Arden Moore – Dogchannel.com Dogs don’t stay bored for long. Left alone in the house for eight hours or more, they are bound to find something to chew on. Unfortunately, their choices could be your new shoes or the television remote. But you can intervene and protect your valuablesby limiting access to dog-proofed areas [...]
Tricks are fun, reinforce commands, bond master and pet even more closely, and can provide good exercise. They also enable the dog to please its master, which is satisfying to the dog. Before teaching your dog a trick, make sure it knows the basic commands (which are taught in my book): “No,” “Stop,” “Look,” “Sit,” [...]
Dogs whine to communicate they are afraid, upset, uncomfortable, in pain, or lonely. But whining also can be a ploy for attention and control. If whining is a rare occurrence, check if the dog is sick or injured. If whining is the result of your dog feeling great discomfort (such as being wet or afraid), [...]
Begging is not an instinctive behavior. It’s learned. If you’ve succumbed to begging one time, the dog will keep begging until trained not to — and may start challenging you in other areas. What you need is a measure of courage. If you’re watching TV with a bowl of popcorn, and your dog is nosing [...]
In the first weeks your dog is in its new home, it will likely experience separation anxiety each time you leave. Gradually acclimate your dog to your prolonged absences. When you’re leaving, don’t make a big production. Calmly say, “Good dog” and give it a small treat — then leave. Don’t say, “Good-bye.” Make sure [...]
Keep your dog on a leash at first and let it check things out. If other dogs approach, let them get to know each other while your dog is leashed. Since the other dog was in the park first, it considers the area its territory. If dogs that approach and smell your dog prove friendly, [...]
If your dog pulls a lot on the leash, consider a harness. This will distribute the pulling weight across the dog’s chest and shoulders. I like harnesses for small dogs that have skinny necks and can get hurt on a regular leash. Harnesses are also good for large dogs prone to chase after other dogs [...]
A great variety of dog toys are on the market. I recommend giving your dog a small selection — such as a ball, a piece of rope, and a larger toy made of fabric — and letting the dog choose. It’s darn near impossible to figure out why a dog chooses one toy over another. [...]
Your goals are finding a veterinarian within easy access of your home, and with whom you and the dog are comfortable. Ask for recommendations from other dog owners, or the owner of the pet-supply store you patronize. If two or three people give the same veterinarian’s name, that’s a good sign. You also can seek [...]
Dogs typically reach puberty between ages 6 and 8 months. There is much debate over when a dog should get spayed or neutered so as not to interfere with its personality and physical development. Some owners want dogs fixed before they reach puberty, since it will prevent impregnations, and because a puppy’s sexual organs are [...]
