving daily sessions with a trainer.
It sounds ideal: the trainer “fixes” the problem while you go about life, and you get your dog back transformed. Unfortunately, for aggression cases, the reality can be far more complicated—and in some cases, harmful.
I want to talk about something a lot of dog owners overlook, but it can make a huge difference in housetraining and behavior issues—properly cleaning up dog accidents. Whether you're dealing with a young puppy or a dog who’s marking in the house, the way you clean up after them matters more than most people realize.
Why Scent Matters More Than the Mess
When dogs eliminate inside, it’s not just an accident; it’s communication. Dogs use scent the way we use text messages. Whether urine or feces, it leaves a calling card: “Hey, this is a place where I go.” And if that message doesn’t get fully erased, your dog might keep going back and “resending” that message.
Deciding to euthanize a dog for behavior reasons is one of the most painful choices a dog owner can face. Unlike terminal illness, where the outcome is clear, behavioral euthanasia involves weighing quality of life, safety risks, and ethical responsibility.
As a dog behavior expert, I’ve seen cases where euthanasia was the last—but kindest—option. Let’s discuss when it might be appropriate and how to navigate this emotional and difficult decision.
Cesar Millan, it’s time to apologize to dogs. For years, you’ve pushed these four myths, and now, science is calling for a reckoning.
If you’ve ever watched The Dog Whisperer, you’ve seen Cesar Millan in action, calmly walking a pack of dogs, correcting bad behavior with a sharp "tsst," and preaching about "dominance" and "being the pack leader." His methods look effective on TV, but here’s the problem: most of what he promotes isn’t backed by modern dog behavior science. In fact, some of it is downright harmful.
We all think we know what punishment looks like when it comes to dogs. Ask most people, and they’ll say, “Oh yeah, that’s stuff like hitting, spanking, shock collars, jerking the leash, or prong collars.” And yes, those are all forms of punishment—but they’re not the whole story.
Aggression in dogs is a complex behavior that normally stems from fear rather than inherent hostility. Understanding the root cause of aggression is crucial for effective management and rehabilitation.
Fear is the primary driver of aggressive behavior in dogs. When a dog perceives a threat—be it a person, another dog, or an unfamiliar object—it may react aggressively to protect itself.
Dealing with the death of a dog is one of the hardest experiences we face in life. At least that’s how it has been for me. If you don’t love dogs, you might not understand. The grief is deep, but a poem titled The Rainbow Bridge has offered comfort for over 65 years to grieving dog owners worldwide.
About ScottScott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a certified dog behaviorist. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression and phobias in dogs six months and older. Learn More |
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Understanding your dog's barking can offer deep insights into their emotional states. In our latest podcast episode, Barbara Sheaffer sits down with seasoned dog behaviorist Scott Sheaffer to unlock the mysteries of canine communication. We leave no stone unturned in our quest to provide a long-term solution to incessant dog barking.
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In recent years, an alarming rise in dog aggression has been observed globally, raising questions about the root causes and potential solutions. Our latest podcast episode, featuring dog behavior specialist Scott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, delves deep into this multi-faceted issue, offering expert insights and effective strategies to address it.
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In our latest podcast episode titled "6 Things Parents Need to Know to Keep Their Kids Safe Around Dogs", we take a deep dive into the often misunderstood world of canine behavior, particularly focusing on the safety of children around dogs.
Understanding dog behavior is critical in ensuring child safety. It is essential to know that even the most friendly family pet can exhibit aggressive behavior in certain situations. This episode emphasizes the importance of supervision, not only indoors but also outdoors, where children might encounter unfamiliar dogs.
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Our pets are an integral part of our lives. Their happiness and wellbeing are often tied to our own. But what happens when our canine companions display aggressive behavior? Is it merely bad behavior or is there more to it? This is the topic of my latest episode with the same title on Dog Aggression Answers podcast. This short article provides a summary of this episode.
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If you're a dog owner, you've probably had that moment when your dog starts barking, growling, or showing signs of aggression toward a stranger. It's a situation that can leave you puzzled, wondering why your otherwise friendly canine companion is suddenly acting out. This behavior is often perceived as a dog's instinct to protect their owners. However, is this really the case?
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Human aggression in dogs is a serious issue that can’t be taken lightly by dog owners. But where do you go to get help for dog aggression to humans? We’re excited to provide a new resource that is free and available to everyone.
Before I tell you about this new resource, I need to briefly explain why dog aggression to humans can’t be ignored.
It’s a problem that affects not only the dog, but also its owners and everyone around them. While aggression can manifest in various forms, including growling, barking, snarling, or even biting, the consequences of ignoring or mishandling this issue can be detrimental to all involved.
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Barking in the backyard is a common behavior for dogs, and humans don’t always appreciate it on either side of the fence. What many people don’t know is that the act of barking can be a self-rewarding behavior for dogs – they like barking! We need to get it under control, as it typically only gets worse for a number of reasons.
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Summer is around the corner and it’s going to be hot, especially here in Texas! There’s no excuse not to mentally and physically exercise your dog every day, even when it’s really hot outside. I’ve provided you with 14 ways you can exercise your dog below; most of them can be done inside.
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No one can guarantee that a dog, even your own, will not bite your child. Some dog owners think their family dog would never hurt a flea, much less bite their own child. Remember that dogs are animals and, given the right circumstances, may respond to your child by biting.
Read MoreAs you prepare to dive headfirst into behavior modification for your beloved pet dog, make sure you’ve covered all the essential prerequisite tools and supplies. In this episode, I explain the three main things every dog owner should have before treating dog aggression: equipment, management and owner education.
Read MoreCheck out my new weekly podcast named "Dog Aggression Answers!” This podcast provides insights and treatment ideas for dogs with all types of aggression.
For more information, click Dog Aggression Answers.
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A new client, Jean (not her real name), and her dog, Bear, greeted me at the door for their first dog behavior session a few months ago. It was obvious from the second I laid eyes on Bear that he had fear issues with humans. This was obvious from Bear’s body language. He was definitely acting a bit grumpy toward me, with some growling and lunging.
Bear was a 130 pound, 20-month-old Great Dane. I know what you’re thinking: “aren’t Great Danes friendly dogs?” Mostly, but not always. Jean quickly informed me that Bear had bitten someone for the first time recently but that she was not worried about him biting again. She claimed that he was “getting better.” She further stated that the bitten person didn’t require any medical care, so it wasn’t “that bad.”
She may not have been concerned, but I definitely was - for a number of reasons.
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There is a question I ask my dog clients that can sometimes cause a look of shame. That question is, “Do you regularly walk your dog?” Whether a dog owner routinely walks their dog, or not, can be a litmus test in people’s minds about a dog’s owner (I don’t believe this is a valid test). In other words, if you walk your dog, you’re a good dog owner; if you don’t, you must not be.
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Cultural attitudes about dog ownership have changed fairly dramatically in the 21st century, especially in western countries. When I was a boy growing up in the 1970s in the United States, dogs were considered something that you provided food, water and occasional veterinary care when needed. Most dogs lived in the owner’s backyard virtually 100% of the time. They were not commonly considered part of the family like they are in most households today.
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There are some subjects relating to dog ownership that are quite polarizing. Whether you should crate your dog or not is certainly one of them. Some people view crating dogs as cruel, akin to putting them in a jail cell. Other dog owners view it as a way to give their dog some peace and quiet.
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You hear it all the time:
”I have a bad dog; she’s dangerous.”
”Bill needs to get rid of his bad dog.”
”Debbie’s dog is a bad dog and should be put down.”
Before I go any further, let me expound on the type of “bad dog” I’m writing about, since there are two types. The first type has to do with dogs who have poor manners. By “poor manners” I’m talking about dogs who annoyingly jump on people, chew on shoes, bark constantly, etc. You get the idea. This type of “bad dog” would more properly be described as unruly. I don’t like when people apply the “bad dog” moniker to these types of behaviors, but it’s a more acceptable use of this term than it is with the second type of “bad dog” detailed below.
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Barking is one of the most natural things a dog can do—but when it becomes constant in the backyard, it can strain relationships with neighbors and even cause stress for the dog. The key is to understand why your dog is barking and then take steps to make things quieter and calmer for everyone.
Here are eight ways to stop your dog’s backyard barking: