Ensure success when adopting an older dog with these helpful tips. Dogs are considered teenagers when they’re around two. A few years after that, they’re cresting middle age, and by seven, they’re considered seniors. For this reason, many people go for adopting puppies over older adult dogs. There’s a perception that mature dogs are set…
Is your dog displaying one or more destructive behaviors? This Q&A with two top trainers offers solutions to combat digging, chewing, barking, jumping and licking! Do any of these destructive behaviors sound familiar? Most dogs have at least one behavior issue… this article will help you solve it! Q: I have a Westie; I know…
Does your dog have behavior problems? Find out why a dominance approach doesn’t work, and why a positive training is so much better. You’ve heard the term “positive training”. But what exactly does it mean? Positive trainers are opposed to the dominance/submission approach still used by many trainers. They often work with fearful and reactive…
Set your dog up for success with these suggestions for positive training. Training simply means educating your dog in a safe and loving environment, and teaching her she can get whatever she wants through her actions, as long as she checks with you first. Training should begin the moment you first bring your dog home,…
Does your dog freak out every time you leave the house? Here’s how to deal with his separation anxiety. Separation anxiety in dogs is a very complex issue. This is a behavior issue that would truly benefit from working one-on-one with someone local to you. You can find professionals at www.apdt.com or www.iaabc.org. Keep in…
Dog bites can be prevented with proper education on how to recognize even the subtlest signs of unease in your dog. There are millions of dog bites reported each year. Not surprisingly, bite incidents increase in the summer as more stranger-dog interactions take place in parks and on beaches. Having your dog bite someone is a…
Even the best-behaved dogs may sometime start messing in the house. Find out what can cause housetraining regression, and how to address the problem. One of the wonderful things about dogs is that it’s in their nature to keep their dens clean. This means you can readily teach your dog that your house is the…
Why are anxiety and aggression so common in dogs and cats, and how can they be resolved? About three years ago, our Irish setter Coral developed a fear of thunderstorms. She was seven at the time, and prior to that, she’d completely ignored thunder and even fireworks. We have no idea why her behavior changed,…
[h1title title=”5 Steps to Greater Enrichment” style=”underline” size=”36″] Circling through these five themes of environmental enrichment can help keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated as well as happy, content and well-behaved. As loving dog caregivers, we provide shelter, food, water, toys, exercise and vet care for our animals. But did you know that environmental…
A dog displaying signs of reactivity isn’t necessarily aggressive. However, it’s important to understand the difference between these two states, and to prevent a reactive dog from crossing the threshold into anger and hostility. What does it mean when someone says a dog is “reactive”? This word often causes feelings of uncertainty, trepidation, possibly even…