Car sickness is a fairly common problem, especially among puppies. To prevent a potentially life-long fear of cars, follow these tips.
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Archives for Puppy or dog
Winter’s a great time to flirt with your dog
Wondering how to exercise your dog in winter? Try flirting! A flirt pole, that is! Flirt poles are like oversized cat wand toys with a fleece or plush toy at the end. And dogs go bonkers for them!
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Wait… why doesn’t my dog like dogs anymore?
It is a common scenario – the three year-old dog that used to be the life of the dog park is now less interested in romping with the group.
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What “fine” looks like
When we say our pets are “fine,” we need to explain what “fine” looks like. Animals can have different fear responses, which include the well-known “fight or flight” behaviors, but also “fret” and “freeze.”
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Why all the barking?
“How do I stop my dog from barking?” is a common question trainers get. To answer that, the first things we need to know are 1) in what type of situations is your dog barking, and 2) what need are they trying to meet? Dogs bark for a lot of reasons: boredom, fear, attention, excitement, etc. In any of these cases, the focus shouldn’t be on stopping the behavior, but instead, thinking about meeting the dog’s need before the barking starts. For good tips on addressing different types of barking, check out this blog post: https://positively.com/dog-behavior/nuisance-behaviors/barking/ Avoid devices or methods
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Can you give a dog or cat aspirin?
While pain relievers can be very important for our furry friends, don’t reach to your medicine cabinet for help.
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Should you rub that doggie belly?
It is a story that trainers often hear: “My dog rolled over asking for a belly rub from the neighbor, and then out of the blue bit her when she touched him.”
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How to keep kids’ toys from becoming dog chews
In homes with children and dogs, it sometimes can be challenging to keep kid’s toys from becoming dog chew things, especially during the holidays or birthdays when toys are all over the place. Here are a few tips for keeping your kids’ (or your own) things safe from your dog’s jaws!
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Should you let a new dog sniff your hand?
How many of us were taught to extend our hand when meeting a new dog to allow them to smell it? The “sniff test” is common advice that we have probably all done, but is no longer the advisable way to introduce yourself to a new dog. Extending your hand towards a dog you don’t know could be seen as a potential threat, and trigger a defensive bite. Instead, turn sideways, avoid direct eye contact, and possibly toss (don’t hand) the dog some treats. Dogs have amazing senses of smell – they can gather information just fine from where
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Dogs have a 3-second rule, too!
Most dogs enjoy petting, but even the cuddliest dog has times when simply not in the mood! Prolonged touching can be overstimulating to some dogs, and can make others uncomfortable or stressed. When dogs don’t feel able to move away – which they may not when in physical contact with us – they may resort to telling us to back off in less desirable ways. Give dogs a way of “opting in” to social contact by using the “3-second rule” of petting. Pet for no more than three seconds, then stop. Does the dog nudge you or move into
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