By: Gerry Ronson

by Sarah Gladman
It's widely accepted among the vast majority of dog training experts that the most effective and humane way to train your dog is through a process called positive reinforcement training. This is a fancy phrase for what's essentially a very simple theory: using positive reinforcement entails rewarding the behavior that you wish to see repeated, and ignoring the behavior that you don't.

Positive reinforcement works with your dog. Her natural instinct is to please you .

by Norbert Frye
One of the most annoying things about pet dogs is their habit of answering to calls of nature almost anywhere they feel like it. Your bedroom rug, the drawing room sofa, your Persian carpet; everything seems as good a place as any for your little pup to go cool his bladders on.

If you have just brought your pup home therefore, buckle up and get ready to save your upholstery and carpets by means of a simple method we call Housebreaking.

by Hadassah Levy
Obesity in cats and dogs is becoming a major problem and a cause for concern. There are many health problems associated with obesity.

But before putting your cat or dog on a diet, see your vet and make sure there are no medical contributing factors. Sometimes a medical condition such as a thyroid problem can cause obesity. And arthritic pets suffer more carrying extra weight.

by Mark Rogers
One question you should be asking yourself, if you are looking at getting a new dog, or a new puppy, is "will dog training work with my new dog?". You may also be asking yourself, "how do I tell if a puppy is trainable?". While nothing is foolproof in this world, there are a couple of tricks you can use to tell if the dog or puppy you are considering will be submissive and if dog training will work. You can do both these tests in less than a couple of minutes, and they are usually good indicators of your dogs future temperment.

by Damian Cross

Despite the Pitt Bulls reputation, spending quality time playing dog games with him can be a fun experience for both. Spending time with your dog allows you to build a stronger relationship with him, which in turn improves the quality of time both of you spend together. As far as training activities that you can involve yourself with your pet, we will mention agility training as one of our favorites.

by Damian Cross

In a Letter from Trevor:

My pal Trevor, who has been a dog trainer for a few years wrote a letter to me offering me to adopt his Belgian Malinois, which is approximately five years old. The dog has received quality training in protection and answers to several commands, such as bite, release, and stay. The dog received third place in a level one protection dog competition. Currently I own two female dogs, a one and a half year old, and a nine month Labrador.

by Damian Cross
The use of praise and positive reinforcement has been accepted as the most effective means of training for pet owners, and also preferred by dogs. Praise, as opposed to reprimand and beating, is the only method used to train wild animals like lions and tigers by professional trainers in the circus and movie sets.

Dog training professionals and veterinarians alike, agree almost entirely that praise as a training technique is far more effective, and likely to produce better results than any other training method.

Pet travel safety often takes a back seat for many pet owners. It's an after thought. Not because we do not love our pets but because we fail to take the proper measures to ensure their safety.

For many people, pets aren't just companions; they're important members of the family. So it's not surprising that people enjoy bringing those pets along when they travel.

Whether you're going down the street or on a cross-country road trip, ensure your pet has a safe and happy car ride with these travel tips from leading car insurer Progressive:

You can't have a puppy without puppy toys anymore than you would have a small child without toys. But you wouldn't give an infant toys with small removable parts, bead eyes or long strings because those could pose serious safety hazards for your baby. Puppies are essentially baby dogs, so you need to use the same good judgment when you buy the best toys for your puppy as when you buy toys for your baby. For the complete guide to puppy toys and a puppy's first year Click Here!