It can be counter intuitive but when your puppy has a potty accident, we shouldn't punish them. You may feel that you need to do something to let them know "this is wrong".   Or maybe you know that you're not supposed to punish your puppy's potty accidents but you're not sure why. In general, I discourage using […] The post YNP #092: Why Not to Punish Puppy Potty Accidents appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When I receive multiple questions from my listeners around the same topic I know it's time to do a podcast episode about it.   But not all questions warrant a full episode but can still be useful to answer. So that's exactly what I did in this episode.  I gathered 5 questions that came from you, my […] The post YNP #091: Listener Questions appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When your dog refuses to go outside in the rain, it can be annoying and time consuming.  It's even worse when you're trying to potty train a young puppy that isn't going to hold it until the rain stops.   For most dogs they will learn to tolerate it but for others it may always be […] The post YNP #090: When Your Dog Hates the Rain appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Muzzle training your dog means exposing your dogs to wearing a muzzle in a positive, stress-free way (see resources below on how to do this). This is something that most of us never think (or want to think) about doing with our dog.  It's understandable because muzzles have a bad rap and are thought of as a […] The post YNP #089: Reasons to Muzzle Train Your Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Socialization is the most important training you can do for your puppy.  It's also the most overlooked and misunderstood part of your puppy's training. When done correctly as a puppy, socialization creates a confident, well adjusted dog.  And who doesn't want that for their puppy?   I've gathered the 4 things I think are the most misunderstood about […] The post YNP #088: Four Things You May Not Know About Socialization appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Is your dog trying to dominate you?  The short answer is no, they are not.   And though that might not come as a surprise to you, what isn't always clear is why it's not true.   Especially because this theory that dogs want to dominate us or some dogs are more "dominate" than others still comes […] The post YNP #087: Is Your Dog Trying to Dominate You? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Teaching your dog to come when called (recall) is arguably the most important skill you can teach your dog.  It's also one that we struggle with the most.  That's because we try and teach it like we would any other cue like sit, down or stay. But that only gives us half the picture.  Recall is a habit […] The post YNP #086: Why We Struggle with Recall appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Potty training can be overwhelming.  The good news is, one of the first things we can check off the list is getting our puppy to sleep through the night.   Potty training overnight is a little different than during the day.  Even though they can hold it longer overnight, they still aren't going to make more than […] The post YNP #085: How to Handle Potty Training Overnight appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I love puzzle feeders as a way to "ditch the bowl" and make mealtime an event.   If you search "puzzle feeder" or "slow feeders" online countless options come up.  I have my favorite store bought feeders (see my Supplies page) but there's also many ways to DIY it! In fact, I have three that you can […] The post YNP #084: My Favorite DIY Puzzle Feeders appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I hope you never need this podcast episode.  Chances are, you will.  Having a lost pet is a stressful and upsetting experience.  Sometimes we don't think of the obvious things and sometimes we don't even know the resources that are available I talk about the most effective things you can do, who you should call, where you […] The post YNP #083: What to Do if Your Dog Gets Lost appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A microchip is a tiny device that is placed below your pet's skin.  It has a unique 15 digit code that you register along with your contact information.  This way if your pet ever gets lost, shelters, veterinarians, police stations, and others can scan the microchip and access your contact info and help return your […] The post YNP #082: Let’s Update Your Dog’s Microchip appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When we thing of what our dog's walk should look like we think of them walking by our side without being distracted by anything and only sniffing when we say it's ok.   Spoiler alert!  There is NO "should". I'm here to let you off the hook.  Your walk doesn't have to be perfect.  As long as […] The post YNP #081: My Rules for Your Dog’s Walk appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Most of the time we want to use the cue "off" to tell our dogs to "get down".  For example, when they  jump on us or our guests or when they jump on the table or counter.   I have nothing against teaching this cue, I just approach it in a different way.  If we think about it, […] The post YNP #080: Why I Don’t Teach “Off” appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Potty training is hard.  We can set them up for success as much as we can but it takes as long as it takes.  It's a process that we can't rush our puppy through.   We all struggle with potty training.  While we're in it, it feels like it will last forever.  For most, we'll have […] The post YNP #079: Are You Still Struggling With Potty Training? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Nipping is one of the biggest struggles every puppy parent goes through.   It can be very disheartening especially when the kids don't want to play with the puppy anymore.   That's why I'm giving you my three favorite games that I teach my clients to help with a nipping puppy. Each one is designed to give you a […] The post YNP #078: Games to Play with a Nipping Puppy appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A strong recall is one of the most important behaviors your dog can have. That is why I wanted to replay this episode about how to get a stronger recall.   This is a special training that I do inside my digital products (YOUR Perfect Puppy and Playtime Paws Academy) I talk about how I approach recall as […] The post YNP Replay: How to Get a Stronger Recall appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A lot of new puppy owners wonder if it's OK to use a pen in addition to (or instead of) a crate.   The idea of giving your puppy or young dog room to move around and play is a very appealing one.  BUT there are some drawbacks to giving them this extra space.  A emphasize using the […] The post YNP#077: Using a Crate vs Using a Pen appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Every dog needs a collar and leash.  There are many options out there so let's talk about them. Each of these tools has it's advantages and disadvantages and there's no one perfect solution that works for every dog. In part one I talked about the different types of leashes.    In this episode (part two) I talk about […] The post YNP #076: Different Leash Walking Tools (Part 02: Collars and Harnesses) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Every dog needs a collar and leash.  There are many options out there so let's talk about them. Each option has it's advantages and disadvantages and there's no one perfect solution that works for every dog. So in this episode (part one) I talk about the most common types of leashes that are available. In part two […] The post YNP #075: Different Types of Leash Walking Tools (Part 01: Leashes) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Socialization is the most important training you can do for your Puppy.  We want to get our puppy out from the very beginning and do as much as we can in their early weeks. Socialization is more than just exposing your dog to new people and dogs.  It also includes new places, objects, sounds, textures, environments, […] The post YNP #074: How to Socialize Your Puppy Without Leaving Your House appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Christine Rohloff Gossinger literally wrote the book on dog breeds.   She joins me to talk about how understanding your dog's breed can help us understand our dogs and their needs.   This episode is chock full of examples, training tips, and fun tidbits just like her book.  Listen in and decide for yourself it your dog's breed […] The post YNP #073: Does Your Dog’s Breed Matter? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Something I get asked often is how I feel about using a potty bell.   If you listened to my complete guide to potty training then you know that I don't mention using a bell at all but does that mean I don't want you to?  No go ahead...well, maybe...  While I'll show my clients how to use […] The post YNP #072: Should You Use a Potty Bell? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Teaching your dog "Stay" is one of the easier cues to teach your dog...if we do it right.  And of course most of us are doing it wrong.   Stay can be a useful command ("Stay" so I can take your picture).  It can be used for safety ("Stay" while I clean up this glass that […] The post YNP #071: Tips for a Stronger Stay appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Kasie comes back to teach us more about raw feeding.  This time we talk all about puppies! Plus Kasie has some advice on treats and how to start even if you feel overwhelmed. This episode is Part 2 of a two part series.  In Part 1 we talk about raw feeding more general.   Kasie has been raw […] The post YNP #070: What is Raw Feeding?: Puppy Edition appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Maybe you've never heard of raw feeding your dog.  Maybe you have but you're not quite sure what it means.  This episode can start to answer some of your questions.  Raw feeding is something that I've dabbled in but I am NO expert.  Since I do get questions about it all the time, I've decided to […] The post YNP #069: What is Raw Feeding? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

"Practice makes perfect."  We all know that one.  Well, it's just as true for our dogs.   When we teach our dogs how to sit we know to start at step one and work them up to a reliable sit in any situation.   When we want to change a behavior (like barking, digging, leash walking, or counter surfing) […] The post YNP #068: The Power of Practice appeared first on Playtime Paws.

In part one we talked about demand barking.  Here in part two I go into detail about alert barking.   Alert barking is when your dog is barking at something.  A dog out the window, a noise like a doorbell, your neighbor, etc.   This type of barking usually starts in as your puppy gets older.  Once […] The post YNP #067: How to Stop a Dog From Barking (Part 2) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Barking comes in many different forms. This makes how to stop a dog from barking more complicated than we think.   We can't just ask "how do I stop my dog from barking?" and get an answer because why they are barking plays a significant role in how we stop them.   Are they barking in the […] The post YNP #066: How to Stop a Dog From Barking (Part 1) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Allison is back with some more great tips on how to take better photos of your dog! Who doesn't want that perfect Instagramable, frameable, background photo of our dog.  But even with the 200 photos we have on our phones sometimes it eludes us! Back in episode 52 Allison Shamrell of Allison Shamrell Pet Photography told us […] The post YNP #065: How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog (Part 2) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I'm back to burst some bubbles (POP!).  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my fenced-in yard just like most dog owners.  But just like with most things that make our lives easier there's a downside.  I'm here to help you minimize them! My goal is to make sure that you and your dog can use your […] The post YNP #064: The Downside of a Fenced-in Yard (Part 2) appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Socializing your dog, especially when they are young, is SUPER DUPER important.  If you have listened to me at all then this is not news to you.  You know that you have to expose your dog to many different people, places, environments, sounds, textures, and dogs.  This is what creates a confident, well-adjusted dog that you […] The post YNP #063: My 7 Guidelines for Socializing Your Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

How many times have you gone to Youtube to find a new dog trick and it's a three-minute video with a dog that already knows the trick? Or you teach your dog a new trick in class to go home and they act like they never heard of it before.   Truth is, training doesn't happen in […] The post YNP #062: How I Taught My Dog a New Trick appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Your puppy's schedule will vary depending on many factors.  Including age, exercise needs, and your schedule. When I'm asked about what a typical day looks like I know that I'm actually being asked things like:"How many times should I take my puppy out?""How much exercise should my puppy get?""How much time is too much time in […] The post YNP #061: A Typical Puppy Schedule appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When we imagine kids and puppies we think that they go together like peanut butter and jelly (or my preference - chocolate). The reality isn't so sweet.  Your puppy and your kids LOVE each other.  But sometimes it's that same love and excitement that causes scratches, tears, and a disheartening relationship. When we have kids and […] The post YNP #060: Kids and Puppies appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Debbie here!  I just wanted to jump into your podcast feed one more time this year.  First I want to thank you, my listeners once again for being a bright spot in an otherwise stressful year.   I also thought it would be fun to take a look back at this year's most popular episodes and also […] The post YNP 2020 Sign Off: A Look Back and Look Forward appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Fetch it the one game we all think of when we talk about playing with our dog.  So it's easy to forget that we have to teach them how to fetch.  We have the picture in our mind of our dog running across the yard or park to get the ball and bring it back. […] The post YNP #059: How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When you are new at watching dogs play it can be confusing and even a bit concerning.  Dog play is "play fighting" so if you haven't made a career out of knowing dog body language it's easy to get concerned even when dogs are having a grand old time. To make it harder sometimes two dogs […] The post YNP #058: How to Recognize Appropriate Dog Play appeared first on Playtime Paws.

If your dog listens to you inside your house that doesn't mean they know what you want outside on their walk.  Even if you are asking for the same thing.  Dogs are very contextual and need to be taught how to listen even when there distractions.  The good news is, if your dog listens to you […] The post YNP #057: How to Teach Your Dog to Listen With Distractions appeared first on Playtime Paws.

How do you handle potty training when all the adults in the housework full time?  This is a question I get asked a lot.  Mainly because my listeners know I do not like the use of potty pads (for more on that, check out Episode 009).  If you are going to be out of the […] The post YNP #056: Potty Training for a Working Household appeared first on Playtime Paws.

There are SO MANY things we need to train our puppy when we bring them home.  It's really easy to get overwhelmed or focus on the wrong things.   In this episode, I talk about the three most important skills you can teach your puppy.  Start these skills from day one and you will reap the […] The post YNP #055: Three Important Skills to Teach Your Puppy From Day 01 appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Does it feel like your trainer just tells you to stuff your dog's belly full of treats and say then they're trained?  Treats are an essential tool to raising our well-mannered dog but the lesson on HOW to use the treats properly gets lost. And we really want to avoid that place where your dog will […] The post YNP #054: How to Use Training Treats Properly appeared first on Playtime Paws.

All we want is a peaceful house!  When asking two (or three!) different species to live together it can get tricky! How you introducing your dog and cat depends a lot on the personalities involved. If you have a calm dog and confident cat, count yourself lucky!  If you have an excited dog and a shy […] The post YNP #053: Tips to Introduce Your Dog and Cat appeared first on Playtime Paws.

We all have a hundred (ok, ok hundreds) of photos of our dog.  But how many are keepers?  If you are anything like me you have 600 pictures and 2 end up as keepers In this episode, let's welcome Allison Shamrell to give us all her best tips on how to get better photos of your […] The post YNP #052: How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog with Allison Shamrell appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A strong recall is one of the most important behaviors your dog can have.  It's also something that takes LOTS OF WORK!! This episode is a replay a mini recall training I did inside my online puppy course YOUR Perfect Puppy.   I talk about how I approach recall as a habit that you and your dog […] The post YNP #051: How to Get a Stronger Recall appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Separation anxiety is always been something dog owners need to be aware of.  How to be alone is something that we have to teach our dogs.  In a perfect world we start this when they are puppies with crate training and the natural rhythm of our lives as we need to go to work, school, […] The post YNP Episode: How to Prevent Separation Anxiety During Stay-at-Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Leash training is a hot topic among dog owners.  Walks are a fundamental joy for dogs but when it comes to walking down the street in a straight line, it's no longer feels natural for them so that's why we encounter some resistance. This is also why there are many different ways we struggle with our […] The post YNP #050: The 3 Most Common Leash Training Questions appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​As your dog grows you will probably experience some behavior changes.  Just as you think you have it ALL figured out your puppy will prove you wrong. It's all part of the roller coaster of owning a puppy.   In this episode, I talk about when these changes can happen, why they happen, and how to […] The post YNP #049: Behavior Changes as Your Puppy Gets Older appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​If you decide to bring home an adult dog you may have different expectations than if they were a puppy.  Maybe they're already potty trained and crate trained.  They don't have as much energy. Maybe they're out of the chewing stage.   These expectations can lead to some trouble when we first bring them home.  Just […] The post YNP #048: Bringing Home an Adult Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​This week I'm doing something a little different.  This is the audio version of a video series called 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home.  If you are a future puppy owner than this mini training is perfect for you. In this episode, I talk all about Phase 03: Get to Work.  Right around day […] The post [Part 03] 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​This week I'm doing something a little different.  This is the audio version of a video series called 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home.  If you are a future puppy owner than this mini training is perfect for you. In this episode, I talk all about Phase 02: Settle In.  I go over exactly […] The post [Part 02] 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​This week I'm doing something a little different.  This is the audio version of a video series called 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home.  If you are a future puppy owner than this mini training is perfect for you. In this episode, I talk all about Phase 01: Prepare.  I go over everything from […] The post [Part 01] 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

***This episode was recorded on March 22, 2020 and uses the best information available at that time.  With information is constantly changing, please keep informed and stay safe according to the most accurate, science based, up to date information available.***In the best of times, it's important to know how to socialize your puppy.  Even though […] The post YNP Episode: How to Socialize Your Puppy During Social Distancing appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I wanted to take a minute and check in and reach out.  How are you doing? Just about every single person out there is touched by what's happening.  I too, sat in my anxiety and stress for a little while. You know what brought me out of it?  YOU. I carved out this little corner of the […] The post YNP Episode: Checking In and Let’s Play! appeared first on Playtime Paws.

​When you have a reactive dog on a leash it takes all of the fun out of walks and makes them stressful and a chore. Unfortunately, having a reactive dog is all too common. It comes from the dog’s fight or flight response. When they are on a leash and tethered to you, some can default […] The post YNP #047: How to Handle a Reactive Dog on a Leash appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Puppy biting is something that just about every new dog owner struggles with.  It can go from being an annoyance to affecting your enjoyment and bond with your puppy.  It gets even worse with the kids.  Puppies don't know how to play with humans.  It's in their DNA to play with their tough-skinned, fur-covered littermates, but […] The post YNP #046: Puppy Biting and Why You Might Still Be Struggling appeared first on Playtime Paws.

There are a bunch of different types of dog training programs out there.  Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.  Which one (or ones) you choose depends on your learning style, what's going on with your dog, and what your budget is. In this episode, I take a look at a puppy class vs obedience class […] The post YNP #045: Pros and Cons of Different Dog Training Programs appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Just like humans, dogs get car sick.  It's especially common for puppies.  Their little bellies are sensitive and not used to the motion.  The good news is, most will grow out of it.  The bad news is there is always a chance they will develop a bad association with the car.   Since it starts out […] The post YNP #044: When Your Dog Gets Car Sick appeared first on Playtime Paws.

You've read ALL the books, watched ALL the videos, listened to ALL the podcast but there are things that still come as a surprise when you get a new puppy. Let's be honest, some of these things they DO tell you, but maybe we don't hear them because they aren't the fun part of having a […] The post YNP #043: What They Don’t Tell You About Getting a Puppy appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Especially with a new puppy, you'll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little...well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to […] The post YNP #042: 10 Ways to Play With Your Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Raising a puppy is challenging.  Raising a puppy in an apartment adds a few additional challenges.  It’s becoming more and more common to raise a puppy in an apartment.  This is great because it means more places are allowing dogs but before you run and get your new puppy there are some things to consider and […] The post YNP #041: Tips on Raising a Puppy in an Apartment appeared first on Playtime Paws.

You need to be your dog’s pack leader.  This much is clear. However, when I talk about leadership it doesn’t have anything to do with “alpha” or “dominance”.  I believe those words are overused and greatly misunderstood. But mostly, I believe that it leads us to the wrong type of relationship with our dog.   Make […] The post YNP #040: How to Be Your Dog’s Pack Leader appeared first on Playtime Paws.

This is the third and final special edition highlighting the great questions I received during Q&A Tuesdays.   Every Tuesday in October I will be answering your training questions.  These are just a few of the great questions I received and I thought would be beneficial to all my listeners.   October is now officially over and therefor […] The post YNP Special Edition: Q&A Tuesday Highlights 03 appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Potty accidents are part of having a puppy.  You can do everything right and you are still going to have an accident.  And let’s face it, we probably aren’t going to do everything right.   In all of my years helping puppy owners with potty training there are a few types of accidents that I see […] The post YNP #039: The Most Common Potty Accidents appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Every Tuesday in October I will be answering your training questions.  These are just a few of the great questions I received and I thought would be beneficial to all my listeners. I got the idea for Q&A Tuesday because this is very similar to what I do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy my online course for […] The post YNP Special Edition: Q&A Tuesday – Crate Training appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Every Tuesday in October I will be answering your training questions.  These are just a few of the great questions I received and I thought would be beneficial to all my listeners. I got the idea for Q&A Tuesday because this is very similar to what I do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy my online course for […] The post YNP Special Edition: Q&A Tuesday Highlights 01 appeared first on Playtime Paws.

here is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior! Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures. In this episode, I am revealing my secret. This is what I use to solve 90% of my client's training issues. I have centered my life around dog behavior. And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing. The post YNP #038: The One Thing You Need to Know About Dog Behavior appeared first on Playtime Paws.

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog. When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t […] The post YNP #037: The Three Types of Training You Need to Raise a Well-Mannered Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Raising a puppy is something we have to learn.  It's not natural for us humans.  So just like with learning anything new we are going to make a few mistakes along the way.  First we have to know what mistakes we are making in the first place.   In this episode, I talk about 4 mistakes I […] The post YNP #036: 4 Mistakes New Puppy Owners Make appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Where should your dog sleep?  This is a simple question with multiple answers.  On one had I have a strong recommendation where your dog should be sleeping.  On the other, it really doesn't matter as long as you make the decision and then stick with it.  To make this more clear split my answer into two […] The post YNP #035: Where Should Your Dog Sleep? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Adding another dog to your pack is an exciting time.  It can also be a little stressful because you want to make sure that your current dog accepts your new puppy. Sometimes when you bring a new puppy home the current dog immediately accepts the puppy and it super excited to have a younger brother and […] The post YNP #034: Introduce Your New Puppy to Your Current Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

My dogs aren't perfect, and I'm ok with that?  You would think because I'm a dog trainer I would care more.  But that's exactly why I know it's OK. Training a dog is time-consuming and it’s something that most of us just simply aren’t good at.  Most likely you won't be able to teach your dog […] The post YNP #033: My Dogs Aren’t Perfect, So What? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

There are so many dog supplies out there it can be overwhelming.  Over the years I have developed a list of my go-to supplies that I use and recommend to my clients. In this episode, I talk about what my favorite dog supply is in each of these 8 categories and why they have become my […] The post YNP #032: My Favorite Dog Supplies appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Dogs learns through repetition and reward. The easiest and most efficient way to reward your dog is by using treats.  That is why they are the go-to for trainers and dog owners. Even though treats is the most popular way to reward your dog they are not, by far, the only way.  In fact, there are […] The post YNP #031: Reward Your Dog Without Treats appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Dog obedience training is the first thing we think of when we say “training your dog.”  In fact, it might be the only thing we think of. Your dog’s training goes WAY beyond obedience but it is a very important part of your new puppy’s education. When starting from scratch it’s important to create a strong and […] The post YNP #030: The First 4 Steps to Teaching Any New Command appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Bringing your puppy home is exciting and maybe a little stressful.  The ride home is the first time you are 100% responsible for them. If this is your first puppy you may be even more nervous. Your puppy might be nervous too.   It’s a short and simple topic but something I get asked all the time. […] The post YNP #029: The Ride Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When we think of crate training we usually think of potty training or where we put our puppy when we aren’t home.  Crate training goes way beyond that. In fact, we should be using it after potty training AND when we are home. I usually get some resistance to this.  Most dog owners have a sense […] The post YNP #028: 5 Reasons to Use the Crate When You’re Home. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

How to handle a shy dog is important for all of us to know.  If you are anything like me, you just want to put ALL the puppies.  But not ALL of the puppies want to be pet.  Wait, what??? Crazy, right?   This is even worse when it’s our own puppy.  We are all excited […] The post YNP #027: How to Handle a Shy Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

The foundation of positive dog training is to reward the behaviors we want repeated and ignore or redirect the behaviors we don’t want repeated. Oh, how I wish it were that simple.  A question we don’t even think to ask is “how does the dog know what behavior we are rewarding or correcting?”   This is where […] The post YNP #026: Timing is EVERYTHING When Training Your Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Very often I get asked: Is human food good for dogs?  Or "should I feed my dog people food?" Or they say with pride “I ONLY feed my dog, dog food” The first thing I want to dispel is the idea that there is a difference between "people" food and "dog" food.  Food is food. The distinction […] The post YNP #025: Is Human Food Good for Dogs? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, […] The post YNP #024: How to Raise Two Puppies at the Same Time appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Did you remember to praise your puppy?When using positive training our main tool is to reward behaviors we want our puppies to repeat.  The more we praise our puppy's good behavior the more likely they will grow into a well-behaved dog.  Unfortunately, there are many times that we don’t remember (or worse, we don’t even realize) […] The post YNP #023: Did You Remember to Praise Your Puppy? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Separation anxiety is when your dog is stressed out because they are separated from you.  Every single dog has the potential to develop some form of separation anxiety because dogs don’t know how to be alone naturally.   This is one of the many things we need to teach them to live in our world.  Separation anxiety […] The post YNP #022: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A question I get ALL the time is about taking your puppy outside before they are fully vaccinated.  This question usually comes up during potty training but my answer has nothing to do with potty training. In short, your puppy needs to get out and start experiencing the world BEFORE they are fully vaccinated.  I know this […] The post YNP #021: Balancing Vaccines and Socialization appeared first on Playtime Paws.

We are always told “prepare for emergencies" or "make an emergency preparedness plan."  The problem is the nature of an emergency is they are unpredictable and the situations are usually not something we expect.  All we can do is do our best to prepare so when it happens we at least have a head start. The […] The post YNP #020: Your Emergency Preparedness Plan When You Have a Dog appeared first on Playtime Paws.

A fenced-in backyard is considered a very valuable resource for a dog owner.  It makes owning, potty training and exercising your dog SO much easier.  Or does it? With anything that makes our lives easier there is always a downside.   I know this, because I share this struggle with you. In this episode I talk about a […] The post YNP #019: The Downside of a Fenced-in Backyard appeared first on Playtime Paws.

So often, we get stuck in the idea that our dogs need to eat out of a bowl.  BORING!! Our dogs are programmed to work for their food so let’s use that in our favor.  We already feed our dogs so let’s make it an event!  Our dogs have a blast AND it also help […] The post YNP #018: Ditch the Bowl and Make Mealtime an Event appeared first on Playtime Paws.

We know that finding the right dog food for our dog is important.  It can also be overwhelming.  Most of us want to be able to walk into a pet store, pick up a bag and make the right decision.  Unfortunately, it's not that simple. There is a lot of different information out there about which dog […] The post YNP #017: 5 Dog Food Myths and the Truth Behind Them appeared first on Playtime Paws.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” - Benjamin Franklin The best way to stop your dog from jumping up on people is not to allow him from to do it from day one. The best way to stop your dog from sleeping on the bed with you is to teach him to sleep […] The post YNP #016: Stop Behaviors Before They Start! How Thinking Ahead Can Make Training Easier. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Welcome to Part Two of the two-part series on helping you find the right dog care for you.  In part one (Episode #14) I talked all about facilities.  In this episode I talk about Pet Sitters.Who will take care of your dog when you can’t is a very common concern for most dog owners.  With […] The post YNP #015: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part Two Pet Sitters appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Welcome to Part One in two-part series on helping you find the right dog care for you.Who will take care of your dog when you can’t is a very common concern for most dog owners.  With good reason.  There is a high level of trust that has to happen for you to feel comfortable to […] The post YNP #014: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part One Facilities appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Both a dog park and a dog daycare are a place for your dog to get lots of exercise while playing with his friends.  Beyond that the experience is quite different. Where a dog park is free, daycares cost money.  You get to stay and interact and play with the other dogs and people at a […] The post YNP #013: Dog Park vs. Dog Daycare appeared first on Playtime Paws.

You don’t have to be a dog person to know about basic obedience. It’s usually the first thing you think of when someone says “training a dog”. It is popular for very good reasons. I could list a hundred reasons for you and your dog to go through some kind of obedience training. In this episode, I […] The post YNP #012: The Most Important Part of Your Dog’s Obedience Training appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I find so many dog owners go right for their retractable leash.  And I get it! I did the same thing when I got my first dog. Retractable leashes make so much sense in theory; make it short when I want to, give them freedom when I want to. It’s like 10 leashes in one!” […] The post YNP #011: Reasons to Leave Your Retractable Leash at Home appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Potty training is a rite of passage for all puppy owners.  It’s not the pretty part of owning a new puppy but it’s the one training none of us can ignore. Sometimes we forget that our dogs don’t come pre-programmed to go to the bathroom outside. This is a habit we have to teach them. The concept […] The post YNP #010: Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Indoor pads (also called wee-wee pads or potty pads) have a purpose but house training should not be one of them. If you want to teach your puppy to go to the bathroom outside only, these pads can be detrimental to this training. Indoor pads are one of those products that seem like a great tool (and […] The post YNP #009: Why Indoor Pads Should NOT be Used When House Training Your Puppy appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When your dog jumps on you, your family and your friends it can quickly turn into an annoying habit. Luckily there are a few things we can do to prevent or correct this behavior. Most of the time our dog jumps on us it is to get our attention. And if we are honest most of the […] The post YNP #008: When your Dog Jumps: How to Prevent and Correct Jumping up on People appeared first on Playtime Paws.

I had a lot of fun recording our first Q&A episode! You asked some great questions that have influenced the topics of many episodes and now I want to answer some specific questions. In this episode, I answer three great questions sent in by listeners. Topics include:Multiple dog householdHanding a new young dog with older dogsThe difference […] The post YNP #QA01: Questions and Answers appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Does your backyard look like someone has been digging for gold?  Having a crater filled back yard is frustrating, not pretty and can even be dangerous.   Why do dogs dig?  Digging is one of those things that dogs just love to do.  It’s right up there with barking and chewing and being with us. The most […] The post YNP#007: Why Do Dogs Dig and What You Can Do About It appeared first on Playtime Paws.

What do we do when our dog steals our stuff? We all know the scene: it’s gotten a little too quiet so you go searching for the little fuzzball that was just at your feet. You turn the corner and there he is, chomping happily away on the book you were reading earlier, or maybe it’s […] The post YNP #006: My Dog Steals my Stuff!! How to Protect your Dog and Your Things. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

When we think of crate training, we usually think of potty training our puppy.  It makes sense because these two things go hand and hand.  Using a crate is the best and most efficient way to potty train our dogs.   In this episode, I want to convince you that crate training goes way beyond potty […] The post YNP #005: Crate Training: How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best Friend appeared first on Playtime Paws.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about your recall command; most commonly known as “come”.  I'm not going to be talk about teaching your dog the actual command. What I am going to talk about is building a few everyday habits so when it comes time to teach your dog the command, it's going to be […] The post YNP #004: 3 Things You Can Do Now to Teach Your Dog to Come Every Time You Call. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Free Feeding is when your dog's bowl is always filled with food allowing them to choose when to eat.   When you have a dog that likes does to graze leaving their food out all the time can be a convenient.  On the surface it seems harmless but what we don't realize is that it can […] The post YNP #003: What is Free Feeding and Why You Shouldn’t Do It. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Once you have decided that you are ready for a dog (if you haven’t check out episode 1) it’s time to figure out which dog is right for you. During this episode, I talk about 10 different traits to think about to help you decide what type of dog will best fit into your life. While I […] The post YNP #002: Which Type of Dog is Right for You? appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Want a new dog? Not sure if you are ready? Getting a new dog is a big decision and a long term commitment. Getting a dog isn’t something you can decide overnight, so we are here to help you figure it out! This episode walks you through 5 questions to ask yourself to see if you […] The post YNP #001: Are You Ready for a New Dog? 5 Questions to Help you Decide. appeared first on Playtime Paws.

Welcome to Your New Puppy’s Podcast!! Getting a new puppy (or dog) is exciting and fun but it can also be very overwhelming.  No one gets a good dog by accident.  It takes time and energy to get the well-behaved dog we all dream of when we decided to bring home our new four-legged family […] The post YNP #000: Who I Am and What Your New Puppy Podcast is About appeared first on Playtime Paws.