Did you know that the first week of October is National Walk Your Dog Week? Going for a walk with your canine companion is beneficial every day of the year, but this week is a great time to think about how you can make walks with your dog safer and more enjoyable for you both. Proper walking techniques minimize stress, and they make it much easier to get out and enjoy a stroll with your pup. In honor of Walk Your Dog Week, keep reading to discover a few tips for waking your canine companion.

Many new dog owners are surprised to learn that their puppy doesn’t instinctively know how to walk politely on a leash. They understand the reality quickly during the first few walks, when their new little fur friend is bolting until they run out of leash or tugging the entire way. Mastering the leash is something that requires training, and it’s surprisingly easy if you know what to do.

Myths follow us through life, from the idea that lightning won’t strike twice in the same place to the infamous penny thrown off the Empire State Building being lethal for an unsuspecting pedestrian below. Our dogs are no exception, being the subject of many myths themselves. As veterinarians, we want to correct as many misconceptions as possible so owners can steer clear of falsehoods and let their dogs live their best lives. Following are some of the most common we hear, and the truth behind them.

It’s a hard concept to digest, but it’s been proven time and time again that dogs respond best to positive reinforcement over punishment – so get ready for extra praise, plenty of ear scratches, and a stockpile of treats if your dog needs training or has some behavioral corrections to make. We know that training a dog and, in particular, a puppy can be challenging and even frustrating but, as veterinarians, we also know that yelling and berating versus positive reinforcement is not going to work.

Introducing a new dog into a pet-filled home can be an overwhelming experience for the pet owner, the new dog, and the current pets – leaving all involved feeling anxious. As veterinarians, we understand that your dog’s emotional health is just as important as their physical health. Following are some proven tips for introducing your new dog into your pet-filled home, and lessening the emotional distress that comes along with it.

We all know having pets around helps decrease stress and creates a positive environment...at home. When it comes to bringing your dog to work, you might envision your little fur baby sleeping the day away next to you on their pet bed, disrupting you only with a tiny dog paw scratch to let you know that they have to go to the bathroom...or perhaps a kitty stretch and yawn. This idea sounds amazing, but you know this is Kitty and Doggy Dreamland, right?

“That’s a face only a mother could love.” Perhaps this has been said about your dog, and it’s true—even if your dog’s got an underbite and googly eyes, they are likely perfect to you. You love them unconditionally and think they’re perfect...that is, perhaps, until you take them for a walk. This trouble with dog-walking is an all-too-common scenario that we veterinarians hear about, and in honor of this being National Train Your Dog Month, we’d love to help you nip this bad behavior in the bud.

The holidays are behind us and, if you’re like a good portion of our country or even the world, you may very well have brought a new puppy or dog home. You’ve got their dog bed in the perfect spot, you’ve hopefully found a nutritious brand of dog food they like, you’ve set up your veterinary appointment and gotten them on a vaccination schedule, and you’ve surely had your share of top-to-bottom face kisses.