There is no doubt that dogs bring a great deal of joy to many homes. When it comes to families with children, adding dogs to the mix can also bring some unique and even unexpected challenges. Basic cues like sit, down, wait, come, and leave-it are tremendously helpful for any pup trying to meet their people’s expectations as a well-mannered companion. Yet, when kids and furry friends are expected to cohabitate peacefully, training a few more skills should be added to the list of polite puppy “tricks”. In addition to basic obedience and contentment while kenneled, Smartypaws encourages families to teach dogs these three practical cues:

Did your dog tackle your Turkey Day guests? If so, I promise that you are not alone. The day after Thanksgiving, I received several calls from dog-owners asking the same question: “How can I train my pup to stop jumping on guests for our Christmas gatherings?”

June is officially the start of summer, but heat and humidity seem to hit their highs in July and August. Be cautious throughout the warmer months by taking the following precautions to avoid the perils that summer brings for dogs:

When using treats to train your dog, it is important to know that not all cookies are created equal. Your dog will find some treats more interesting and reinforcing than others. You can discover their favorites by offering a variety of snacks and observing their preferences. Functional training treats should follow Smartypaws 5 S’s of successful training treats: small, soft, smelly, satisfying, and safe.