(Photo credit: Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images) Bringing home a new rescue dog is an exciting time — and also a stressful one. There are many changes taking place for you and your dog. You’ll both be adjusting to new routines, smells, and sights. Luckily, following the 3-3-3 rule can help you predict what…
The birth of a baby is a wonderful event for your human family. To make it an equally joyous occasion for your dog, you need to give them some special attention to help them cope. We have some tips to help you make the introduction between your dog and your baby go more smoothly.
From bouncing puppy to elderly companion, your dog will express different needs at each stage of their life. Puppies are demanding and energetic, while adolescents are unpredictable. Adult dogs are eager and self-assured, but by the time they’re seniors, they will have slowed to a comfortably lazy pace.
Dogs and humans are very different, but they do have this in common: adolescence — or their teenage phase — is often a rocky period. Like human teens, adolescent dogs explore their world and test their own abilities in ways you won’t always like. Similarly, they’ll test their — and your — limits pretty regularly during these teenage years. It may even feel like good habits and meticulous training during their puppyhood have gone straight out the window.
Despite the cliché about fighting like cats and dogs, it’s perfectly possible for the two species to live happily under one roof. However, it’s also perfectly possible for a cat to injure a dog, and for a dog to seriously hurt or even kill a cat. To keep your home a peaceable kingdom, you’ll want to arm yourself with some know-how before you add a new four-legged resident. Here are some pet parenting tips for safely introducing a new dog to your cat.
As any dog parent can attest, the sight of a furry friend enthusiastically digging up the earth can be both endearing and exasperating. From meticulously crafted burrows to seemingly aimless holes, the act of digging is an innate behavior deeply embedded in the canine psyche. There’s much more to a dog’s digging habits than meets the eye (or the eyesore that used to be your yard). We’re going to give you the dirt on dogs who dig and help you better understand — and stop — this behavior.
Almost every dog seems to have a matching personality type in people’s heads. We think of Golden Retrievers as friendly. Shih Tzus are regal and aloof. Chihuahuas appear to be very nervous. Collies are affectionate. Some stereotypes are cute, while others are harmful.
You’re absolutely wild about your dog, and you’re not afraid to show it. However, all the treats, toys, fancy collars, and comfy beds can’t let your dog know just how special they are to you. Sure, they appreciate all that stuff. But in order to show your dog love, you have to speak their language. On the positive side, just because you don’t speak dog doesn’t mean you can’t convey your love in a way your pup will understand.
Believe it or not, our canine companions get stressed. The circumstances and degrees of this can vary from dog to dog since no two are exactly alike, but it’s still something all dog parents must be wary of. Like humans, dogs can show their stress in different ways. To be a responsible dog parent, you must understand your dog’s signs of distress to ensure that both you and your canine companion can maintain a happy and healthy relationship together.
Training your dog to come should be as easy as, “Rover, come on over!” And sometimes it is, at least with puppies. Brand-new pups will approach anything with a pulse. Other dogs, however, will need more training to learn the “come” command. We’ll show you how to help your dog learn this crucial command.