Dogs are social animals that enjoy our company. They are also pretty smart. Put those two facts together, and suddenly you have a dog that quickly learns how to make you heed his call. Responding to your dog’s pleas for attention isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, you should take your dog outside to eliminate when he barks at the door.
Adding a new member to the pack is an exciting experience. It should also be handled with care.
Similar to people, dogs take differently to individual dogs. They may instantly take to some and be more distant towards others. If you are adding a new dog to the family, there are steps to be taken to ensure a healthy sibling-like relationship
Dog-Cat Rivalry: fact or fiction? Actually, it’s completely up to you. By providing a slow and steady introduction, the result can be rewarding for both your feline and canine companions. First impressions between pets are just as important as they are between people. Here are a few tips and precautionary steps to help make dog-cat introductions
You’ve mastered dog parenting, now it’s time for the human kind. Introducing a new member to the pack does not have to be a stressful experience. By providing a slow and steady introduction, the result can be enriching for both your dog and your child. Here are a few quick tips to make the initiation process as smooth as possible for everyone
Jumping up on people is a natural form of greeting for a dog. When dogs approach each other, they often sniff each other’s face and ears. Since people walk upright, dogs frequently feel the need to jump up in order to say hello. It is important to teach your dog that the proper way to greet a human is with all four paws on the ground.
The best
Many dogs mark places that are new and unfamiliar to them. Marking behavior can be modified if you start training early. When introducing your dog to your home, be prepared. Here are a couple tricks for a marking-quick-fix.
First Things First…
Spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible. The longer a dog goes without being spayed or neutered,
Walking a dog who excessively pulls is certainly no “walk in the park.” Tugging and holding your dog back won’t help as a dog’s natural response to pressure is to push into it; the harder you pull, the harder they pull too. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways and tools to help you maintain control over your pulling pooch.
Equipment
Training
Visit the Anti-Cruelty site for more information.
It’s not always easy to convince puppies and young dogs not to bite the hand that feeds them, pets them, or even plays with them for that matter. Puppies use their mouths and their needle-sharp teeth to play, chew, and investigate. When puppies play with people they often bite, chew, and mouth on
Like babies, puppies are not born understanding the world and how to behave. It is up to us to help them flourish and develop into friendly and confident companions. Well-socialized puppies are more likely to grow up to be friendly adult dogs who are easy to handle and not overly frightened or stressed.
The best time to socialize a puppy is
Do you more often than not find yourself coming home to what looks like the aftermath of a hurricane, with your four-legged friend standing in the center of it? If so, your dog could be suffering from separation anxiety.
Reasons as to why your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety can vary. Some dogs react this way if they are not used to
A dog is most impressionable before 14 weeks of age. Proper socialization will help her become desensitized to her surroundings and therefore reduce the likelihood she will be afraid of things as she grows older. You should continue with socialization as your dog grows in order to maintain her confidence and help her over any bumps in the road. As
Coming home to your dog’s overwhelming happiness and excitement is one of the greatest parts of pet-ownership. However, sometimes those wiggles and squirms can turn into a puddle on the floor. Your furry friend may have successfully mastered housetraining but still cannot control his or her bladder in certain situations. Rather than being a
The first step in stopping your dog’s counter surfing habit is to remove any opportunity or temptation. As responsible pet owners, we want to give our pets the best chance possible to behave well. Make sure all your food items are put away or stored in dog-proof containers such as Tupperware or a bread bin. Make sure you have a lid on your garbage
Is your dog a notorious thief around your house? Do you often find yourself chasing your canine companion around trying to get back what he stole? It’s times like these that will make you grateful for taking the time to train your mischievous canine to “Drop It.”
Here’s a couple tricks to make teaching your dog to “Drop It” a pleasant and simple
We cannot simply tell our canine companions to not be afraid of something. Rather, we must communicate it to them through our actions and our energy. With time, positive reinforcement training, and a calm and patient demeanor, you can help your cautious companion overcome even her greatest fear.
Health Check:
Before anything else, it is
Training a puppy or an adult dog to eliminate in a specified area is really quite easy, but it does require time and patience. The process of house-training is the same whether you have a puppy or an adult dog. However, young puppies do not have the muscle control of an older dog and need to eliminate every 1-3 hours until they are 4-6 months old
Though a statistical rarity (It is estimated that less than 2% of the U.S. population is bitten by a dog each year), dogs and cats do sometimes bite. Fortunately it is easy to prevent your family and yourself from being bitten.
Ask before petting someone else’s dog. You might even ask if the dog doesn’t like to be touched anywhere, especially
Desensitization and Counterconditioning for Fear
Desensitization – a process by which fear, panic or other undesirable emotional response to a given stimulus is reduced or extinguished, especially by repeated exposure to that stimulus.
Counterconditioning - conditioning intended to replace a negative response to a stimulus with a positive
With the legalized sale of marijuana in Illinois, there has been raised awareness about the impact on animals. There has been limited research on the use of CBD in animals although several veterinary colleges are in the process of conducting research on the effectiveness of CBD to treat symptoms in animals. When considering the bigger picture of
While plenty of sweet treats and doorbells ringing makes Halloween a festive holiday, it can prove downright dangerous for pets. Consider some safety precautions to keep your pets calm and safe. By keeping these tricks in mind, you’ll be sure to make this Halloween a real treat for both you and your pet.
Use Caution with Costumes
Generally, most
Winter can be a dangerous season for pets. Follow these tips to help prevent cold weather from affecting your pet’s health.
Keep your pet indoors as much as possible. House-trained dogs will need to go outside to relieve themselves, but be sure to limit their time outside. Take shorter walks and increase the indoor enrichment such as trick
There are a number of potential causes for a dog or cat to be afraid of people. Genetics most certainly plays a role, either exacerbating the other causes or being the sole cause itself. Lack of socialization – controlled and positive experiences with a variety of stimuli – at the proper age can lead to a pet who is afraid of new people and things