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  • Many dogs routinely greet people by jumping up on them. Jumping up can cause a person to be frightened or even injured. All dogs can be trained to greet people in a calm manner. Training should focus on rewarding desired behavior while being careful not to inadvertently reward the undesirable jumping behavior.

  • A dog might urinate or defecate inside the house for several reasons. Determining the specific reason is essential for developing a treatment program. Dogs that soil the home continuously or intermittently from the time they were first obtained may not have been properly house-trained.

  • Urine marking is normal in both male and female dogs and can even occur in dogs who are spayed or neutered. The underlying cause for urine marking should be determined so an appropriate treatment plan can be implemented. Management, prevention, and supervision are important for a good outcome.

  • Dogs often steal objects to play with them or to get someone to chase them. Stealing thus becomes rewarding to the dog. Supervision to prevent stealing is the best strategy. It is important to refrain from chasing your dog to retrieve stolen goods. Dogs can be trained to give back stolen items.

  • Urination during greetings is common in some dogs, particularly puppies and socially inexperienced dogs. This article explains why it happens and outlines training methods to reduce excitement and anxiety during interactions with people. Guidance is also provided for appropriate greetings and recognizing when veterinary assessment may be needed.

  • When a behavior is harmless, it is probably normal. When a behavior is destructive, disruptive, or places people or other pets at risk, it is not normal. Addressing the problems early, before they become ingrained, is the best hope for avoiding future problems.

  • Dogs love to run. Dogs love to jump. Dogs love to swim. If your dog likes to do all three, why not investigate the relatively-new canine sport of dock diving? It’s a competitive event where dogs are judged on how far or how high they leap from a stationary dock into a body of water.

  • Field trials focus on team-hunting and allow humans and their pet dogs to rekindle their hunting instincts in a fun, competitive format.

  • On your marks, get set, go! Dogs running, jumping, catching balls, making razor sharp turns, and racing to a finish line; that's the canine sport of flyball.

  • Treats are a great way to bond with your dog but are an additional source of calories that must be considered within the overall diet. Treats should be no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake and, in greater quantities, can create a nutritional imbalance.