Whole Dog Journal reviews dog food, dog toys, and dog health and care products, and also teaches positive dog training methods.

Outdated practices and philosophies of dog training, such as dominance training or the need to be the “alpha” pack leader persist, despite being debunked by modern science. Let’s take a brief look into the history of dog training to understand where practices like alpha dog training originated.

Although many dog parents want to train their dog to ring a bell to go outside, this is an option that dogs most frequently learn to use for alternate purposes. Especially if you combine pottying with walks or if you have a fenced yard.

Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are an ancient class of dogs whose sole purpose is to guard livestock such as sheep and goats. (Livestock guardians are very different from herding dogs such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, which help herdsmen move their stock from place to place.) First brought to the U.S. by Spanish settlers in the 1500s, livestock guardian dogs were nevertheless virtually unknown by most American ranchers until the late 1970s.

Dogs use natural circadian rhythms based on light cycles for much of their version of telling time. Dogs also tell time by the routines of humans in their lives. Waking, working, school, recreational activities, etc. all have telltale actions and accessories that help the dogs that we live with know what might happen next.

While a few fleas are unlikely to seriously injure a dog, a severe flea infestation can lead to serious health problems, and in extreme cases, dogs can die from complications. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to these complications.

How you train a dog to use a peed pad changes when you are training a mature dog

Building a relationship with your dog takes time and effort. Although it’s plenty of fun to bond with a new dog, your four-legged friend might not adore you instantly.

By the time they’re three years old, most American dogs have an active dental disease, and its treatment can be expensive. Dog dental insurance might save thousands of dollars in dental care.

While all dogs are susceptible to flea infestations, puppies less than 8 weeks old are particularly vulnerable to fleas, which can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and even more serious health problems such as anemia due to blood loss.

If you can successfully treat your dog’s skin problem with a medicated shampoo, it’s better for the dog, antibiotic resistance protocols, and for your wallet. The first step is to know what condition you’re dealing with.

A dog’s eyes can appear red or bloodshot for many reasons—some of which are minor and will quickly resolve, and others which are much more serious.