Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most highly traveled holidays of the year. Many families pack up the car and plan long road trips to visit distant relatives and friends around the holidays. If you are planning to bring your dog with you this year, here are some pointers and suggested supplies to help make your holiday road trip as successful as possible.

 Costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating make Halloween one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year. However, if you are a pet owner, Halloween revelry can pose a number of risks to your dog. Keep reading to ensure that this Halloween is spooky and safe for everyone involved, including your dog!

Whether you’re bringing home a new puppy or trying to teach your older dog a few new tricks, your canine friend will no doubt need obedience training. Behavior training can be a bit tricky at times, but the results are all the reward you’ll need. Your pet’s good behavior ultimately depends on your patience and positive attitude during training.

 

The most important training a puppy can receive is house training, followed by training for separation anxiety. Luckily, puppies are receptive to repetitive commands and positive praise. However, try not to set your goals too high. After all, your puppy is a lot like a toddler: he has much to learn, and it will take a while to sink in. Keep an eye on your puppy at all times so you can stop an accident before it happens. Rewarding your puppy’s obedience with gourmet dog treats will reinforce his good behavior.

If you have children, bringing a dog into the family can be a wonderful and rewarding learning experience. Owning a dog teaches children compassion, responsibility, and respect for other living creatures. However, children don’t always know how to behave around a dog, so you’ll want to teach them the basics about dealing with animals. After all, a dog will react on his animal instinct; if he feels threatened or intimidated by your children, you could have a potentially dangerous situation on your hands.

 

By now, you have probably learned that training a dog involves a great deal of patience, positive praise, and an arsenal of dog biscuits. Teaching your kids to be gentle and respect your family pet is a similar process. With the following suggestions, you can foster a loving relationship between your children and your dog without fear of harm.

How many times have you come home from a night out and found your furniture or other belongings chewed beyond recognition? Dogs instinctively chew – sometimes out of anxiety, sometimes out of curiosity or boredom. As an owner, you can use some safe and effective deterrent measures to overcome your dog’s chewing habit. The first step is to understand the root of your pet’s destructive nature. Young dogs primarily chew during the painful teething process, and they will chew virtually anything within reach. For dogs of all ages, boredom and not enough exercise or playtime contribute to chewing. If you let your dog’s chewing get out of hand, he could become a danger to himself (obsessively chewing his own limbs) or his surroundings. Always consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health problems.