Dogs have strong jaw muscles, which allow them to tear and chew many things. We have to remember, however, that their gastrointestinal tract is almost the same as a human’s. Anything (aside from dog food) that we would not eat, our dogs should not eat. There are three categories of foreign objects that dogs tend […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Breanne Long shares some tips on introducing your dog to the water so they have a positive experience and learn to love to swim. Many breeds are natural-born swimmers. Many retrievers and spaniels will swim with little encouragement, but dogs with body types less suited to swimming, like Bulldogs, may need more […]

It is easy to understand how and why a singleton puppy would or could develop into being a dominant dog. Why not? The singleton puppy never had any littermates around to dissuade this notion. The singleton will always be the only being in his or her universe (other than Mom), unless he or she is […]

When a dog visits my home, whether a puppy or a guest, I immediately go into pool safety training mode. It goes without saying that dogs should be supervised in the pool area at all times. But there’s always the possibility that they could get into the pool area undetected. Falling in the pool could […]

By Kathy Lorentzen "Reprinted with permission from Dogs in Review and author Kathy Lorentzen, from the April 2015 issue of Dogs in Review magazine." Having been raised in dogs by old-school breeders who were true animal husbandry experts, I have long believed that my dogs should be natural easy breeders and whelpers and fully capable […]

Is there anything cuter than a dog in costume? We love to dress them up, and they love to pose! So in honor of Flag Day on June 14, here are some of our favorite pictures of pups decked out in the old Red, White & Blue. Does your dog like to dress up? Send […]

It's natural for dogs to defend their territory, but it's potentially dangerous. Learn to recognize territorial aggression and what you can do about it.

MACH Shilo’s Wicked Revenge Elphaba MXB MJB owned by Ann Khanna of Hortonville, WI Elphie is a 3-year-old Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix who Ann first encountered as a 5-week-old puppy. Ann said she immediately noticed that Elphie was special and reluctantly decided the puppy had to join her family. “For eight years I had been […]

By Anne Bowes: What is involved in creating a breeding line? Here are some observations gleaned from a lifetime of trying Totally dedicate oneself to the pursuit. The lives of breeders revolve around the reproductive cycles of their bitches and the requirements of their puppies. Many other normal human activities are subjected to these considerations […]

There is a difference between Active and Passive dog training and all interactions with your dog matter. Many dog owners train their dogs daily, are active in taking group classes, and some even compete at high levels.  This is called active training. But you might not be aware that your dog is learning all the time. […]