What is enriched environment? Simply put, the term “enriched environment” means changes in the life of a person or animal that represent different kinds of additions and complications which are aimed at raising the level of wellbeing. ⠀ This means that enriched environment increases the level of physical and psychological health, and, hence, overall wellbeing. …
/young-rat-terrier-running-in-house-976401188-5c01e22ec9e77c0001ac4885.jpg "Small puppy essentials: the “Check” command")
Let’s talk about socialization of a puppy: playing with commands! “Check” is one of the very first commands that you can teach your baby pup. ⠀ The “check” command is meant to tell the puppy to go and check a certain object that might be causing some fear or confusion. ⠀ To teach this command …
🐶The “wait” command is important in the life of every dog: it is one of the basic elements of your pet’s safety and your peace of mind. ⠀ How to teach your dog the “Wait” command? 10 rules to follow🔻 ⠀ 1️⃣ You should start the training process in a quiet, safe place, with the …
Dogs are attached to their humans, so, it is not the house, but the human that is a source of security for them. ⠀ So, if you ask some of your friends to stop by your place a few times a day to care for your pet while you’re away, and the rest of the …
Dogs, just like us, don’t always have a pure temperament type. Very often our pets have a mixed temperament: any combination of the 2 types our of 4 (choleric, sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic). ⠀ Why should you keep in mind your dog’s temperament type during training? ⠀ It’s important to do that because if you happen …
Dogs, like humans, have 4 types of temperament: ⠀ ▪️Sanguine – strong, balanced, active. ⠀ The processes of energization and inhibition are well-developed, but it’s important to work with such a dog correctly, in order to avoid overstimulation. ⠀ Sanguine dogs are energetic, active, can boast quick reflexes, are always on the lookout for new …
10 reasons why playing is good for your dog 🔻 ⠀ 1️⃣ Games are irreplaceable during the period of the socialization of a puppy. A puppy that doesn’t play with other dogs might become fearful and/or aggressive towards them in adulthood. ⠀ 2️⃣ If you are doing everything correctly, then it is while playing that …
Why do dogs tilt their heads when we talk to them? ⠀ Chances are, almost every dog owner has noticed this behavior of their pet’s. ⠀ There is no clear answer as to why dogs do this, but canine behavior researchers have a few hypotheses👇 ⠀ What are the situations in which dogs tilt their …
🐶Your dog might not be feeling well. If you notice your pup has trouble concentrating, he/she is tired, apathetic or refuses to do things (sitting, lying down, etc), make sure that your pet is not experiencing any health problems. ⠀ 🐶Your dog can’t grasp the information. Maybe there are too many distracting factors around? Or …
7 rules of playing tug of war with your pup👇 ⠀ 🐶Monitor how your dog feels. ⠀ So many owners (and even specialists) refuse playing such games, thinking that they make their dogs more aggressive. This is not true. ⠀ Tug of war is an amazing game! But it’s important to make sure that your …
Does your puppy bark at different sounds? ⠀ Use this technique: With your puppy in the room, start knocking on the wall. Knock – and give him a treat, knock – treat, knock – treat. Knock louder – treat – knock louder – treat. ⠀ The task here is to build our puppy’s response: as …
When you think about this question, isn’t it kind of impossible to define how we ourselves understand if a certain person is good or bad? ⠀ How would you explain the love that dogs give to people that are considered “bad” people? ⠀ So why do dogs like some people, but dislike others? ⠀ The …
/GettyImages-86295050-5c3be98c46e0fb00019b6bce.jpg "Teach your pup to stay calm when a door opens")
How to teach your dog to stay still when you open doors? ⬇️ ⠀ ▫️Teach them to remain in place upon hearing the “Stay” command. ⠀ Use a carpet/mat, which is also important from the safety point of view if the floor is slippery. ⠀ With a treat in your hand, lead your pup to …
One of the most important criteria in choosing a dog, including shelter dogs, is temperament and character. ⠀ Think about what you want your dog to be like in advance! ⠀ ▫️Evaluate the dog’s health and your capabilities. ⠀ Visit a vet in any case, because many illnesses are invisible to the naked eye, whereas …
/GettyImages-944723542-5c151aa5c9e77c0001f9f9b4.jpg "Peeing at home: to train or to treat?")
Has your pet started to leave pee puddles at home? ⠀ ▫️Does he have trouble waiting until your arrival at home to go for a walk? ⠀ ▫️Does he urinate more often than usual? ⠀ ▫️Have pee puddles become very small or, on the contrary, too big? ⠀ ✔️Many dog owners are familiar with these …
Think ahead: what changes will occur in your pup’s life when the baby arrives? ⠀ If you’ll need to move things around or if the dog won’t be allowed to enter a certain room, implement these changes in advance (3 months before the baby comes or earlier). ⠀ Same with any changes in daily routine …
First things first: what is the best time to get a dog for a family with children? ⠀ 🐶It’s better to wait until a child turns 4-5 years old. ⠀ Younger children are impulsive and often unable to behave correctly around a dog. ⠀ In addition, raising a dog is comparable to raising a child. …
A clicker is a tiny device which makes a click when you press on it. ⠀ This clicks serves as a hint, marking the moment when a dog did something correctly and will receive a reward. ⠀ Of course, the very first thing to do is to explain to the dog that a click equals …
Heat stroke. ⠀ It can happen anywhere –the city or the countryside. And your ability to approach the situation correctly will not only help your pet feel better, but also can save their life. ⠀ Normal body temperature varies slightly for different breeds, but anything over 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) is already too much. ⠀ …
/AMRImage-E-GettyImages-171325224-56a26ba55f9b58b7d0ca0aa1.jpg "Do dogs know when the owner will come home?")
Many dog owners are convinced that their dogs know when their human family members will come home from work. They will be sitting next to the door, window, or the fence and waiting. ⠀ But how can dogs tell when their owners will come home? ⠀ Studies show that 45%-52% of dog owners have noticed …
Upon finding themselves in the water, dogs will at least try to swim🌊. ⠀ But this in no way means that you should make them swim, especially if we’re talking about spending long time in the water. ⠀ Even if your dog can swim, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she enjoys it 100% and that …
What should you know about washing your dog correctly? ⠀ 💧If your dog is long-coated, make sure to brush him/her before washing. 💧Don’t forget about a rubber mat, so that you pet doesn’t slip and slide. 💧Wash your dog when they get dirty. Generally, it’s once or twice a month, with dog shampoo. In summer …
How to understand if your cat and your dog are friends? ⠀ Cats that are friends with dogs will demonstrate such behavior as playing with them, rubbing against their fur, trying to sit or sleep next to them, purring and generally looking calm and relaxed in the presence of a dog. ⠀ A dog that …
Cat + Dog friendship: risk factors and what it looks like Read More »
What are the things that influence the relationship between cats and dogs?🐶🐈 ⠀ There are many factors at play: genetics, socialization and previous experience, age at which the two animals met each other, the owner’s behavior and resource distribution. ⠀ An important factor is the experience that a puppy had with cats during the socialization …
One of the biggest misconceptions about dogs is that a wagging tail means happiness. ⠀ It can be a signal of happiness, but there are other things it symbolizes too: fear, insecurity and even a warning: stay away! ⠀ Always look at are the dog’s pose and movements, and the positioning of the wagging tail …
8 rules you should follow around someone else’s dogs that will keep you safe: ⠀ 1️⃣ Don’t approach dogs you don’t know and don’t try to pet them. Even if you really want to and the owner allowed you to. Many people are not aware of the dog psychology and body language, and might not …
Things to know to be safe around other people’s dogs Read More »
How to stop your adult dog from chewing on things? ⠀ In order to train your dog not to chew on objects, first and foremost, it is very important to understand what the reason behind this behavior is. ⠀ If your dog keeps not only chewing inedible things, but also swallowing them, you should consult …
Have you ever noticed that your dog is great at following commands at home or with a dog trainer, but becomes completely uncontrollable during a walk outside? Many owners struggle with this problem. ⠀ Why don’t our dogs behave during a walk? ⠀ ✔️ Usually, when trying to pinpoint a root cause of this problem, …
Why do our dogs behave at home, but not outside? Read More »
Why do we enjoy talking to our dogs? ⠀ Firstly, let’s face it, your dog is nearly an ideal listener. ⠀ Your pup will never interrupt you, or wave his/her paw in a dismissive manner, saying: “That’s all cool, but you have to hear that thing that happened to ME the other day…”, springing all …
Puppies grow up, but the biting sometimes continues. The puppy is 6-12-36 months old, and you’re still suffering from constant bites. Why? ⠀ Once you subconsciously reinforced this behavior, and your puppy is still thinking “Biting my human is so fun!”. What exactly could you have done? ⠀ 🔸You might have rewarded your puppy with …
The puppy is growing, the biting is staying: what to do? Read More »
Digging is a natural behavior for dogs. ⠀ This is what their ancestors did. However, in our 21st century world, not all dog owners are happy about their pets’ digging abilities. ⠀ There are several reasons our dogs dig: ⠀ 1️⃣Hunter instinct. Maybe your pet sensed “prey” (in the face of a mouse or a …
Let’s talk all about dog toothbrushing! ⠀ ❓How to choose a toothbrush? ⠀ You should get your dog their very own personal one with soft bristles. Make sure that the shape will allow you to get to all the areas that are hard to reach. ⠀ The most important factor when choosing a toothbrush is …
What are puppy play styles? 1. “Catch me if you can!”: puppies chase each other and switch roles from time to time. ⠀ If both puppies like only chasing or running away, the game won’t be very effective. It’s important to monitor the way puppies are playing and make sure that both of them are …
One of the biggest fears that stops people from getting a dog is that they will have to get up at 5 am every day in order to walk their four-legged friend. But is that true? What time do you actually have to wake up? After centuries of living with humans, dogs learnt to adapt …
When does your dog want you to wake up for a morning walk? Read More »
Are you superstitious? ⠀ Or maybe you have some “lucky” items that will surely bring you success? ⠀ It might be a surprise, but people are not the only ones to believe in superstitions. Our four-legged friends do too! ⠀ Moreover, their lives are often based on these superstitions. How? Let’s see! ⠀ 🐶The owner …
Your dog is more superstitious than any human you know Read More »
Sometimes dogs roll onto their backs when interacting with their owners. Why do they do it and what can this body position mean? ⠀ When interpreting canine body language, we should look beyond the one-time signal: the context of the situation, and the general mimics and poses that are characteristic for the dog. ⠀ There …
What is positive reinforcement?🔻 ⠀ Positive reinforcement in dog training is when your dog gets something valuable and important for behaving well. For example, he/she lies down on your command and gets a treat as a reward. ⠀ It’s not only treats that you can use though, there’s also playing, toys, verbal praise, etc. ⠀ …
It’s important to look at dog aggression from the point of view of involuntary learning sometimes. ⠀ How do people teach their dogs to demonstrate aggression? 🤔 ⠀ Imagine: the owner makes their dog go through something that’s not exactly pleasant (trimming nails, for instance) without first teaching the dog anything about it, and then …
Let’s talk about plants that are dangerous for our dogs🐶 ⠀ You might have noticed that dogs, just like cats, love eating grass and plants, both outside and at home. And that’s exactly why it’s so important for you to know what kind of plants might end up being poisonous for your pet. ⠀ ❌1. …
Sometimes dogs “don’t behave”, and we, owners, reinforce this behavior without even realizing. ⠀ And when we do, it’s already too late – the habit is formed. ⠀ But the “bad” behavior that you’ve accidentally reinforced can be corrected ⬇️ ⠀ 1️⃣Make problematic behavior impossible. ⠀ ❗️If your dog does something, you praise him/her for …
Misbehavior you’ve reinforced: how to correct it? Read More »
Sometimes we love having a pet at home so much that we start thinking about getting him/her a friend. ⠀ What should we consider when choosing a second dog? ⠀ ▫️Age, breed and size of the two dogs. ⠀ Many think that in order for the dogs to not get bored, it’s better to get …
Very soon the world-wide quarantine will be over, and with it – our being with our dogs 24/7. ⠀ The fact we spend so much time with our dogs now is great. They are receiving all the attention they could ever want – that’s a plus. But, on the other hand, too much attention is …
Sometimes dog owners find themselves in a situation when their puppy gets scared of something at home or outside. ⠀ ❓So what should you do to not make things worse? ⠀ All puppies go through a “fear phase”. ⠀ During this time, it’s important to be very careful to not provoke fear of certain objects …
Sometimes dog owners complain that their dog doesn’t like training and will do anything to get out of a training session. ⠀ But dogs love learning something new! ⠀ And if your pet will try anything to avoid training, it means that either he/she is not feeling well, or the training process is organized incorrectly. …
Stress signals during training that you should know about Read More »
What should you use as a reward for your puppy during training? ⠀ It’s not just treats we’re talking about. It’s very important to choose the right type of a reward, in order to form and develop a puppy’s motivation and teach him/her to enjoy training sessions. ⠀ What you should choose as a reward …
What gear should you choose for walks? ⠀ ✔️Collars. ⠀ Many specialists believe it’s not the best choice, except for ring appearances. ⠀ It’s better to avoid collars if your dog pulls on the leash. ⠀ Here are the most common health problems that wearing collars may cause: ⠀ ▫️neck vertebrae injuries ▫️thyroid area injuries …
This is a common question that so many potential dog-owners ask in an attempt to understand if they will be able to give enough time and effort to a pet. ⠀ However, the answer is not so simple. The reason is: it depends. ⠀ Let’s see. ⠀ You’ll need to walk your dog – ideally, …
Many dog parents spend years struggling with a problem concerning doors: their dogs barge through them, in a hurry to get some fresh air on a walk, dragging the owner behind them. ⠀ Some try to correct this behavior using very harsh methods. ⠀ But there is absolutely no need to be harsh. ⠀ The …
There are rules that will help you avoid behavioral problems, that is, spoiling your dog. They are not complex, but require discipline – especially from the owner! ⠀ 1️⃣ Don’t ignore the socialization of the puppy. This will teach your dog to react to various situations, including difficult ones, appropriately. ⠀ 2️⃣ Make sure to …
Many owners are sure that their dogs understand it when they “misbehave”, because they tend to “feel guilty and show signs of remorse”. But can dogs really experience guilt? 🧐 Let’s see. ⠀ Say, you come home after a busy day at work, and the picture that opens up before your eyes is a complete …
