Most dogs are never late for a meal — they know exactly where to be at the same time every day. They also know when to expect their owner home and, like clockwork, place themselves patiently at the door for that arrival. When you witness this behavior, you assume dogs have a sophisticated understanding of time. But what is time really like for a dog? Read More…

Looking for a way to keep your dog occupied on those days when it’s just too cold outside to play? Consider exercising his mind.

One of the biggest shames in all of dogdom is how few things most people teach their dogs. What many people don’t realize is that training is a way of communicating with your dog, of sharing a common language. The more words you both know the meaning of, the more you are sharing your lives. Read More…

A dog whose exercise needs are met may rest more calmly at home and be less fretful when left alone. The modern dog-management mantra of “A good dog is a tired dog” is gospel to many people. Exercise can improve bone and joint health. Heart and lung function can improve. Sport and working dogs need the right exercise to be able to perform well. Exercise makes show dogs look better and feel better to a judge’s exploring hands. Read More…

Your beloved canine companion clearly isn’t a cow, so you might be confused when you see him eating grass. You might even be worried. Is he hungry? Bored? Sick? Will eating grass hurt him?

First, rest assured that you’re not alone in your concern, especially if your dog is eating grass and vomiting. Read More…

Great Video by Zak George

We often think of exercise only as a health issue, but it has significant day-to-day effects on a dog’s behavior as well. Dogs–particularly puppies and young dogs–have a lot of energy, and if they don’t get the chance to burn it off, destructive behavior is often the result. If you’re annoyed at the holes your dog has dug, have headaches from his barking, and have to replace pillows shredded into expensive fluff, your dog’s probably not getting enough exercise. Read More…

Did you know that spending three minutes brushing your pet’s teeth can improve his or her quality of life?

It’s true.

Brushing your pet’s teeth may be one of the most important and easiest things you can do at home to safeguard his or her health. Without it, bacteria, tartar and plaque pile onto teeth. The first symptom of illness may be bad breath, which evolves to periodontal (gum) disease. Left untreated, bacteria in the mouth get into the bloodstream and can affect overall health. Read More…

Training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don’t even start. Keep training sessions short, on the order of 5-10 minutes, to maintain your dog’s motivation.

If your dog doesn’t respond appropriately to a command after several attempts, don’t reward him. Resume training a few seconds later using a simpler command. Return to the more complex task later. Read More…