Teaching your dog Positive reinforcement/rewards based training is the best way to teach your dog.  This method of training helps your dog learn faster and motivates your dog to behave as you want him to.  When your dog learns a new behavior, they do not generalize.  Therefore, they have to re-learn the same behavior in different locations with different distractions.  It is important to understand how your dog learns and to have the proper expectations as you are training your dog. The following is a hierarchy of difficulty for any new behavior: Inside with nothing much going on ..read more

HOUSETRAINING TIPS Observation It’s up to you to make sure your puppy does not make mistakes indoors in the first place.  The more that happens, the more he’ll think it’s OK.  This means that good and constant observation on your part is essential to preventing indoor accidents.  To help with supervision, loosely tie his leash to you or tether him where you can see him.  (Do not leave him tethered while unsupervised!). Restrict his Movements Make sure you never leave your puppy loose and unsupervised during the housetraining period.  This means that 100% of time you are either watc ..read more

Dogs have long been known as “man’s best friend.” Having been domesticated for upwards of 15,000 years, dogs have provided companionship, protection, and love for their human counterparts with unwavering loyalty. Studies show that dog owners are happier, healthier, and more fulfilled than those who don’t own a dog. Dogs keep their owners active by requiring consistent walks and playtime, but they can also help boost mood and overall well-being.  Constant Companionship The companionship a dog provides is unrivaled. No matter your social or relationship status, your dog is always happy to ..read more

Playing regularly with your puppy will help you form a strong bond.  The purpose of play is to develop skills that will be useful throughout their lives, such as impulse control.  The more games you play with your puppy, the more he will consider you to be the most interesting thing in his world. Encouraging puppies to play with toys provides a good outlet for their physical and mental energies. You puppy should have two sets of toys:  toys that he can play with by himself and ‘interactive toys’ that he can only play with you.  Keep the interactive toys put away so you initiate play and kee ..read more

Often dogs, especially small dogs, are ‘hand shy’. If you notice that when you reach toward their head or collar that they back up or flinch, then try the exercises below. This exercise will help hand shy dogs become more comfortable with being touched. It is important to begin practicing with familiar and accepted adults first. Again, keep in mind that your objective is not for the dog to merely tolerate, but rather to remain relaxed and enjoy the process, and that an inexperienced helper can get bitten if you proceed too quickly without making sure that the dog is truly accepting rather ..read more

1. The foundation of everything you need to teach your puppy starts with him responding to his name.  When your puppy hears his name, no matter where he is or what he’s doing, we want him to turn and look at you as if to ask, ‘what do you want’?  If you teach your puppy nothing else, no matter where he is or what he’s doing or how far away you are, if you can say his name and he’ll turn to look at you, you’ll always be able to call him away from trouble or prevent from doing something you don’t want him to do. 2. Start by sitting on the floor next to your puppy in a quiet room with no distr ..read more

Ongoing socialization is extremely important to prevent behavior problems.  Socialization is especially important before the age of 3 months, but should also be done throughout your dog’s lifetime. Gentle socialization plays a huge role in preventing aggression and fearful behavior.   Lack of socialization can lead to hyperactive behavior, barking, shyness and aggression.  The younger you begin socializing your dog, the better, but all dogs can be gradually brought into new and even initially fearful situations and learn to enjoy them.   Socialization is a lifelong process.  For exam ..read more

If you’re a pet owner, you probably know that animals sometimes experience anxiety and stress. Although the symptoms look somewhat different than in humans, they’re real issues any dog can face. It helps to know what anxiety looks like in your canine because just like humans it varies. It’s also important to be aware of the sources of your pet’s anxiety to rule out any physical illness. The same applies to pet aggression. Animals are usually not aggressive unless they feel threatened in some way. If your canine is acting out and starts to nip at people, figuring out the triggers are ..read more

No matter how hard your dog begs and pleads, there are simply some people foods you should never fork over. And of course, you also need to make sure potentially toxic foods aren’t left out where your dog could get at them. Read on to find out what foods dogs should not eat. Bad Food for Dogs You may already know not to offer chocolate to your pooch, but did you know that avocados can be bad for dogs too? Look over this list of 16 foods you should absolutely never feed your dog to see how many you knew about. ChocolateGum and candyXylitolGrapesRaisinsMacadamia nutsAvocadosOnionsGarlic ..read more

Time management Time management is an important factor to consider when bringing home a new pet. Essentially, it takes a lot of time, care, and patience to have a pet in your home. For example, if you have a puppy, you have to consider the time it takes to train a puppy, potty train, socialize, as well as puppy-proof your entire home. Rather if you have a senior cat or dog, they might come with additional responsibilities, such as diabetes which requires medication daily. Consider the extra time you have in your day to dedicate to a furry friend and how that can impact you and your furry fr ..read more