Why Puppy Kindergarten is vital for your dog

Do you have a puppy between eight weeks and three months old? Then there’s not a minute to lose: enroll your new friend in Puppy Kindergarten!
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recently released a position statement recommending puppy socialization classes for puppies three months of age and younger. This recommendation is an exciting acknowledgment [...]

The 15-minute feeding schedule

What is the 15-minute feeding schedule?

It’s the simplest way to alter the way your dog interacts with you, with the least effort on your part.

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Tip: What to look for in the parents of your puppy

photo credit: janiejonesmt
So you’re ready to get your next puppy, and have done your research in choosing a breeder. Or maybe you’re about to pluck a puppy from a out of a litter that arrived with its mother. Of course you will want to know as much about your new puppy’s upbringing as possible, [...]

Roundup: Your adolescent dog

A roundup of articles to help you and your pup sail through the choppy waters of adolescent months.

“Adolescent Changes” From Dog Star Daily. No, you’re not losing your mind — the cute puppy who would never leave your side is now blowing you off and stealing from the trash. Learn what to expect, and take [...]

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day in Athens

The Southeastern Ohio Kennel Club will celebrate the American Kennel Club’s Responsible Dog Ownership Day with a free event on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 10 am. to 1 p.m., at the East State Street Park in Athens. Beginning and advanced obedience, agility, and disc dog demonstrations are planned. See full schedule of events.
The day will [...]

Three simple strategies for training your dog not to jump up

photo credit: CarbonNYC
Teaching your dog not to jump up on you or your guests may seem like an impossible task, especially if you have a dog who loves people (and people who love dogs)! How many times have your guests been greeted at the door by your overenthusiastic canine’s nose and front feet, while [...]

Adopting your dream dog

Whether you choose a puppy, adult dog, purebred or mixed breed, male or female, here’s a quick checklist to help you find the dog of your dreams:

Make a list. Write down all the qualities of your favorite dog of all time, both good and bad.
Rank these qualities in order of importance, from “must have” [...]

How old should my puppy be before I start training?

“How old does my puppy have to be before I can begin training?”
This is a question I am asked often. The puppy in this video is 10 weeks old; but you don’t even have to wait that long! “Training” starts the day you bring your new dog or puppy home to live with you — [...]

Your agility dog: Building focus and drive (Part Two)

In Part One of this two-part series, we talked about what drive is, why it’s important, and the difference between drive and arousal. This week, we’re going to take a peek at some strategies to increase focus for dogs prone to arousal and talk about how to build drive.
Focus and agility
Now that we can tell [...]