Families across America love to celebrate with fireworks. For many dogs however, fireworks can be a source of extreme fear and stress. Here are some tips to help with the stress:

Take your dog for a long walk before the festivities start. This will allow him to potty outside before all of the noise begins and the exercise may help tire him out.
During firework displays, keep your dog indoors in a confined and secure area with shades closed. You might also try adding some white noise with an oscillating fan.
Turn on …

I see that  Dr. Mark has recently blogged about the dangers of heat stroke,  but due to the extreme heat of the last week,  I thought the subject was worth revisiting…
This heat! My God, I feel like I’m melting. People keep telling me I’ll get used to it, but I’m still skeptical. My dogs and I just relocated from Southern California, and it has been a real trick finding time to exercise outside in this sticky, brutal heat. We have resorted to taking our walks early in the morning and …

In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 17-23, 2009), The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) reiterates our belief in training dogs using positive and humane methods. Recent research has shown that the use of aversive training methods can increase aggressive behavior from dogs. The APDT urges dog owners to work with professional trainers schooled in the latest scientific research to create a healthy, happy dog and a safe household.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the largest professional and educational association for dog trainers in the world, believes …

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Many dog owners choose Canine Good Citizen training as the first step in training their dogs. As you work with your dog to teach the …

Interactive toy ideas to keep your pup busy! By Trainer, Stephanie Bennett

Of all aspects of dog ownership, house-training is the most prominent and the most important. From the first day a dog comes into his new home, there is a sense of urgency that pushes us to house-train him as quickly and thoroughly as possible. However, just like any other kind of training, house-training requires patience, persistence, and an understanding of your dog’s instinctive habits. Once your dog is properly trained, you will both be calmer and happier with his daily routine.

Reasons for House-Training:

A clean, hygienic living …

It’s puppy season! Bringing home your new puppy is very exciting. There is so much work to be done! Be prepared for some sleepless nights, lots of patience, and some hard work. Two of the most common misconceptions that new owners have are: (A) The new puppy understands language and (B) The new puppy already knows how they are expected to behave in a home. A puppy, just like a human baby, must be taught everything.

Listen to Dana Tyson and I talk dog every Wednesday at 7:50AM. If you miss the broadcast, click here to listen to the podcasts. As always, we would love to hear from you. If you have a specific dog training issue you would like us to discuss on air, just shoot me an email!

This morning we discussed how important timing is when it comes to dog training. One of the things that make dogs so beautiful is their unbelievable ability to live in the moment. I learn from my dogs …

How many of you have resolved to get more excercise this year?  What about your dog?  Is possible that you both need more excercise this year?  Dogs are the greatest excercise partners you will ever find.  They are never too tired, they never complain, and they are always ready to go.
It is absolutely true that a tired dog is a happy dog.  If you are having behavior issues with your dog, chances are she is not getting enough exercise.  Unfortunately, just putting them in the backyard doesn’t count.  Dogs are …

It’s that time again!  Calendars.  In this day of Blackberrys and IPhones, give me a good old fashioned wall calendar, any day. I love them and I love choosing my new calendar every year.  Naturally, I go for some kind of dog themed calendar and there are always plenty to choose from.  It seems like a very important decision.  Clearly, you want a calendar that is interesting enough to look at every single day for the next year.  This year, I got two.
The first one is the Snapshots calendar.  All …