(Picture Credit: Ivan Ozerov/Getty Images) It’s the time of year to start spring cleaning, and dog parents in particular know how difficult that can be. We love our shedding, drooling, accident-having best friends, even when they track in mud from the wet, spring weather or roll around in some fresh, pollen-covered flowers. But we also

(Picture Credit: Anchiy/Getty Images) Spring has sprung, and it’s time to start your spring cleaning. That’s especially true if you have items around the house that can hurt your dog when you don’t get rid of them or replace them. Even responsible dog parents have items that they should throw away for their pups’ safety.

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Growling is one of the many ways dogs communicate, and it’s important for humans who interact with dogs to understand what it means and the proper way to react. You might be surprised by your own natural ability to interpret growling. In a study on humans’ ability to understand dog growls,

(Picture Credit: Christina Reichl Photography/Getty Images) You might consider your dog to be an especially clever and smart creature. But have you ever found yourself wondering how conscious and self-aware your dog is? Are dogs highly sentient? Well, the short answer is maybe. You probably feel like your dog is at least as sentient as

(Picture Credit: SolStock/Getty Images) Congratulations on taking up running with your dog! Canicross, as it’s known to lovers of the sport, is a great activity for dogs of all sizes, from little Jack Russell Terriers to larger breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors. One of the most important considerations when you decide to take

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) You’ve got a new furry addition to the family, and you can’t wait to start training your pup to do all kinds of tricks. You’re going to have the most well-behaved, happy, friendly dog on the block! But hold on before you jump into it. There are lots of mistakes that

(Picture Credit: cmannphoto/Getty Images) Potty training a dog can be a daunting task if you’ve never done it before, but dog parents can tell you quite a few things they’ve learned from experience. In fact, dogs are usually pretty quick learners, and housebreaking might not be as difficult as you think, so long as you follow

(Picture Credit: Westend61/Getty Images) Just barely into the New Year, people are hard at work trying to keep their New Year’s resolutions. They’re working out, or making a tighter budget, or maybe creating an online dating profile. But this January is also National Train Your Dog Month, so make a resolution to learn something new with

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) As the holiday season wraps up, it’s time to work on those New Year’s resolutions. Since January is National Train Your Dog Month, why not use the opportunity to start some good habits and strengthen your bond with your pup? Training can seem daunting for people with no experience, and it

(Picture Credit: Photo by Rick Hebenstreit/Getty Images) Imagine the end of a long and tiring day. When it comes to finally getting some time to rest or sleep, we can simply collapse into our beds or couches and drift to dreamland. But our beloved dogs, on the other hand, might not simply just plop into

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Believe it or not, our canine companions get stressed. The circumstances and degrees of this can vary from dog to dog since no two are exactly alike, but it’s still something all dog parents must be wary of. Also, like humans, dogs can show their stress in different ways. To be

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Some dogs nip when they feel startled. While it may not be your dog’s fault that they bite in response to surprises, it is a behavior that you probably want to stop. The startle reflex is instinctive in animals, and it’s not uncommon for a sleeping dog to bite when awakened

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Biting everything that moves is normal puppy behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s fun to live with. Puppies explore their world with their mouths, just as toddlers touch everything they can reach with their hands. So it makes perfect sense that your pants wouldn’t escape your pup’s curiosity. So what can

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Cars, squirrels, cyclists, skateboarders, cats, and joggers — they’re all would-be targets, any one of whom could lure a chase-obsessive dog into a potentially dangerous situation. The behavior can also trigger understandably hostile reactions from people who see it as aggression when a strange dog comes bounding after them. Until you

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Bringing a new dog home can be challenging, especially for first time dog parents. But whatever problems you’re facing, know that you’re not alone. If you hop onto our DogTime Facebook page you’ll meet lots of other dog parents with tons of advice and support for you. If that’s not enough,

(Picture Credit: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Recently, I became audibly and visibly upset about something going on in my personal life in front of my two dogs, Hank and Charlie. As I sat on the floor crying, Hank came and sat right next to me and licked my face. Charlie laid

(Photo Credit: Meleva Steiert) I asked a friend recently if she kisses her dogs. She’s a big-hearted dog lover and regularly rescues and fosters animals in her suburban, Los Angeles home. She told me that she does kiss some of them, but others were not receptive, and one in particular would probably become violent if

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Important: The following is meant to provide a general overview of dog-dog aggression. If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, seek help from a reputable behaviorist. Dog aggression toward other dogs is a very serious matter. Until your dog is successfully treated, keep them a safe distance from all other dogs — “safe

(Picture Credit: sestovic/Getty Images) Even dogs who feel that a bath is cruel and unusual punishment have to get one once in a while. While some dogs with short coats can get away with just a water rinse, most dogs need shampoo. Why do dogs need their own kind of shampoo? Why can’t they just

(Picture Credit: Amanda) I started researching the topic of separation anxiety in dogs because my day job will be bringing our department back to the office soon, and my work-from-home days for the last few months have looked like this: My dog, Leia, and I have been loving all this together time. Almost every waking

(Picture Credit: Ekaterina Nosenko/Getty Images) Dogs may try to escape from their homes and bolt for many reasons. Maybe your pooch regularly runs past you when you open your front door, or maybe they try to dig under or climb over the backyard fence. At best, the problem is a nuisance. At worst, it can

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) Noise anxiety in dogs is a phobia or strong feeling of fear around loud noises, like sounds from fireworks or thunderstorms. It can result in many anxious behaviors or even cause dogs to bolt out of fear and get lost. When young children hear a scary noise at night, they often

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) We love coming home to our dogs. No one is more excited to see us and shower us with love as soon as we walk in the door. Our pups can sometimes barely contain their excitement! Unfortunately, that can become a problem. Many of our dogs show that high energy and

(Picture Credit: dageldog/Getty Images) Dogs and chickens getting along may seem counterintuitive. After all, aren’t dogs related to animals that eat chickens? However, like most domesticated animals, dogs and chickens can get along if their humans train them well and carefully introduce them to each other. While pet parents should absolutely take precautions to prevent

(Picture Credit: Westend61/Getty Images) Picking your pooch’s name is probably one of the first things you’d do as a pet parent. Over time, it’s easy to give additional nicknames, adding “boo” or “patootie” or other cutesy titles. After all, it’s hard not to give your baby a cute baby nickname, right? However, new research suggests

(Picture Credit: Getty Images) While eating disorders are well known in humans, not many people know about the eating disorders that affect dogs. Animals have different reasons for having unusual eating habits, but they can be just as troubling for concerned pet parents. Here are six eating disorders that can affect dogs. 1. Overeating (Picture

(Picture Credit: Wavetop/Getty Images) Perhaps one of the most daunting tasks for first-time puppy adopters is housetraining. But experienced dog parents know that our canine friends can learn where to go potty surprisingly quickly, especially if you know how to teach them properly. The keys to rock-solid housetraining are to start the day your pup

(Picture Credit: Krista Kumpf) Do you want a dog who’s friendly and trustworthy around both people and other dogs? You might think all you need to do is adopt the right breed, and your job is done. But how you care for your canine–and socialization training in particular–plays a big role in how they respond

(Picture Credit: adamkaz/Getty Images) Seasonal changes, medical conditions, and diet can all have an effect on your dog’s skin and coat. While regular brushing, bathing, and grooming are all essential to keeping your pup looking and feeling their best, some dogs may also suffer from skin allergies, making it more difficult to maintain a nice,

This is Joe. He looks like an angel, and he is, but he has extreme separation anxiety. (Picture Credit: Patty Parker) Many of us pet parents have one or more dogs who suffer from separation anxiety to varying degrees. I have a rescue dog, named Joe, who spent the last seven years of his life