Of all the amazing attributes a dog possesses, the ability to communicate is probably the most impressive. Dogs communicate with us all day, whether we know it or not, we speak directly to them through a variety of verbal and nonverbal cues. In fact, a recent study concluded that dogs use 19 different signals to talk to us. These signals are called “reference signals,” for example, the way babies communicate with their parents. This is also how great apes communicate with each other. Reference signals are rare in non-primates. “Dogs

There is a vast world of toys waiting for your dog to explore and destroy. Luckily, we’re here to help you avoid coming home to find the horribly deconstructed remains of a toy that just arrived yesterday, looking so charming and fluffy. Navigating the dog toy landscape can be a challenge, with cute stuffed animals and a huge variety of balls and frisbees all vying for your attention. We’ve sorted through the clutter to show you ten must-have dog toys, plus a few extras. First, here are some reasons to

Therapy dogs can be a blessing to all those in need. If you’re wondering if your dog is eligible for therapy work, there’s no doubt that the two of you can serve you as a team. Doing therapy work requires more than a warm smile and a well-behaved dog. Your puppy may seem fully qualified, but therapy dogs must be able to cope with stressful and unpredictable situations for extended periods of time. Later in life, your dog may also be the perfect therapy dog. The best way to describe

This seems like an impossible task: keep your dog extra calm when visitors pass by the house. It is not! Having your dog greet visitors politely, rather than barking and jumping at them, is an attainable and worthwhile goal. Dogs are natural protectors As mentioned in How Dogs Communicate with Us, dogs bark when strangers come to the door as an alert to the rest of the family. Your dog is saying “I’m not sure who this is, but I’m here to protect you.” It’s easy to be a little

Leash training can seem like a daunting process, so we’ve narrowed it down to a few simple tricks to get your dog walking next to you politely in no time. The first goal of leash training is to teach your dog that leash time means fun time. So, of course, there will be too much hospitality involved. When rewarding good behavior, the more the better. When handing out large treats, you’ll want to use bite-sized treats. Blue Bits from Blue Buffalo is a quality, affordable option you can try. what

Pet technology has evolved tremendously over the past few years, and while some of it may be considered silly or unnecessary, the vast majority of these new products provide a valuable service to dogs and dog owners. The main categories of pet technology products are as follows: Safety interactive convenient Video Surveillance health monitoring Many of the exciting new dog tech products fall into multiple categories, so instead of making a list, we’ll highlight some of the most innovative and useful products that are hitting the market. GPS Tracking Wearables

portuguese water dog I thought this would be the perfect place to start our list. The Portuguese Water Dog is a fascinating breed. Almost every dog, except for the next breed on this list, was bred to help humans, mostly to find food. It’s unclear when the Portuguese Water Dog was first bred, but the first written evidence we have dates back to 1297. During this period, Portuguese water dogs were found on the Portuguese coast, where fishermen valued them for a variety of reasons: companionship, as guards, and most

Maybe it’s snowing or raining and you’re stuck indoors, or you’re working from home, or your car is in the store. Regardless of the motivation, playing these three indoor games with your dog will help you have a well-trained puppy on your outdoor adventures. Impress your friends and family with your dog’s new skills and gain confidence as you walk “on” or “off” the leash. 1. find it Find this a great game to take advantage of your dog’s naturally excellent sense of smell. First, grab a toy like a

The first step to understanding the sticky drool that drips from our dog’s lips is breed. In How I Met My Dog, we hate categorizing puppies by breed, but certain breeds of dogs like bloodhounds, newfoundlands, saint bernards, and mastiffs are more prone to drooling. These and other scent hound breeds use their “flies,” or large upper lips, to capture scents and odor molecules. This helps these breeds become the best breed to hunt! These saggy “flies” also increase saliva, aka drooling! A normal, natural amount of drool can help

Our dogs are pack animals and they thrive in social structures. Many insecure or scared dogs feel this way because they don’t understand their place in the home or pack. Our dogs are not the best version of themselves when they are confused about their role, how they should behave, and to who they belong. Creating structure does not mean asserting dominance. A great way to create a respectful, peaceful hierarchy in your family is to let your dog work for their food. Never put the food bowl down A