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Dogs

Consent: Why It Matters for Dogs

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes I had barely stepped in the house when the client attempted to hand me her puppy. The puppy was clearly terrified, dangling from the woman’s extended arms. I backpedaled right back out the door, “Please don’t give her to me. She’s afraid. This will just make it worse.” But the client, beaming with new puppy […]

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Dogs Life at Home New Pets Training & Grooming

Potty-Training Your Puppy

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes It’s job number one (and number two) for new puppies: Learning where to “go potty.” It might seem difficult, but we have three magic tips that will ensure a winning training program for both of you: consistency, scheduling, and praise. In our handout, we offer advice on how to set up a routine, avoid mistakes, […]

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Cats Life at Home Training & Grooming

Clip Those Claws! Tips on Trimming Your Cat’s Nails

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes A cat’s claws are formidable weapons. Cats keep them sharpened and groomed by scratching–ideally on a scratching post–but to protect our own delicate skin from accidental scratches, it’s also important to keep claws trimmed. In our handout, we offer advice on how to accustom your cat to the process, offer the best rewards, and trim […]

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Dogs

How Dogs Eat Is as Important as What They Eat. Feed Their Brain as Well as Their Belly

Article

Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s been said that you are what you eat. But perhaps when applied to dogs, it’s more accurate to say, “You are how you eat.” The way dogs are fed, starting in the formative time of puppyhood, has monumental effects on their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing and has power to change their internal state […]

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Dogs New Pets

Fear Free Puppy Socialization Bingo

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes Do you have a brand-new puppy or are you fostering a puppy or litter of puppies? Either way, socialization is key to help ensure that puppies are friendly and open to new experiences. Our handout shares 25 ways to help puppies learn and thrive when it comes to meeting new people or having everyday experiences.

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Dogs Life at Home

Science Confirms: Watching Dog Videos Relieves Stress

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Even on a screen, dogs connect with us. A new study found that people who watched videos of dogs were happier and less stressed.

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Activities & Enrichment Dogs New Pets Training & Grooming

Old Tricks for New Puppies

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Tricks are perfect for puppies. They’ll help your puppy learn to pay attention to words, and to you; they’ll demonstrate the joys of cracking a joke and making people laugh; they can reinforce training; make for a better partnership; instill confidence in a new puppy; and give you, the human partner, a chance to show […]

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Dogs Life at Home New Pets

Did the Breeder Call Your Pup a “Pet”? It’s Not an Insult

Article

Reading Time: 2 minutes People sometimes feel slighted when they learn that their pup from a responsible breeder is considered “pet” versus “show quality.” No need to feel slighted! Good breeders love all their puppies and give each one the best of care. Here’s what to know about the similarities and differences between pet pups and conformation contenders. Same […]

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Dogs Life at Home New Pets Training & Grooming

Puppy’s First 8 Weeks: Love and Lessons

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Watching mothers teaching their puppies lessons that would hold their value for the life of those little dogs greatly informed my understanding of how to train dogs. The mom, or dam, not only nourishes her puppies, not only keeps them clean and safe, but as they get up onto their feet, as they interact with […]

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Activities & Enrichment Dogs New Pets Travel & Safety

Saying “No” to Hello

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes We’ve all been told our dogs need to socialize with other dogs and with people, leaving some of us with the notion that our dogs and puppies should go to the dog park often or greet every dog who pulls toward them on the street. No doubt about it, we humans love dogs and, more […]