iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Walking the dog seems like an essential part of being a dog parent. Yet, many people wonder if they have to be walking their dogs daily. For example, some dogs may dislike walks while others may misbehave while walking in public. So, are walks necessary? Let me start by saying I rarely walk my dogs. As in, … Read more
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a timeless struggle – dog vs. vacuum. Are you at a point where you dread vacuuming? Or do you schedule vacuuming only when your dog isn’t home? If you relate to either, it’s time to teach your dog that the vacuum is not their mortal enemy. After all, what is it with the vacuum? The main … Read more
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Potty training is often the most frustrating part of having a dog. Sadly, many dogs are surrendered to shelters due to potty training issues, but those dogs just need more training sessions and patience. One of the best ways to avoid accidents is to teach your dog to let you know when they need to do their … Read more
There are hundreds of dog breeds in the world, each with their own unique look, purpose and personality. While many people think they want a certain breed, they sometimes find out that the dog they thought looked really cool is actually a lot of work to live with. This is why so many trainers and rescues try to advice first time owner to avoid certain breeds. Many breeds are becoming more popular on looks alone, but end up most often … Read more
Dogs are always alert when someone new arrives on the scene. Your dog notices new people immediately, but sometimes he growls at them and sometimes he doesn’t. His growl might indicate aggression, defensiveness or just plain anxiety. Why does he have different reactions to people? Does he know something about them that you don’t? No one can sum up all dogs’ reactions and definitely, each case is unique, but we can look at the way dogs perceive their world and … Read more
We all wish our dogs could talk to us – it would make life soo much easier! But did you know your dog does try to speak to you? While it might not be in your language, your dog most definitely communicates with you. The following are a few of the main ways your dog talks to you about things that are important. Teaching your kids your dog’s language can also help to prevent bites from happening. #1 – They … Read more
Teaching your dog a reliable stay is important. A stay not only makes your life easier, but can save your dog’s life. It can also be a very frustrating experience. You may feel as though no matter what you do, your dog just won’t stay longer than a few seconds. Don’t feel bad, stay is a hard cue because it’s asking your dog for a lot of self-control, which is something most dogs do not naturally have. With a bit … Read more
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks is a saying that has been around for decades. But the fact is, you can teach an old dog new tricks, and it’s not that much different from teaching a younger dog. In fact, older dogs have some advantages – attention span being one – that might make them easier to train in some ways. However, there are a few things to think about when you are working with an older dog. … Read more
While it may be obvious if your dog runs in the opposite direction that she is afraid, dogs have many less obvious signs of fear. You can help ensure your dog doesn’t get to the point where they want to bolt by watching for these subtle signs and reacting to them to make your dog more comfortable. Knowing these signs can also make training easier, as you realize your dog is not being stubborn or ignoring you, but is actually … Read more
The hand touch is one of my favorite “tricks” to train because it has so many uses when taught properly. (Check out 6 clever uses here!) A hand touch can turn into a fast recall, a way to keep you dog focused on you, and even help teach heel. It can also be used for a variety of tricks, such as the “dolphin” where your dog jumps in the air. The following tips will help you get that rock-solid hand … Read more
Life with a Pit Bull may have its ups and downs – especially if you live in an area that is breed biased. But inside your home, your Pittie provides you unconditional love and friendship, something you most likely won’t get anywhere else. Regardless of what others think, you know the truth about your wonderful best bud and want them to have the best life in return. The following are 3 ways you can thank your Pit Bull for all … Read more
One of the main reasons many dog owners are hesitant to try positive reinforcement training is because they are worried about always having to have food on them to get their dog to obey. However, if the training is done correctly, you should not have to use food past the initial learning of the behavior. Sometimes, you might not use food even then, but what you do need is a reward of some type. Why Trainers Use Food At The … Read more
Huskies are energetic, fun loving dogs that have a zest for life that can’t be equaled. This zest sometimes manifests itself in the inability to keep paws on the floor when interacting with humans. Whether he is just so happy to see you or wants the toy in your hand, this behavior is annoying and can even cause injury. So how do you get your Husky to not jump? It may seem like a big task, but if you know … Read more
Siberian Huskies are beautiful, intelligent dogs that catch the attention of many would-be owners. Between their wolfish stare and perpetual puppy playfulness, people are often eager to get a Husky without much further thought. But there is a lot that goes into making a Husky a well-mannered, happy and healthy member of any family. If you’ve been thinking about adding a Husky to your house, you should ask yourself the following questions before picking one out. #1 – Can I … Read more
Like us, your Boxer should stay in shape to avoid many health problems. Several things can cause your Boxer to become overweight, including but not limited to: too many treats, low-quality pet food, not enough exercise, and health problems such as thyroid disease. We all know it’s easy to get busy and stop exercising the dog. It’s even easier to over-indulge on the treats. The important thing is to recognize when your Boxer has packed on a few extra pounds, so you … Read more
Though it’s not common, Great Danes can get overweight. They won’t ever get as round as maybe a Dachshund can, but they can definitely have too much fat–especially aging Danes that are not as active as they used to be, but are still fed the same amount. Feeding junk food or human treats, or having health issues such as thyroid disease or hip dysplasia can also lead to your Dane gaining a few extra pounds. Those extra pounds can mean even more … Read more
Walking nicely on a leash can be a real challenge for Huskies. After all, they were bred to pull. But a pulling Husky can be the cause of a lot problems. They may injure your back or neck, get loose and lost, or even injure other people if they pull you into them. All you want is a nice, calm walk, but what you get is frustrating pull down the street. Never fear: while it does takes some patience, your … Read more
Boxers are known for using their paws, especially when greeting someone or when they want something, like the toy in your hand. And when they do, they tend to use those front paws like hands, which can easily cause injury as they grab you with those sharp claws. While it’s nice that your Boxer is friendly, he needs to learn to ask for things, such attention, appropriately–and that means no jumping. Luckily, there are some easy ways to get your … Read more
Chihuahuas are an extremely popular breed. But they are also one of the top breeds found in shelters. While some of this is from over-breeding, a lot of them are older Chihuahuas with behavior problems that owners just couldn’t figure out how to fix. These are often the result of owners forgetting or not knowing they should have done things differently. Knowing the following 5 mistakes Chihuahuas owners make can help keep your Chi a happy and a welcome part of … Read more
Our German Shepherds add so much to our lives, it’s hard to know how to repay them for everything they do – it’s just not possible! If only they could understand all our words so we could express our gratitude to them. But since they can’t, one of the best ways to show your Shepherd how much you love her is by keeping her happy and healthy. Wondering if you are doing all you can to provide excellent care to … Read more
Labrador Retrievers are thought of by many as one of the easiest breeds to own. It’s one of the reasons they are so popular! They don’t take a lot of grooming, they are overall an easy-going breed that likes other people and dogs, and they seem to enjoy training. But that doesn’t mean there are not things that all Lab owners should keep in mind. The following are 5 mistakes Lab owners make that can affect their dog’s health and … Read more
Whether you own two sibling dogs from the same litter or just have two dogs at your house, you’ve probably experienced some type of sibling rivalry. In dogs, rivalry looks a lot like what human siblings do – they fight over your attention, toys and even food. If your dogs push each other out of the way for attention, if one dog gets upset while you are training the other, they get snappy and grabby with treats, or even fight … Read more
Awhile ago, I wrote about new research that showed hand signals resulted in more correct responses from dogs than verbal cues, in most cases. The exception was the COME cue. This research was done on a small pool of Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers that had been taught both hand and verbal signals as part of their water rescue training. So what should you, a pet parent, teach your dog? Here are the pros and cons to both ways of training. … Read more
When it comes to teaching dogs basic cues such as sit and down, most of us think of them as “easy.” And, for the most part, they are. However, sometimes even these “simple” behaviors can be hard to teach your dog. Small dogs, in particular, are often harder to teach lie down to than bigger dogs. Why Small Dogs Don’t Like To Lie Down When Asked Of course, you want to first make sure it’s not because your dog has … Read more
You’ve watched the police dog demos at the fair. Your friends own one and you love the way he tolerates your kids. Perhaps you’ve even seen a highly trained Shepherd tend his sheep. Maybe it’s as simple as seeing the movie Finding Rin Tin Tin (2007). Whatever it was, you’ve taken that first step – you’re pretty sure you want a German Shepherd to join your family. A German Shepherd can make a wonderful pet, but they can also be … Read more
