.: Pet Training

Puppy kindergarten, or puppy socialization class, is a vital part of your puppy’s upbringing. Puppy kindergarten teaches basic obedience and how to play safely with other dogs. It also exposes your puppy to  variety of stimuli that can help … Read More

Tug-of-war is one of the most common games played with dogs, but some trainers strongly recommend against it. Others see no reason not to play tug with dogs, so long as the pet parent follows a … Read More

As the New Year dawns, I encourage pet owners to resolve to improve their pets’ lives in 2009. A happier, healthier pet will make you happy, too. My resolutions include taking a Flyball class with my … Read More

Training with distractions is a great way to make sure a learned behavior will be performed on cue in a variety of situations. Dogs don’t automatically generalize learning. If you train your dog to sit in the living … Read More

Most dogs need their nails trimmed regularly, but few of them enjoy it. Worse yet, a clumsy snip could cut into the quick, causing profuse bleeding. I quicked my own fingernail recently after I was startled … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag … My family is in the market for a puppy and when I went to obedience class with a dog years ago they had me use a 30′ lead and a choker to … Read More

Most dogs and owners can benefit from studying with a good, professional trainer. Many trainers offer both group classes and private lessons. Which is the best choice? That depends entirely on your needs and the needs of … Read More

I’m a firm believer in biodiverisity. Variety is the spice of life, after all! For that reason, I’ve decided to start occasionally profiling a rare breed on Petlvr: The Blog, in hopes of encouraging dog lovers … Read More

As an owner of six cats, we’ve tried virtually every cat training tool or gadget at one point or another. One really worthwhile cat gadget is a cat training alarm – a must-have for all cat … Read More

Most puppies nip and mouth their owners’ hands,  ankles, pant legs, and even small children’s behinds, to at least some extent. This behavior can seem cute (the Coppertone bottles with the little girl and her terrier … Read More

If you clicked this, you probably already know that pets shouldn’t be fed from the table. However, there might be a significant other, a child, or even a parent in your life who insists upon tossing … Read More

Yes, I know, it sounds counterintuitive to allow your horse to have a say in his or her training, but communication should go both ways between a horse and rider. For example, my horse recently was … Read More

Play is an important daily activity for your pet, especially if that pet is a puppy or kitten. It’s easy to forget playtime in the hustle and bustle of daily life with pets. There’s feeding, potty … Read More

When vacationing without pets, one must often choose between a petsitter or sending pets to a boarding kennel. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I hate to leave my dog for even a single night, so I … Read More

A jumping dog is seeking attention. In order not to reward the behavior, the best response is to ignore it. You’ve met a kid who acts up even though his parents yell at him, because he … Read More

There are few things less fun than dancing around a fire hydrant blowing on one’s hands while waiting for one’s dog to do its business in below-zero temperatures, let alone taking the dog for a long … Read More

President-Elect Barack Obama announced yesterday in his acceptance speech after winning the US presidency that a puppy will be moving into the White House with the Obama family. Michelle Obama said in a recent TV interview that … Read More

When a dog is frightened and whimpering or cowering, most people instinctually jump to soothe and comfort the scared pooch. However, if you fuss over a fearful Fido, you might be doing him a disservice. Then … Read More

Food thieving is a common problem, but tough to solve because it is self-rewarding. There is no point in punishing the dog once she’s gotten food. The punishment will only serve to create fear at this point, because … Read More

Kittens can be almost as difficult as newborn human babies when it comes to letting their caregivers get a full night’s sleep! If you’re a pet parent to a young kitten or two, you’ve probably been … Read More

One of the most frequent complaints by cat owners is that the cat won’t stay off the counters dining table. Even my own kitty, Monster, has been guilty! Luckily, there are several ways to discourage cats … Read More

Most dogs enjoy a visit to the dog park. Outdoor fun with a compatible group of dogs– what could be better? Unfortunately, dog parks are also often the site of serious injuries to dogs or to … Read More

If you intend to compete in performance or conformation events, or simply wish to have a well-behaved dog and understand its behavior, choosing a great trainer is one of the most important things you can do … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag … When we got our 2nd Papillon dog, Sophie .. it was mid September as a puppy (she was born late July). We then had the coldest winter and earliest snowfall that year … Read More

Once a dog has learned to sit, come, fetch, and stay, and perhaps do a few tricks, many pawrents stop training new behaviors. It’s easy to stop with the basics, but ongoing training yields many rewards. Dogs … Read More

Dear Petlvr Mailbag … I have 2 rescue poodles, both males.  Buddy is a 3-year-old Standard and Troy is a 3-year-old Toy.  Buddy wants to play with little Troy.  It’s the 65 lbs. vs. the 8 … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag, I have a pit lab mix that loves too much. She is about 55 lbs and strong as an ox. She has been trained to not jump on me when I come home … Read More

As anyone who’s ever had a fearful adult dog can attest, eliminating an established fear is tricky, whether it’s a common one like thunderstorm phobia or something more unusual, like a friend of a friend’s dog … Read More

You’ve undoubtedly noticed that your dog is much smaller than a horse. (Well, most are anyway.) Nevertheless, most horses are much more frightened of dogs than the reverse. That creates unique problems – for dog, horse … Read More

Many dogs retrieve (fetch) naturally, and begin to do so from puppyhood with no special training and no reward other than their enjoyment of retrieving. However, other dogs either don’t chase a ball at all, don’t … Read More

Does your cat allow only a certain number of strokes before turning and nipping your hand? If so, you’re in good company. Many cats, of all genders, ages, breeds, sizes, and personality types, have the clearly … Read More

Not using the litterbox is among the most common reasons cats are abandoned, rehomed, euthanized, or placed in shelters and rescue. It’s understandable that nobody wants cat urine and feces all over their home, but what … Read More

It’s not always easy to find time for your dog, especially if you have work, a family, school, and other committments weighing heavily on your time. However, it doesn’t always take hours of hard work to prevent problem … Read More