Dogs

What better way to spend a warm, sunny afternoon than to go on a kayak with your dog? There’s more to the experience than climbing into a kayak and grabbing a paddle, especially when a pup is involved. Before you and your best pal embark on your adventure, learn what it takes to get your dog kayak ready so everyone can have a safe and fun trip.

Sawna Guadarrama (of wanderlust-worthy @sawna) and Eamon Hughs (@eamon_tothat) have been together for two years. Based in Los Angeles, they share their outdoor adventures with 6-year-old Juniper, who Guadarrama has had since the rescue pup was just 3 months old. “One of our first hikes together with Juniper was running around Griffith Park and the Hollywood sign,” Guadarrama remembers. “Juniper followed Eamon around everywhere; she was mesmerized almost as much as I was. I could tell immediately that he was a keeper!” Nowadays, the adventurous trio regularly spend time hiking and enjoying nature together. “Nature is a great way to bring people together to value what our Earth provides us,” Guadarrama says. “Juniper’s joy for the outdoors is contagious. Just seeing her big smile and jubilee to be running outside makes us want to spend all day, every day outside on trails!” But it’s not just energetic doggos who can benefit from the time outside: “The time on the trails allows us to seek deeper into ourselves and discuss topics we wouldn’t normally talk about on a Friday date night,” Guadarrama explains. “We constantly motivate each other to reach our own goals physically … This bonding time allows us to get to know each other on a deeper level, as well as our pup.” Before you head out for a hike with your loves, Guadarrama recommends first downloading trail-friendly apps, like REI Hiking Project and AllTrails, to help you find dog-friendly trails in your area at a variety of intensity levels. She also encourages pet parents to take appropriate safety measures for both people and pups. “Always bring more water than expected and be mindful of the temperature,” she says. “Dogs don’t sweat like we do. Heat effects them much harsher than it does us. Be mindful of the sun and how it may affect them.”,You and your significant other definitely aren’t the only couple who has gotten stuck in the “So, what do you want to do?” cycle. It can even be harder to make date night plans if you and your partner are dog parents who hate leaving your pup behind. Fortunately, though, you can make a date a true family outing by bringing your fur family members along. Thanks to these dog-friendly date ideas, all of you will be able to embark on a new adventure together. Whether you’ve just started seeing your partner or have been married for years, it can be fun and exciting to mix things up with new date ideas that are perhaps a bit out of the ordinary for you and your partner. You’ll create new memories and have the opportunity to deepen the bond between you and your love—and even better if you can also bond with your puppy love while you’re at it! To accomplish both, we turned to Instagram’s famous pet parents to find out how they incorporate their four-legged lovebugs into their romantic outings. Their unique date ideas will have you exploring new areas of your city, enjoying the great outdoors and more, all with your partner and pup (or pups!) by your side.

Jump to section What Are Puppy Picnics? Puppy Picnic Must-Haves How to Choose the Perfect Spot Puppy Picnic Dos and Don’ts

Complete and balanced fresh dog foods are an excellent way to provide optimal nutrition, but they require extra effort when it comes to storage. Storing fresh dog food properly will help you protect both your dog’s food and their health.

Q: When I’m playing with my dog, they start sneezing out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s just a sneeze or two, but other times it’s like a sneeze attack! Is this a normal part of playtime or should I be concerned?   A: Sneezing during play is totally normal for dogs. It’s usually a sign they’re excited or trying to communicate that their behavior is all in good fun. Sneezing can also happen if they stir up dust or dirt, which irritates their nose.  You only need to be concerned if your dog keeps sneezing well after playtime is over, or if the sneezing starts happening while they’re resting To get expert insight into this quirky behavior, we spoke to a canine behaviorist and a veterinarian. Keep reading to find out why your dog might sneeze during play and when it’s time to call the vet. 

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The goal of dog training might seem simple: helping your dog learn how to be a good canine citizen. It might come as a surprise that training your dog isn’t just about instilling manners to produce a polite, happy, confident companion. Sure, knowing how to sit, stay, and come when called are vital, but it’s far more important to preserve your growing bond with your dog by using dog-friendly, science-backed techniques. So, what’s the right way to train your new puppy or rescue dog? The experience of training can vary dramatically depending on who’s on the other end of the leash and the method they’re using. It’s no wonder if you’re confused, since there’s no shortage of advice when it comes to dog training methodologies. First, we need to understand the four types of operant conditioning and what people mean when they say “positive” or “negative” reinforcement. Then we can talk about balanced training and how it compares to positive reinforcement. The Four Types of Operant Conditioning Learning something new begins with the idea that behavior has consequences, both good and bad. With dog training, the learning process involves a form of operant conditioning, where you either reinforce a behavior to increase the likelihood that your dog will repeat it or punish the behavior so your dog won’t do it again. But the terminology associated with operant conditioning, like “positive punishment” and “negative punishment,” can be very misleading. “Punishment” carries negative associations, but in the operant conditioning quadrant, it simply means a behavior will become less likely to happen. The four types of operant conditioning are: Positive reinforcement: A good consequence happens when your dog performs a behavior, which increases the likelihood that they will repeat it. For example, you ask your dog to sit; they do it, then you give them a treat. Negative reinforcement: A bad consequence is removed when a behavior is performed, which also increases the likelihood that a dog will repeat it. For example, a trainer using a shock collar on a dog that jumps will turn off the shock mode when the dog keeps four paws on the ground. Positive punishment: A bad consequence is introduced when a behavior is performed, which will reduce the likelihood that a dog will repeat it. For example, a trainer tells a dog to sit; the dog goes into a down position; and the trainer uses a choke collar to jerk the dog into a seated position. Negative punishment: A good consequence is removed when your dog performs a behavior, which will decrease the likelihood that they’ll do it again. For example, your dog paws at your arm to get you to pet them, and you ignore them instead of giving them attention.

If your dog has allergies or tummy troubles, limited ingredient dog food (LIDF) might help.   The best limited ingredient dog food formulas focus on a few select ingredients to streamline your pet’s diet to eliminate anything that’s irritating your dog.  

WRITTEN BY Erika Lessa, CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified Professional Trainer,What Is Positive Reinforcement? You may have heard the term “positive reinforcement” and possibly some descriptions of what it means. The term actually has two meanings: It is a process that helps dogs (actually, all pets) learn new skills, and is also used to identify a group of trainers who use positive reinforcement as their main method of training. Compared with other methods, positive reinforcement strengthens behavior, builds trusting relationships between pet parents and their animal companions, and protects the behavioral health of pets.  Simply put, reinforcement is a process that strengthens a behavior. There are two categories of reinforcement: positive and negative.