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Third in a series Polly and Holly, our canine pugilist protagonists, were first brought to me for help several years earlier. Their hostility had already become dangerous. Holly the victim was done quaking in her boots when Polly the bully threatened. It was game-on at first sighting. Most people are oblivious to the pecking order among their dogs. And that’s fine. Members of this species communicate among themselves almost continually, nearly all of it with subtle body signals. Those with more stripes on their sleeves quietly require their underlings to step away from the food, toys, or leaders. Ego isn’t part of it. Those on the lower rungs of the social ladder frequently remind their betters that they are in fact so low they have to look up to see down. But with Polly’s anxiety-driven aggression and Holly’s fear of annihilation, none of this was happening anymore. Holly badly needed…

Second in a series We want our pets to have peaceful lives, getting along well with others in our home. Dog fights are deeply disturbing. Everybody wants these conflicts solved fast, simply, and reliably. Sadly, it’s never that easy. Every situation is different and complicated. Aggression between family dogs, more often among females, is the most common problem treated in veterinary behavior practices. In an earlier life, prior to my residency, I surgically repaired some really heinous wounds. Most of these participants in canine domestic violence survived, a few, often involving big dogs assaulting smaller pets, did not. It’s hard thinking back to those tragedies. Tensions can smolder for months or years. Coveted resources like food, toys, and proximity to a pet parent are common triggers. Many people try to quell the antagonism with equal rights. It may be important for children to get the same size cookie at the…

First in a series The brain is considered the most complex organ in the body. No one is perfect because, with 86 billion active neurons in the human mind (only 3-4 fewer cell layers in our pets’) there are a whole lot of ways for behaviors to be different or abnormal. Polly is a 10 year old Australian shepherd mix who shares her home with Holly, a dog of similar age and parentage. They’ve lived most of their lives together and have always, sort of, hated each other’s guts. In addition to two doting pet parents, this active family includes one more dog and a cat. Their house is small; the furniture is big. When one dog wants attention, the other acts as though this resource mat be suddenly and permanently evaporating. Competition seemed nonstop. Lots of dogs jockey for position while trash-talking each other in subtle canine-speak, never really…

Question I have a 2 year old intact female Weimaraner with severe anxiety and reactive behavior. She chews bark, material, paper, nuts, plastics, and her crate. She barks in her crate so much that she stands in her drool. She rubs skin off her muzzle. She is dog reactive. Hesitant with touching except with me and my husband. She is extremely affectionate with us. Dr. Nichol: This big girl is blessed with strong human bonds while suffering from a soul-crushing behavior disorder. Separation anxiety, destructiveness, and agitation toward unfamiliar people and dogs are not rare afflictions. Your Weimaraner deserves a better life. So do you and your husband. Research has shown that most dogs with separation behaviors were genetically predisposed. They’re overwhelmed when home alone. I strongly advise against crate confinement; it worsens their angst, often triggering frantic escape attempts. Lacerated lips, broken nails, and even fractured teeth add physical…