Does your dog avoid or react to strangers? Bark, growl, run away, or hide? Here's what we suggest. (Note: Please consult with a professional trainer for biting.) Prepare Yourself Make ...

As the winter weeks go on, many people and dogs are starting to get cabin fever. Snow and ice and frigid temperatures may be making it more difficult to get ...

We’re used to hearing the rules on how to meet a dog we don’t know. Parents teach their kids how to approach an unknown dog from the time they’re small, ...

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.  To ...

Have you recently adopted a pair of cats or kittens, or added a new cat to your already multiple cat home? Is it sometimes hard to know if your cats ...

More and more, cat owners are understanding that there’s more to living with a cat than just caring for their physical needs. The word is out that cats love training ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Most people are familiar with the concept of dog “zoomies,” but it’s not as widely known that cats can, and do, absolutely have the zoomies, too. Those moments when your ...

Congratulations on adopting your new kitten!! Here are some tips to help you in the coming days with your new friend! Please remember: your new kitten could be frightened and ...

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 ...

Lots of people know or love what could be called a “sassy” cat. Often, when we say “sassy,” we mean a cat who just doesn’t like to be petted for ...

Do you and your dog both dread toe-nail trims?  Then why not give your dog the opportunity to give themselves a pedicure on their own by making it into a ...

(Did you miss Part 1?) We show you how to train your dog to file their own nails by swiping at a sandpaper board... and while it is often relatively ...

Thinking of adding a cat or kitten to your feline crew at home? Here are some things to consider: Energy Level! - Adopting a kitten or cat with a similar energy level ...

HSHV has long been an advocate for positive reinforcement-based training methods, and new research continues to support that this is the most effective approach.  A new study has found that ...

To help a fearful kitty, the best thing you can do is to give that cat a safe room to call home, go slowly and be prepared with a lot ...

It’s not uncommon to see some quirky or concerning behavior not long after bringing your newly adopted cat or kitten home. You’re all getting to know one another, and there ...

The decision to adopt a new cat or kitten is a big one, especially when you've already got an adult cat or two in the home. Folks often say that ...

Before you can begin any clicker training work with your cat, you'll need to introduce the clicker to her. The purpose of this initial training is to teach her that ...

Does your cat lie in wait for you to open any door to the outside world? Perhaps your cat is quite obvious about this, always lounging at this door, making ...

It’s been an uncertain time for all of us – including the kitties in our lives. We’re home more and our cats are likely wondering why their nap schedule has ...

There is no doubt, the recent weeks have been strange and stressful for all of us.  Coming months will also likely bring more changes and adjustments in our lifestyles for ...

Is your dog actually loving the current stay-at-home order?  Pets may be the one part of the population who are not minding this new routine, as now they have you ...

Why Do Some Cats Eliminate Outside the Litter Box? Litter box use problems in cats can be diverse and complex. Behavioral treatments are often effective, but the treatments must be ...

Background Info Resource guarding is a term used to describe situations in which dogs are in possession of an item and want to retain possession of it. In the wild, ...

This is intended as a broad overview of things to consider with Dog and Toddler and Dog and Preschooler dynamics. These are constantly evolving as a child grows and develops ...

Having a baby changes everything, for everyone - including the family dog. As children come into our lives there are myriad changes in how we spend our time, how much ...

Why teach "Watch"? Because getting your dog’s focus with a single word is very useful. You can distract him from enticing trash in the street, for example, or keep his ...

Getting dogs to hold still can be a real challenge. Their energy seems to have no boundaries. Still we need them to greet nicely, wait at the door – to ...

Step One: Lure In this step you are literally persuading the dog to sit by slowly raising the treat above his head just between his ears while he follows the ...

The command “side” is used for a dog to roll over onto his side. To teach the dog to lie on his side: Step One: Lure With the dog in ...

Step One: Lure. Mark & Reward Start with your dog in a sit. Get a treat, show it to the dog and then make fist, closing the treat in your ...

Training recall is very important. Recall is teaching your dog to come when called. To get your dog to come when called every time, follow the following Recall Rules Never ...

Step One: Lure Lure your dog onto his mat by putting the treat up to his nose and slowly moving it over the mat. Keep the treat close to your ...

To teach a dog to drop something he has we start by “trading up” or giving him something of higher value. To teach “drop it,” complete the following steps: Give ...

Step One: Lure Start with your dog in a sit. Lure your dog into a down by putting the treat to his nose and slowly moving the treat down to ...

What is Resource Guarding? Dogs that become aggressive or possessive of an object or space are said to be resource guarding. By using threatening displays or aggression to get an ...

On Surfaces Place treats on a table, coffee table, or counter where you are close enough to cover them up or remove them if needed. You can place them on ...

Clicker training means using a sound (a click) to communicate with your dog. Clickers have been in use for more than forty years. The method is best known from the ...

Why Dogs Jump Dogs jump up to say hello, quite simply. They don’t know how humans prefer to be greeted, and it never occurs to them that they might knock ...

Note: These exercises can be adapted to entering and exiting cars and other motor vehicles. Is your dog afraid of steps and stairways? Perhaps past experiences led the dog to ...

“Safe” Toys There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy. Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your dog’s size, activity level ...

Congratulations on adopting your new family member! Your new dog is a dog that will need some additional time and thought put into their daily exercise and training routine due ...

Submissive Urination Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he’s being punished or verbally scolded, or when he’s approached by someone he perceives to be ...

Treatment for Mild Separation Anxiety If your dog has a mild case of separation anxiety, counterconditioning might reduce or resolve the problem. Counterconditioning is a treatment process that changes an ...

It’s not uncommon for dogs to be frightened of thunder, firecrackers or other loud sounds. These types of fears may develop even though your dog has had no traumatic experiences ...

This dog is a dog who has been fearful while in shelter and has taken longer than most to adjust to new situations. This dog should be given a significant ...

Do the following exercises in order without skipping steps. The goal is to keep the dog comfortable the ENTIRE TIME. You want this to be like learning a trick. As ...

Things You'll Need A standard leash, not a retractable or extendable leash. A bag full of treats he loves! A Gentle Leader chest harness can be a very helpful tool ...

It is quite simple to teach your dog to touch a bell with his nose. You can then hang the bell from a doorknob to let him ring when he ...

When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or "mouth" hands during play or when being petted. With puppies, this is rarely ...

Puppies may be just as much work as human babies - maybe more so because puppies can't wear diapers and they have very sharp teeth! It's definitely true that, similar ...

Living with a pet can be beneficial to children. Pets can enhance a child’s self-esteem, teach them responsibility and help them to learn empathy. However, children and dogs are not ...

Vocalizing is one way for your cat to communicate with you and with other animals. Some cats “talk” more than others, but most cats do make noise some of the ...

The act of trimming your cat’s nails can seem like a daunting task, but there is good news: A team of people working with a cat can get a nail ...

Adapted from the MSPCA and revised by the ASPCA's Companion Animal Services Department The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals encourages owners to seek alternatives to declawing ...

How to Transition Your Cat to an Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle Want to give your cat some fun in the great outdoors? A slow start is key! Every cat is different; this ...

Training your cat has important benefits. You’re stimulating his body and his mind, which helps keep him healthy. And spending time together means you’re strengthening the bond you share. It’s ...

Why Are Some Cats Fearful? Fearful behavior in cats can be caused by various factors. Insufficient exposure to humans and/or a variety of stimuli during kitten hood as well as ...

Many of us have had the pleasure of petting our cat, when all of a sudden; the cat bites your hand and runs away. This is called petting induced or ...

What Does “Fearful” Mean? A fearful kitten is generally one that has not had full socialization. If a kitten does not have much contact with people when it is between ...

Why Do Cats Like to Climb? Cats climb for several reasons. They seek out high vantage points, like countertops and shelves, to survey their territory. They can leap onto bookshelves ...

Cats are the most prevalent family pet in the United States and it’s no wonder. They’re quiet and easy to care for—a perfect match for busy families with kids. Raising ...

Dogs and cats will sometimes eat socks, rocks or other objects, which may result in a variety of problems for both you and your pet. Not only can your possessions be destroyed or damaged, but objects such as clothing and rocks can produce life-threatening blockages in your pet’s intestines. Eating non food items is called pica. A specific ...

House Soiling Or Urine­-Marking? How To Tell The Difference! Your pet may be urine-­marking if: The problem is primarily urination. Dogs and cats rarely mark with feces. The amount of urine is small and is ...

Positive reinforcement is the presentation of something pleasant or rewarding immediately following a behavior. It makes that behavior more likely to occur in the future, and is one of the ...

Most cats have a specific preference about where they want to eliminate. By following the suggestions outlined here, you'll be able to start off on the right foot with your ...

Kittens and cats need to play. Play is normal behavior that provides young animals with opportunities to develop their physical coordination and problem-solving skills. It allows them to engage in ...

By nature, cats have a need to scratch objects in their environment. We know that cats leave their scent behind when they scratch things and that this is a means ...

When bringing a kitten home, there are a few easy steps that you can follow to keep your little bundle of fluff safe in their new environment. It’s best to ...

Cats, like people and dogs, benefit from keeping fit and active, both mentally and physically. Exercise is essential for your cat’s mental and physical health because it relieves stress and ...

If you’re bringing a new cat into your home, be patient. The introduction must be gradual. Following the initial introduction, it can take some time for a relationship to grow ...

Congratulations on finding your new best friend! Here are some tips to help guide you through the first few days after bringing your new cat home! It’s important to remember ...

Crate training your dog takes time and effort, but can be really useful. If you have a new dog or puppy, you can use a crate to limit his access ...

Remember that you and your new dog need some time to learn each other’s signals and routines. Even if he was housetrained in his previous home, if you don’t recognize ...

In bringing home a puppy, you are also opening up a new world to that puppy. Getting it socialized with a wide variety of people, places, sounds and things will ...

Housetraining a puppy requires time, vigilance, patience and commitment. Following the procedures outlined below, you can minimize house soiling incidents, but virtually every puppy will have an accident in the ...

Many dogs and cats get along very well, especially if they’ve grown up with each other or have prior experience living with the other species. When bringing a new dog ...

Adding another dog to your household can bring you and your current dog more fun and companionship. However, it is important to realize that your current dog will need time ...

Congratulations on your new dog! Below is some need to know information that will help you transition your new dog into your home and family. The Initial Adjustment Period The ...