The problem: When you take your puppy for a walk, he constantly chomps on the leash, treating it like a tug toy. You’d prefer it if he’d just walk along nicely, sniffing bushes and peeing on fire hydrants like a civilized dog. Walking “nicely” on leash can be a huge challenge for a puppy. You… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Puppies
What to do With a New Puppy: A Guide to the First Week
You may have dreamed about this occasion for years. Now the day has arrived: you finally have a puppy of your very own. It can be fun, exciting, and as you quickly discover, really overwhelming. You’ve got this little ball of fuzz and sharp teeth wandering around your living room and it’s like, what now?… Continue Reading
14 Ways to Get Your New Dog to Trust, Love, and Respect You
1. Slow your roll “I’ve had my dog for three whole days, but I don’t love him and he doesn’t love me. What am I doing wrong?” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this sentiment from discouraged new puppy parents. You’re not doing anything wrong. This is just how it goes. Much… Continue Reading
How to Get Your Puppy to Stop Harassing Your Cat, Older Dog, and Other Pets
So you got a puppy… but your other pets are not real enthusiastic about it. Puppies are super adorable, yes. But as you’ve probably figured out by now, they can also be super annoying. Puppies play by jumping, biting, and tackling relentlessly. It’s normal, but it can be too much for your resident pets to… Continue Reading
Is Your New Dog Making You Miserable? You’re Not Alone
Last updated September 21, 2019 You got a puppy – and it’s turning out to be a lot more challenging than you expected. I mean, you knew getting a dog would be hard work, but holy crap, you were not prepared for THIS. Sound about right? A few years ago, I wrote a blog post… Continue Reading
Puzzle Toys: A Beginner’s Guide to The Most Useful Dog Toys Ever
In order to not go crazy, your dog needs a way to exercise his brain. As we’ve already discussed, dogs are mostly working animals. Even your spoiled mutt, currently lying on the floor sniffing his own toes, is descended from a long line of wily, problem-solving critters who spent their days earning every meal. Put… Continue Reading
8 Ways To Exercise Your Dog Without Walking Him
Sometimes you just can’t walk your dog. Like if she pulls on leash too hard, or freaks out at every animal, jogger, or wind-blown plastic bag that crosses her path. Outside of training-session walks designed to rid your pup of these issues, you might want to forget about walks for now. And sometimes the weather… Continue Reading
Whatever Tomorrow Brings: Important Things to Know Before (and After) You Adopt a Dog
It’s May 1st, 2001. Incubus’s ridiculously overplayed new song “Drive” is on the radio. My dad is chauffeuring me to the humane society, and I’m in the backseat trying not to hyperventilate. Three days ago, I adopted my first puppy. Okay, technically, my dad adopted her. Something about me being a minor. Whatevs. I paid… Continue Reading
Why You Can’t Get Your Dog to Listen to You
“Pit bull. One year old,” the adoption card read. “Still has that puppy energy!” Jane looked down at the wiggly dog licking her fingers through the kennel bars. She figured she could use some puppy energy in her life. She took him home and named him Watson. The shelter staff warned he’d be a handful,… Continue Reading
What to do When Your Dog is being a Pain in the Ass and You Feel like Crap
Last updated September 25, 2019 (Originally published October 2012) Sometimes, I don’t like my dogs very much. They have issues. Jonas was a fearful, under-socialized mess when I met him, and some residual effects of that remain to this day. Merlin is a recovering fear-aggressive border collie. You don’t always notice the “recovering” part. Don’t… Continue Reading