Your dog’s leash—long or short—influences the daily rhythm of your life with him. Whether walking your dog is peaceful, controlled, or unruly depends, at least in part, on the length of his leash. In certain scenarios and with particular dogs a short or standard-length leash is your best bet, but in other situations, you and your dog will appreciate the freedom of a long leash. Either way, a leash helps protect your dog and other dogs from unexpected…
Read More
On the river, by the ocean, at the lakehouse, or on the boat: Dogs love to join us everywhere we go. How can you ensure your dog’s safety while swimming or boating? Not every dog is a natural swimmer. And there are hazards for dogs who swim or spend time near the water. Protect your dog with these water safety tips.
Read More
The best way to leash train a dog is to get them comfortable wearing their collar and attached leash around the house, then slowly introduce them to walking inside while you’re holding the leash. Then, add commands like “come” and “wait” while they’re wearing the leash. Finally, teach them to “heel” by offering treats immediately at your side while they walk beside you. Once they are comfortable with basic commands on leash and can “heel” without pulling on the leash, try taking them outside for real-world practice.
Read More
Your dog’s crate should allow for 4 inches of space between your dog and the sides, back, and top of the crate. This ensures the crate is big enough for your dog to comfortably rest and turn around in, but not too big, as a crate that’s too large can interfere with housebreaking training. Most dog crates are sized by the dog’s weight, so you’ll need to know your own dog’s weight before deciding on a crate size. In general, small or toy dogs should use a small crate, while the largest dogs like Newfoundlands should use an extra-large crate. However, most dogs will fall in between these extreme sizes…
Read More
To protect your home from dog drool, you need to:
But that’s not the whole story. Owning a dog makes life a good measure happier—and messier. Constant fur to vacuum, muddy paws to manage, and full-body fur shakes after rainy walks. But the slimiest canine mess is the dreaded dog drool puddle. Your dog puts your devotion to the test when you sit on a drool-soaked couch cushion or slide across the hardwood floor on a patch of…
Read More
Dogs should sleep in a place that’s comfortable for them, like in a crate or on a dog bed, but where your dog sleeps will always be a compromise between you and your dog. At the very least, you should create some sort of sleep routine for your dog, so he knows where to go when he gets tired and can sleep with minimal disruptions. Whether he sleeps in your bed, his own dog bed in one of his many strange sleeping positions, on the couch, or in his dog crate will vary depending…
Read MoreWhile Halloween is a time of fun and excitement for humans, it can be stressful and downright dangerous for dogs. So much in their world changes very quickly: there’s a ton of activity, new people are everywhere, strange foods and smells abound, and . . .
Read More
Whether your dog’s idea of an adventure is a walk around the block or summiting a 14er in Colorado, dog jackets can keep him comfortable and safe on the trail or in the water. There are nearly as many dog jacket styles as there are human outerwear styles, with insulated jackets to help keep dogs warm, rain jackets to keep dogs dry, life jackets to give dogs extra buoyancy in the water, and hunting jackets to make dogs more visible in the field. Choosing the right dog jacket requires knowledge of your dog, his needs…
Read MoreWhether you’re road tripping for the weekend or journeying cross country with your dog, these top 10 tips for traveling with your dog will help you prep for four-wheeled adventures with your four-legged friend.
We cover essential dog travel accessories to make the journey fun and safe for both of you, and follow up with answers to frequently asked questions.
Read More
Above all, your dog’s collar needs to fit correctly, but to choose the best dog collar, you also need to consider your dog’s lifestyle and your own. For instance, if your dog is an active swimmer, a nylon dog collar would be a better choice than a leather dog collar, as the former is easier to clean and dries quickly. In addition to collar materials, the closures (like buckles and clips) on collars can play a large role in determining which collar is best for your dog — if you need to remove your dog’s collar regularly, a plastic clip closure will be much more convenient than a belt-buckle-style closure. Taking a step back and determining what features you want in a collar…
Read More
