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We LOVE puppies!! Who doesn't? But caring for a new dog is big responsibility. Preparing for a puppy means all kinds of things: training, worrying about your home, teaching your pup how to interact with your children, getting dog supplies, keeping your shoes from getting chewed up and so much more! With so many puppy training tips available online, it's stressful to find out what to do with your puppy and when to do it. We’ve compiled what we believe is the best puppy and dog training g …

Some dog owners love to be called “dog moms” or “dog dads” and they gladly refer to their pets as their fur kids. On the other hand, some people don’t like to think of their pets as their “kids.” I asked five mothers how they feel about being called dog moms, and here’s what they had to say. Do you consider yourself a dog mom?Lisa Cohn, Portland (pictured above) Mother of 3 human children and 1 dog “I'm happy to be called a dog mom. I'm proud of the fact that I spend a lot of ti …

Have you ever heard a puppy owner say something like, "She just doesn't get it! I take her outside and she still pees in the house"? Some puppies are harder to potty train than others, but a big factor is actually how consistent the owner is with the training. It's about rewarding the good behavior, but it's also about preventing the unwanted behavior. Even with all the information out there about puppy potty training, new dog owners still seem to have problems. I asked three dog trainers to sh …

Some of us take it for granted that our dogs are calm and content riding in the car. It is a stressful or scary experience for a lot of dogs, causing them to whine or bark the entire time or to become car sick. The following are some tips to help your dog get used to the car or to make sure riding in the car remains a positive experience for your newly adopted dog or puppy. Tips to help a dog get used to the car1. Take your puppy on car rides right away Don’t worry, it’s not too late …

“Start training right away.” That’s what you’ll hear if you add a new puppy to your family. Good advice, but also overwhelming. Puppies need to learn their names and basic commands but also how to walk on a leash, where to go potty and how to interact with other pets. Where to even begin? I turned to four experienced dog trainers and asked for their tips. You can’t go wrong teaching your puppy the following concepts right away, along with some of the basics, like potty trai …

Most new dog owners know what basic supplies they’ll need for a puppy. They know to purchase a leash, toys and food, for example. But what are some of the less obvious necessities new puppy owners may not think about?The following are a few of my ideas, and I’d love to hear yours in the comments. Five tips to prepare for your puppyHave a training plan in place. Think about how you will teach your puppy basic obedience commands and manners. Is this something you plan to do on your own, o …

At dogIDs, our mission is to improve the lives of dogs. With our Paw It Forward program, we are able to donate to deserving organizations thanks to our customers. With your help, we have raised an amazing amount for Best Friends Animal Society, World Vets and Military Working Dog Team Support Association Inc in the past year! To celebrate our year of Paw it Forward, we're featuring our first paw it forward partner, Best Friends Animal Society for Quarter 1 of 2016. Stay tuned to find out whic …

We hear about the importance of socializing our dogs and puppies to new things, but what exactly does that mean? At what age should we begin exposing our puppies to new places and other dogs, and how can we go about it without scaring them or exposing them to diseases? I reached out to some professionals for their ideas on how to socialize a puppy safely. Here’s what they had to say. Tips for socializing your puppy Allow the puppy to stay with his litter for 8 weeks “A large amount …

Should My Puppy Bite?If you've ever been nipped by a playful puppy, you know how bad those little teeth can hurt. It's also important that we teach our puppies not to bite so they don't continue to do so as they grow up. The following are some tips to teach your puppy appropriate manners.Stop a Puppy from Biting1. Rotate which toys are available.One way to prevent your puppy from biting you is to keep lots of interesting chew toys available. Each puppy will have different toy preferences, but tr …

Each dog owner has her own set of “rules” she follows while out and about with her pup.For example, I’m pretty firm with my two dogs and don’t let them get away with much. (Tough love.) I’m sure you have your own dog walking “rules” as well, whether as a fellow dog owner or when using a dog walking service.And have you ever come across another dog on a walk and thought to yourself, “My dog would never do that!” Or, “I would never let my dog get away with that!”I think those things all the time!M …