Author: Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA

I recently had clients with a very stressed dog. There were so many situations that made this dog anxious. He barked whenever guests arrived and wouldn’t stop until they left. He lunged and snapped at dogs and strangers on walks. He barked and howled whenever he was left alone. I knew they needed help fast, so we went over some calming techniques along with some remedies I thought they could start using right away. When I saw the family the following week, I was pleased to see that the dog was doing much better. The barking and lunging on walks were almost gone, the barking at guests didn’t last as long, and the dog was more relaxed when left alone. They are definitely on the right path to calming their stressed dog. With the aid of calming remedies and training, you can help relieve your dog’s stress, too.

Your pup will need dog food right away. Find out what your new dog has been eating and decide if you want to continue that food or start transitioning them to a new food. Check with your veterinarian to confirm that the food you use meets your dog’s individual nutritional needs. Different ages or stages can benefit from specific nutrients to help your animal thrive. Read our guide to feeding dog food at different life stages.,You’ve taken the plunge and you’re bringing a new dog home. While welcoming a new pup into your home is exciting, it also can be a little daunting at first—especially for first-time dog owners. Any time you are bringing a new dog home, whether a puppy or an adult dog, it’s best to prepare ahead of time and get an idea of what to expect. Here are 10 things first-time dog owners, or existing dog owners getting a second dog, can do to make the transition easier.

Ready to try your hand at dog training? Start with these basic commands.,Jump to section Basic Obedience Commands Positive Reinforcement Training Tips Our Favorite Dog Training Products Dog Obedience Training FAQ

Is your dog friendly to other dogs on walks and in other situations? How about your friend’s dog? If one or both of the dogs had issues with other dogs in any context, then it’s probably best to skip a home visit from your friend’s dog.,If you have a friendly dog who gets along well with other pups and loves having human visitors over to the house, you might be considering letting your friends and family’s pets visit your home. Not all pets make good houseguests, though, and not all dogs are comfortable with other dogs in their homes. Below are some tips to help you decide if allowing pet guests in your home is a good idea for you and your pooch, and how to improve the odds that your dog and the pet guest will get along well. Before I go any further, however, if your pet has serious issues with other dogs, or has a history of injuring people or other animals, consult a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA/CPDT-KSA) or a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) for assistance before even considering a pet guest visit your home. Assuming your dog has never hurt anyone and seems unlikely to bite another pet, follow the dog training tips below for training your dog to allow, and even welcome, four-legged guests.

There’s a very simple reason why dogs pull on their leash: They haven’t been trained not to. Dogs don’t instinctively know leash manners, but they do have instincts that tell them to wander here and there to check out smells, sounds and other interesting things out in the world. Yanking the leash when they pull does nothing to overcome those urges, and probably also frustrates or upsets your dog. So how do we overcome those instincts? By offering them something even more enticing within leash’s length. Think of it this way: Leash training isn’t about punishing your dog for being in the wrong place. It’s about teaching your dog where to be.,Jump to section Why Is My Dog Pulling? Essential Leash Training Supplies How to Stop a Dog from Pulling Troubleshooting Tips

It can be tough for a pet to tell the difference between dog toys and toys for kids. For one thing, many toys for kids look a lot like dog toys. Also, your child’s smell can make their toys especially interesting to your dog. Proper dog training can teach your confused pooch to leave your kid’s toys alone. To train your dog not to play with toys for kids, you’ll need to make changes to your home environment and teach him which toys are his.

I once adopted an adult rescue dog named Franklin. He had lived a very sheltered life where he rarely left his home and got no training. He showed symptoms of separation anxiety, barked and lunged on leash at other dogs, and attacked gardening equipment. Clearly, his former caretakers were unable to or simply didn’t know how to socialize an older dog. I knew I needed to reduce Franklin’s stress to improve his behavior, so we embarked on a focused training and socialization program. About six months later, Franklin was fine when left alone, great with other dogs and calm around gardening equipment. The improvement was so dramatic that strangers regularly complimented me on how well-behaved Franklin was. Is your dog like Franklin, well past puppyhood but a bit in need of dog socializing? Don’t panic; there’s hope! With the right training, you can socialize an older dog.

No matter their age, every dog should learn to be comfortable in a crate. Here are some of the benefits of crate training older dogs: Housetraining: Maybe you’ve adopted an older dog who was never potty trained. Maybe your older dog could use extra encouragement to hold it until they get outside. Crate training lets you keep your dog in a safe space that they won’t want to soil, which helps to reduce potty accidents. (If your older dog was housetrained and is having consistent potty accidents, consult your vet. They could be experiencing a medical issue or age-related incontinence.) Travel: Crate training makes traveling with your dog extra easy. Riding with your dog in a crate that is secured to your car keeps them safe when you’re on the road. Plus, when you arrive at your destination, a crate is a secure and cozy spot for them to hang out in a hotel, vacation rental or friends’ home when they can’t be with you. Vet and Groomer Visits: Animal care specialists like veterinarians and groomers routinely crate dogs before and after they are caring for them. Crate training your adult dog helps ensure your pup will be comfortable in those situations, making their appointment more enjoyable for them and for you. Keeping Your Dog Calm at Home: Your house isn’t always a soothing, serene environment for your dog. Events like house parties and holidays like Halloween can stress your pup out. When you crate train an older dog, you help make sure there is a safe space for them no matter what’s going on.,Jump to section The Benefits of Crate Training for Older Dogs Supplies for Crate Training an Older Dog How to Crate Train an Older Dog: Step-by-Step Instructions What If My Dog Still Won’t Use Their Crate?

Dogs. They poke their noses where they’re not wanted, beg at the dinner table and get underfoot while you’re cleaning. I can’t tell you how many times a client has asked me how to make their dog stop [insert annoying, in-the-way behavior here]. Fortunately, there is a simple dog obedience behavior you can teach your pup to do that works in all kinds of situations. In fact, I’d say it’s among the most popular dog obedience tips I offer to clients! So, what’s this magical behavior you can teach at home for day to day situations? It’s settling on a mat on cue. When a dog is on his mat, he’s not somewhere else—which makes this a great dog obedience behavior for times when your pup is in the wrong place. Once your canine companion knows how to settle on his mat on cue, you can send your pet to his mat anytime you feel it’s needed.