Behavior & Training

While TV and movies may make it appear like fetch comes as part of a canine’s standard operating system, the truth is, most dogs take some education before they’re playing the game the way it was meant to be played. But fear not. With some time and patience, most dogs can learn to play fetch, and in time, learn to love it.

For dog parents (especially new dog parents) trying to reward good behavior and discourage bad behavior, distinguishing between play and aggression can be one of the toughest tasks of all. And the abstract lines of questioning you may hear from well intended friends, relatives and even trainers doesn’t always help.

So while you’re busy learning how to change a diaper, allow us to resolve at least one of those concerns for you as a belated baby shower gift: Introducing your dog to your baby.

You know that feeling when you come home after a long, stressful day at work to find your dog waiting anxiously for you at the door, tail wagging, and ready to greet you, like he thought he’d never see you again? Affectionate, loyal and loving, our canine companions have a way of making us feel like the only people in the world.

You’re probably familiar with service dogs for people with challenges like vision-impairment, diabetes and PTSD, but have you heard of a migraine alert dog? Believe it or not, dogs can be trained to alert humans who are about to have a migraine. But first, they have to be trained to identify the signs that you are about to have a migraine, so they know when to raise alarm.

Just like humans, it’s easier to teach your dog good habits if you start from a young age. But what about if you adopt an older dog or realize you want to establish new habits in your adult dog? Are you doomed to simply accept their behavior as is?

Potty training your dog requires patience, time and determination — no matter what kind of dog you have. But some dog breeds are notoriously harder to potty train than others.

The answer might just be instinct. In most cases there is no clear reason why dogs eat grass, but it has been found to be an incredibly common behavior that is generally seen as normal, especially among our more youthful companions. However, veterinarians and researchers are still learning what else may be behind this plant-eating behavior, and there appear to be a handful of possible reasons why grass-grazing is more than just natural.

Dental care for dogs is crucial to their health but is often neglected. Dental treats for dogs offer a tastier and easier alternative. Our guide walks you through why dental care is so important for dogs, how treats can play a part in dental hygiene, the types of dental treats available, what to buy and what to avoid based on evidence.

Have questions about dog treats? How they're made, what's best for training, and what to avoid? Our guide walks you through everything you need to know about dog treats.