Dear Daniel Stevens: One of our family?s greatest hobbies is planting, weeding, and growing fruits and vegetables so we can enjoy them on the dinner table. Both my husband and I grew up eating organic, homegrown foods so we wanted to pass this gift down to our own children. Together, we have a blast working in the garden but lately, we?ve had an unexpected helper - our dog Tasha. While we work, Tasha prefers digging and tearing up the plants. As you can imagine, this ...

Taking your dog or puppy to the vet doesn?t have to be traumatic provided that it is handled and managed well right from the very first encounter. Most puppies will already have been to the vet at least once, about a the six to ten week stage to get their first set of vaccinations and to have a quick physical examination. However, some breeders may do their own vaccinations depending on local regulations and laws regarding the sale of some of the vaccinations. Even if the...

Crate training is one of the best possible things that you can do for your puppy. Not only will the puppy be easier to housetrain but overall you will have a happier, more secure dog that has his or her own place to sleep and stay both when you are home and when you are away. Crate training is also an asset when you plan to travel with your dog or puppy. Crate training keeps the animal calm on airplanes and also keeps you pet safe when driving. Crates can be attached to seats...

Chewing is a very natural dog behavior that often starts in puppyhood when a dog starts to teethe. However, without the proper discipline and training, the behavior can become a problem when your dog gets older. Training your dog to stop chewing can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration as your dog grows up. Whether you have a puppy or a grown dog, you can train your dog to stop chewing. It is usually easier to build new habits when a dog is young and impressio...

Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and consideration. How your trainer works with both you and your dog will impact your relationship with your pet both during the trainings sessions as well as in the future. Many owners have hired a trainer only to find out they don?t agree philosophically with the methods that the trainer uses or are completely opposed to some of the exercises the trainer uses. To avoid these ...

While many people consider clicker training a new way to work with dogs and other animals, clicker training has actually been around for many, many years under the name ?operant conditioning?. Animal trainers, behavior trainers, scientists and even therapist have been using operant training on animals and people for centuries. Operant training works on the principle of pairing a desired behavior with a positive outcome for the animal, one that is not naturally associated with...

Most people who own a puppy know how troublesome the biting stage is. Most puppies face the stage where they bite everything, and everyone. Your puppy has to be taught not to bite, or else it may become a danger, to itself, to you, and to everyone else around you. Biting gets to be less of a problem when the dog is at a older age but to stop it at a young age, you have to take the right steps. Just like babies, puppies go through a teething stage as well. Most puppies wil...

When house training your Dalmatian puppy, you will need to take him out frequently and at regular intervals: first thing in the morning directly from the crate, right after meals, after the puppy has been napping, or when you notice that the puppy is looking for a spot. Choose more or less the same place to take the puppy each time in order to establish a pattern. If he does not go immediately, do not return him to the house because he will probably relieve himself the mom...

A good dog trainer should divide the beginners' group into two parts. This will allow for a rest period at which time the owners may watch the others and see how they train. Knowledge can be gained from watching, if only to learn what not to do! He should not dismiss his class without introducing a new exercise or a variation of the class routine in order to encourage the owners to practice at home. The owner who thinks his dog is good and needs no training between sessions c...

Aggressive temperaments in canines are usually the result of both genetics and the environment. A dog's environment can trigger aggressive behavior, particularly if he has a propensity toward aggression. For instance, people often blame a dog's aggression on being abused or teased by children. Fortunately,during basics dog training a dog's environment can be modified to protect him from abuse and teasing. You can and should insulate the dog's space from negative interac...