Want to teach your dog to wait at the door? Or get your cat to jump into her carrier on her own? You can use positive reinforcement to teach them how to do the right thing. Positive reinforcement training means that you reward your pet as soon as they do something you like. The reward reinforces the behavior, making it more likely to occur again. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool you can use to change your pet's behavior.

Marking behavior is not a house-soiling problem and both Male and Female dogs can display marking behaviors. To resolve the issue, you need to address the underlying reason for your dog's need to mark. Your dog may be urine-marking for a variety of reasons. Here we discuss some of the causes and how you can resolve them.

A Kong is a rubber, hollow, dog toy designed to hold food and entertain your dog's brain and belly. Kongs and similar food dispensing toys require that a dog lick and chew on the toy in order to access the food. Licking and chewing are soothing activities for dogs, so Kongs can be helpful when teaching your dog how to be calm, quiet and relaxed.

Remember that you and your new dog need some time to learn each other’s signals and routines. Even if he was housetrained in his previous home, if you don’t recognize his “bathroom” signal, which may be nothing more than sniffing or staring at you, you might miss his request to go out, causing him to eliminate indoors. Additionally, scents and odors from other pets in the new home may stimulate some initial urine marking.

What do you do when you need to leave home and your dog can't come with you? Choosing the right boarding facility or pet sitter for your dog is key for a stress-free trip! Whether your dog will be staying at home with a sitter or going to a boarding facility, try to pick an option that will mimic your pet's daily life.

Puppies have to go potty. It's teaching them **where** we want them to go that's important. Potty training requires patience and consistency. The following procedures will help minimize house-soiling incidents, but please remember that it is normal for your puppy to have accidents in the house while they are learning. The more consistent you are in following the basic housetraining procedures, the faster your puppy will learn where to go.

Puppies have to go potty. It's teaching them **where** we want them to go that's important. Potty training requires patience and consistency. The following procedures will help minimize house-soiling incidents, but please remember that it is normal for your puppy to have accidents in the house while they are learning. The more consistent you are in following the basic housetraining procedures, the faster your puppy will learn where to go.

Although no one wants to hear their dog growl, it's important to keep in mind what a crucial communication tool it is for dogs. This audible warning signal is a very effective way for dogs to keep the peace and a way for a dog to communicate when he is feeling uncomfortable. A dog who is punished for growling may stop – but may resort to snarling, snapping or biting to communicate.

Proper training is essential for a long, happy, and safe relationship with your dog, setting the foundation to ensure your dog stays physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged, and emotionally happy. Remember, training a dog takes time, understanding, patience, and consistency.

To help your dog learn to wear a muzzle, we recommend using a technique called “Desensitization and Counter conditioning.” This process helps turn a scary or disliked item into something fun and positive. When using desensitization and counter conditioning, it is important to progress slowly and at a pace where your dog stays calm and relaxed. If you rush the process, the training will not be effective.