Posted in Behavior & Training

Dogs don't have too many sounds in their vocabulary – there's growling, barking, howling, whining ... and that's about it. The original function of these sounds was fairly straightforward – the growl being a warning; the bark, an exclamation; the howl, a long-distance communication; and whining, a care-soliciting call. But dogs can employ all o… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Want Daisy to cuddle with you on the couch, or is the sofa reserved for your R&R? Once you make a decision, stand your ground: If you let your pooch have a little leeway, she'll make a habit of lying on your loveseat or curling up in your favorite chair. That's because dogs don't know when they're allowed or when they're forbidden (think they know … read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Teaching your dog a few simple tricks is fun and entertaining for both you and your pet. It's best if your dog knows and reliably responds to the basic obedience commands of sit, stay and down before teaching him to perform tricks. Most tricks are built on basic obedience work anyway and, in the process of being taught "the basics," your dog will h… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Predictability, patience, and praise. These things go hand in hand for successful house-training. Here's how to get your pup to go where he's supposed to: * Set a schedule. Plan to feed and walk him at the same time every day. * Stick to the menu. Don’t change his diet. And give the same amount at each meal. No table scraps! * Pi… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Scratching is an instinctive normal feline behavior, albeit a destructive one. To minimize home destruction, redirect your cat's scratching onto acceptable objects. Survey your cat's preferred objects for scratching and provide a substitute cat toy or scratching post that offers a similar texture. If you provide a scratching post, make sure it is… read more