What most people get wrong about the first sixteen weeks of a puppy's life, and why those weeks matter more than any training session that follows. A Tinkerpups field note from Santa Barbara There is a phrase you will hear from every responsible breeder, trainer, and behaviorist: the socialization window. It is usually delivered with some urgency, often with a deadline attached, and almost always without much explanation of what it actually is. So new owners do their best. Th

What is really happening when your Cavapoo follows you into the bathroom, and why the answer is more interesting than you think. Every Cavalier and Cavapoo owner has a version of this moment. You get up to refill your water glass. The dog gets up too. You sit back down. The dog sits back down, slightly closer this time. You think, gently and with love, that this might be a problem. It is not a problem. It is biology, history, and one of the most quietly remarkable facts abou

The quiet science of emotional contagion in dogs, and what it means for how you raise yours. A Tinkerpups field note from Santa Barbara There is a moment most new puppy parents notice within the first week. They come home tense from a long day, and the puppy who was playful that morning is suddenly subdued. They take a deep breath and settle on the couch, and the puppy settles too. They stand up with nervous energy, and the puppy starts pacing alongside them. It is not your

Written by Krystal Nurse on USA Today Cavapoo in Training Feeling the puppy fever after watching the thrilling, adorable Puppy Bowl? There are some things novice and experienced dog owners should know to raise a successful pup to adulthood. Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. M. Leanne Lilly cautioned training a young dog requires intense work and special attention. A key to a canine's growth is socialization and regular veterinary vis

Written by Harriet Meyers for AKC.org Maybe you’d like to spend a year in Italy, but you can’t bear to leave your dog for that long. Or you’re accepting a new job and must move your household, including your dog, across the country or across the ocean. Plane travel with your dog has always been complicated, but pet-friendly planes offer a solution with lots of benefits for you and your dog. What’s a Pet-Friendly Plane? Pet-friendly planes are private jet services that allow y

Written for AKC.org Emergencies for your dog can happen at any time. Some are minor, while others can be life threatening. In the November/December 2010 issue of American Kennel Club’s AKC Family Dog contributor and veterinarian Jeff Grognet, DVM offers advice on what you can treat at home and when you should bring your dog to the veterinarian. Among them: Eyes Any eye problem your dog has needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Most people can’t tell if their dog has a scratch t

Written for AKC.org Choosing the right breed to fit your family’s lifestyle After hearing “Please can we get a dog?” from your children for the one-thousandth time, perhaps you are considering adding a canine to the family portrait. There are many suitable options for families of all ages and activity levels. Some important first steps include going to a dog show to talk to breeders and consulting dog-owning friends and neighbors to get a clear picture of what the commitment

Written by the Humane Society of America The summer months can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It's difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results. We can help you keep your pets safe and cool this summer. Follow our tips for helping everyone in your family stay healthy wh

Written by AKC “Mean seeds” refers to foxtails or any number of plants, including Canada wild rye and cheatgrass, that have barbed grass awns or seed heads. Dogs may pick up a grass awn on an ear, eye, mouth, nose, or between their toes – and an awn can even burrow directly into their skin. These plants and seeds can be particularly dangerous, causing pneumonia if the dog inhales them. The shape of the barbs allows the seed to continuously move forward, traveling inside the d

Written by Harriett Meyers for AKC Humans don’t question their ability to love their dogs. We feed and exercise them, set our schedules based on their needs, get up with them in the middle of the night, buy them silly toys, and tell them our deepest secrets. For years, however, scientists and animal behaviorists have researched whether our dogs have the ability to return our love. Are we being anthropomorphic when we interpret our dogs’ behavior in human terms of love? Summar

Written by Harriet Meyers for AKC Congratulations on your new puppy! This adorable, four-legged family member is going to bring you love and affection — and also some challenges, including how to survive teething and nipping. Puppies’ mouths are filled with 28 tiny, razor-sharp teeth that seem to be attracted to nipping at your fingers and toes. Although an annoying behavior, this is completely normal for teething puppies and something you can train away. When Do Puppy’s Teet

Preparing your home for a new puppy is crucial for their well-being and your peace of mind. Here's our New Puppy Checklist with product links to help you get started: Dog Supplies: Collar and ID tag: Ensure your puppy has a well-fitted collar with an ID tag that includes your contact information. We supply the registered Fi Nano Microchip, but your puppy will need the bling to identify itself if its ever away from you. Leash: A lightweight leash for walks and training session

Written by AKC Staff Dedicated dog lovers tend to be very kind people. We share our hearts and homes (and for some lucky pups, even the foot of our beds) with our canine pals. Surely there is nothing wrong with sharing our favorite people foods with our dogs too, right? Not necessarily. Many of the foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that people digest just fine can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, causing severe health problems. On the other hand, some of the foods people eat

Written for AKC by Kathy Santo If you’re considering getting a second dog, there are questions you should answer and steps you should take to prepare for the responsibility that comes with training the new dog and helping your current dog adjust. Questions to Ask Yourself Before you jump into this new commitment, ask yourself these questions: Is your current dog out of puppyhood and completely trained and bonded to you? It’s often more than twice as difficult for one person t

Written for Nom Nom by Kelsey Rich As dog parents, giving our companions a solid training foundation is perhaps the most important thing we can do for their health, safety and general enjoyment of dog life. It’s what establishes a positive relationship between ourselves, other humans and their fellow pets. Whether it is the arrival of a new puppy, a recently adopted dog or a dog training refresh for a longtime friend, a few positive reinforcement dog training tips can work wo

Written for Nom Nom Some dog parents are reluctant to put their dog in a crate. Typically, this hesitation results from a belief that crates are the equivalent of prisons for dogs. In truth, a crate is a critical component of a dog’s life, not only making her life (and yours) much easier, but allowing your dog to rely on her instincts to claim a comfortable spot to call her own. In the wild, wolves and wild canines use dens as places of security and comfort. By crate training

Written by AKC Staff As with any pet wellness trend, when it comes to CBD oil for dogs, there’s a lot of information floating around the internet, and it’s difficult to know what’s accurate and what’s exaggeration. Of course, you want to do what’s best for your pup, which leads to the question: What do I need to know about CBD oil for dogs? The AKC’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jerry Klein, explains what CBD oil is, what it does for dogs, and its safety concerns and potenti

Written by AKC Staff It’s not uncommon to want to spoil your dog by sharing your favorite people food snack instead of a dog treat. After all, if it is safe for you to eat, it must be OK for your dog to eat, right? Not necessarily. While many people foods are perfectly safe for dogs, some are very unhealthy and downright dangerous, so it’s critical to learn which fruits and vegetables dogs can eat. Dogs digest foods differently than humans do, and eating the wrong foods can l

Written by Mara Bovsun for AKC Learning how to potty train puppies at the right time and place is one of the most important first steps you can take for a long, happy life together. House soiling is among the top reasons why dogs lose their homes or end up in shelters. Few people are willing to put up with a dog who destroys rugs and flooring, or who leaves a stinky mess that you have to clean after a hard day at work. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you do som

By AKC Staff When you bring that fuzzy ball of puppy energy into your home, you know right away that your new puppy depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give your new puppy all the care they need every day. It can be a little intimidating — your puppy needs the best puppy food, plenty of attention, puppy training, puppy-safe toys, puppy socialization, a comfortable place to sleep, and proper veterinary care. And that includes making sure to schedule puppy s