Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. If he is running a fever and unwell he should be fully assessed by a vet and treated as appropriate. Keep him warm and well rested and offer plenty of soft, moist food until you can arrange an appointment for him

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Researchers suggest the main cause of aggression in dogs stems from territorial behavior: Children under the age of 6 were more likely to be bitten when a dog felt the kids were threatening to take his food or toys. Older children were bitten when the dog felt the kids were intruding on his territory.
Can dogs live together after fighting? The answer is, most of the time, YES. There are times when dogs may be like an incompatible couple and need to divorce, but in general, there are things you can do to help combative pups get along.
If your dog growls at your child he is sending a clear warning that he is very uncomfortable with the actions or proximity of the child. Be grateful that your dog chose to warn with a growl rather than going straight to a bite.
Is training an aggressive dog possible? Yes. Aggression in dogs, whether it be toward a dog`s owner or other dogs, is a serious behavior that should be adjusted with the help of a professional dog trainer.
If it was a quick bite, remove your child, and don`t try to punish your dog. Bring the dog into another room or place them in their crate. Of course, if it`s a more violent situation, do whatever it takes to get your child away from the dog.
A dog that`s concerned about the proximity of kids might keep his tail tucked and have his ears plastered against his head. He might shake off as if he`s wet, lick his lips or mouth area repeatedly—as if tasting the air—yawn frequently, or even growl quietly.
Forgiveness brings stress relief.

While it seems dogs do forgive after a fight, there`s still a lot more to learn about reconciliation in dogs. In some multi-dog households, it doesn`t always work out. Shyan-Norwalt has observed dogs in the same family who did not reconcile but instead separated after every conflict.

Punishment should be avoided. The dog-dog relationship will not be improved if you scold, punish or hold down a dog as punishment; in fact you may make it worse by punishing the dog for signaling and communicating their aggressive intentions.
Fights have their own set of body language that can help you identify when an intervention is needed. Tense body language such as a tucked tail, stiff movements, deep growling, and snarling are cues that the dog is under stress. Most dogs will try to get away from the situation if they are uncomfortable.
Our research shows that for many dogs, play fighting is the primary method used to negotiate new relationships and develop lasting friendships. Although play is fun, it also offers serious opportunities to communicate with another dog.
Dogs use actions called “play bows” to ask other individuals to play and also while they`re playing to punctuate play bouts to admit they`re wrong and say something like, “Sorry I bit you so hard—this is still play regardless of what I just did.
Your dog needs to back away, not you. Stay calm and firm and hold your ground. Communicate that this is not acceptable behaviour, it won`t intimidate you and that they need to solve their problem in a different way. As long as you are assertive, not aggressive, your dog will never be offended.
Like territorial behavior, protective aggression usually appears as puppies mature into an adolescence or adulthood, at one to three years of age. Many dogs show the tendency to guard their possessions from others, whether they need to or not.
Even though dog aggression is among the most serious behavioral problems you might have to deal with, it is still just that – a behavioral problem that can be corrected. It is one of the more difficult to handle though.
It`s time to get concerned if your puppy bites a lot or tries to bite you every time you touch the dog. If your puppy aggressively or viciously tries to bite or if a snarl or growl accompany the attempt to bite, you need to take action.
Most dogs that bite do not need to be put down.

You should use modern no-harm training methods and take proper precautions when your dog is around others. However, if the attack leads to a criminal charge, the court may determine the dog is a danger to public safety and may require that they be euthanized.

Not sure? Don`t risk it. A simple test you can try is to remove the child from the situation and then see if the dog comes back to the child for more attention. This will tell you if the dog was enjoying the interaction (comes back for more), or just tolerating it (stays away, or leaves the scene).
Understand Why Dogs Lunge

The least likely is aggression. Although rare, some dogs truly want to do harm. Fear is a far more common motivator. Using the “I`ll get it before it gets me” strategy, dogs lunge to try to make the feared person, dog, or other object go away.

For minor scrapes and abrasions, parents should thoroughly clean their child`s wound with warm water and soap and keep it covered with an antibiotic ointment and bandage. Immediate medical care should be sought for more serious wounds and injuries, such as bites that: Have broken through the skin.
They mouth or nip during play, or out of excitement or impatience: Some dogs may mouth your hand or nip at your heels while playing with you, especially when they`re excited or being chased. Herding breeds and those with a higher prey drive may also nip or bite as a natural instinct.
Sure, they don`t like that we`re yelling, but do they actually know that we`re upset? Well, according to science, the answer is actually yes! Depending on the behaviors we exhibit when we`re mad, dogs will recognize them and react differently.
Your dog may experience a range of emotions immediately after the attack – shock is a common symptom and you may see your pet physically shaking from the increased adrenaline pumping through their system.
The instant you feel your puppy`s teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
If your pet is breathing heavily, or faster than 40 breaths per minute, or if their gums are pale/blue/purple you should seek emergency veterinary care immediately. If your dog is limping or unable to walk, they need to see an emergency veterinarian. Dogs can be stoic and hide their pain very well.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. How do I get my dog to stop chewing on things? I kennel her when I leave for a few hours, but I can’t go to the mailbox without her eating something.
ANSWER : A. If she’s young, then this is just normal puppy behavior. Don’t worry about it. The thing about puppies is, they explore using their mouths. If your puppy grabs a coat hanger, or a slipper, you should roll up a newspaper, and smack yourself on the head with it for leaving those things out.. your puppy is going to explore things, that’s normal! It is 100% up to YOU to keep those things away from your puppy when your puppy is unsupervised… even for just a moment.

Remember to never scold your puppy for grabbing these things. They are just curious little cuties, and they don’t chew things up to bother us.. Dogs do not have intentional thought, so they aren’t ever doing anything ON PURPOSE to us.. The most important thing you can do when your puppy is chewing something you don’t want her to be chewing is TRADE her the inappropriate item with a toy of hers, so she understands “no honey, that isn’t what puppies chew on… THIS is what puppies chew on!” and then begin playing with her using her toy to show her that TOYS ARE FUN.. Way more fun than a boring ol’ coat hanger.

Another helpful thing you can do is have two bags of toys. In each bag is many different kinds of toys. Lots of chew toys, lots of soft squeaky toys, lots of rope-type toys, a bunch of balls.. All kinds of things! For one week you have bag#1’s toys out for your puppy to play with.. At the end of the one week, you collect those toys, and you bring out bag#2! The toys will be more interesting/feel like new to your puppy, which will in-turn, make her chew less inappropriate things. Her toys are too fun to care about that dumb Wii-mote that you left laying around.

Hope this helps!

Read Full Q/A … : Stop Dog Chewing – Put A Stop To Your Dog's Or Puppy's …

Q. My puppy is urinating a lot. And the lady I gave one of the puppies to said she thinks her puppy has diabetes could my puppy have it to
ANSWER : A. It is not likely that either one of these puppies has diabetes. It is very uncommon for a puppy that young to have diabetes. If your puppy is straining to urinate or is urinating very small amounts frequently and cannot seem to wait for very long between urination, he may have a urinary tract infection. It is quite possible that your puppy is completely normal. I would suggest an exam with your veterinarian and discuss the behavior with them. They may suggest a urinalysis. Your puppy should be going to the vet at 3 week intervals for vaccinations at this age, so you can discuss it when he has his next set of vaccines. The other person with the other puppy should also be taking hers to a vet for proper immunizations and she should also discuss her concerns with her vet.

Read Full Q/A … : When my dog goes pee it is dark and thick. – Questions …

Q. My almost one year old puppy is fighting a child what can I do for him he will feel find one minute and sick the next
ANSWER : A. If he is running a fever and unwell he should be fully assessed by a vet and treated as appropriate. Keep him warm and well rested and offer plenty of soft, moist food until you can arrange an appointment for him

Read Full Q/A … : Puppy Aggression And Dominance – Your Questions Answered

Q. How long should I feed puppy food to my puppy?
ANSWER : A. A puppy should be given puppy food from around the time that the mother begins weaning her pups until the puppy reaches about the age of one year. This is generally true for all dogs, unless your veterinarian has concerns about your puppy’s growth. Under those circumstances, your veterinarian will make alternate recommendations for your puppy’s diet. Otherwise, around one year, you may begin giving your puppy an adult formula dog food at meal times.

Read Full Q/A … : What should you feed a puppy?

Q. I have 2 puppies that I think may have parvo, the little one is throwing up thick bubbly puke and watery stool. Can the vaccinated mom still get sick?
ANSWER : A. If you suspect one or both of your puppies have parvo, it is best to bring them into a vet for care. Parvo is a very serious and contagious disease and it can kill puppies without proper treatment.

As Parvo IS very contagious, it is best to keep the sick puppy isolated from any other dogs in the house. While your adult dog is less likely to get ill due to vaccination, no vaccine is 100%. Your other puppies if not vaccinated are also very likely to get ill. Be sure to thoroughly clean any surfaces your sick dog comes into contact with as Parvo can live in the environment for up to several months if not properly cleaned.

If your puppy is very ill, your vet can run a fecal test to look for Parvo. Parvo symptoms usually include vomiting and diarrhea that often is blood-tinged. Parvo can cause dogs to become very dehydrated and unable to keep food, liquids or medications down and usually require hospitalization and IV fluids to provide medications and nutrition while they are ill.

Read Full Q/A … : Parvo In Dogs: Warning Signs And Prevention of Parvovirus

Q. My 8 month old puppy is chewing off her hair. She does not chew to the point of raw skin, only the hair. Any ideas?
ANSWER : A. I’d agree with the answer below, and I’d add that with a puppy as young as yours the most common cause of chewing is external parasites and fungal disease. It’s important to realize that almost always, chewing is caused by being itchy. It’s essentially a way that dogs scratch.

The first thing to do is to rule out parasites. Even if you don’t see fleas, treat her for fleas. Use a good product like Frontline – it’s easy to apply (avoid the hairless areas, it should be placed between the shoulderblades. You should also consider that your dog might be getting bitten by mosquitos – a common problem in thin-skinned dogs, and depending on where you live they can still be a problem this time of year.

Your vet also needs to perform a scraping of the skin to rule out mites. And again…even if no mites are found, I would recommend treating for them. They are almost as common as fleas in puppies, and depending on her recent situation (rescued from a shelter?) stress can depress the immune system and cause a mite infestation to take hold.

And finally, ringworm, which is actually a fungal disease, should be ruled out. It’s also almost universally related to conditions, like overcrowded shelters, but it does happen and puppies are more susceptible.

One more note: allergies are possible, but other things are probably more likely at this point. If your vet doesn’t know what to do, I would recommend looking for someone who does.

Read Full Q/A … : 7-to-12-Month-Old Puppy: What to Expect – Dogster

Q. What solid food should I start 4 week old Pit Bull puppies on?
ANSWER : A. A puppy food designed for large breed puppies can help with rapidly growing bones and joints and can be given in a wet form easily to puppies learning to eat solids. You can also provide a dry kibble for them to try and should moisten it with water or some formula to make it easier for the puppies to eat and digest. As the puppies grow and their teeth come in, they will begin to eat and explore more of the solid food on their own.

Mom should also be on a Puppy formula while nursing her puppies as it will provide extra nutrients to both her and babies while they are in a very rapid stage of growth!

Read Full Q/A … : When to Start Feeding Puppies Solid Food? – Pets

Q. How do I tech my puppy to tell me when he needs to go outside to go potty?
ANSWER : A. I would suggest that you have a one on one consultation with a Petcoach consultant such as myself and I would suggest that you sign your puppy up for a puppy class. Puppy class Dog trainers help teach their students everything and anything concerning puppy care and training. They can help you with potty training, biting, chewing, toys, care, commands, ect. Also you will be able to socialize your puppy with other puppies at a young age which you NEED to do! If you have a dog that was never socialized with other dogs it will become fearful and even aggressive and bite other dogs later in life.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Teach a Dog to Tell You when He Wants to Go Outside

joliana smith

My name is Sarah Smith and I am a dog owner, lover, and trainer. I have been working with dogs for over 10 years and have a passion for helping them learn and grow. I am a certified dog trainer and specialize in positive reinforcement methods. I believe that all dogs can learn and that the best way to train them is to build a strong relationship based on trust and respect.