10,460 answers about dogs
From a puppy’s first feeding schedule to a senior dog’s comfort care, dog owners ask it all — this page gathers the dog library of KinsLe Answers in one place. Browse by topic below, from feeding and training to health, grooming, safety and travel. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
885 answers in Behavior & Training — page 32 of 37
Cocker Spaniels usually get along well with cats, especially when socialised with them early, because the breed is affectionate, people-focused and eager to fit into family life. Two spaniel traits need managing. The first is flushing instinct: a Cocker bred to burst birds from cover may dart after a cat who suddenly…
Chihuahuas with cats — often surprisingly good with cats, since they are similar in size, though a Chihuahua may be bossy with a cat and should never be left to bully or be bullied — calm introductions still matter. Watch the first meetings rather than the breed label: a Chihuahua who settles near the cat within days…
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are usually one of the easier dogs to settle with a cat. This is a gentle toy spaniel bred for laps and companionship, with a soft temperament and generally modest interest in chasing, so a Cavalier introduced gradually will often share a sofa with the household cat. The issue is…
Boxers often get along well with cats they are raised with or introduced to carefully, and many become playful, affectionate companions to the household cat. The difficulty is physics and exuberance rather than hostility: a young Boxer is a large, muscular dog who plays with bouncing, pawing and body slams, stays…
Boston Terriers usually get along very well with cats. They are companion dogs with modest hunting drive, roughly a cat's size, and a friendly, people-focused temperament, so a Boston introduced sensibly will often end up playing and napping with the household cat. The cautions are about style rather than intent:…
Border Collies can live peacefully with cats they know well, and many do, but this pairing asks a lot of the owner. A Collie is intensely motion-sensitive: a running cat can trigger staring, stalking, circling and attempts to control where the cat goes, and a young dog may rehearse that herding sequence on the cat…
Bichon Frises are among the easier dogs to pair with a cat: this is a companion breed with little interest in hunting, bred to live closely with people, and a Bichon will typically greet a household cat as a potential playmate or cuddle partner rather than something to chase. The risks are pestering rather than…
Beagles often get along well with cats, helped by a pack-bred, sociable nature: a Beagle raised with a cat, or introduced slowly to one, will typically treat that cat as part of the household group. The complications are scent and appetite rather than hostility. A nose locked onto a trail can carry a Beagle straight…
Australian Shepherds can live well with cats, and many do, especially when they grow up with a cat or meet one through a slow, supervised introduction. The watchpoint is herding: a running cat can trigger staring, stalking and chasing, and some Aussies try to turn or block the cat as if working stock. Tire your dog…
A sudden jump in clinginess usually has a trigger worth finding rather than a dog simply becoming needy. Common causes include anxiety after a move, schedule change, new pet, or household tension; pain or illness that makes your dog seek reassurance; ageing or cognitive change in a senior; and a routine that has…
Sneezing during play is usually communication, not illness. Dogs use a short, exaggerated play sneeze — a quick snort through the nose — to signal that wrestling, chasing, and mock-biting are friendly and not a real fight, and it often appears just as play gets rowdy to keep things calm. You will see it alongside…
Back-sleeping with legs in the air is a sign your dog feels thoroughly safe — few dogs expose their belly in sleep unless relaxed in their surroundings. It is also practical cooling: the belly has thinner fur, so airing it helps a warm dog shed heat, which is why the pose appears more on warm evenings and after…
Curling nose-to-tail into a tight ball is one of the oldest resting postures dogs have. Tucking in conserves body heat, because less surface is exposed to cold air, and it shields the soft belly and vital organs. Dogs also curl when a room is chilly, when they feel unsure in a new place, or because a round bed invites…
A loud sigh is usually your dog exhaling tension as she settles. The classic contentment sigh comes as a dog flops down, rests her chin, and lets out a long breath with soft, half-closed eyes. Context can flip the meaning: a sigh paired with a hard stare at the door, the lead, or you can signal boredom or mild…
That violent side-to-side shake is an inherited hunting move. In the predatory sequence — search, stalk, chase, grab, and shake — the shake is the step that would stun or dispatch small prey, and domestic dogs rehearse it joyfully on toys even though the toy is only fabric and stuffing. Terriers and other breeds…
Shaking, twitching, paddling paws, and soft whines during sleep are usually signs your dog is dreaming. Dogs cycle into a rapid-eye-movement stage much like people, and in that stage muscles twitch, eyes move under closed lids, and quiet whimpers, yips, or growls slip out — puppies and senior dogs often dream…
Pressing against you on the sofa is usually a friendly, deliberate choice. Many dogs lean in because contact feels reassuring, because they enjoy closeness and affection, or because leaning has reliably earned strokes and attention before. A relaxed leaner has a loose body, soft eyes, and settles in happily; a dog who…
Repeated air licking usually has a physical or emotional trigger rather than being a quirky habit. Common causes include nausea or stomach discomfort, dental or mouth pain, anxiety, and a dog simply investigating an appealing smell; less often, episodes where a dog stares, seems unresponsive, and licks or snaps at the…
A lying-down groan is often the canine version of a contented sigh: as your dog flops onto his side, air leaves his lungs in one breath while his muscles let go, and the sound marks him settling in. The groan that deserves attention sounds and behaves differently, arriving with effort or stiffness as he lowers…
Most dogs mouth sticks and stones for ordinary reasons: puppies explore the world with their mouths, teething youngsters chew for relief, and bored dogs pick up whatever crunches. Stones, though, are one of the most dangerous things a dog can swallow: they can crack teeth on the way in and block the intestine if they…
Your dog is usually playing a different game from the one you think you are playing. Dropping the ball a few steps short and backing off is an invitation to chase and keep-away, which many dogs find far more exciting than handing the ball over, and it also happens when a dog has simply never been taught that fetch…
Carrying a toy after a walk is usually your dog bringing its own arousal down. Exercise, traffic, and other dogs leave a dog wound up, and holding something in its mouth gives that leftover energy a job: the carrying, parading, and gentle mouthing are self-soothing, much like a comfort object. Many dogs fold the toy…
Your dog is running an ancient storage programme — wild canids bury surplus food to keep it safe from rivals and scavengers and dig it up later, and domestic dogs inherit the whole sequence: carry the prize away, dig or push at the ground with the nose, and cover it, even on carpet where nothing actually gets buried.…
Fence barking is powered by three forces working together: barrier frustration, territorial arousal, and accidental reward. Your dog can see and smell the passing dog but the fence blocks the greeting or investigation it wants, so arousal spikes with nowhere to go. The fence line also feels like a border worth…
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