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If you like to do interactive things with your puppy to ultimately tire them out and help them calm down, then this is the article for you. Here are five simple ways you can easily add mental stimulation to your puppy's everyday routine without spending a lot of money or adding hours to your day. When people think of wearing out a puppy, they immediately think of exercise, longer walks, more playtime, more running around the yard. While physical exercise is important, it's on

Today I'm going to talk about something that many loving puppy owners never think about. You may actually be creating stress, fear, and anxiety in your puppy without even realizing it. The good news is that almost every owner does this at some point. It doesn't make you a bad owner. It simply means you don't yet understand how your puppy experiences the world. This article will help you recognize the signs that your puppy is becoming overwhelmed and show you how to become th

This article will focus on the importance of building a relationship with your puppy, why your relationship matters, five ways to build your relationship, and mistakes that damage your relationship with your puppy. Why the Relationship Matters Because your puppy won't work for strangers. It isn't going to work for people that it doesn't trust. Your puppy is constantly learning whether they can trust you. A strong relationship between you and your puppy creates: Better atten

Puppies are not miniature adults. They are babies, learning how the world works. Punishment often creates confusion, fear, and damage to trust, while teaching and reinforcing creates understanding and lasting behavior change. Have you ever caught your puppy chewing on a shoe, having a potty accident on the floor, jumping on guests, or nipping at your hands and thought, “How do I punish this behavior?” I get calls about this all the time, people asking me how to punish their

One of the most common things I hear from dog owners is, "My dog knows better.” They tell me their dog ignores commands, barks at visitors, pulls on the leash, jumps on people, or completely falls apart when there are distractions. The assumption is often that the dog is being stubborn, hardheaded, or deliberately disobedient. Sometimes a dog simply needs more training and consistency. But many behavior problems are not about defiance at all. In many cases, your dog is not gi

As much as they like being comfy and well fed, dogs need more than just food and shelter. They also require mental and physical stimulation. A bored dog might appear to be lazy or a troublemaker, but in many cases, it is boredom leading to frustration that gives rise to problem behavior. Spotting the signs early in that process and offering enriching activities prevents restlessness and keeps your dog healthier and happier. Signs of Boredom in Dogs A bored dog will often disp

A lot of new puppy owners want to teach their puppy all these extravagant obedience commands and training too soon, which can create problems for the puppy down the road. It also creates problems with the puppy learning the foundational skills effectively. Why It's Best To Keep It Simple You don't want to overwhelm the puppy too early. You wouldn't want to try to get a 10-year-old kid into college. They are in elementary school, and then they need to go through junior high s

Goals aren't just for people. Your dog's health and happiness matter too. Luckily, now is the best time to set fresh goals that help both of you. Instead of making vague promises like "be a better pet owner," try these five clear goals. They improve your dog's life. Also, they are practical and easy to follow. Best of all, they make your bond stronger. Goal 1: Commit to Daily Exercise Most dogs do not get enough exercise. As a result, they gain weight and may act out. Dogs wi

Most owners assume their dog just picked up bad habits, but in reality, the owner usually taught the behavior without realizing it. The owners are reinforcing unwanted behaviors and not reinforcing the good behaviors. Dogs learn from consequences, not intentions. Owners think they are correcting, comforting, or managing their dog, but the dog is simply learning what works. Examples of Reinforcing Bad Behaviors The dog jumps up on you, and you give it attention by pushing it

I work with a lot of people who get a new puppy that's eight or 10 weeks old, and the first thing they do is start teaching the puppy to shake, high-five, or to roll over. It can be fun to do this with your puppy and put it on Instagram, for your friends to see. If you teach the puppy tricks too soon and you don't focus on other things first, like its name, walking on a leash, potty training, acclimation to the crate, and stay. Why Teaching Paw or Shake Might be a Bad Idea

This is a very important topic, and I get a lot of calls about this. Most owners think their dog is stubborn, ignoring them, or choosing not to listen, but in many cases, the dog is not being disobedient; it is confused. After years of dog training, I have learned that many behavior problems are really communication problems. Keep in mind also that dogs don't use their ears as well as they use their eyes, and they don't use their eyes as well as they use their nose. If I wan

On day one, most people focus on the cute parts of bringing home a puppy, like cuddling, playing, and taking lots of photos for Instagram and their friends. What if, starting on day one, we focused on the habits that prevent behavior issues from forming and your puppy having serious behavior issues later in life? 1) Always use a house line on your puppy from day one. I recommend a slip lead, and the reason for this is because you want to control your puppy’s space. You don'

HUNTSVILLE, AL, January 23, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Top Gun Dog Training has been recognized with two notable awards for excellence in dog training, earning Best Dog Trainer from Quality Business Awards and Silver Winner in Pet Training from CommunityVotes Huntsville . The Quality Business Award is presented to businesses that demonstrate outstanding customer satisfaction, service quality, and professional reputation within their industry. CommunityVotes Huntsville is a c

When I work with a new client, I structure the program to focus on the puppy's house manners first, their leash training second, and their socialization third. We will spend about three or four weeks working on the house manners, about two or three weeks on lease training, and then we take it on the road and go to Lowe's, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Tractor Supply, and any other pet-friendly stores that we can find for the puppy to get socialization practice. Depending on the p

As a dog owner, you love your pup. Sometimes, those cute eyes are hard to resist, and you just have to toss them a piece of what you're eating, too. However, not everything that people can eat is also safe for dogs. The next time you give into your pup's begging, make sure that you're not giving them a treat that causes them harm. 1. Anything chocolate: While most dog owners are aware that they cannot digest chocolate, it is worth paying extra attention to keep them from get

Potty training is a problem for many people. I have found that people either get it or don't, and it's not an issue with the dog. It's not the dog's fault. It's an owner issue. People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot, and it's been happening ever since I've owned Top Gun Dog Training . The goal of this article is to shift the new puppy owner's focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy, beyond potty train

My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account to help with her expenses. Start-Up Fees: Including adoption or breeder fees, initial vet visit, microchip, supplies, and training . $2000-$8000 Monthly Expenses: Food Medication (heartworm, flea, and tick prevention) Daycare Dog Walker Groomin

Being an effective leader and building trust in your dog requires a skillset grounded in effective communication, temperament, and focus. This is exactly what I'll discuss in this article. What to do? Make sure your communication with your dog is crystal clear. In other words, I see a lot of new dog owners who will say a lot to their dog, and it means nothing. It's like a line in that Talking Heads song from the seventies, “You’re talking a lot, but you're not saying anythi

As a dog owner, you want to do everything you can to ensure your furry friend is happy and healthy. That includes making sure they're getting the right nutrition. There are a lot of different opinions out there about what the best diet for dogs is, but the truth is that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best way to ensure your dog is getting the nutrition they need is to work with your veterinarian to create a customized plan. In the meantime, here's a basic overview

All new at 10 tonight. A 9-year-old is recovering after a vicious dog attack in Hansville. Left her with severe injuries on her face. Delilah McKay was sitting outside on her apartment steps when a dog that was being walked by another child all of a sudden attacked her. The family shared photos that show her injuries, and we want to warn you, some of those photos may be graphic. Delilah's mother tells us a nearby teenager managed to get the dog away from her daughter. Delilah