training

Pet Training 101; learn how to teach your dog or cat everything from the essential commands to party tricks.

Badger did "Big Hup" Today!
Badger has had a year off since losing his eye to adjust to being a dog again. Since that time, he's lounged around the house or the kennel, taking brief walks on a leash, adjusting to walking in a straight line. Walking in a straight line has actually taken a lot of effort on his part, as his instinct was to drift in the direction that he could see or away from things by which he felt threatened. Heeling was a thing of the past. He either lagged behind me so that he could see me or ended up nearly to the end of his leash, several feet from my left leg because he brushed against me unexpectedly.
By Kimberly J Egan2 days ago in Petlife
My Dog Barks Every Night - Should I Be Worried?
Every night follows a similar pattern. The house is settled. The lights are turned off. The outside world is falling silent. Just when sleep feels close enough to touch, my dog starts barking.
By Paw Planet 10 days ago in Petlife
Why Does Your Dog Ignore the Come Command and How to Fix It
You are standing at the dog park, leash in hand, already late. Your dog is twenty feet away, nose glued to the ground. You call their name. Nothing. You try again, louder this time. A few people glance over. Your dog looks up, considers you for half a second, then goes right back to sniffing. If you have ever felt your face get hot while calling your dog over and over, you are in familiar territory.
By Aleksandar Mishkov21 days ago in Petlife
Cleo's First Puppy Show. Top Story - January 2026.
"How would you feel about doing the Corsicana show in November?" Kathleen asked me last September. Dog exhibitors speak in shorthand that way. It's easier to say "the Corsicana show" than it is to say the "North East Texas American Eskimo Dog Association Show." And yes, "North East." I guess "Northeast" shortened the name too much for some people's taste . . . But I digress. In response, I asked two of the three important questions that every exhibitor thinks, first thing.
By Kimberly J Egan30 days ago in Petlife
What Does it Mean to be a "Preservation Breeder?"
When I first started "in dogs" back in late 1999, I had a goal. I was looking into "good" Toy Fox Terrier breeders, who at least talked a good game about health testing (which involved hearing, eye, and patella exams!) and who had show dogs in the first three generations of their puppies' pedigrees. I had a specific dog in my mind's eye: a white and tan male with a solid-colored head. That was it. I had no other criteria. I just wanted a dog that bore no resemblance to my little Oma, who had been poisoned--while in my own yard--by a neighbor earlier in the year. I knew that Oma had seeded the love for the breed so deeply that I wanted to help the breed continue into a prosperous future. I wanted to breed and to show and to compete with Toy Fox Terriers.
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Petlife
The Gentle Agreement. AI-Generated.
When people say cats are distant, Lena usually smiles and lets it pass. She knows better. Anyone who has shared a home with a cat understands that the relationship is not loud or obvious. It is quiet. Subtle. Built on small rituals and unspoken agreements.
By George Evanabout a month ago in Petlife
The Quiet Comfort. AI-Generated.
Every evening, Sarah would sit on the edge of her couch, laptop balanced on her knees, staring at the blinking cursor that refused to move. Words, once easy, now felt heavy, like they were trapped somewhere between her thoughts and her fingers. She let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. The silence of the apartment pressed in around her, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator.
By George Evanabout a month ago in Petlife
Your Dog Is Not Truck Cargo
In much of the country, dogs standing loose in the back of a pickup have been treated as part of the scenery for decades. People point at it, smile, say the dog “loves it” and keep driving. The scene looks normal because the community has rehearsed it for years. From a forensic and trauma standpoint, it is anything but normal. It is a low-speed, high-frequency mechanism of serious injury and death that we keep pretending is harmless.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin2 months ago in Petlife
Never Let Kids Hit the Dog
Most household bites start long before teeth. They start when adults normalize a toddler swinging a towel or toy at a dog and call it curiosity.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin2 months ago in Petlife
Cats vs Dogs: Interesting Facts About Their Differences
**Introduction: Cats or Dogs – Which One Wins Your Heart?** For centuries, humans have shared their homes with **cats and dogs**, two of the most popular pets worldwide. Both animals bring love, companionship, and joy, but they are very different in their behavior, needs, and personalities. Understanding these differences can help you decide which pet fits your lifestyle — or just give you fun facts to appreciate both!
By Kashif Wazir4 months ago in Petlife
Why Yelling at Dogs Makes Them Bark More:
Barking is a language. It is not random noise. Saying that again because most people treat it like a nuisance and then answer it with the one thing that guarantees escalation — yelling.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin4 months ago in Petlife
The Extraordinary Smelling Power of Dogs: How Their Noses Outperform Science
Dogs see the world through their noses. What humans can only guess, dogs can smell with remarkable precision. From tracking lost people to detecting diseases, their sense of smell is one of nature’s greatest wonders. But what gives dogs such an exceptional ability to detect and distinguish scents? Let’s explore the fascinating science behind their powerful noses.
By Farhan4 months ago in Petlife