Educational Articles
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Understanding learning principles and canine communication can set you and your dog up for success. Positive reinforcement can be used to create desired behavioral responses. Behavior modification techniques can be used to treat behavioral concerns such as fear.
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The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene, if mutated, can contribute to increased body fat and body weight and increased food motivation in affected dogs. At this time, this gene mutation has only been found in the Labrador Retriever and Flat-coated Retriever and affects the majority of those working as service dogs. This handout explains how the POMC gene mutation was discovered, how it impacts affected dogs, and how you can support your dog if affected.
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Many dogs love to get out to socialize and exercise with their canine friends and dog parks are their go-to spots for getting together. Proper etiquette, from both you and your pup, will allow everyone to enjoy the park safely and courteously.
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No hyperactive ankle-biter, the Pug has a stable and noble way, befitting a much larger dog - and a giant personality to match.
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A barking mop on springs, the Puli is a perky and personable dog that gets lots of second looks for his Rastafarian locks.
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A successful life with a family dog starts with great training for your puppy. Planning to set puppies up for success, learning how to use management, positive reinforcement, luring, capturing, and shaping will help owners train their puppies successfully. Positive puppy training and socialization classes are also beneficial for healthy puppies over eight weeks of age.
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Life with puppies is complicated, and all puppies will sometimes do things their owners find problematic. Using management, planning, supervision, and positive reinforcement for the right behaviors will help puppies succeed, and owners better enjoy their companions.
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Every puppy will become a dog who needs veterinary care, grooming, and handling. Starting in puppyhood, owners can use positive training techniques to teach their puppies how to accept and enjoy restraint, basic procedures, and home husbandry.
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Training basic cues such as "sit", "stand", and "lie down" can set the foundation for all future training. These basic skills are useful behaviors that encourage good manners and tolerance of husbandry and veterinary care. Training your dog to understand cues improves communication with your puppy and improves the predictability of all interactions. Training methods based on positive reinforcement include luring, capturing and shaping.
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Providing puppies with positive socialization experiences may prevent the development of future fears. Puppy socialization must be done gently to avoid accidentally causing fear. Puppies are most primed for socialization before the age of 14 weeks. By taking precautions, some careful socialization can and should be done even before puppies have completed their entire vaccination series.
