For a very good guide to all sorts of dog training processes and dog behavior challenges, I use and recommend Clickertraining ...that link goes to the description of this terrific ebook you download immediately, wherever you are! -- Rosana

Danny Taylor found himself with a puppy with abundant energy — she definitely needed training! Lucky for her that he uses positive reinforcement.

Positive Dog Training Will Improve Your Relationship With Your Dog

By Danny Taylor

When I first brought my pup home, I knew I would have my hands full. She was a bundle of never ending energy, ready to play at a given notice. Ready to chew on anything too! If it was on the floor, it was fair game.

That was when I decided to begin dog training at home. She was easy to “potty train”, but the chewing was a different story. Getting her to leave my shoes and table legs alone was frustrating. Read the rest of this entry

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs, by Patricia McConnell, is a fascinating and warm-hearted book about dog training by a woman with impeccable credentials. She’s one of my favorite writers, and I was pleased to notice recently that this book was #5 in popularity of all the dog training books that Amazon sells.

No wonder that this book ranks so highly…

It’s not another training manual, although it does have plenty of training advice.

Rather, it’s a book about understanding dog behavior, written by an academic with a a heart. She discusses many of the ways that we humans use body language in different ways than dogs do,  with the resulting misunderstandings. She tells us how we can better understand our own actions and dogs’ responses.

Since the book is written in a very personal and often amusing way, it’s a very good read. Patricia McConnell has worked for years as an animal behaviorist and has trained many dogs that their owners were about ready to give up on. She has done a lot with aggressive dogs.

If you were only going to buy one book on the behavior of dogs, make it this one. I’m sure you won’t be sorry! Read the rest of this entry

An Australian veterinarian who is an online friend of mine provided me with this article to use. Timely for me, as we are about to take a long road trip with our dogs and cats, as we move back to Colorado after several years in Mexico. — Rosana

Before You Leave
There are several things you can do to prepare for a holiday with your dog that will make the journey more pleasant and relaxing for both of you.

When you have found the perfect place for a vacation, make sure you make a note of the address and contact details for the nearest veterinary clinic. Find out their opening hours, and also ask how they handle after hours emergencies. They may have a vet available on call, or they may refer you to a nearby emergency hospital. It’s harder to find this information when you’re in a strange place and in a panic. Read the rest of this entry

We train our dogs so that we and they can enjoy life together. Sometimes we manage situations with them, and that’s what today’s article is about. Here are some handy steps, the   Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs, that can be used to help your dog get up or down in situations where they are too small to jump, or shouldn’t jump for whatever reason. They can sure save your back too!

Use them for getting in and out of beds, SUV and pickups, sofas, etc. I bet some dogs  play on them! Read the rest of this entry