Behaviour & Training

Most people think that dogs only wag their tails when they're happy, but is that the truth? Read our article to find out everything you need to know about your dog's most invaluable communication tool and what all the different dog tail signs mean. Your dog’s tail is an invaluable communication tool. Whether it’s long, short, curly or straight, dog tails serve to provide an indicator of how they’re feeling. It’s a common belief that a wagging tail means a happy dog, but this isn’t always the case. Dogs use their entire body to communicate so it often requires you to take a look at the rest of their body language and the situation they’re in to understand how they’re really feeling. We’ve created this handy guide to tell you why dogs wag their tails and what all the different wags can mean.

If you find yourself working a lot or going on a trip where you can’t take your pup with you, you might be wondering about what dog sitting and daycare services are available. Maybe they can’t come on a short holiday with you, or perhaps your working arrangements mean you need regular dog or puppy daycare. Your dog is lucky (and probably very happy!) if you have the freedom to work from home, or if you’re allowed to take them into the workplace. However, it’s completely normal for people who work to need extra help to give their dogs a happy and sociable life. Most healthy, mentally active dogs will be able to amuse themselves for a short while on their own, and if you have two or more pets, they can usually keep each other occupied for longer. But pets need human interaction, and on the occasions when you need to leave your dog alone for longer than four hours at a time (unless they have access to a secure garden via a dog flap or outdoor kennelling to relieve themselves), you should look at puppy or dog sitting services and arrange for someone to take care of them. Some owners rely on the help of a family member or friend when it comes to dog sitting, but of course not everyone has this option! If you need extra help, there is a growing industry of professional carers, including dog and puppy daycare and sitting services. Keep reading to find out what is dog sitting and boarding exactly and the average boarding and dog sitting rates you can expect to pay.

Anyone who’s ever spent time in the company of a dog knows that, just like people, dogs have personalities that are unique to them, and they experience many feelings in exactly the same way as humans and all other mammals. While they don’t experience higher emotions such as shame, spite or contempt, they have the same range of basic emotions as us, such as happiness, sadness, relief, frustration and fear. These feelings are essential in helping dogs learn about the world, and encourage them to behave in certain ways to protect or help them. If a dog feels fear, for example, they’re likely to seek out safety from the threat and gain a sense of relief, while the positive feelings they get from cuddles and grooming encourages good relationships with those around them. Watch our experts decode their expressions, signals, and behaviours.

Dog muzzles often get a bad rap, but did you know there are actually quite a few benefits to wearing them for certain types of dogs and in some cases, legal requirements? Find out more about them and our dog muzzle training tips with this guide. Dog muzzles are fantastic! We know that they get a mixed response from people, but we also know how important they are and have written this article to help you with your dog muzzle training. If you read that and thought, ‘my dog doesn’t need a muzzle,’ then this article is for you. Not only are muzzles perfect for dogs that might be a little bit grumpy, reactive or worried when they’re out and about, they’re also often important to be able to use at the vet's in order to keep everyone safe. Dogs often behave unpredictably when they are in pain – and a vet’s practise can be a scary place. Your dog doesn’t know that your vet is trying to help them and can easily get a bit toothy in their fear or panic. For some dogs in the UK, the law dictates that they must be muzzled – these are dogs who have been registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Section 1. Plus, some dogs (such as Greyhounds – especially ex racers - and other sight hounds) can be a serious threat to cats or other animals, and so wearing a muzzle when they are out and about prevents them from catching, injuring, or killing smaller mammals. And of course, there are those dogs who will eat everything they find when they are out and about – however inappropriate (stones, sticks, people’s picnics…!). For them a muzzle can prevent them from being able to do this while you work on their training. There are many reasons your dog might benefit from wearing a muzzle and if they have been introduced to it gradually and learnt to love their muzzle then any stress that could be accompanied by wearing one goes away.

The fact that you love your dog and want to do your best for them isn’t in question, but do we really understand what our dogs need in order to thrive? Looking after our beloved dogs comes natural. We give them a shelter, food, water and countless cuddles. But is this enough? It turns out dog's needs are just as complex as ours. Luckily, there is a handy visual tool you can use to make sure you take all your pet's needs into consideration for a happy, healthy and fulfilled life together. Linda Michaels (MA)adapted Maslow’s hierarchy to create thedog'sversion of the hierarchy of needs. This helps explain what your dogs need from you and, importantly, what you need to prioritise in order to give your dog the life they deserve when they join your family. Like us, our dogs thrive in a safe environment. This model is built on the premise that kindness is the foundation for all of your interactions with your dog and at the heart of all of the decisions you make for your dog. Before you start to think about training cues, you have to have created an environment in which your dog is able to learn; that environment starts with the basics. Here are your dog's different levels of needs you need to take into consideration.

Going on holiday, but planning on leaving your canine companion behind? Planning holidays are very different for pet owners. Before you can even start thinking about sandy beaches and sunny skies, you need to make sure your dog will be safe and happy while you’re away. That’s why knowing the ins and outs of pet sitting, doggy day care, and kennels, so you can find that perfect boarding facility for your dog, is so important. It can be a daunting thought to consider leaving your best friend in a place they don’t know, away from their family and familiar surroundings but before you think ‘there goes my relaxing holiday’, it’s good to remember that there are a few tried-and-tested ways to take the stress out of the boarding process. Here’s what you need to know about dog boarding so that both you and your four-legged family member can have a good time, even though you’re spending it apart. Top tips for choosing the right boarding kennel for your dog

If you’re a dog owner, it’s likely you’re well versed in the sudden bursts of energy that have our dogs (and especially puppies) spinning like tornados and doing laps around the coffee table like it’s an Olympic track. But have you ever paused to wonder, what are they doing exactly? This behaviour is known as ‘dog zoomies’ and we’ve put together this guide to tell you everything you need to know about it.

For centuries, dogs have been considered our best friends and most loyal companions, so it’s only natural that there are numerous pups that have risen to fame. At Purina, we’ve put together this list of our favourite famous dogs in history which includes everyone from movie stars to decorated military dogs, keep reading to find out more!

Feeling a bit jealous of all the naps your dog takes – but also a little worried that there might be something wrong? Here are some of the most important reasons why dogs sleep so much. Long walks in the park, slobbery kisses and games of fetch all day – if this is what you expected from your dog, you’re probably a little bit surprised by how much snoozing they manage to fit in! Of course, there’s plenty of running, walking and playing in a dog’s daily schedule, but napping all day, or at least a good part of it, can also be a normal part of the canine routine. Most of the time, there’s no need to worry about that extra shut-eye. But if you’re asking yourself ‘how much daytime snoozing is too much?’, ‘how long do dogs normally sleep for?’ or ‘when’s it time to get worried?’, keep reading to find out more.

Is there anything cuter than a dog tilting their head from side to side? This adorable behaviour has the power to melt the heart of just about anyone – but why do dogs do it? Check out our guide and find out the story behind this common canine habit. If you’re lucky enough to have a canine companion in your life, it’s likely you’ve encountered the heart-melting head tilt. You may be telling them that it’s time to go for walkies, and they start cocking their head from side to side, and you think to yourself, “why do dogs tilt their heads? Are they listening to what I’m saying?”. At Purina, we’re just as curious about your pooch’s behaviour as you are, and that’s why we’ve taken a look into the reasons why dogs do this. Keep reading to find out more!

Are you in the mood for some pawesome dog fun? We put together a list of hilarious dog jokes and puns about our favourite furry friends. They’re not only fun, but also easy to remember and easy to tell. One thing we can all agree on is that our dogs are fun to be around. They somehow know how to make us laugh with their hilarious reactions and never fail to put a smile on our faces with their silly antics. It’s no surprise that many owners suspect their pup must have a ‘funny bone’ to be able to pull all this off. So, to match the playful spirit of our canine friends, we put together a list of dog-approved zingers. If you love dogs and don’t mind silly play on words, we’ve got the dog jokes and dog puns that will brighten up your day.

We’ve heard a lot about ‘lockdown puppies’ - dogs that have been bought during the pandemic when people have been at home rather than out at work - but amazingly there are now 3.5 million more dogs in the UK than there were before the pandemic started. This puts the total number of dogs in the UK to around 12.5 million, and this means lots of new dogs are out and about enjoying the summer - and with this increase in dogs, there are more chances for canine interactions to go wrong!  We’ve put together this guide to dog walking etiquette to teach you the basics on safe dog walking to keep everyone happy when out on their adventures.