Whole Dog Journal reviews dog food, dog toys, and dog health and care products, and also teaches positive dog training methods.

Are you having a difficult time teaching your dog to lie down? With some dogs, it’s more difficult than others, but it’s not impossible. The reason is likely that you are not properly communicating what you want. In some cases, however, timid dogs are less comfortable lying down. It’s up to you, as the trainer, to determine where your difficulties lie.

Washing your dog’s toys might seem like a minor task, but it plays a vital role in maintaining your pet’s health and hygiene. Dog toys are exposed to dirt, saliva, bacteria, and even fecal matter over time and can harbor harmful germs and allergens. Knowing how to properly clean dog toys, when to clean them, and when to discard them is key to keeping your pup safe, especially in multi-pet homes.

Heartworm is a deadly parasite spread by the bite of a mosquito. The symptoms of heartworm becoming increasingly severe as the damage progresses. This damage is not fully reversible making prevention or early treatment critical.

I have floofy dogs. Over time, I’ve learned to remove dog hair from my car. I have also become a fan of preventatives. For...

No dog likes getting their nails cut, but every dog can learn to accept the procedure.

Face it: If you have a dog, especially a double-coated breed, you can expect to find scores of loose hairs on your clothing, furniture, carpets and other flooring, and inside your car. (And if you have a hairless dog, then instead of excess fur you’ll find oily spots on furniture and walls, so you can’t really win.)

Yak cheese chews have become a popular, natural treat for dogs, loved for their durable qualities and minimal ingredient list. Originating from a traditional preservation method in the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet.

What comes to mind when you think of things you need for your dog? (Not necessarily things you want: much as I might like a diamond-encrusted collar or a $1,000 plush dog bed for Frankie, they’re not really necessities. Not in my world, anyway.) When it comes right down to it, pretty much everyone has a different idea of what items are considered essential for a dog.

Excessive self-licking and chewing can be caused by a medical issue. It can also be a behavioral problem, a classic example of an obsessive/compulsive disorder. Either way, it's annoying to the dog's human companion, and dangerous to the health of the dog. Here are tips for dealing with dogs who self-lick and chew excessively. To begin behavior modification, determine your dog's stressors and start eliminating them. Make a list of everything?you can think that is stresses your dog – even just a little bit, even if the stressors don't seem directly related to the licking. Your list might include thunder, small children, dogs on television, cats, riding in cars, visits to the vet, shock collars, medical issues, and many more. Most owners can identify between 10 and 20 stressors for their dogs.

New Dog? Meet Old Dog. Here are some tips for introducing a new dog or puppy to the dog who is already part of your family.

Constipation is uncomfortable for anyone and dogs are no exception. If your dog is straining to poop, a laxative may provide the relief he...

You've no doubt heard the adage, You can't teach an old dog new tricks." If you have an older dog

Training your dog to “leave it” and “drop it”.

The best dog grooming gloves tend to be used for one of two reasons: helping to lather your dog and remove hair during bath time or removing hair from your clothes and furniture.

One of the things I've discovered in my puppy classes is that many people assume socialization is simply about getting your dog around lots of people to be petted and plenty of dogs to play with. This can be a piece of the socialization package, but remember that the goal of socialization is to get your pup accustomed to and comfortable with the world around him. Puppies need to be exposed in a pleasant way to the following things.