Training a reactive dog can be hard work, but having the right tools (and a bag of the best dog treats) can make the experience a whole lot easier.

Reactive dogs overreact to certain stimuli in their environment – whether it’s barking at vehicles, lunging at other dogs, or growling at groups of people. These responses might seem like the dog is simply aggressive, but they’re usually linked to anxiety and caused by fear, a lack of socialization or training, insecurity, or trauma.

If you're just getting started on your reactivity training journey (or have struggled to make much progress), you'll find a list of training essentials below, which come recommended by Rachel Rodgers, Head of Training and Behavior at Napo Pet Insurance.

What products can assist with reactivity training?

Here’s everything you need to make reactivity training easier – from specialized training leashes to handy treat pouches – all tried and approved by Rachel.

She says: "Ultimately, successful reactivity training is about changing how your dog feels, not just how they behave. These products help support that process safely and positively."

1. Y-shaped harness with a front D-ring

First things first, you'll want to invest in the best dog harness – one that's well-fitting, Y-shaped, and has a D-ring on the front. According to Rachel, these styles offer full shoulder movement and help reduce the risk of injury.

She adds: "The key feature is the front D-ring, which can be used with a double-ended leash for greater control, especially when needing to gently guide your dog away from a trigger.”

2. Double-ended leash

There are lots of benefits to using a double-ended leash – it gives you extra control, makes it easier to redirect your dog's movement, and lets you adjust the length or attach it to two points on the harness.

Rachel says, "The front attachment acts as a pivot point, making it easier to turn your dog away from distractions or triggers if needed.”

Note: Some double-ended leashes come with a head collar, but this isn't something Rachel recommends.

3. High-value training treats

To build positive associations with their trigger, reward your dog with a high-value treat whenever they come across it – regardless of how they react. Rachel says that food can be really helpful in reactivity training, and this process will help change their emotional response over time.

She says: "These treats should be used consistently whenever your dog sees another dog or a known trigger – even if they’re just looking. Over time, this builds a positive conditioned emotional response, helping your dog feel safer and more relaxed. Think hot dog, chicken, and cheese! Reactivity training isn't the place for boring kibble.”

4. High-quality treat pouch

When it comes to building positive associations, you need to act quickly so your dog can connect the reward with the trigger. That's where a treat pouch comes in handy – it lets you access treats faster than fumbling around in your bag or pockets.

She says: "A good treat pouch allows you to quickly and easily access high-value treats (such as chicken, cheese, or hot dogs) with one hand. Look for one with a waterproof, washable lining – moist treats are often messy!"

5. Poo bags

This might seem irrelevant to reactivity training, but Rachel says that having reliable poo bags is essential, as many reactive dogs have looser stools caused by stress. There's nothing worse than running out of poo bags – or having them split – so make sure you have plenty of durable ones to hand.

Training tools to avoid

Now you know what can help, what about the things to avoid? Rachel warns against using any equipment that could tighten or cause discomfort to your dog, including head halters or figure-of-eight leashes.

She says: "These can worsen reactivity by adding negative associations to the presence of triggers – for example, another dog appears and the equipment tightens, which leads to increased fear or frustration."

Want more training tips? Read these three common mistakes you should never make with a reactive dog, and how to calm a reactive dog

Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis De Leaver.

Does your dog love greeting people? If your dog gets a bit too overexcited when there’s a visitor or they see someone they know on a walk, you’re in the same position as a lot of other dog parents – it’s quite a common problem.

But, as you’ll probably be aware, not everyone wants to be greeted quite so enthusiastically. Even people who like dogs don’t always want one jumping up at them.

If you’d like to teach your pup to greet people in a calmer manner with nothing more than yourself and some of the best dog treats, certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has got the advice you need – keep reading to find out what she recommends.

“What I did to teach this dog not to jump all over people was build in some impulse control so we could put saying ‘Hi’ on cue, giving her a specific way to interact that helps keep four paws on the ground and disengage quickly,” Goodman says.

By keeping it short, you’re preventing excitement from building up – which is a huge part of how to stop a dog from jumping up. And, that the handler – in this scenario, you – gives the reward makes disengaging a more valuable option than the greeting. Keep your dog on their leash and don’t let your dog go over and greet the other person until they’re given the cue. Then, ensure you have your rewards to hand for when they come back to you.

“Within 10 minutes, I could pet her without getting jumped on,” Goodman adds, explaining that the end goal is having a dog who people can pet calmly, before they go back to their parent to get their reward.

“Jumping when excited is a normal dog behavior, and they don’t understand that most humans don’t enjoy that,” she explains in the caption. “You have to teach them how you do want them to greet. Not just tell them ‘no’ or punish it another way.”

You don’t want to stop your dog from being happy and excited. Rather, you want them to be able to control themselves just enough so that their excitement doesn’t then cross over into undesirable behavior.

Read next: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked or highest jumping dogs

Recall is one of the most important things you will ever teach your dog. Not only can it prevent them from running into traffic or getting into trouble with other animals, but it also ensures they won’t run after a wild animal and go missing.

If you’re at the beginning of your recall training journey (or just want some extra advice), we’ve shared six essential products that will make the process easier, recommended by dog behaviorist Ingrid Grayling and vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan.

Having the right tools will go a long way – whether you need to locate your dog using the best pet tracker or want to reinforce their good behavior with a packet of the best dog treats. We’ve put together a simple checklist for you to follow, along with some valuable recall training tips.

Recall training essentials

Here’s everything you need to set up your recall training for success:

1. Long line

Before you commit to an off-leash walk, it's a good idea to get some practice with a long line first. As Dr MacMillan explains, this gives you time to practice your training and keep things under control while giving your dog a bit of freedom. If things don’t go to plan, you can always reel them in again.

Ingrid recommends choosing a long line about 10 feet in length, which strikes the perfect balance between control and freedom.

She says: "I personally like to use a solid rope with a secure clip on one end to attach to the dog’s collar – it’s simple, effective, and gives both you and your dog the freedom to build confidence at a comfortable distance. A good training line is an essential tool when establishing reliable recall, especially in the early stages."

2. Whistle

If you’ve never tried whistle training for dogs, it’s well worth giving it a go. Dr MacMillan explains that because our voice can vary depending on energy levels and mood, a whistle can be a great alternative – it provides a consistent sound your dog learns to respond to.

She adds, "A whistle can also be helpful when multiple owners are training a dog. It sends a clear, concise, and consistent message to your pet."

3. High-value treats

It wouldn’t be a training session without a packet of dog treats, so make sure you have plenty on hand before you get started. Rewarding your dog for good behavior is a form of positive reinforcement and will make them more likely to act the same in the future if they think a tasty snack is on the cards!

Dr MacMillan says, "High-value treats are essential for your dog's recall training. You may need to work out what makes your dog tick, but firm favorites can include small pieces of cooked chicken, beef, or turkey, freeze-dried liver treats, and dehydrated fish-based snacks."

4. Collar with ID tag

Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tag whenever they’re in training – this will make things 100 times easier if they run off, as others will see they have a home and be able to contact you.

Dr MacMillan says: "And don’t forget to ensure your pet is microchipped and wears a collar with an ID tag, just in case they go walkabouts during their training session!"

5. Pet tracker

We recommend fitting your dog with a pet tracker, which will give you extra peace of mind if they decide to run off during training. These can be attached to their regular collar and will give you live updates about their whereabouts, as well as interesting health stats and alerts.

Top tips for teaching recall to dogs

Now that you've got all the gear, it's time to start your recall training! We asked Ingrid for her top tips for a successful session – here’s everything she recommends:

1. Use a training line
"This is my number one piece of advice. Choose a line around 10 feet long – this gives your dog enough freedom to move, while you stay in control. I prefer a solid rope with a secure clip that attaches to the collar. It’s simple, safe, and effective."

2. Dedicate a 10–14 day training period
"Consistency is key. Commit to working on recall daily for around two weeks. Start close, and gradually increase distance as your dog improves."

3. Build distance gradually
"On day one, stand about a foot and a half away from your door. Gently pull on the lead and encourage your dog to come to you – always reward them with plenty of praise when they do. Each day, take a small step further back.

“By the end of the 10–14 days, you’ll be using the full length of the lead, and ideally your dog will be returning to you without much prompting at all."

4. Understand the ‘why’:
If your dog isn’t coming back, it’s important to ask why. Is there a distracting scent? A squirrel they can’t ignore? Or are they nervous about leaving your side? Understanding the reason behind the behavior is just as important as the training itself."

5. Avoid one-size-fits-all methods:
Each dog is different. If you’re struggling with recall, I highly recommend reaching out to an experienced trainer who takes the time to get to know both you and your dog. A tailored, thoughtful approach will always lead to the best results."

Want more expert advice? Read the three biggest recall mistakes people make with their dogs (and how to avoid them) or I’m a dog behaviorist and these are my top tips for ‘bulletproof’ reliable recall

Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis De Leaver.

One issue that dog parents often want to address is their pets jumping up at people when they come through the front door. It doesn’t bother everybody, but for some of us, it can be annoying or even dangerous if we’re caught off guard or carrying something fragile.

However, there are some simple things you can do to encourage your dog to stay closer to the floor, and it’s easier than you might think – even just a handful of the best dog treats can come in handy!

Juliana DeWillems, owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, has made some great suggestions in a recent Instagram post, and it could be a game-changer if you’re hoping to stop your dog from greeting people in such an energetic manner.

DeWillems’ video begins with someone coming through the front door while a dog lays down calmly before getting up and following their human. As she says, “You might think that this is your ideal goal for your dog’s behavior when someone comes into your home.”

However, she then goes on to explain that many of us don’t realize that it can be quite tricky to train and there’s an easier solution: “Putting up a gate and keeping your dog from the door so that the greeting is easier and more pleasant for everyone without a ton of training.”

She demonstrates this in the video. The dog is on the other side of the gate (like this one on Amazon), and greets the visitor calmly when they come into the house. Even if the dog gets excited by the guest, they won’t be able to knock them over with the gate in place. Try scattering some treats on the floor, too, to give your pup something to keep them occupied.

"Work smarter not harder!” adds DeWillems in the caption. “Gates and a few good treat scatters can improve your chaos at the front door more quickly than training a ‘place’ behavior that holds up against the distraction of someone walking in.”

Dog training, of course, is hugely important, and it’s not something to ignore. However, there’s no harm in finding other methods to keep everybody happy. Training takes time, and you probably won’t see change overnight, so even if you’re trying to train your dog to stop jumping up or to greet guests nicely, you can use things like gates and treats in the meantime.

Read next: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked

As important as it is, recall training your dog can be challenging. Recall training two dogs, meanwhile, might seem even more daunting.

However, while it’s good to do a lot of individual training to begin with when you have two dogs, recall training two dogs together when they’ve gained a little more understanding can actually be really beneficial! All you need are the best dog treats to get started.

Certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has explained how we can recall train two dogs together in a new Instagram post, so let’s take a closer look here.

“Recall is one of the few things you can do with two dogs together pretty quickly, as long as they don’t fight over food,” Goodman begins. “It’s important for them to learn to respond regardless of what the other is doing.”

She explains that training two dogs together can create a degree of healthy competition, too, making them more motivated to come back to you faster. They don’t want to miss out on their reward, and remember, it’s all about that positive reinforcement!

In her caption, Goodman recommends doing a lot of individual training before you begin to train both of your dogs together, but says that you can begin recall training together as soon as they understand the concept of recall.

The way you recall train two dogs doesn’t have to differ hugely from the way you train one – you’ve got your treats to hand, your cue word, lots of encouragement and praise, and plenty of practice and repetition.

And, while your dogs could prove to be distractions for each other, you can still incorporate in distractions once both dogs have a reliable recall. Try getting one of their favorite humans to join in, playing with your pup while you call out their cue.

Keep in mind, too, that while it’s great to practice with both dogs together, provided they aren’t going to fight over food and high-value treats, it’s also important to ensure that they’re both great with recall on their own. You don’t want one to be reliant on the other!

While recall training two dogs in one go might not sound simple, you could be pleasantly surprised by the experience. While training them separately all the time is possible, recall training them both together could be more productive (and more fun!) than you think.

Read next: Five reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t working (and what you can do about it)

Anyone who’s ever seen the sparkle in their dog’s eyes at the mere mention of a walk (oh, yes, they understand that word) or sight of their leash knows just how much that daily outing means to them. For our canine companions, it’s more than just a chance to stretch their legs – it’s the highlight of their day. A good walk offers so much more than a bathroom break: it provides essential exercise, a way to burn off energy, and vital mental stimulation. In short, it’s nourishment for both body and soul.

But this daily routine can become a bit of a chore, as busy people we often rush this highlight of our dog’s day. Carving out an hour to tramp around the park or countryside can feel like a stress we don’t need. If our dog plays up, pulling on the leash, growling at passing dogs, or ignoring recall training, it becomes no fun for either party.

However, with the right attitude, ideas and a few dog walking tips, every walk can become an adventure that you both relish. Let’s take a look at 20 tips to boost your dog-walking game, from safety essentials to behavior hacks that will make your outings more enjoyable all around.

Dog walking tips

1. Right collar and leash

The leash and harness, or collar, must be comfortable for both dog and handler. Whether your dog wears a harness or collar, it needs to fit perfectly, not too loose or too tight, and be made of a suitable material that won’t chafe.

You don’t want a harness that slides around the body either, as that will make control tricky as well as causing potential sores. Different breeds suit different shapes of harness.

Next up, the type of leash. This needs to be an appropriate length. Too long and you won’t have sufficient control, too short, and you’ll end up tripping over your dog. You’ll have a preferred thickness and material, too: if your dog tends to pull on occasion, a very thin leash can cut into your hand.

If you like to run with your dog, then you’ll need a different set-up entirely. A bungee on a harness linking to the runner’s waistband is a popular and comfortable option for both dog and human.

Much of this is down to personal preference, but getting it right for both parties can improve the whole walking experience.

2. Weather check

Many dogs don’t mind what the weather’s doing, but we humans tend to be a bit fussier about heading out in the rain. Plenty of dogs turn their nose up at the wet stuff, too! A quick check of the weather forecast can enable you to avoid the downpours if your schedule permits.

Heat is a more serious concern, and you should be aware of the signs it's too hot to walk your dog. You should avoid exercising your dog during the hottest part of the day when temperatures exceed around 82ºF (28ºC) – mornings and evenings are usually cooler, when you can keep out of direct sun. Bear in mind that the ground, particularly asphalt, can get so hot that it burns your dog’s paw pads.

3. Take water

Most humans head out for exercise with a water supply so they can sip when needed, and the same should go for our dogs, especially during hot weather. Convenient doggy bottles combine the water container with a handy bowl so that you can offer water on the go.

This also prevents them from diving into the nearest water source, such as puddles or the sea, to quench their thirst, which is often not ideal, whether due to bacteria and disease or the salt content.

4. Treats at the ready

Dogs typically respond well to reward-based training, and there’s no better place to test that your recall is up to scratch than on a walk. When your dog comes rushing back to you as soon as you call, it’s useful to express your pleasure by giving them a well-earned treat. They’re much more likely to keep coming back!

The best dog treats are also handy for distracting them from other temptations, such as birds and small animals, garbage cans, and for keeping their concentration on you (and what you might offer them) rather than other dogs in the vicinity.

5. Reflective gear

If you walk in bad weather, poor light, at night, or on the roads, reflective gear is essential for safety. Other road users can spot you much more easily. But equally, if your dog is off-leash, you can spot him!

6. Sniffing permission

One of life’s great joys, if you are a dog, is the smells out on a walk. Dogs’ noses are considered to be 100,000 to a million times more sensitive than ours, depending on their breed, so you can imagine the treasure trove of scents wafting around them while out and about.

While you’ll make slow progress if you let them smell every scent they pass, do give them permission now and again to have a good, long sniff. It can even release the mood-booster dopamine. It is key for canine wellbeing, provides stress relief and stimulates them mentally, as well as enabling them to explore their environment.

7. Practise off leash

There are few things that confirm a well-trained dog: human partnership and the dog that returns to his handler at his whistle or call.

Dogs love to run off leash, but it can be very stressful if you aren’t certain they’ll return when called. Teaching recall is a vital obedience exercise to master.

8. Obedience drills

Practicing obedience exercises can be a great way to provide your dog with mental and physical stimulation while out on a walk. They are one of the ways to improve your relationship with your dog. Plus, they serve as a useful distraction from other temptations because your dog is busy working out how to please you.

You can pepper your walks with short training sessions, which will keep the workload light and enjoyable for your dog in a happy and engaged learning environment.

9. Stay off the phone

Your dog will probably enjoy his walk, whatever you do, but how much more rewarding it will be for both of you if you are fully engaged in this hour of dog time. Messaging, emailing, or listening to headphones while you walk means you’re only physically involved in the outing, rather than sharing the experience with your pooch.

Don’t blame the dog if he finds other distractions!

10. Route choice

It’s highly likely you’re always calling the shots as the route planner, so how about letting your dog decide where to go, where possible? When you reach a junction, see if your dog leans one way or the other, and follow his decision. You may explore new territory, or just get an idea of where he really enjoys going (or sniffing!)

11. Visit new trails

Having a dog is a great excuse to explore, especially with so many beautiful dog walks in the US. You’ll both benefit from checking out new trails and terrains (new smells, too!). Always research beforehand to ensure dogs are permitted, whether on or off leash. Take a map!

12. Scent games en route

Scent games are great enrichment for your pup, and an excellent way of keeping his concentration on you, rather than all the other smells that a walk can offer. Take training treats, or his favorite ball, and either lay trails or hide treats in grass and undergrowth (according to how intrepid he is) to give him the satisfaction of sniffing them out.

If your dog is easily distracted while out on a walk, this is a great way of bringing him back to you and what you might be offering.

13. Fast and slow

Left to their own devices, dogs tend to mix up the pace. One minute they’re sniffing avidly in a tussock of grass, almost stationary, the next they are tearing up a path, revelling in their speed. They rarely jog along at a monotonous pace like we humans do.

So mix it up. Walk fast, then stop and admire nature, new leaves and buds, or spot some birds. If you’re not up for running, throw a ball and play fetch to give your pup some faster exercise.

14. Know your dog’s limits

Although daily walks are great for nearly all dogs, there is wide variation in how much exercise is appropriate. Brachycephalic breeds can struggle with their breathing, especially in hot weather.

Very young dogs should increase their walking time gradually (after their vaccinations), while senior or arthritic dogs will require a slower pace, and likely shorter walks than those in the prime of life.

15. Watch out for ticks

If there is one thing that can wreck a walk, it’s coming home with a collection of creepy-crawlies clinging to your dog – and you. Ticks are typically found in high concentrations in long grass, ferns, and wooded areas. They climb on to the dog’s fur and bury their way into their skin, where they suck blood and can transmit diseases. Particularly common between spring and autumn.

Stop ticks biting dogs by applying a tick treatment regularly, and twist off any that do attach themselves with a tick removal tool. Humans can protect themselves by wearing long sleeves and pants, and using tick repellent.

16. Bonding time

Walks are great bonding time for you and your dog, so give each session your full attention and engagement. This is the moment for interaction and shared experiences, as the dog enjoys your time together and benefits from the physical and mental stimulation. It’s almost a guarantee that whatever mood you start out your walk, you’ll feel even better afterwards.

17. Take doggy first aid

It might seem like excessive caution, but a great walk can rapidly deteriorate if your dog suffers an injury. Imagine they rip their ear on a barbed wire fence, or are stung by an insect, or graze their paw pads.

A small first aid kit – including a tick removal tool, sterile gauze, antibiotic ointment, and saline solution – is extremely useful for such situations, and can enable you to get the dog home more comfortably for further assessment.

18. Social walks

Walking with other like-minded dog lovers can be a joy, both for dogs and humans! It helps to socialize the dogs with other canine counterparts, and their owners will never run out of conversation, which is bound to revolve around their four-legged friends.

19. Family fun

It’s enriching for dogs to have all of the family involved. It’s likely that the parents do the lion’s share of the regular walks due to schooling commitments, but when the kids are free, they bring a whole new energy to the party.

Kids will run and play with the dog when the parents might feel jaded, and our pups love it. It boosts their mental stimulation, makes the walks more interesting for the younger members of the family, and strengthens the family bond with the dog.

20. End on a high

If you want to use walks as training sessions – which is a great idea – make sure you end on a high. Finish with an easy task so that the dog feels content and engaged, not bored and frustrated that he can’t fulfill your commands.

And never exercise your dog to the point of exhaustion – always finish on a high. Remember, the walk is the highlight of their day.

Read next: How to keep dog walks fun

Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis de Leaver.

If your dog likes to greet other dogs they pass on walks, that’s great – in some ways. It’s nice to have a friendly dog who wants to say hello to people and animals you pass, but letting your dog greet every other pup isn’t always recommended.

When your dog’s on one of the best dog leashes, greeting other dogs can potentially cause issues, both in the short and long term. Expert trainer Carolyn Martell, the founder of Good Dog Training, has explained four reasons why she doesn’t let her dog greet other dogs on leash in a recent post, so let’s find out why below.

1. It can cause fighting
Because leashes create tension and restrict your dog’s natural body language, it can make them more aroused. Imagine two dogs in the same position running into each other’s personal space – even if they’re not usually reactive, it’s not difficult to imagine them not getting on, potentially leading to aggression.

2. It builds obsession
If your pup associates other dogs with playtime, they might become hyper-focused on them.

“That excitement can easily tip into frustration or reactivity,” Martell explains.

3. It worsens recall
Letting your dog greet everyone they pass will teach them that greeting is a default behavior. This can make it harder for you to call your dog away, whether they’re on their leash or not.

4. You want neutrality
“I’m not looking for a dog that drags me toward every pup on the sidewalk,” says Martell. “I’m raising a dog who can walk past distractions and stay connected to me.”

As she sums up, “Friendly doesn’t have to mean social with every dog you meet. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do… is walk on by.”

Even if your dog enjoys greeting other dogs on leash and it always seems to go well, there’s no guarantee that this will always be the case. Even if your dog loves making new friends, other dogs may be more hesitant or scared. And, you risk undoing recall training work in the process.

By not letting your dog greet every other dog they see during walks, you’ll be setting both of you up for a more relaxing experience.

Read next: How to greet a dog (the right way), according to a vet, and 3 of the most common loose leash walking mistakes (and how to fix them)

We’ve all been there. You’re hoping for a nice leisurely walk with your dog to start your morning off in the best way or to unwind after a long day, but your pup has other ideas.

They’ve got one of the best dog leashes on, but they keep pulling on it. You’re content at your own pace, but your dog seems impatient. What can you do? Well, Juliana DeWillems, owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, has given us three expert tips in a recent Instagram post. Just keep reading to take a look at her ideas.

First and foremost, remember that positive reinforcement is the way to go when it comes to changing your dog’s behavior. If you’d like to know how to stop a dog pulling on a leash, it’s important to keep in mind that treats, play, and praise are all brilliant ways to get your dog to do what you want, and DeWillems’ advice, as follows, reflects this.

1. Get a longer leash
“Replace your four or six-foot leash with an eight or 10-foot leash [like this one on Amazon] because this gives your dog more space to move around, sniff, and explore without hitting the end of the leash and putting tension on it,” advises DeWillems.

2. Bring new treats
Try using treats your dog hasn’t had before – why not go for something high-value? They’ll find them more exciting than their usual treats, and DeWillems explains that they should prompt more frequent checking in with you and walking close with you. You can then reward these behaviors to in turn see more of them.

3. Play before you leave the house
For a few minutes before you head out on your walk, play with your dog at home.

“You might be thinking, ‘Wait a second, isn’t the walk how I’m supposed to exercise my dog?’” says DeWillems, “If you play with your dog for just a few minutes before you go for a walk, that can actually get some of their energy out before you walk out the door.”

This can make your walk a lot more enjoyable for both of you, and you get to have some fun just before the walk, too.

Read next: My dog’s leash pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how

Training your dog can be a minefield, no matter how experienced you are – every dog is different and there’s often a lot of conflicting advice out there too.

Bring a reactive dog into the mix, and training can become even more stressful. A lot of the time, it’s because of mistakes we’re making in the way we approach training, but fortunately, they’re easy to rectify. Often, just a game with a favorite toy or the use of some of the best dog treats as a reward can work brilliantly.

Expert trainer Carolyn Martell, the founder of Good Dog Training, has outlined five things we often get wrong when training reactive dogs, and number two really surprised us! Let’s take a closer look at what owners of reactive canines can do differently.

1. Believing socialization is all they need: “Socialization may have prevented the reactivity, but it won’t fix it,” explains Martell. “Reactive dogs need specific, methodical training, not socialization.”

2. Focusing on calmness: “Generally,” Martell says, “owners misconstrue stillness as calmness – which it’s not – and this is actually the opposite of how to approach training a reactive dog.”

3. Forgoing games like tug of war: It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that playing a game like tug isn’t good for reactive dogs because it’s not a particularly calm activity. However, it can be really beneficial when you’re trying to tackle reactivity.

There are all sorts of great games you can play with your reactive dog, including these fun games for reactive dogs that involve everything from playing hide-and-seek to finding tasty treats and exciting toys.

4. Jumping into triggers immediately: “This will stall your progress every time,” Martell explains. “Start with foundational work and teaching the skills you want AWAY from triggers.”

5. Assuming they’ll just outgrow reactivity: It’s actually the opposite. The longer you let your dog be reactive without addressing it, the more difficult it will be to sort.

When training your dog – reactive or not – it’s important to remember that positive reinforcement is always best. Other forms of training, rooted in dominance and fear, are outdated and the experts advise against them. We know that rewarding our pets for the correct behavior will help us get the results we’re after.

Read next: Owning a reactive dog is hard. Here's how I navigated the social challenges with my pooch

Artificial intelligence has really risen to prominence in recent years, and it has all sorts of potential uses. One that might not have occurred to you is its ability to help find the next generation of guide dogs (service dogs for the visually impaired) – as researchers at the University of East London are using it for right now.

The team, led by Dr Mohammad Amirhosseini, have been working on machine learning models that look for the early signs of guide dog success. It detects signs that even experienced trainers can miss, potentially saving a lot of time and money, as well as avoiding potential upset when dogs are let go from the process near the end of the line. Here’s how service dogs are trained for an idea of the journey.

“One of the biggest challenges in assistance dog training is the emotional and financial cost of late-stage failure,” explains Dr Amirhosseini, Associate Professor in Computer Science and Digital Technologies. “This is more than a tech innovation – it’s a leap forward for animal welfare.”

When a puppy in training reaches six and 12 months old, their behavior is recorded in detailed questionnaires to get an idea of their focus, personality, and temperament. Here, the AI model can look for potential with plenty of accuracy.

This new research, published in the Applied Animal Behaviour Science journal, expands on a study the same team worked on previously that looked at how AI might be able to map dog personality types.

“This is a truly interdisciplinary project with real-world impact,” Dr. Amirhosseini adds. “We worked closely with organizations that train and place assistance dogs every day. These are the people who know how high the stakes are – not just for the dogs, but for the people whose lives depend on them.”

Working on the research alongside Dr Amirhosseini and his team at the University of East London were experts from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Arizona, University of Nottingham, Canine Companions, featured in Netflix’s Inside the Mind of a Dog, the world’s oldest guide dog school The Seeing Eye, and Dogvatar, the company that funded the project and developed the technology.

Dr Amirhosseini summarizes, “We’re applying cutting-edge AI to one of the most human-centered roles animals can serve in – helping people live more independent lives. And we’re proud to be walking this path with some of the best minds in the field – both human and canine.”

Read next: 32 things to know about service dogs

Walking your dog can be relaxing, and the perfect way to start your morning off or mark the end of your work day. But it’s not always so calm – if your pup has ever decided to pull toward other people when they’re on their leash, you’ll be able to relate.

Not wanting your dog to approach people by pulling you over to them is completely understandable. For many of us, it’s not a behavior we want from our dogs. However, you can use positive reinforcement (with plenty of the best dog treats) to stop them, encouraging them to carry out a different behavior instead.

Fortunately, Juliana DeWillems, expert trainer and the founder of JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, is on hand to offer some advice about how to do just that in a recent Instagram post.

DeWillems begins by explaining that she marks and rewards her dog every time he looks at a person while they’re out on a walk.

“This cues the dog to look back at me for the promised treat,” she continues, “If the dog doesn’t look back at me after I mark, that is information that they could be over threshold and might need more distance or more support from me.”

Because she clicks and gives the dog a treat every time they look at the person, she is rewarding the behavior of looking but then sticking near her – something that’s incompatible with pulling away to something else.

She adds, “As the person gets further away and the training becomes easier I’ll wait to reward until the dog chooses to look back at me.”

Essentially, when your dog is doing something undesirable you’ll want to offer them a replacement behavior. In this instance, sticking close to you is a great replacement behavior when you want to stop a dog pulling on a leash because it keeps you both safe, comfortable, and happy.

As DeWillems puts it, “You can’t do a don’t! Make sure you are telling your dog what you DO want from them when you are training them.”

Dogs don’t know that they’re doing something they shouldn’t, or why they shouldn’t be doing it. We can’t reason with them like you might a human, so offering an alternative and giving them plenty of treats along the way is the best solution.

Read next: My dog’s leash pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how

For most dogs, going for a walk is one of the high points of their day, and you can’t blame them for being excited. However, you don’t want your pup to launch themselves out of the front door before you’re ready to head off, no matter how excited they are!

If their leash isn’t secured, or you aren’t prepared to keep hold of it, they could easily run off and risk being hurt by a vehicle or another dog passing by, and they could hurt you if they run out and you aren’t expecting it.

But how can you stop your dog from rushing outside when they’re just happy to be going on a walk? It turns out that all you need are some of the best dog treats and a helping of patience.

That is, according to Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, who has explained what she does in a new Instagram post – and it’s surprisingly effective!

“As soon as we walk through the threshold, I say his well-practiced ‘Yes’ marker, which causes him to stop in his tracks and immediately turn back to me,” DeWillems begins. “I give him that promised treat and then I drop a few more treats on the ground while I close the door and get situated.”

She adds in the caption, “For this technique, you can use any cue that your dog loves to respond to. In some cases simply saying their name would work, but a lot of dogs tune their names out because we say it so much throughout the day.”

What the exercise does, she explains, is teach the dog over time that every time they go through the door, a treat shows up behind them – remember, positive reinforcement is always key! So, it’s in their best interests to turn back automatically. “This automatic turn back to me replaces launching out the door and ignoring me,” she summarizes.

She finds this technique less frustrating and more efficient than simply waiting for your dog to calm down inside the house when they’re excited to go on their walk or get outside to use the bathroom.

If you’ve got this part of your walk sorted already, but you’d like some advice to help you later on, when you’re outdoors with your dog, here are 15 helpful ways to get your dog to come back to you on off-leash walks. Meanwhile, here’s how to stop a dog pulling on a leash.

For most of us, taking the dog for a walk is just one more thing in our daily to-do lists. But as fun as it can be to get some fresh air with our dogs, it’s easy to slip into the same routine, almost going through the motions.

However, if you’re not entirely happy with your dog’s behavior when you’re out walking, making some small changes to your walks can be really beneficial. And it’s not all hard work, there are plenty of ways to make dog walks more fun.

That’s why professional dog trainer Amelia Steele, or Amelia the Dog Trainer, has outlined three key things we can do that might help our dogs with their behavior. Let’s take a look.

1. Include engagement games: “These are so important,” says Steele, “They can really promote good attention and good listening skills, and they just make life a little bit more interesting.”

2. Incorporate play into your walk: “Even if this is just two minutes a day standing in a field and playing with a toy with your dog, play is such a healthy way to encourage engagement and it builds loads of foundational skills that require basically zero effort,” she explains.

3. Include breed-specific outlets: This involves knowing what your dog is bred for, but you don’t need to worry if your dog is a mix!

“You can also use anything they genuinely love doing,” Steele adds, “So, for my dog [a retriever breed], it would be retrieving, for some dogs [like scent hounds] it might be sniffing, but giving them a chance to practice those really natural behaviors is really good for them.

“It builds that communication with you, and it’s going to give you much better behavior in the long run compared to just sticking a lead on and walking around the block.”

Of course, we lead busy lives and it’s not always possible to spend a lot of time playing on walks. However, doing so when you can might really help your dog with their behavior. Why not slow down and let your dog sniff on a walk? This helps them not only find out more about the environment around them but can lower stress levels, too.

Read next: My dog doesn't like long walks so I use these four brain games to tire her out

If you're struggling with your dog's recall, it can make walk time a lot less enjoyable, fueling worry about whether they'll come back.

Training recall in dogs is one of the most important skills you'll ever teach them, and until you've mastered it, it's crucial to keep them clipped onto one of the best dog leashes while you're out and about and invest in a recall training kit.

To help you figure out where you might be going wrong, we’ve called in qualified canine behaviorist Jan Barley, who has lived with dogs for more than 50 years and has plenty of recall tips to share. Below, she reveals five of the biggest mistakes that dog owners make when it comes to teaching recall:

Why your recall isn’t working

It’s easy to get recall training wrong by making simple mistakes.

1. Using a harsh voice

Repeatedly yelling a recall in a loud or harsh voice could make your dog nervous to return to you. A dog may worry you are angry. However, I will add a caveat to this mistake. Once you have a solid recall, practice using a loud voice occasionally in a secure environment.

The reason for my suggestion is that dogs can get lost in sensory experiences, such as chasing a deer, so they zone out from your recall. A loud voice can snap them out of that mindset.

Use it sparingly and not with nervous or sensitive dogs. Praise and reward profusely when your dog returns. It could be a lifesaver in risky circumstances.

2. Repeating the dog's name

Avoid repeatedly calling your dog’s name or any command because it teaches them to ignore it. Start with your dog’s name and chosen word, such as “Poppy, come.”

Then, if your pup ignores you, try the whistle. After that, get creative. Make it fun, and don’t repeat words or your pup’s name.

3. Not rewarding a recall

Always carry tasty treats when out walking. Call your dog every few minutes at variable intervals during a walk and vary when you give a treat. It’s more psychologically stimulating to a dog's brain when rewards are sporadic. At times, they may get a "treat party" from you and that is exciting for them.

If your dog does a super-impressive recall, always give them a treat party by dropping several treats at a time and lots of praise.

4. Letting your dog off the leash before the recall is 100%

Every time your dog ignores you, it solidifies a poor recall. Your pup must “earn” the right to be off the leash. If your dog doesn’t recall consistently, walk on a long line or extension leash during training.

When you start working off leash, hire a secure field so you have some control over the environment.

5. Not increasing the recall distance gradually

Recall training begins with your dog next to you. Gradually, extend the distance –practice in the house and garden. After that, attach to a long line and harness out walking.

The next step is to let the line trail on the ground. I use a 100’ line and don’t let the dog go further than about 60’ ahead.

At times, your dog’s recall may progress and then slip back. Don’t worry. Take a step back if necessary and trust that your dog will get a reliable recall as long as you are consistent, stay positive and avoid these mistakes.

Found this helpful? Read next: how I rebuilt my dog's recall skills with the help of a trainer and what high prey drive in dogs means

Edited by Megan Milstead.

Dog reactivity is an emotive subject that people often mistake for aggression. A dog is classed as reactive when it has an extreme reaction to a stimulus, such as a loud noise, another person, or a dog.

Every dog is different, but typically, reactive dogs become physically frantic. They may bark, lunge or growl and have raised ears and hackles.

I rescued Poppy, a eight-month-old Weimaraner cross, from a dog charity. We had three other dogs at the time. She was a large dog and was a handful by 14 months old. The first time she reacted to another dog, it was dramatic and I had trouble holding her.

Poppy reacted to anyone up to around 300yds away. I couldn’t let her off-leash on the trails unless I could see ahead. I’d shared my life with multiple dogs, who had all been sociable and calm. Poppy’s reactivity worsened over time, and walking four dogs became impossible.

After a year of battling with the behavior, Poppy pulled me over onto a concrete path, and I broke three ribs. While recovering, I searched online for dog behaviorist training and studied with Sarah Whitehead. I was heartbroken when I realized I had prolonged Poppy’s reactivity by not understanding her response, which was fear-based.

What I now know is that reactivity in dogs is curable – and it’s certainly not aggression. Most of the issues are because we respond inappropriately to the behavior. I now work with reactive dogs and have never met one as bad as Poppy.

Mistakes I made with my reactive dog

Here's are the worst mistakes I made with Poppy:

1. Blaming the dog

Instead of understanding why she reacted so violently, I blamed Poppy for being a “naughty” dog and did not look to myself as the reason her behavior wasn’t improving.

When I saw a person out with a dog, I felt stressed. Of course, Poppy picked up on my tension.

What I did differently after qualifying as a dog behaviorist:

I started walking Poppy alone so I could focus on her. My proudest moment was the first time I stayed calm.

In a happy voice, I said, “This way, Poppy”, and turned to walk back the other way before she could react. Calmly removing a reactive dog from the trigger is the first essential step in behavior management.

I often tell clients that story because Poppy looked up at me that day, and I swear if that dog could have spoken, she would have said, “Thanks, Mum!”

Progress was fast when I changed my behavior and stopped expecting Poppy to do all the work.

2. Putting my dog in situations that made her react

I mistakenly thought that exposing Poppy to what she reacted to would desensitize her, but the opposite was true. In dog behavior, this is known as flooding and is inadvisable for training dogs.

What I did differently after qualifying as a dog behaviorist:

Instead of forcing Pops to face her fears, I removed her from the scene. I rewarded calm behavior and gradually shortened the trigger distance.

I would stop after a short distance, let her look and give her a treat if she didn’t react. I learned to observe her body language so I could move away if she looked concerned

3. Feeling embarrassed

I was so embarrassed by my dog’s reactive behavior. People labelled her aggressive, which was far from the truth. Before I qualified as a behaviorist, I used to try to explain Poppy’s reactions and respond to people's comments.

What I did differently after qualifying as a dog behaviorist:

I stopped apologizing for my dog’s behavior! I focused on protecting Poppy, which often meant I ignored people when they made comments. I know that doesn't sound polite, but helping Poppy was my top priority.

It’s natural to feel embarrassed by a lunging, barking dog, but once you understand that most reactivity is fear-based, you can do whatever you need to help your dog.

My top tips for training a reactive dog

I lost Poppy in 2021. She was my greatest teacher and became a confident, well-balanced dog. Indeed, people used to comment on how calm she was!

Here are a few tips to help you rehabilitate a reactive dog.

• Stay calm: When you are calm, the less likely your dog is to have an episode.
• Talk less: Reactive dogs respond to energy rather than words. Our chatter becomes like white noise to a reactive dog.
• Move away from the trigger: Before your dog can react, turn and walk the other way. Stop after a short distance. Ask your dog to sit and let your furry pal look back at the trigger.
• Teach a “look” command: Hold tasty treats in your hand but close your fist. Your dog will try and get the treats. If your fur buddy stops, say “yes” and give them a treat. Next time, wait for your dog to look at your face and reward. Once your woofer has mastered this stage, add a “look” vocal command.
• Teach a sit command: Sit and down are calming behaviors. I taught Poppy to sit when I stopped walking. It automatically dials down the reactivity. Practice on walks until it becomes a habit for your dog to sit when you stop.

These are simple tips; there is more to rehabilitating a reactive dog, but they are a positive start to helping your dog.

Found this helpful? Read: Owning a reactive dog is hard. Here's how I navigated the social challenges with my pooch and how to calm a reactive dog. Or, what one trainer has in her reactivity training kit

Edited by Megan Milstead.

Therapy dogs play such an important role in helping people mentally, whether they’re working with ill people in hospital, young children learning to read at school, seniors in retirement homes, or almost anybody else – the list is endless!

Now, a new study has indicated that regular access to therapy dogs, who often belong to one of the best breeds for anxiety, helps first-year college students, too. The PAWs4US study, published in the Pets journal, looked at how long-term access to an animal-assisted drop-in program on a regular basis helped first-year students at Washington State University.

The study found that those who spent time with therapy dogs in repeated, unstructured sessions over a number of months reported lower stress and depression levels as well as more self-compassion – when first-year college students often report a decline in mental health as they adjust to living away from home and a new way of learning and working.

Dr. Patricia Pendry, corresponding author of the study and a professor of human development at the university, explained, “We know that structured programs help, but we wanted to see if giving students complete autonomy in how they interact with the dogs could be just as beneficial. This mirrors real-life pet ownership more closely and may make it easier for universities to implement similar programs."

Dr. Pendry’s prior research showed that even short interactions with therapy dogs can help lower levels of cortisol, often called the stress hormone, and that highly structured programs involving therapy animals can improve students’ well-being and help them learn.

This study looked at unstructured programs to see if they have the same effects. Students were welcome to drop in and interact with the dogs as they pleased, staying there for up to two hours. A total of 145 first-year students, all of whom had left a family pet behind at home, were involved, and were randomly assigned to either a control group, on the waitlist, or a seven-session drop-in therapy dog program.

While the therapy dogs themselves played a crucial role in the mental health benefits felt by the students, the researchers think that the overall environment played an important role, too. Dr. Pendry said, “It's likely a combination of sitting quietly, petting the dog, talking to other students and engaging with the handlers that contributes to student well-being.”

And it seemed as though those who benefitted the most were those who attended multiple sessions, suggesting that ongoing initiatives are more effective than one-off events for students.

If you’re thinking of adopting a pet to help improve your mental health, here are 32 of the best emotional support animal breeds. If you’re a new dog parent and you’re feeling stressed, however, here are 11 reasons you have the puppy blues and what to do about it.

As anyone who’s ever cared for a puppy will know, they put so many things in their mouth. Dogs use their mouths to help them explore and make sense of the world around them, and puppies even more so.

After all, the world can be a confusing place when you’re a puppy, and picking things up with their mouth – often called mouthing – helps them understand. But, as humans, we often don’t know whether we should stop our puppies or simply let them be, particularly if it’s something potentially dangerous like a rock. Life would certainly be a lot easier if our pups would only go for the best long lasting dog chews instead!

That’s why certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has offered some advice in a recent Instagram post. Let’s take a look at what she recommends.

“Should you be concerned if your dog picks up a rock?” Goodman asks. “In most cases, no. Dogs explore using their mouth and most dogs will not try to ingest a rock unless it has been taken from them enough times where the value increased, and one way to keep something from being taken is to eat it.”

She’s working with a dog, Freddie, who soon realizes that the rock is just a rock and loses interest in it. Goodman rewards him for losing interest – and a tasty treat is going to be more valuable than a rock.

“Most of the time, when a puppy picks up a rock, they will chew on it for a few seconds and then spit it out,” she adds in the caption. “You can reward that when they do it on their own.”

Goodman explains that she lowered the value of the rock by giving it to Freddie multiple times after he lost interest.

“If you don’t care, your dog won’t care,” she says, before adding a disclaimer that this doesn’t always apply to dogs who are already anxious about things potentially being taken from them and display resource guarding.

Essentially, however, it’s usually fine to give your dog the chance to explore before you lower the value of the item in question. If your dog’s safety is at risk, that’s a different matter, and it’s better to be cautious and remove the item.

If your dog is prone to resource guarding and gets anxious about things being taken, you might find this article useful: I tried alternative ways of giving my dog treats to stop resource guarding – here’s what worked. For puppies more generally, this might be helpful: My puppy eats everything outside – how do I stop them?

I've had my rescue dog for a little over 18 months, and it's certainly been a rollercoaster ride with its ups and downs. She's a nervous dog, so building her trust and confidence has been key to developing a good relationship.

However, Dixie sometimes fails to recall promptly, and this developed into a full-blown bolting issue over the festive period, where she ran off every time she was let off the leash.

Eventually, I concluded that we needed to completely restart recall training as though she were a puppy...

How I improved my dog’s recall

1. Find a reward

"Find something your dog loves, like high-value food or a certain toy [they go] mad for. [...] Reward the recall every time the dog comes when called," advises Adam Daines, a dog trainer and owner of Avon Dog Services.

Dixie isn't a very food-motivated dog, which means that I had to search for a long time to find something that she likes enough to hold her focus. Slices of dried sausages or small pieces of cheese seem to be the only thing that she deems worth the effort of coming back for.

So, armed with a pocket full of sausages, I started practicing recall around the house, which she had no problems with. It wasn't that she had forgotten her name, but the association seemed to have broken in her mind in the context of the outdoors. I didn't realize, but the panic in my voice when trying to recall her on one of her flights of fancy might have been causing problems.

2. Try a new recall word

Adam says: "The word you've previously used may have been 'poisoned', whereby you've made a negative connection to the recall, such as yelling at the dog to come back to you in a harsh manner time and time again. In which case, it's probably best to start with a brand new recall word – one which starts to elicit a positive response from the dog."

We've never had one recall word in particular: when I want Dixie to come to me, I whistle, click my tongue, call her name, or sometimes shout, "What's this?" I realize now that this too might have been confusing for her, as it was lots of commands being used with the expectation of a single result. So I settled on the word "here," which we've not used before. Then, it was time to try outside again.

3. Use a long line

"My advice when re-establishing a recall is to use a long line in the early stages," advises Daines. "My go-to is a 10-meter line. This gives the dog enough freedom to roam but still maintains safety and control when needed."

I had a long line to hand, so out we went. I kept Dixie on the line for a week, calling her back to me regularly on her walks until I felt confident that she could handle some off-leash time.

We started small, in a secure and familiar place with few distractions, as I wanted to set Dixie up for success. "The locations you walk may impact your dog's recall," explains canine behaviorist Caroline Wilkinson, "They might respond perfectly in a quiet field, but take them into a wood filled with the smells of squirrels or deer and their natural instincts might take over, tuning your recall requests out."

4. Build confidence off-leash

I allowed her off-leash initially for five minutes at a time, recalling several times in that space of time. After we had small pockets of off-leash time firmly established with no incident, I let her off for longer periods, with regular (but less frequent) recall and reward.

One thing I've always done with Dixie is reward her when she checks in: I may not have called her back to me, but if she has come to say hello or nudged me, I automatically reward her.

Wilkinson confirms that this is a smart move: "Give your dog praise and rewards for any little moments of connection they offer – if they look up towards you on a walk or loop back close to you after a period of walking ahead," she says.

We now walk for longer periods off-leash, although I'm always aware of potential distractions that might pull Dixie's focus away from me or cause her to bolt.

Why do dogs lose their recall?

I was curious about why recall training is sometimes forgotten by our dogs, and asked Wilkinson to explain what may be happening to cause this regression in training.

"Your dog's age can impact their recall. As a puppy, they may be more likely to stick by you for support while learning to be confident in the outside world. As an adolescent fueled by hormones, they can become more confident and start to realize how rewarding the world can be to explore, meaning they're less likely to listen to their humans.

"Later in life, you may have eased up on training and rewarding recall regularly, as your dog was doing so well so didn't see the need to continue. [As a result], your dog might start to find it more rewarding to go chase squirrels or sniff out lovely smells.

"As a senior dog, they may lose some of the senses – unable to hear or see you as well, they might be more inclined to go off. Dogs in season – or males around bitches in season – can sometimes lose focus on their human as their natural desire to breed kicks in."

Wilkinson also explained to me that Dixie's emotional state may have caused her recall to lapse, which made sense to me as she had a couple of scary experiences in the fall.

"Stressed dogs find it hard to learn new skills and will be unlikely to be able to respond to treats as a reward," she says. "They may be looking for a way to flee an uncomfortable situation, causing them to run off."

Looking for more training tips? Read about positive reinforcement for dogs and reasons why your dog's recall isn't reliable. Or, check out these recall tips from a trainer and what you need in your recall training kit

Edited by Megan Milstead.

This time of year, the weather isn’t always the nicest (depending on where you live, of course). While we’ll often simply power through and brave the bad weather, there are times when it might not be safe to head outside with our dogs – or we might have to cut walks a little shorter.

For these times, it’s a good idea to have some fun indoor games on hand for your dog to enjoy, probably with some of the best dog treats involved! This way, they can get the physical and mental stimulation they require without heading outside in the process.

If you need some inspiration, Juliana DeWillems, expert trainer and the founder of JW Dog Training & Behavior, has some advice in a recent Instagram post – let’s take a look at some of her favorite indoor games for dogs here.

“Bad weather doesn’t mean your dog’s exercise and enrichment needs are magically gone,” DeWillems explains, “We still need to find creative outlets to prevent boredom and tire them out!”

DeWillems’ first piece of advice is to play a ‘find it’ game with your dog. To do so, simply place some tasty treats around the room and let your pup find them all. They’ll love to sniff them all out – and enjoy the reward too! You could put some treats on the floor, as well as on chairs, and under and behind pieces of furniture.

Similarly, treat snuffle boxes can be great for dogs stuck inside. Simply hide some treats or pieces of kibble in boxes filled with paper and let your dog sniff them out. You could even put treats or kibble in a muffin tin and cover them with balls or toys, or try these DIY snuffle mat ideas. If your dog enjoys this sort of challenge, check out our guides to the best snuffle mats and best puzzle toys.

DeWillems also recommends the use of long-lasting chews. Many dogs really enjoy working on a chew, and one of the best long-lasting dog chews can keep them occupied for even a few hours! Chewing helps your dog look after their teeth and keep their jaw clean, as well as tackle boredom and anxiety – what could be better?

If you’ve got some free time to spend with your dog while you’re both at home, why not take the time out to teach them a new trick? If there’s a trick you’ve been meaning to teach them for a while, or you’ve found one online that you think your pup would be good at, why not give it a try?

Or, of course, your dog might prefer a classic game of hide-and-seek! When they find you, make sure there’s plenty of praise and a treat or two too.

Looking for more ideas? Try these dog enrichment ideas that will keep your pooch entertained.

A giant schnauzer won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the first time in history on Tuesday (February 11).

Five-year-old Monty beat his fellow six group winners to be awarded the overall accolade, beating out a whippet, Bourbon, who became Reserve Best in Show for a second time, German Shepherd Mercedes, English springer spaniel Freddie, bichon frisé Neal, Skye terrier Archer, and shih tzu Comet.

Katie Bernardin, Monty’s handler and co-owner, said, “Winning Best in Show is a dream come true. I won Best Junior Handler at this dog show when I was 18 and I always used to sit up in the rafters and watch and just want to be them. All those people were my idols and then I got to be them and be down there and get to win the big ribbon.”

Of Monty, she said, “He thrives off this environment and he’s just so much fun to show in these situations because he just knows it’s important.”

Monty won Best in Group, reaching the final seven, in both 2023 and 2024, and based on points from previous shows he entered the Dog Show this year as the highest-ranked canine in the country.

His work has certainly paid off, too, as he becomes the first dog from the working group to win Best in Show at the WKC Dog Show since Josh, a Newfoundland, in 2004.

Bernardin added, “Monty is special. I saw him when he was a puppy and I knew he was special. When I saw him as a baby, I don’t know. He slept on my stomach when I was pregnant. He slept under [my daughter’s] bassinet when she slept in a bassinet. He’s just our dog.

“We all love him. He’s our family dog, whether it’s me, my husband, the kids that work for us, my best friends. He gets excited when anyone comes and sees him. They go, ‘Hey, Monty,’ and Monty explodes because Monty loves his family. And I think that’s so special about Monty. And he’s just through the years, he is just so loyal to his people.”

The process to find the top dog in the US ended with Monty becoming the first giant schnauzer to win since the breed was first entered in 1930, but began on Monday morning with over 2,500 pups spanning over 200 breeds and varieties. While there were 52 dachshunds, 44 poodles, 40 French Bulldogs, 39 Chihuahuas, 38 golden retrievers, 34 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and 33 Labrador Retrievers; bluetick coonhounds, Dandie Dinmont terriers and Belgian Laekenois all had just one representative.

If you want to learn more about show dogs, check out our list of popular show breeds

You might be considering whistle training for dogs if you’re hoping to work on improving your dog’s recall or establishing important commands.

Whistle training is a form of training that some dog parents swear by, but maybe you’re worried that the sound might hurt your dog’s ears, or that it won’t be effective enough – there are all sorts of questions you might be looking for answers to!

If you’d like to find out more about whistle training, the benefits of it, and the mistakes dog parents might make, you’re in the right place. We’ve got advice from the experts at ACME Kennels and from vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to help you decide whether whistle training is right for you.

What is whistle training and when can it be used?

Essentially, whistle training involves using a whistle to communicate with your dog – either alongside or instead of verbal commands. Ben McFarlane, of ACME Kennels, describes it as “incredibly effective,” adding, “with commitment and consistency, it can be a valuable tool for clear communication and stress-free canine adventures.”

You can start whistle training with a dog of any age, but be sure not to make your sessions too long! Use high-value rewards (like the best dog treats), so your dog learns that, for example, if you use the whistle and they come back to you, they’ll get their reward and lots of praise.

You might want to start by using the whistle in the backyard, to get your dog used to it. You can use it indoors, too, to help train commands you’d like your dog to learn. And, as dog whistles are small and portable, you might like to take them on walks with you to let your dog know when you’d like them to return to your side.

Is whistle training cruel for dogs?

“Having whistle-trained my own dog, I can categorically say that it is not cruel,” says Dr MacMillan. She explains that most dogs love the sound and while come when they hear it once they’ve been trained – they come to associate it with treats, and we know that training dogs with treats is effective!

However, it’s important to use the whistle appropriately. Don’t blow it loudly at close range or blow it directly into your dog’s ear. To keep your dog happy, it’s best to keep the whistle away from young children who might not know or remember how to use it correctly.

And even when incorrect whistle training isn’t necessarily cruel, it can still negatively impact your progress and affect your relationship with your pup, potentially leading to trust issues and frustration.

Benefits of whistle training

“The whistle remains a consistent sound, each and every time,” says Dr MacMillan. “Unlike our voices, it doesn’t change in the face of different emotions, such as stress, anger, or sadness.”

To that end, anyone can use a whistle and produce the same sound. If you and your partner or children split walking and training duties, or your friend helps out, you can all produce the same sound even if you have different voices. This can make things less confusing for your pup.

Meanwhile, says Dr MacMillan, “Whistles also carry much further than our own voices do. This not only saves the embarrassment of having to shout for your dog when they are at the opposite end of the field, but it can also be extremely helpful on a windy day or if there is other background noise going on.”

Whistles are great if you want to cut through other noise – you’re not just one more dog parent standing in a field shouting for your dog to come back!

What mistakes do dog parents make when whistle training?

Dog parents can make mistakes when they’re new to whistle training. While it’s best to make yourself familiar with them before you start, nobody’s perfect. If you’ve already started whistle training and realize that you’ve made some of these mistakes, as outlined by the experts at ACME Kennels, in the past, it’s never too late to alter your approach!

• Lack of positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is key. A whistle is a great signal, yes, but you need to keep your pup motivated to repeat the desired behavior with high-value rewards. Start off with treats and praise together, before gradually phasing out treats while keeping the praise.
• Overusing the whistle: There can be too much of a good thing! Overusing your whistle can confuse your dog – only use it when there’s truly a need for it, and only for specific commands. This will keep it more effective.
• Choosing the wrong whistle: Different whistles vary in pitch and frequency, so test a few types with your pup and keep to the one that’s most effective in training.
• Poor understanding of whistle sounds: As simple as a dog whistle might be, it’s on us to use them effectively. It’s important we know how to produce a clear set of sounds for specific commands, practicing consistently, pairing whistle sounds with actions, and reinforcing our dogs’ responses with rewards.
• Inconsistent commands: Consistency is important in helping your dog learn things more quickly. When you mix or change commands, your dog’s more likely to get confused – just as they might be confused if you use verbal and whistle commands interchangeably. Decide beforehand whether to use whistle signals by themselves or use verbal commands alongside them.
• Insufficient practice: Sometimes, dog parents simply don’t practice with the whistle frequently enough to see real progress. There’s no quick fix; it’s important to put the hard work in if you’re hoping to see results.

If you’d like more training advice, here are three reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t reliable (and what you can do about it), and 15 helpful ways to get your dog to come back to you on off leash walks.

The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began on Saturday (February 8), and there’s been more Border Collie domination in the Masters Agility Championship Finals.

Vanish won the 12th Finals, the ninth time a Border Collie has won the Agility Championship, with the talented pup barely putting a foot wrong. She represented the 16-inch division and completed the course in just 26.49 seconds.

Swindle Celebration ran her close, however. The Shetland Sheepdog completed the course in 26.91 seconds, just 0.42 seconds slower.

Both dogs finished the course faster than last year’s winner as well as 2023’s. Nimble, an All-American (mixed) dog, completed it in 28.76 seconds last year, while Border Collie Truant finished in 28.68 the year before. Truant’s result was the fastest winning time since the event began in 2014, but their score was smashed by both Vanish and Swindle Celebration.

Emily Klarman, Vanish’s handler, told FOX Sports after her victory that she was “completely speechless.”

Klarman, who’s from Doylestown in eastern Pennsylvania, shared a photo of herself and Vanish with their award on Instagram, and wrote, “I guess we are staying an extra couple nights in New York City… Presentations will be under the lights at Madison Square Garden on Monday. I am beyond proud of this special dog.”

The Masters Agility Championship Finals was the main event of Saturday’s Canine Celebration Day. As part of the Agility Championship at the Dog Show, canines are rested by tunnels, seesaws, bar and wall jumps, and weave poles, among other obstacles, as they follow their handlers’ commands. They aren’t given a map of the course in advance, and they’re judged on their time and completion of the course, minus any faults they make.

The WKC donates $5,000 to the American Kennel Club training club of the winner’s choice or the AKC Humane Fund, while they also donate $1,000 in the names of the four remaining first-place dogs in their height classes and the highest-scoring All-American dog.

You can find the rest of the Masters Agility Championship Finals results on the AKC website, and find out more about how to watch Westminster Dog Show here. If you’d like to find out more about agility, and whether it might be a good activity for your dog, you might find this article useful, too: I gave my working dog a job and it transformed our relationship.

If you’re a dog parent, there are going to be times when your pup does something you don’t want them to. Take jumping, or mouthing, or approaching everyone you pass on a walk.

These aren’t things that make a dog ‘bad’, and your furry friend won’t understand that they’re doing something ‘wrong’ – so it’s up to us to guide them to alternatives, using the best dog treats at times!

Just trying to get your dog to stop doing something isn’t as likely to be effective, because they won’t know what they should be doing instead. In their eyes, what they’re doing is completely normal.

Certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has explained what we can try in a new Instagram post, and her advice is definitely worth considering to help you and your dog live together in harmony.

“It’s unfair to get mad at your dog or punish them when they do not know what the right thing to do is,” begins Goodman, “Especially when they are doing normal dog behaviors. When your dog does something you don’t like, think about what you would like them to do instead, train that, and practice a lot to shape the new habit that you would prefer.”

Goodman advises anticipating when your dog is likely to do something undesirable and entering those situations prepared to train them. Once your dog understands what you’d like them to do, and the situation works out well for them too, your dog will want to know the new thing.

The example Goodman gives is of a dog – Freddy – that she’s been working with. Freddy’s family want him to relax when they watch TV, rather than jump on them and put his mouth on them. So, rather than simply trying to get him to stop, they began teaching him specific skills.

Don’t forget, too, that positive reinforcement is vital. There’s a lot of science behind positive reinforcement for dogs – it’s important not to punish them, as they just don’t understand. If your dog knows they’re going to get something they want, they’re much more likely to change their behavior.

If jumping up is the main issue you’re facing with your dog, however, this article might be useful: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked. If your dog’s younger, and likes to use their mouth, here’s how to stop a puppy biting, mouthing or nipping.

This time of year, you might be dealing with some unpleasant weather, and it could mean that you aren’t spending as much time outside with your dog as normal.

If you are stuck inside, however, this doesn’t mean you need to call a halt to your training routine – instead, make the most of being indoors by practicing some of those all-important skills, such as how to stop your dog pulling on the leash!

Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, has showcased some of the steps you could take to practice dog’s leash-walking skills at home, so let’s take a look!

“Being stuck inside because of weather doesn’t have to be all bad!” begins DeWillems. “I love using it as an opportunity to practice and sharpen our skills.”

In her video, DeWillems demonstrates the versatility of cues you can give to keep up with loose-leash training when you’re stuck indoors. She gets her dog to walk at her heel, before giving them a treat, and uses the “Let’s go!” cue to encourage the dog to walk around the room on a loose leash with her.

They turn together, and she gets her dog to stop when she stops. She uses the ‘Switch’ cue, too, which instructs a dog to change from one side of you to the other. Even if you might not have as much space as you would at the dog park or in a field, why not do what you can while you’re at home? Even if you don’t have a lot of space, there will be things you can train.

But there are plenty of other fun activities you can do with your dog without going outdoors, too. Hide and seek is a classic, while you could even make your own agility course with plenty of things for your dog to go under, over, and through. Take a look at these indoor games for dogs for more inspiration!

Food can be invaluable in giving your dog plenty of physical and mental stimulation, too. Kong toys, feeding puzzles, and the best snuffle mats are all great forms of food enrichment for dogs that will provide plenty of fun when they’re stuck inside.

If you’ve got the space, perhaps you’d be open to creating a section of your home purely for your dog to play in? If so, here’s how to make an exciting dog play area at home for your pooch.

Adolescence can be a tricky time for us as dog parents. Your dog might regress in some aspects of their training or socialization, seem as though they’re being rebellious, or display reactive behavior.

Reactivity in dogs will often show up in dogs when they’re going through the teenage stage (not unlike teenage humans!) so it’s important to look out for the signs in order to tackle it. Put the hard work in now, and you’re less likely to run into issues in the long term – instead, you can go through life with your dog enjoying the best dog treats and toys without worry.

And professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant Amelia Steele, or Amelia the Dog Trainer, has explained just what we need to keep an eye out for in a new Instagram post, so let’s take a look!

“Most people I know are totally unaware of what the early warning signs are,” begins Steele, “And let me tell you, catching it early makes life so much easier.”

So, here’s what to look out for, according to Steele (and here’s what causes reactivity in dogs for some additional context!).

1. Stopping, dropping, or sitting down when they see another dog: “If your dog does any of these things,” she says, “This is a form of fixation, and it’s a really, really clear early warning sign for reactivity developing.”

2. Overexcitement: Does your dog get so overexcited when they see another dog or person that they can’t contain themselves? “This can lead to a lot of unhealthy behaviors that can also lead to frustration-type reactivity,” explains Steele.

3. Having to greet every dog: This can result in something referred to as oversocialization – in simple terms, when your dog gets used to saying hello to everybody. “So, when that lead goes on and they can’t,” she continues, “They become frustrated and they bark.”

4. Avoidance: If your pup wants to avoid other dogs or people, or they aren’t confident when it comes to greetings, this might be a sign of fear. It’s something that’s best to identify early on to prevent reactivity further down the line.

Steele adds, “The truth is, there are no quick fixes for behavior like this. But having a consistent plan in place as early as possible will really help.”

For more reactivity advice, you might find this article from a fellow dog parent insightful: I trained as a dog behaviorist to better understand my reactive dog, and it totally transformed our bond. Likewise, there’s plenty of useful advice in this article: My dog’s leash pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how.

Sometimes, dogs will jump up to greet people when they arrive – something you might be familiar with as a dog owner!

Some people are fine with this, but others don’t enjoy it – at best, they might find it annoying, and at worst it could be dangerous and a real safety hazard. Even if you’re happy with your dog jumping up at you, most other people will not feel the same.

For that reason, you may be wondering how to stop your dog from jumping up to say hello. And fortunately, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, has explained what we can try in a new Instagram post, which we’ll look at below.

“First, it can be really helpful to teach your dog an appropriate greeting behavior with known boring people,” begins DeWillems as she discusses how to stop a dog from jumping up. “Taking the excitement and surprise out of the equation when training leads to much better results.”

She recommends teaching a “go say hi” cue, where your dog approaches the person briefly for a hand target or quick pet before returning to you for one of the best high-value dog treats.

“Rehearsing this over and over again in a boring setting makes it muscle memory for both you and your dog, leading to your dog being more likely to be able to focus when a guest comes over,” she continues.

DeWillems’ other piece of advice is to utilize a trained greeting sequence, repeating it as many times as you need to until your dog gets the greeting out of their system and begins to calm down.

“Greetings can go south if the dog has too much access to the person they’re saying hi to, but also too little access to the person, which can create frustration,” she explains. “By going through the rehearsed “go say hi” sequence multiple times, we help the dog meet the person in a way that is safe and low frustration for all parties.”

If you’re after some more advice, this article from a dog parent in a similar position might be useful: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked.

We’ve all been in the position where we’re trying to enjoy a nice, relaxing walk with our dog but they keep pulling on their leash – something even the most patient and easygoing pup parent can get frustrated by!

But what can you do to stop your dog from pulling on the leash, particularly when there are so many exciting distractions for them to try and run off toward?

Professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant Amelia Steele, or Amelia the Dog Trainer, has laid out three invaluable tips in a new Instagram post, so let’s take a look at how they might be able to help us.

“If your walks are starting to feel like a nightmare because your dog is dragging you everywhere, then I’m going to share three really simple changes that you can make on your everyday walks to improve your dog’s loose-leash walking,” Steele begins. They are, as follows:

1. Change how you deliver treats

“We always want to reward them next to us,” says Steele, so when training dogs with treats, reward your pup next to your leg. “If all the treats and rewards come from right in this position here, they’re much more likely to hang out with us, walk nicely, and pay attention,” she adds. Feed with the hand that’s on the side your dog is walking on, too.

Here’s more info about dog treat delivery methods.

2. Make sure you have the right leash

Steele recommends a long, fixed-length leash rather than a tight, restrictive one as it can make walking uncomfortable for them.

“The same goes for a retractable leash,” she explains, “If there is always tension on the lead, it’s difficult for your dog to distinguish when they’re walking nicely and getting rewards, and when they’re pulling.”

The right leash should give your dog plenty of freedom to enjoy the environment around them.

3. Take treats or other rewards on every walk

“I’m just using dry food and all we want to do is reward every time my dog chooses to look at us or check in, and that goes for on or off the lead,” says Steele. In her video, her dog is far away but is looking at her – she can mark ‘yes’ and give him a treat.

If you’re struggling with leash pulling due to reactivity, you might find this article useful: My dog’s leash pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how.

Make no mistake, things can be challenging when you have a reactive dog, and it’s understandable that you might find things difficult at times.

For long-term success, it’s important that we work together with our reactive dogs – doing so will help us rehabilitate them, making our lives and their lives easier at the same time. And doing so is not as tricky as you might think!

Award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training has explained how we can work with our reactive dogs in a new Instagram post, and it’s really made us think!

First, Burton says we need to understand the problem. It might be that your pup has formed a negative association with a trigger, or multiple triggers, or that your dog is trigger stacking – this is when they’re frequently exposed to stressful situations, leaving them in a state of high arousal. Consider, too, whether you have any strategies in place to prevent the rehearsal of reactive responses.

So, what can we do to modify associations to reduce reactivity in dogs? Burton suggests using a clicker or marker word in your reconditioning training, pairing rewards with multiple triggers at home, and taking high-value treats on walks all the time. She recommends DMT (distraction, mark, treat) training, too – mark and treat when triggers are present but your dog can remain under threshold. “Start using the DMT exercise with very low-level triggers to begin with, to set your dog up for success,” she adds.

When it comes to managing arousal, ensure first that your pup’s basic needs are all met, making sure they’re happy, healthy, and have everything they need. Then, practice transitioning from high to low arousal at home, perhaps playing a high-energy game and then moving into calmer training.

Practice behavioral cues to help your dog think better in arousal, and scatter-feed periodically throughout the day. Burton also advises practicing scentwork in the yard for five minutes before a walk, and desensitizing any triggers your dog associates with going on a walk – like putting your shoes on – by repeating them throughout the day. If you’re interested in trying this, our article on desensitization for dogs might help.

In terms of limiting rehearsal, Burton suggests teaching a distraction noise or eye contract cue, managing your pup’s access to windows, rewarding spontaneous check-ins on walks, and teaching a nose cue to help with trigger avoidance.

“Outside of stressful situations, train a ‘A to B’ transition cue with your dog on lead,” suggests Burton. “You can move them away from triggers when you spot them first.”

And don’t forget, as she says in the caption, “Reactivity isn’t bad behavior – it’s a response to fear, frustration, or over-arousal.”

If you’d like more advice, you might find this article from a dog parent in the same position useful, too: My dog’s leash pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how.

Contrary to the popular saying, you can teach an old dog new tricks – and, in fact, dogs of any age can learn new skills!

But how can you teach new skills to help your dog learn best? We’re willing to bet you already use some of the best dog treats when teaching and training your dog, and positive reinforcement is always best!

These three simple techniques, as laid out by expert trainer Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, could really help you and your pup succeed, so let’s take a look at what we can do to use positive reinforcement to help dogs learn new skills.

1. Luring

“This is where you have a treat in your hand and you use it to guide your dog into specific positions,” explains DeWillems. “Luring can be pretty easy for most people and dogs to do, which makes it a popular option.”

With this technique, just keep in mind that the treat can become part of the cue for the behavior, even after you’ve taught it – here’s some more advice about training dogs with treats and treat delivery methods.

2. Capturing

Here, your dog does something naturally, without any prompting from you – you then reward it.

“Capturing is helpful because it means the behavior is already in your dog’s repertoire,” says DeWillems, “So you can pretty easily reward it and put it on cue under the right conditions.”

3. Shaping

Shaping is where your dog makes progress toward the end goal in small amounts; you’re building the behavior in small blocks, with each repetition getting you closer to the desired behavior.

Remember, patience is vital when you’re training a dog. While some dogs do pick things up faster than others, our dogs aren’t going to learn everything overnight. However, it’s well worth putting in the effort – you’ll thank yourself further down the line! And, the techniques DeWillems describes here could really help you out.

“Very often, you’ll find yourself using a mix of all of these techniques to get behavior, so it can be really helpful to understand what and how your dog is learning through positive reinforcement,” she sums up. “The next step from here would be adding a cue.”

While training your pup probably won’t prove as difficult as you might think, you might find that these 27 practical tips for training your dog on your own will come in handy, too.

When it comes to training and working with our dogs, the best dog treats can be incredibly useful – though you probably won’t need us to tell you that!

However, could your dog be getting bored with the way you’re delivering the treats to them? The delivery of the treats can be just as important as the treats themselves, adding excitement, keeping your dog engaged, and reinforcing those behaviors you want to see.

Award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training has outlined four great treat-delivery methods to keep in mind in a recent Instagram post – which one will you try with your pup first?

“It’s not what you feed, it’s the way you feed it,” explains Burton. “Your treat delivery technique can have a powerful impact on the outcome of your training.”

So, why not try one of the following?

1. From your hand

“This is great for rewarding behaviors that happen close to you, like loose-lead walking or a recall,” explains Burton. “It’s especially effective if your dog is comfortable taking food directly from your hand.”

2. Dropped on the ground

This encourages sniffing, and will help keep your dog busy as they search for tasty treats! Burton adds, “It’s also an excellent choice for dogs prone to jumping – after all, they can’t jump and eat from the ground simultaneously!”

3. Tossed away from you

“Bowling or tossing treats away from you can be used to reward dogs who aren’t comfortable coming too close, build excitement during training, or add an element of fun by turning food into a mini-game of chase,” says Burton. It’s also useful if you’re hoping to guide your dog into a specific position, like onto their mat or bed.

4. Rapid-fire feeding

This involves giving your dog a few small treats one after the other in quick succession. It’s ideal for situations when you want to keep your dog’s focus on you despite multiple distractions, you’d like to extend the duration of a behavior, or you’d like to build positive associations with something your dog might not enjoy – such as a visit to the vet.

Burton recommends mixing and matching these different techniques when training dogs with treats, too.

“For example, after a recall, you could offer a treat from your hand, toss one for a fun chase, then scatter a few on the ground for a sniffy reward” she suggests. “This variety keeps training interesting and enriching for your dog!”

As fun and rewarding as training is, it can be difficult sometimes, too. These practical tips for training your dog on your own could come in useful!

The holiday season is here, and what better way to include your dog in the festivities than by training them to open their Christmas presents?

No doubt, you’ve already got them one of the best dog advent calendars ready for a daily treat—but is the pile of doggy presents also growing? Let’s help them to unwrap the amazing gifts you and your family have bought for them.

As a certified canine behaviorist, I’ve worked with dogs of all shapes and sizes to teach unique tricks. Trick training is a great way to tire out your dog - and who doesn’t want a relaxed, calm dog over the festive period? That’s why I’m excited to share this fun, step-by-step guide to help your dog join in on the Christmas magic.

Get started today and your dog will be unwrapping gifts in no time - joining in on family traditions in a new way.

Can dogs unwrap presents?

Dogs can absolutely unwrap presents. They may even do it of their own accord as many dogs love the excitement of gripping and ripping the paper, especially if they can smell a treat or one of the best dog toys inside. Natural curiosity and an instinctive desire to get to food will help drive them in this behaviour.

Some dogs may need a little guidance or encouragement at first, but once they understand the concept, you’ll find it’s easy for them to become experts..

Pet-safe wrapping paper - plus supervision of any presents that might not be ideal for them to open - are important to ensure they don’t accidentally ingest anything harmful.

How to train your dog to open Christmas presents

Utilizing your dog’s natural curiosity around both scent and either food or toys, is a great way to teach them this new trick.

Choose what your dog loves the most - whether it's their favorite piece of food or a toy they enjoy playing with. The key to this trick is to start nice and easy so your dog gets a quick win!

Option 1: Food or scent

1. Wrap one of the best dog treats or an interesting smell (such as a little piece of fur from a friend’s dog or some sheep’s wool) loosely in tissue paper. Make sure it’s very easy for your dog to be able to get inside the parcel.

2. Place this parcel on the floor in front of your dog and wait for them to start nudging it. They may unwrap it fully straight away - at which point you can use a marker such as “yes” or a clicker to tell them that’s the behavior you like to see.

3. Then, give them a bonus treat as a reward. If they don’t try to unwrap the gift, start marking small steps towards your end goal of the unwrapping - such as them nosing the parcel or even just sniffing it. Give a treat every time they do this little bit of movement, then over a few repetitions, wait for a little bit more interaction each time.

4. Once your dog has the idea of diving into the parcel to find out what’s inside, put a cue on this new behavior. Say something like “unwrap it” then give your dog the parcel. Once they have unwrapped it, give another marker (your “yes” or clicker) and a final treat to reward them.

Option 2: Toys

For some dogs, even the smell of a tennis ball can get them excited. You can utilize their desire for toys in the same way as you do with food.

1. Hide their favorite toy inside an empty, open gift bag and wait for them to delve inside. You can also use a cardboard box for the same effect. In this situation, you can either reward your dog with a treat for finding the toy or you can give them a few minutes of play with the toy they've just unwrapped.

2. Once your dog is finding the toy easily in something that’s got an open end, start to close up the box or seal the bag with something they can push open.

3. Then, move onto placing some tissue paper over the top, before eventually wrapping the item in wrapping paper.

4. When your dog is acing finding the toy each time, put a cue on it such as "unwrap the ball” before presenting it to your dog.

Next steps

With both of these approaches, you want to start slowly, using either an open item such as a gift bag or box, or something lightweight like tissue paper. Over time, build the container difficulty up slowly - moving to something wrapped in kitchen roll, then brown paper, before you use actual wrapping paper

Ensure that the item is interesting enough for your dog to want to work for it. Or, make the reward valuable enough to motivate them.

Safety tips to keep in mind

While it’s super cute to see your dog unwrapping their own gifts, please remember that the contents of the gift inside need to be both rewarding for the dog and safe for them to interact with.

If you ask them to unwrap any gifts of your own, make sure there’s nothing sharp or dangerous inside the parcel and ensure you have a good “drop” cue if they pick up your gift, rather than just taking the treat for unwrapping it.

It’s also important to note that they may start to generalize the behavior and if you leave wrapped presents under the tree unsupervised, they may go rogue and start opening everything. If family members are likely to give you any treats such as chocolate or alcohol, make sure these aren’t placed under the tree to keep your dog safe from ingesting the wrong thing.

You might also want to read: The best dog Christmas movies and How to have a Christmas tree with a dog.

Over the holiday season, many of us take the time to enjoy all manner of delicious food – and sometimes, our dogs want in on the action too!

Even if you ensure that your pup has plenty of tasty food of their own to enjoy alongside their dog Christmas gifts, you might catch them begging for food at the table.

While some ‘human’ foods are suitable for dogs, others can be harmful, and even too much healthy food for dogs on top of their regular diet might not be the best idea.

Dog training expert Ben Randall has partnered with ACME Kennels to offer some advice for dog parents who want to stop their dogs from begging for food over the festive season – let’s take a look at his five top tips here.

Randall explains, “However tempting it may feel to give in to the puppy dog eyes, begging is a learned behavior, so it is important owners don’t show them it works by sharing any of their food.

“Owners should never give in to their dogs begging as it signals they can manipulate them into giving a food treat as a reward. Also, giving in to begging and feeding dogs human food could potentially put them off their diet and increase the likelihood of an upset stomach.”

Without further ado, Randall’s tips for stamping out the begging are as follows:

1. Feed them beforehand or during mealtimes

“By feeding the dog beforehand, or at the same time as the family sits down, they will have less of an urge to beg for more food,” says Randall. “It will also redirect the dog’s attention to their own meal, keeping them occupied and less likely to focus on begging for human food.”

2. Use chews and toys

If your pup has one of the best long-lasting dog chews or best chew toys, they’ll be less likely to beg for food as they’ll be engaged and distracted by something else.

3. Simply ignore

If you give in to begging, you’re reinforcing the behavior. Rather, it’s best to simply ignore your pup if they’re begging, avoiding eye contact.

“Although the dog will make a fuss at first, they will eventually learn that displaying unwanted behavior will not get them treats,” says Randall.

4. Set house rules

“Set rules in the house so family members and friends visiting know they shouldn’t feed the dog, even if it’s leftover table scraps,” continues Randall. “Consistent rules will cause less confusion for the dog so they know begging will not be rewarded.”

5. Practice the ‘leave’ command

This command can be used for various undesirable behaviors, from begging to barking and jumping, so it’s ideal here. “It’s a command owners should instill as a puppy, because it could save a dog from potential danger, including poisoning and chasing other animals,” explains Randall. “However, with consistency and a bit of work on the owner's part, they can soon resolve and correct this naughtiness from any age.”

If it seems as though your dog is always hungry, why not take a look at this vet's guide to increased appetite in dogs, too?

You won’t need us to tell you that being a dog parent isn’t always plain sailing.

Though caring for a dog can be thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding, there are times when even the biggest dog person might feel frustrated or disheartened. If your dog isn’t quite understanding what you want from them, or you feel as though they’re being deliberately awkward or stubborn, knowing what to do next can be tricky – particularly if you’ve already tried using some of the best dog treats!

But while it might feel as though our dogs are pushing our buttons sometimes, they aren’t doing so on purpose. Professional trainers Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie, the owners of Kirby Dog Training, have explained what’s really going on here, and it’s rather eye-opening.

Camps-Linney and Mackenzie begin, “We promise you: your dog isn’t giving you a hard time on purpose, they are probably having a hard time!”

They explain that a dog’s prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and planning, isn’t as well-developed as a human’s, which has an impact on their ability to feel revenge or spite.

“Dogs have complex cognitive abilities, but they lack the advanced reasoning and moral judgment that humans use to act with intentional malice,” they continue, so if you’re dealing with one of these common dog behavior problems, there’s a reason for it.

“Their brains are primarily focused on immediate survival, forming bonds, and responding to their environment. Studies in canine cognition show that dogs do not possess the capability to form long-term, premeditated plans to harm or upset others.”

The way your dog behaves is a form of communication, and provides valuable information. When a dog isn’t doing what we want, it’s up to us to find out why and help them out. As frustrating as it might be, there will be a reason. Maybe you’re training recall in dogs, or trying to stop them from jumping up, or stop barking – whatever it is, there’s a reason.

As Camps-Linney and Mackenzie explain, “It might be that they haven’t practiced the behavior you want in lots of environments yet, it might be that we are expecting too much of them too soon, it might be that they are experiencing big emotions, it might be that the distractions are too high, the distance too close, it might be that we aren’t using the right motivation, the wrong treat values, the list goes on!”

It can be valuable to take a step back, as well as some deep breaths if you need to, and really think about why your dog isn’t co-operating to formulate a plan. Then, it’ll become an experience you can learn from.

Need more advice? Here’s how to deal with a badly behaved dog.

Keeping your dog safe at home, where you’re able to control most things, can be relatively simple. While it’s impossible to minimize risk altogether, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure your pup remains healthy and happy.

When you’re out in public with your dog and they’re on one of the best dog leashes, however, things might be different. You can’t control other people and dogs, and there are lots of potential dangers out there.

It’s more than likely that you won’t run into any major issues when you walk your dog, but it’s easy to reduce this risk further still – and there’s one simple cue that could come in extremely useful. Expert trainer Carolyn Martell, the founder of Good Dog Training, has explained what we need to know in a new Instagram post.

“‘Close’ is becoming truly one of my most versatile commands that I’ve taught Olive,” Martell begins. “And one thing I use it a lot for is when she’s on a longer line like this and we’re out at the cemetery where cars drive.”

She explains that, when she sees a car approaching, she’ll use the ‘close’ cue. Olive will come back to Martell and they’ll remain to the side while the vehicle drives past. Then, she’ll release Olive again to let her explore and continue their walk.

“So, it’s a nice way to quickly bring her into me and keep her out of the road,” Martell continues, “And she loves it.”

Cars are difficult to avoid when we’re out walking our dogs, even in quieter areas, so putting a plan in place for what to do when one’s approaching is definitely worth it. Hopefully, you won’t need to use the cue too often on your walk, but it’s great to have it in your locker for when it’s required.

When walking your dog on a long line, it’s vital that their recall is strong, so you know they’ll come back to you if they need to. Take a look at these three reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t reliable (and what you can do about it) for more information about training recall in dogs.

If you’re finding that your pup always pulls on the leash or loves to chase things, why not brush up on the most common loose leash walking mistakes (and how to fix them), too? They’re easier to rectify than you might think.

As any dog parent can attest to, dogs love to play. Play is beneficial for dogs, too, giving them all sorts of physical and mental benefits, and it’s important to engage in play with your pup each day.

It’s a great idea to incorporate play into training sessions, and it’s something that can really benefit reactive dogs – so grab a couple of the best dog toys and get started!

Professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant Amelia Steele, or Amelia the Dog Trainer, has explained why play can be so great for reactive dogs in a recent Instagram post, and it makes so much sense.

“In the case of frustration-based reactivity, where your dog loves other dogs and barks because they want to go over and say hi, when you think about why they want to go over to other dogs, it’s because they see a lot of value in them, and that’s because they are fun,” Steele explains.

Often, we become boring to our pups, and we aren’t giving them the fun they’re after. “If we can switch that up and show them that we can provide that fun while giving them an outlet to play and have a great time, then this is super powerful,” she continues.

But play can be great when it comes to fear-based reactivity in dogs, too. Showing a fearful dog that they can play and have fun around things that can otherwise be scary is really useful in helping them change their associations and cope better with their fears.

It’s also worth remembering what causes reactivity in dogs. Whether it’s frustration, fear, anxiety, lack of socialization, or something else that prompts your dog to display reactive behavior, you can use play to help them. Of course, play won’t ‘fix’ their reactivity on its own, but it can certainly be more effective than you might think.

Play can be a great reward in reactivity training, too. Often, dogs will prefer play over food as a reward, so engaging in play can be a great incentive for them – it’s definitely worth trying to see what your pup prefers!

If you’re in need of some inspiration, these fun games for reactive dogs are great place to start, while you might also find this article insightful: Owning a reactive dog is hard. Here's how I navigated the social challenges with my pooch.

Don’t forget to read this one, too: I trained as a dog behaviorist to better understand my reactive dog, and it totally transformed our bond.

As time goes on, we learn more about the pets in our lives and how best to care for them, and it can be difficult to keep track of what’s recommended and what isn’t as advice can fast become outdated.

For years, the dominance theory was promoted in dog training, and it’s a far cry from the way we let our dogs play with the best dog toys today. Rooted in studies on wolves in captivity by David Mach in the 1970s, it suggested that dogs try to assert dominance over their humans to establish a hierarchy as if to become the “leader of the pack.”

However, as professional trainers Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie, the owners of Kirby Dog Training, have explained in a recent Instagram post, the theory has since been debunked and is considered outdated. Here’s everything we should know.

“Mech himself debunked this theory decades later,” Camps-Linney and Mackenzie explain. “In the 1990s, he observed wolves in the wild and found that wolf packs are more like family units, led by a breeding pair rather than an ‘alpha’.”

He realized that the hierarchical dynamics seen in captivity were the result of confinement and stress, and aren’t natural for wolves. As a result, he began to advocate for a new way of training.

Today, positive reinforcement for dogs is seen as best, and it’s supported by plenty of scientific research. “Studies consistently show that rewarding desired behaviors (with treats, praise, or play) and finding and treating the root cause of a behavior, is more effective and humane than punishment-based methods,” say Camps-Linney and Mackenzie.

Positive reinforcement helps our bond with our pups grow stronger, can reduce stress, and encourages our dogs to learn by making training a positive experience. If your dog does show signs of a behavioral issue, you can work through it together, getting to the root of the problem.

After all, you and your dog both want the same thing – a happy life together. So, working as a team in training is much more likely to get you both the results you’re after. Take a look at these reasons to avoid using punishment with your pet for more information!

Working with a trainer can be a great idea, too. However, some trainers still subscribe to outdated practices and adhere to the dominance theory. So, here’s how to spot dog trainer red flags to ensure that you and your pup are in the best hands.

If you’re interested in learning more about different training methods, here’s where to find all our expert advice on advice on dog training

It can be so enjoyable to see how happy your dog gets when they see their favorite people coming to visit – most dog parents would rather an excited, sociable pup.

But if your dog gets so excited and overstimulated that they jump up when greeting people, whether grandma’s coming for dinner or you bump into a friend during a walk, that might not be so fun, even if your dog just wants to show them one of the best dog toys or get a fuss. It can be dangerous, too, if someone’s older, more frail, or holding a baby or young child.

It can be difficult to know how to stop your dog from jumping up, while still being happy to see people, and that’s where expert trainer Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, comes in. Let’s take a look at her recent Instagram post to find out how to handle a dog who jumps up when greeting people.

When it comes to stopping a dog from jumping up, DeWillems recommends aiming to replace it with a hand target. She explains, “It’s common for dogs to get over-excited or overstimulated during regular greetings with human friends or strangers. Building in some predictability with a hand target as they say hi can help!”

She continues, “This can be a much safer and more predictable greeting routine.”

This is a behavior you can practice frequently, too, not just during greetings – a hand target can be incredibly useful, and it’s relatively easy to teach your pup, even if you’re not a seasoned pro.

There are all sorts of things you can use a hand target for, from greeting people nicely to getting into the car, off the couch, or onto a grooming table. It’s one of the things that’s well worth making sure your dog has in their locker, because you never know when it could come in useful.

While you’re in the process of teaching a hand target to replace jumping, it’s worth speaking to your guests and any friends you regularly bump into with your dog to let them know you’re trying to discourage jumping. If people give your dog plenty of attention when they jump up at them, the behavior is being positively reinforced, meaning that your dog will learn to jump to get what they want, so ask them if they’ll work with you.

In the meantime, if you’re still struggling with your dog jumping, you might find this article from a dog parent in the same situation useful: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked. Not only that, but we also have 32 easy ways to teach your dog new tricks, right here.

Training your dog isn’t always easy, and in particular it can be difficult to know how to get it right when they struggle with reactivity.

It can be easy to put off training if you’re not looking forward to your sessions, but at the same time, you’d be forgiven for training too much – which could leave your dog exhausted even if they’re enjoying plenty of the best dog treats!

Finding a balance can be tricky, and that’s where expert trainer Carolyn Martell, the founder of Good Dog Training, comes in. In a recent Instagram post, she explained how often we should train our reactive dogs, and it’s really eye-opening!

“You can train more or less, whatever you prefer,” Martell begins in the caption. “Some dogs do better with more downtime in between this training, and others do fine with daily exposure to their trigger.”

She adds in the post, however, “To work on reactivity, I generally recommend about 3-4 times a week, roughly every other day. This allows your dog to have some easy days without having to be around their trigger.”

Meanwhile, it gives you a break, too. As she says, “It can become overwhelming and stressful trying to do training walks daily with a reactive dog.”

On days when you aren’t engaging in reactivity training with your pup, you could go for a quiet walk, play in the yard, set up some exciting scent games, or work on their foundational skills.

⁣“So – if you don’t want to train reactivity every day,” summarizes Martell, “You certainly don’t have to. Breaks can be a nice way for you and your dog to regroup and recharge.”

It’s sometimes thought that when there’s reactivity in dogs, these pups will need more training and exercise, with the logic being that the more tired they are, the less energy they’ll have to react to their triggers. It doesn’t quite work like this, however, because your dog can still react to triggers no matter how tired they are!

It’s important to train our reactive canines, but rest is vital, too. And while every dog is different and some may need more rest than others, depending on factors like age and breed, it’s worth finding a balance that works for you and your pup.

If you’re finding training your dog when you’re out and about, you might find this article useful: Owning a reactive dog is hard. Here's how I navigated the social challenges with my pooch. You might also find this article insightful: My reactive dog impacted my entire household, here's what I did about it.

As many dog parents will know, walking a reactive dog can be difficult. While it isn’t the dog’s fault, the experience can be stressful and you might find yourself going away from the most popular routes, walking at less busy times, or simply just being more on edge than you would otherwise.

If you have a reactive dog, it can make sense to revisit your approach when it comes to walking them, to see if there’s anything you can change. It’s all well and good to use one of the best dog leashes and bring treats with you, but what else can help?

Fortunately, the professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant Amelia Steele, or Amelia the Dog Trainer, has explained all we need to know in a new Instagram post, and it’s absolutely invaluable.

“When we really think about what a walk is for,” Steele begins, “It’s supposed to be time for a dog to de-stress, decompress, and burn off energy. When we’re dealing with reactivity, often the walk itself becomes a primary stressor, and when a dog’s going out on a walk expecting to go out and bark at things and expecting to be stressed, all it does is add fuel to the fire.”

She explains that, instead, when it comes to reactivity in dogs we should look at other ways in which they can be fulfilled without constantly being exposed to their triggers.

“If our dogs are just constantly topping up and topping up that adrenaline and then not having a chance to just enjoy themselves, then this is going to increase that baseline level of anxiety or stress, and it’s going to be much harder for them to take in new information and progress through their training.”

Steele recommends introducing an active management system or simply giving your dog the chance to go on walks where they’re out of the way of anything that might be stressful for them, even if that’s hiring a private field or driving further away.

As she explains in the caption, “We want to start by giving our dogs alternative ways to feel fulfilled while simultaneously introducing management to allow our dogs to go out and enjoy stress-free walks. Once we’ve got this sorted it’s so much easier to later add training on top.”

Training is great, but if you start training without considering everything else, your dog might not be in the right frame of mind to learn, and training could be more difficult than it needs to be. If you’re struggling with your reactive dog and would like some more advice, you might find this article useful, too: Owning a reactive dog is hard. Here's how I navigated the social challenges with my pooch.

We’re rounding up the best Black Friday dog deals for dog owners so be sure to check them out!

When you’re walking your dog, you might find it beneficial to get them to stand in a heel position. Some dog parents like to have their pup walking in a heel – next to their side and matching their pace – while others just like their dog to be able to stand in a heel position when required.

But how can you get your dog in a heel position, particularly when there are so many tempting distractions and things to follow, chase, inspect, and sniff? By using some of the best dog treats, perhaps?

Well, expert trainer Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, has shared some advice in a recent Instagram post (dog treats included) and it could help you get your dog used to standing in a heel position in almost no time at all!

First, what are the benefits of getting your dog in a heel? It can be ideal at the start of a walk, so there’s less chance of you tripping over each other – we’ve all had to start walking an overly-excited dog!

Meanwhile, it can also help you manage passing distractions, move your dog out of the way for passersby, and perform certain tricks. So, here’s what to do:

1. Make sure they can follow a food lure in your hand: This way, you know that there’s a good chance your pup will be able to work with you through all the steps to this.

2. Lure them behind you: Turn them toward you in a raindrop shape, and use the treat to move them into position next to you.

3. Go slow: “Be sure to go slow to help them follow your hand,” says DeWillems. “Feed them right at your pants seam.”

4. Give them treats: As this might be a new skill, it’s important to make sure your dog gets some treats! As we know, training dogs with treats can be a great way to encourage them.

“If they have a hard time finding the position next to you, use a mat as a target for their paws,” adds DeWillems. She adds in her caption, “As always, I love to teach this behavior with treats and fun! I turn the treat lure into a functional hand signal.”

For more advice, here’s how to teach your dog to heel, and here’s how to manage the most common loose leash walking mistakes – when getting your dog to stand in a heel position could be useful!

Over the holiday season, it can be difficult for dogs to resist the exciting smells all around them, and you might see your pup begging for scraps, jumping up at the table, or gobbling up any dropped morsels.

Of course, some dog parents are more relaxed than others when it comes to letting dogs have ‘human’ food, but whatever your rules are, begging can be annoying when you’re trying to enjoy a nice family meal. And, there can even be potential safety issues if you’re eating and drinking things dogs shouldn’t have, like chocolate and alcohol.

If you’d rather your pup be satisfied with the best dog food, Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer and behaviorist at Woofz, a dog and puppy training app, has four key tips to share. So, let’s take a look below.

1. Don’t reinforce the behavior: “They’ll keep begging if you give in to the puppy dog eyes, and if you scold them? You’re giving them negative attention, which dogs often deem better than no attention at all,” says Levy.

If you want the behavior to stop, it’s best to simply ignore it. Dogs learn by association, so if the behavior doesn’t get them what they want, they’ll realize it’s simply not worth it.

2. Keep the table and floor spotless: Positive reinforcement of begging isn’t necessarily always actually handing food over to your dog. When crumbs fall on the floor or you leave leftover scraps on the table, these can be very rewarding for your dog.

Levy recommends cleaning up before your dog has a chance to eat everything that catches their eye, or simply placing them in a different room – or their crate – while you prepare, eat, and clean up. Keep them safe from these Christmas hazards for pets!

3. Offer a distraction: If your pup has food of their own to be tucking into, they probably won’t be quite as interested in yours, so put their food bowl down before you begin eating yourself.

“If they’re particularly determined to sample the turkey, try filling a Kong with healthy treats and freeze it to make it last longer, which should keep them occupied while you enjoy your meal,” Levy adds.

4. Give them somewhere pleasant to wait: “Meals offer a perfect opportunity to practice your ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ commands,” says Levy. “Create a cozy spot – such as a bed full of blankets and cuddly toys – near the dinner table where your fur baby can sit, wait, and watch so they don’t feel too left out.”

It’s a good idea to practice before the meal itself, to help your pup get comfortable with the routine. And, if they make it through the meal without any begging or trying to get your attention, perhaps they’ll be allowed a scrap or two.

The holiday season can be quite overwhelming for dogs in general, so it might be a good idea to brush up on these common dog behavior problems and solutions. And, if you’re looking for more advice about the dinner table, here’s more information about how to stop dogs begging for food.

Recall is important for any dog to learn, and your pup having a solid recall can make life so much easier for both of you – and there’s no time like the present to work on it!

To work on your dog’s recall, it’s a great idea to start by grabbing some of the best dog treats, but keep in mind that there are always multiple ways to teach something, and recall is no exception.

Certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has explained everything we need to know in a new Instagram post.

“One really fun way to teach or strengthen your dog’s recall cue is teaching them a hand target,” Goodman begins – because let’s face it, training recall in dogs can seem daunting. “It’s a super versatile skill and recall at the end of the day should be something fun so your dog loves running to you no matter what’s happening!”

Goodman’s working with a three-month-old puppy, Bentley, and explains in the caption that she likes having more than one way to call a dog over. She continues, “Just like people, dogs can be motivated to do certain things more or less depending on several factors like mood, environment, distraction level, etc.”

She explains that a hand target cue is very versatile, and recall is one of many potential uses for it. In the video, it’s clear that Bentley is excited to run up to her when he sees the cue – ”He is learning just how fun and rewarding it is to drop what he’s doing and come running to whoever is calling him,” Goodman finishes.

Another benefit of using your hand is that it gives your pup a specific spot to go to when they run back up to you, rather than running or circling around you once they’ve caught up.

Meanwhile, you can also use your hand target to get your dog to ask nicely for things, coming in useful in all sorts of situations! For example, you could ask your dog to come up to your hand target before they get to head out of the front door, or come onto the couch for a fuss.

If you’d like to know more about recall, here are three reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t reliable (and what you can do about it). This article, from a dog parent who’s had to work with her own pup on recall, might also be useful: I trained my border collie to have perfect recall – even though she had no food drive.

We love our pups, but it can be incredibly frustrating when they pull on their leash, right?

Sometimes, a dog just wants to move at their own pace on a walk, whereas we might want to take things more slowly when we’ve got them on one of the best dog leashes. Or, they might not understand that we need to wait before crossing the road. But, dogs can easily learn that pulling on their leash is how they move forward, something we need to address.

And doing so isn’t as difficult as you might think. Award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training has explained how to tackle leash-pulling in three easy steps in a new Instagram post, so without further ado, let’s jump straight into her tips.

If you’d like to know how to stop a dog pulling on a leash, you’re in the right place. Burton begins by explaining that pulling on the leash yourself will only cause your dog to pull harder in response, so try these three steps instead.

1. Teach: Show your pup that if they give in to leash pressure, they’ll get a treat near you. “Start in a quiet space and reward them for moving with the pressure,” says Burton.

2. Build: Consistency is important. “Build a history of rewarding your dog for responding to gentle leash pressure,” advises Burton, “They’ll learn that staying near you brings good things.”

3. Make it habitual: First, practice in environments with little distraction, and keep repeating! It’s the way you’ll make your pup’s leash manners become automatic.

“Remember,” Burton continues, “The leash isn’t a steering wheel – it’s a communication tool. Let’s make that conversation rewarding for your dog!”

It’s understandable that your dog might want to pull on their leash. After all, a walk is often the most exciting part of their day – they get to spend time with one of their favorite people in an environment with all sorts of exciting sights, sounds, and smells. What could be better?

That’s why it’s important for us to work together with our pups to help stop leash-pulling. It’s not something that’s likely to stop overnight, but with some patient work, progress should be made. And if you’re not the only one who trains and walks your dog, work with them, too, so that everybody can be on the same page.

If leash-pulling is something you’re really struggling with, you might find this article, from a dog parent who was in the same situation, useful: My dog’s leash-pulling made walks miserable until I helped her reactivity, here’s how.

We’re rounding up the best Black Friday dog deals for dog owners so be sure to check them out!

When you’re training a dog, it’s vital to gain their trust. If a dog feels like they’re being forced to do something, they might find the situation more stressful or appear stubborn – so it’s important to listen to them and work with them.

To help your dog trust you in training sessions, it’s a great idea to give them choices where appropriate alongside some of the best dog treats. Often, our pets don’t get to make their own choices, as we decide when they need to go to the vet and when we feed them, for example. So, giving them choices during training sessions can go a long way.

Certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has explained everything we need to know in a recent Instagram post, and her advice is worth noting!

In her video, Goodman is working with a dog, Eugene, who struggles with separation from his mother and is hesitant to leave her office during his training session – here’s how to reduce separation anxiety in dogs for more information. “So,” says Goodman, “I rewarded him the second he chose to come with me. He hesitated again, because mom was out of sight, but he pushed himself.”

As part of the reward, Goodman immediately lets him go back to his mom in the office, and repeats this process for a few minutes. Eugene then begins to come with Goodman more willingly.

“By doing this simple exercise, he learned that I’m not trying to trick him, I’m not forcing him outside of his comfort zone, and he has the option to go where he feels safe if he wants to,” she continues.

She intentionally walks back and forth with the door open so Eugene knows that he has the option to go back in, helping to build trust and confidence and giving you the chance to make progress in your training faster.

Goodman explains further in the caption, “It is moments like these when dogs get labeled as ‘stubborn’ and ‘refusing to listen’ when there is a good reason in their mind that is preventing them from doing XYZ. It’s our job to learn how to listen to them as much as you want them to listen to you.”

There are plenty of ways to be a responsible dog owner and ways for improving your relationship with your dog, and this is just one of them – but giving your dog choices can go such a long way in making them happy and more willing to take part and succeed in training sessions, so why not give it a try?

Have you ever noticed that your dog knows what you want them to do before you give them the cue?

It’s a testament to our pups’ intelligence, and it’s down to something known as cue transfer. It can happen after plenty of training practice with tasty treats or the best dog puzzle toys, and can certainly make your life a lot easier!

For everything you need to know about cue transfer, let’s take a look at this recent Instagram post from expert trainer Juliana DeWillems, who’s the founder of JW Dog Training & Behavior.

In DeWillems’ video, she’s working with a dog who goes into his crate. She doesn’t tell him to do so, but as soon as he sees her holding his enrichment he automatically runs in.

DeWillems explains, “Someone picked up his enrichment toy and then cued him to go to his crate enough times that at the sight of the enrichment toy the dog started to anticipate what was coming next and preemptively would head for the crate.

“Getting the enrichment toy in the crate rewarded the behavior. Soon the toy itself cued the crate behavior and the verbal ‘go to your crate’ cue wasn’t even needed.”

There are plenty of examples of cue transfer in our pups’ everyday lives, and some we might not even think about. For example, if you pick up their harness and cue them to sit, they might start sitting as soon as they see you pick it up. Or, if you always cue your dog to look at you when they see another dog, they may automatically look at you whenever they see another pup.

As DeWillems sums up, “Cue transfers are some of the most powerful and useful tools in our dog’s learning world.”

While cue transfer can be incredibly useful, keep in mind that every dog is different. Some dogs will pick up things quite quickly, whereas others could take more time, No matter what, it’s important to stay patient and use plenty of positive reinforcement, and you’re more likely to see the results you’re hoping for.

If you’re looking for more dog training advice, here are five of the most important dog commands and how to teach them. And, here are 32 benefits of training your dog.

Shopping for a dog this Christmas? We’re rounding up the best Black Friday dog deals to help you find the perfect gifts.

Training dogs can be difficult, and it’s tricky to know whether you’re getting it right. There’s so much advice out there that it can be overwhelming, and every dog is an individual, so what works for one may not be a great fit for another.

Reactivity, in particular, can be hard to manage, and it’s easy to make mistakes along the way. We’ve all made mistakes as pet parents, and nobody’s perfect, but it’s a good idea to become more familiar with some of the more common mistakes so your dog can hopefully go on to spend more time happily playing with the best dog toys without a care in the world!

Carolyn Martell, an expert trainer and the founder of Good Dog Training, has outlined some of the main mistakes we often make when it comes to reactivity in a new Instagram post, and it looks like it could be a great help for those of us who want the best for our reactive pups.

1. Waiting to get help: “The sooner training starts, the sooner the problem is resolved,” says Martell. “The longer the behavior goes on, the longer training takes.”

She advises addressing the undesirable behavior as soon as possible, rather than leaving it for years and then reaching out for help. It’s not something a dog will outgrow, and it won’t go away on its own.

2. Not seeking professional help: There’s no harm in getting help from a professional trainer. While there’s a lot of useful advice online, and on YouTube videos and in social media posts, it won’t be as beneficial as working with a pro.

“Owners often make the problem worse trying to DIY it,” Martell explains.

3. Not working at the dog’s pace: As Martell puts it, “It doesn’t matter how fast you want results, you have to work at your dog’s pace. And that’s usually pretty slow.”

If you take it too fast, your pup won’t learn anything and will just rehearse the behavior you want them to stop. We often have unrealistic expectations when it comes to reactivity in dogs, imagining that after just a few sessions our dogs will love everybody, when it just doesn’t work like that.

4. Using mediocre rewards: Something that seems like a good reward when you’re practicing ‘sit’ at home isn’t necessarily going to be as rewarding when you’re out and about and passing another dog.

It’s important to find a high-value reward to use – one that your dog loves, rather than a piece of kibble, for example.

5. Overexposure to dogs and strangers: It’s easy to think that continually exposing a reactive dog to people and other dogs will help them get used to interactions, but it can actually make the problem worse.

“Constantly forcing your dog to face their trigger, especially without solid training in place, is likely going to backfire,” Martell explains.

6. Inadvertently rewarding: This can happen a lot with frustrated reactivity, Martell explains. Imagine a dog who’s barking and lunging dragging their parent over to meet another dog.

“The dog learns that barking and lunging gets them what they want,” she says.

If you’re after more tips, you might find this article useful: I played these 7 fun games to engage my reactive dog and they improved her impulse control.

How can you help support your reactive dog? It’s something many dog parents want to know – reactivity in dogs is quite common, but that doesn’t make it any more desirable.

From management in those difficult situations to building your dog’s confidence, there are things you can incorporate into your training to help when it comes to reactivity – and, of course, a few of the best dog treats won’t go amiss – and there’s lots of advice out there, too.

In a recent Instagram post, award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training has laid out the three all-important aspects of reactivity training we all need to know. It’s really eye-opening, so let’s take a look.

1. Master arousal: “Stress in dogs has such a monumental effect on every aspect of your dog training,” begins Burton, “And yet is so often totally overlooked by owners when it comes to trying to deal with problem behaviors.”

She describes getting to grips with your pup’s arousal level as being vital when it comes to tackling reactivity in dogs – dogs who are often highly aroused are more likely to react, and can’t think as effectively as their calmer canine counterparts.

2. Grow optimism: When your dog displays reactive behavior, it’s a way of providing reinforcement for themselves when they’re faced with something they perceive to be negative.

“Build your dog’s confidence and optimism in the face of reactivity triggers, so that a previous negative association (that required the dog to regulate with reactivity) can over time become a neutral or positive association,” says Burton, “And delivers reinforcement for the dog without the need for reactive behavior.”

3. Your management toolkit: As Burton puts it, “What gets rehearsed, gets repeated,” so it’s important to limit the rehearsal of any behaviors or responses your dog might choose.

“Training clever transition and distraction cues will enable you to do this in real-life scenarios, whilst you work on growing optimism in controlled training sessions.”

You don’t need us to tell you that having a reactive dog can be tricky, but you might find this article insightful: I trained as a dog behaviorist to better understand my reactive dog, and it totally transformed our bond.

If your dog is reactive both in and out of the home, meanwhile, this article is worth a read: My reactive dog impacted my entire household, here's what I did about it.

When it comes to training your dog, management is a really important aspect. But what does it entail?

Management involves creating the right environment for your pup to be successful while removing opportunities for them to display undesirable behaviors – as the more your dog does something, the better they become at it! There are lots of things you could do, from using baby gates to prevent access to using some of the best dog treats for enrichment.

For all we need to know about management in dog training, from its importance to a few examples, we can take a look at a recent Instagram post from Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie, professional trainers and the owners of Kirby Dog Training – it’s really insightful!

They explain that, sometimes, management can be all you need to help change a dog’s behavior, so there’s no need for any complicated training.

An example they give is a dog who barks at triggers out the window. Management in this scenario could be using opaque film to block visual access to the outdoors, moving the armchair so the dog can’t use it as a vantage point, or using sound layering to muffle sound triggers.

Perhaps you have a dog who likes to jump up at visitors. You might use a lead to help guide your dog to put four paws on the floor, use a baby gate or barrier to control access, or prepare some tasty food enrichment to keep your dog busy when visitors arrive.

If your dog can’t listen when other dogs are around, use distance to make things less intense and allow your dog to focus more on you, walk at off-peak times when it’s less busy, and use a long line rather than letting your dog go off-leash. Just keep in mind these three of the most common loose leash walking mistakes (and how to fix them)!

Dog barks at the doorbell? Here, it could be as simple as disabling the bell or putting a note on the door asking people to call you, while you put work into training and desensitizing your pup in the meantime.

“When you combine management techniques with teaching your dog alternative behaviors, you are more likely to achieve success in your training,” Camps-Linney and Mackenzie explain. So, it might be the case that you can rely solely on management to help change your pup’s behavior, but in other situations, a combination of management and training can be invaluable in getting the behavior you’re after both in the short and long term.

If you want to improve your dog training sessions but you live by yourself or you’re the one who does most of the training, take a look at these 27 practical tips for training your dog on your own.

Does your dog like to jump up at the front door? This is a pretty common issue for dog parents to have, and it might be that your pup is simply excited to have a potential visitor or they want to get your attention, or they might be exhibiting territorial behavior.

For many of us, it’s not a desirable behavior. It can be annoying, and could be a safety issue if the person at the door is frail or carrying something, and your dog might jump up at them when the door opens.

Fortunately, it can be simpler to address than you think, and apparently the best dog snuffle mats could help!

Juliana DeWillems, an expert trainer and the founder of JW Dog Training & Behavior, has offered a handy tip featuring snuffle mats in a new Instagram post, and we can’t wait to try it.

First, are snuffle mats good for dogs? The answer is yes, so place a snuffle mat next to the front door!

“Scatter a bunch of treats in the snuffle mat as soon as somebody knocks on the door or arrives at your house,” says DeWillems. “This can keep your dog focused on the treats and away from your guests while they walk in for longer than if you just drop some treats on the floor.”

DeWillems advises using your dog’s favorite treats, and practicing with your pup every day – this will make them more familiar with the game and enjoy it too. “You can use lower-value treats or kibble when snuffling without guests,” she adds, so there’s no need to bring out the best treats all the time!

It’s worth remembering, however, that snuffle mats have all sorts of benefits, and you can use them in other situations too. Snuffle mats encourage our pups to make the most of their impressive sense of smell, providing plenty of mental stimulation and staving off boredom – and here’s how to make a snuffle mat for dogs if you’d rather not buy one.

Using a snuffle mat can burn off a lot of energy too. In fact, even just 15 minutes of play with a snuffle mat can be just as tiring as walking for an hour, so it’s a win-win!

If jumping up at visitors when they arrive is an issue, it’s a good idea to pre-warn guests before they arrive. Even if your best friend might be totally happy for your dog to jump up at them, for example, the delivery man or your great-aunt might not appreciate it.

And for more advice, you might find this article useful: I tried everything to get my dog to stop jumping up, here’s what actually worked.

Often, dogs bark at each other. This isn’t always something to be worried about – a dog might bark at another dog if they’ve not met before, and they’re trying to figure out if they’ll get on with them, or two dogs who know each other might bark at each other as a greeting, too.

However, when dogs react to another dog barking at them by barking back, there is a danger that the situation may escalate. A dog who overreacts to another dog’s barking could be scared, surprised, or panicking based on previous experiences with other dogs.

If your dog reacts to other barking dogs, however, the most important thing you can do to help them is to show empathy (though some of the best dog treats also won’t go amiss), as pet expert Angelo Sorbello, CEO of Pet Sprint, has explained.

“Understanding your dog's feelings is incredibly important,” he says. “Mostly it’s instinctive and based on intuition – just as they sense our moods intuitively, too. The longer you have had the same dog and the closer you are to it, likely the better you will get at reading its emotions. But you can always get more sensitive to your pup, and that’s vital if they are barking back aggressively at other barking dogs.”

Take note of your dog’s body language when they encounter barking dogs, too. If they’re tense, perhaps with raised hackles or pinned-back ears, they could be anxious, stressed, or on edge.

Sorbello recommends doing the following seven things to help your pup:

1. Redirect attention: Try to distract your dog with a toy, a treat, or a short grooming session.

2. Use a calming command: Use a command that you use to help calm your dog down; one they associate with safety – here’s how to calm a reactive dog for related advice.

3. Change your route: Simply add some distance between your dog and the triggers.

4. Create positive associations: Reward with treats or toys when your dog encounters one of their trigger dogs, so they begin to make associations between other dogs and positive events.

5. Desensitize your dog: Gradually expose your dog to other dogs that don’t stress them out – why not invite a friend and their calm, well-behaved dog out for a walk?

6. Be patient: Don’t force your dog to interact with other dogs if they’re reluctant to do so.

7. Use calming products: Try out calming products to see if they help your dog, or simply use calming scents like camomile or garments and fabrics they know well.

Sorbello adds, “You can try specific pet training that helps you recognize and empathize with their deeper emotions. If your pup is scared or stressed by other dogs, try regular desensitization and counter-conditioning training to help them build confidence, and develop positive associations. You will benefit from the training as much as your pet by becoming more empathetic towards them!”

If it’s your dog who barks at other dogs, meanwhile, you might find this article useful: My dog used to bark at every other dog she met, now she has canine friends.