Dogs

Most dog parks are gated so your pet doesn’t need to be on a leash. Giving your pet a little more freedom outside of the house will help prepare him for going to an off-leash dog park for the first time. One strategy to help him learn the difference between running free and running wild is to buy a longer dog leash such as Guardian Gear Cotten Web Training Dog Lead. It stretches 15 to 50 feet (depending on the option you choose) and resists twisting so he can grow comfortable being a little farther away from you on your daily walks.,You may be your dog’s best friend, but chances are that your pet might want to hang with four-legged pals every now and then. To help him (and you) socialize, an increasing number of pooch playgrounds have been popping up around cities and suburban neighborhoods to offer an alternative to the typical routine. Dogs playing together also provides mental stimulation, improves social skills, and is good exercise! Before you head out with your furry friend, there are a few dog park etiquette tips you need to know to make sure the dog park remains a safe and fun environment for pet play.

Trend alert: Summer 2025 is all about escaping into nature. As the weather warms up, pets and their people are hearing the call of the wild—even if it’s just the wilderness at their local city park.  “There’s a big outdoor story for summer,” says Chewy Design and Trend Manager Ann-Margaret Kim. “Whether they’re an occasional outdoor explorer, a weekend warrior, or on the road consistently, people are going to be exploring the outdoors.”  And your pet’s products are following suit—in several unique ways. From shining bright at night to colors that appeal to both you and your pet, check out these trends headed to a hiking trail near you. 

Yes and no—cherries can be both safe and unsafe for dogs and puppies depending on the type of cherry and how they’re prepared, says Bethany Hsia, DVM, mobile veterinarian and co-founder of CodaPet, in Clovis, California. The flesh of the cherry fruit isn’t toxic to dogs and is generally safe in small amounts. (Hence why cherries can be ingredients in dog diets and treats.) However, cherry pits, stems, and leaves should always be avoided since they can pose significant health risks.,Jump to section Can Dogs Have Cherries? Are Cherries Good for Dogs? Are Cherries Bad for Dogs? How Many Cherries Can I Give My Dog? How To Safely Feed Your Dog Cherries Store-Bought Dog Treats With Cherries FAQs About Dogs and Cherries

To teach scenting a track, you need some treats and a grassy area, such as a baseball field or park. Although hot dogs are not the most nutritious food, I find they work best, and you won’t over stuff your dog’s belly. Begin early; many people start by 6 a.m. before anyone has walked on the grass.,Once your dog has mastered “sit” and “stay,” you may be tempted to start working on more advanced training techniques to work on with your pupper. Since dogs have an impeccable sense of smell, working with your dog to track by scent only makes sense. You can teach your dog to follow a track or trail on the ground, to air scent and to identify scented objects. All three can be taught simultaneously because they employ similar scenting skills. Read on to find out how to teach your dog to scent a track.

Picture a behavior that you’d like to teach your dog, but have no idea how to go about it. Maybe it’s getting him to go to his bed or crate when you ask, or maybe it’s something cute, like ringing a dinner bell. If you are confused about where to begin, there’s a training technique called “shaping by successive approximations” that can help. There are many ways to teach your dog new tricks, and one of the most creative options is using dog shaping. It’s similar to the childhood game of “Hot and Cold”; you reward incremental parts of the behavior to tell your dog, “You’re getting warmer!” Much like the individual pages of a cartoon flip book come together to form a completed action, dog shaping helps both trainer and dog split complex actions into manageable pieces. Here’s an explanation of how it can help and how you can get started. How Does Shaping Help in Dog Training? Dog shaping is a great technique to teach a variety of behaviors, but it’s particularly helpful when you feel like you’re facing a training impasse with your dog. For example, many Dachshund pet parents have a tough time teaching “down” because their dogs are already so close to the ground. Both the dog and pet parent might become frustrated as the pet parent tries to use dog treats to lure the dog into position. The pet parent eventually gives up because the dog won’t assume the completed belly-on-the-ground position, and the dog gives up because he is not getting rewarded for his efforts. Shaping, on the other hand, keeps pups engaged because they’re getting feedback and reinforcements throughout the process until they’ve worked their way to the desired action. This dog training method is also helpful for dogs trying to overcome mild fears, like learning how to use a new dog door. Walking through a dog door flap is a strange sensation, and some dogs might resist going through, even when offered a treat on the other side of it. But shaping can help a dog to work up the courage to go through one baby step at a time. Instead of asking the dog to do the “impossible”—walking all the way through a scary plastic hole—shaping helps to build courage by acknowledging and rewarding incremental progress towards the dog door.

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Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for neurologic function, intestinal function, red blood cell synthesis, and fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. While it’s usually included in complete and balanced dog foods, some dogs may benefit from additional vitamin B12 in their diet.  Let’s explore vitamin B12 benefits, what a deficiency looks like, and how to increase the vitamin when supplemental care makes sense.  

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If your pet has been experiencing some less-than-desirable symptoms, a special diet may be just what he needs. Things like regular stomach upset, rashes and even ear inflammation can signal an allergy or intolerance to some common cat and dog food ingredients. If you’re not sure if your pet could benefit from a special diet, here are three common reasons why you should alter the food you feed your furry friend.