Until you're confident that your pup is able to hold his potty inside, I found the most successful method to be crate training. While it may seem a little sad and lonely in the beginning, it's a great tool to communicate with your pup to hold his bladder. Then, once uncrated, bring him outside to the yard and watch him until he potties. When he does, give him tons of positive feedback and a treat. Soon, your dog will catch on that he gets treats/praise when he goes outsides, and the crate will teach him to hold it. Once you're confident in your dog's ability to hold his bladder, you can ween him off the crate.

It's also important to point out that the crate should never be seen as a punishment. Instead, it should have a positive association with your pup. A den to relax in, chew toys, and get treats!

I found this video to be helpful:

This is called submission urination and is pretty common. Your pup is trying to communicate to you and other pups that he/she does not pose a threat. It's most common when greeting new people or pups, or other exciting moments like petting or playing. It's also known to happen when being scolded as well.

As long as you do it carefully, and with the right grooming tools/shampoos (mild shampoo, not human brand) , you can bathe a puppy that's just a few weeks old. In the past, people believed that bathing a pup would damage their natural fur and coat, but that has been debunked. It's also good to start early, so that your dog has a positive association with bath time and it will be easier in the future :)

Short answer: They're excited!

It's totally normal if the behavior is coupled with exciting exercises like fetch, meal time, or before a walk. If the behavior isn't coupled with exciting moments, it could be due to other issues. Sometimes a pup may be circling in order to reach his anal glands that may need expressing. Other times, it could be due to boredom and stress - and your pup may require more exercise.

Many dogs (especially puppies) explore the world through their mouths. Because they do not have hands like us, dogs often explore new items by eating it! Other studies suggest that your pup may be eating grass in order to supplement their diet that may be lacking in nutrition, minerals, or fiber. Other times, they may graze to improve their digestion. If your pup continues to exhibit this behavior, and shows signs of vomiting, consult your local Vet.

It's a common misconception that female dog's do not hump - but that is incorrect! Just like males, and fixed males, female dogs may mount other dogs for a variety of reasons. Including: sexual behavior, stress, excitement or meeting a new dog, and/or social dominance.

Animal experts believe that dog's sleep and dream very similarly to us humans - including deep REM cycles. Twitching, breathing heavily, or quickly moving paws are all signs that your pup is in a deep slumber :). He/she could even be dreaming of chasing a bunny!

Scratching of the ears is a pretty normal behavior. However, excessive scratching could be a symptom of an underlying issue. Make sure to regularly clean your pup's ears, and learn the correct way to properly clean their ears. Because dog's ear canals are L shaped (unlike our straight ones), it takes a little more skill to thoroughly clean. I like to use Zymox. If you're concerned, it's always best to bring your pup to the Vet just to make sure he/she is happy and healthy :)

The frequency of barking all depends on the individual personality of your specific pup! For instance, my mixed pup Newton very rarely barks. Meanwhile, a corgi and pug I sit bark at even the slightest noise (doorbell, another dog on the TV, squirrel, just to hear his voice, etc). Essentially it all depends on your dogs laid back or high energy personalities :). Some breeds are also known to not bark at all, like the Basenji.

You pup could be chewing pillows out of boredom, stress, or separation anxiety. Is he/she doing this behavior when you leave the house? When you're not giving him/her attention? If it's boredom, giving your pup a peanut butter Kong may help avoid the unwanted behavior. If it's separation anxiety, you may need to work with your pup to ease the stress. Ex: Long walks and a game of fetch before leaving, lots of toys and distraction toys when you leave, or if you're worried hiring a Rover daycare sitter :)

While Natural Balance dog food is ranked very high according to dog food advisor, because of it's balance of Protein/Carbs/Fat, it also depends on your individual pup. For instance, you may want to consider allergies, taste preferences, of health concerns (weight loss, kidney friendly, etc). But in a general sense, yes - it's a good brand :)

There could be many reasons why your pup is hiding. It could be they are nervous, shy, or scared. For example, one of the pup's I watch will be a happy and bouncing pup on most days, but as soon as there's thunder, he will run away and hide (poor guy). You can always work with a behavior specialist to work on your pup's confidence and create positive associations with your pup's fears.

Here are some tips that help me:

• Create a positive experience with bath time. Give them encouragement or even a treat or two. We want to create a positive association with bath time so that our pups aren't scared or anxious
• Organize your bathing supplies before starting the bath. That way you don't have to run around getting your shampoo, towel, etc with a wet dog trying to escape!
• Use multiple towels: One to cover the floor, one for drying, and even one to prevent shaking
• Use warmer water to make it enjoyable
• Block to drain with a hair catcher so that your pup's hair won't clog the drain
• Buy a non-slip mat to prevent accidents

Hope that helps :)

There are several reasons why your pup may be eating mud. It could be as simple as boredom, or as complicated as your pup lacking certain minerals in his/her diet. Sometimes pups will eat dirt or grass to get those minerals. If the behavior persists, I would speak to your local Veterinarian to get an opinion and make sure your pup is happy and healthy :)

Because she trusts you! Although it's considered a submissive behavior, pups will only show their bellies if they are comfortable with the person. So if your pup rolls on her back for more belly rubs, it's because she trusts you :)!

Often times, pups will eat kleenex and facial tissues out of boredom or anxiety. Many dogs and puppies explore their world through chewing, and can develop a paper eating habit early on if they associate it with gaining their owner's attention. This can be exacerbated if the pup is hungry.

There are many reasons why our pups lick - and the majority of them are good! Many times our pups lick us to show affection or signal that they want attention. Other times, pups will lick object to explore. Because dogs can't inspect things with their hands like we do, they explore through their mouth. The only time to show concern is if your pup's licking is excessive - which may be tied to obsessive/anxiety issues.

There could be various reasons why your pup is choosing to nip. Some herding breeds (border collie, corgi, cattle dog, etc) nip at their owner's heels due to their herding instincts. Other times, your pup could be nipping your hands to play with you. Either way you can work with your pup to reinforce positive behaviors to minimize the amount of nipping.

Many experts believe that when dogs tilt their heads, they are trying to adjust their outer ears to better pinpoint and understand a noise and it's location. In other words, your pup may just be trying to better understand you because he loves you! :)

There could be multiple reasons why your pup likes to potty in his bed/crate area. For one, is it a puppy, newly rescued dog, or did you recently move? If so, your dog could just be taking some time to get used to his new environment or a little thrown off due to stress. Work with him/her to reinforce good potty behavior and if issues still persist, reach out to your local dog behavior specialist :)

Aside from herbal supplements, lavender based scents can be a natural remedy to reduce stress. I use Organic Oscar Stress Relief Spray and it seems to help a little. It also makes my pup smell great, which is an added bonus :)

There could be multiple reasons why your pup is backing away from you. It could be that he's shy or scared - especially if you're a lot bigger than your pup and you're just establishing your relationship. Or, he could be trying to play "chase" and backing away as a playful gesture. The easiest way to tell how your pup is feeling is based on their body language. Are their ears perked + tail wagging? or are their ears pinned down + tail between their legs? Depending on the situation it could be about building more trust between you and your pup - or that your dog just wants to play :)

It's their way of trying to greet you! Pups often say hello to each other by sniffing each other's faces, and because we're so much taller, that leads to jumping. That being said, if you'd like to curb the behavior - make sure not to reward your pup when he jumps. It can be tempting, especially when you first come home from a long day of work. But if you're consistent, turn away when he/she jumps, and only reward your pup with a greeting once they stop jumping, your pup will catch on on :)

It's normal for dogs to pant after a lot of physical exertion or from the warm weather. Because pup's done sweat, they cool off by panting. Brachycephalic (short snouted) breeds pant more than others due to their predisposition to heating quickly. Additionally, some dogs pant out of fear or anxiety.

If you notice that your pup is panting too often, especially during times they should be resting, reach out to your vet - as they could be in pain.

There are certain types of artificial tear drops that are safe to use on dogs - but there are dog specific tear drops as well. Obviously, we always want to be careful when using eye drops - and check in with a Vet to double check the treatment plan. Essentially, we need to know why you're using the drops before recommending if you can.

It's always best to go to the vet whenever you see blood in your pup's stool. It could be as simple as a bad reaction to food, or something as fatal as Parvo. However, because your dog's behavior is affected (weak and low energy) that's even more reason to bring him to the vet - especially if he isn't drinking or eating. They'll be able to run tests and determine if it's due to a diet change, parasite, stress, etc and give you a treatment plan. Good luck and I hope your pup feels better soon!

Like Walt mentioned, many dogs sneeze out of excitement. It could be that your pup is excited and happy to see you! However, if you're worried that it's something more - double check your dog's nose + eyes. Is there mucus? Is his nose watery? If so, it may be allergy related and you may want to consult your Vet.

There are many reasons why our pups lick us - and the majority of them are good! Many times our pups lick us to show affection or signal that they want attention. The only time to be worried is if your pup's licking is excessive - which may be tied to obsessive/anxiety issues.

There are many reasons why your pup could be looking at you. It can range from begging for a piece of delicious food you're eating, to trying to understand your facial emotions and queues. Many dogs look to us to anticipate direction, or to receive affection and attention. Either way, it's generally a *good thing that your pup actively looks into your eyes. This is often the very first trick that trainers teach new pups in order to establish a ground for great communication :)

There are a number of reasons why your pup could be an endless food vacuum! In short, a lot of it is instinctual - dogs are only able to explore with their mouths & they're natural scavengers. Other times, just like humans, it can be out of boredom. The good news is that if your pup tends to have a great appetite, they'll be food motivated. And food motivated pups are easier to train :)!

Like other people have said, it's a natural part of having a healthy coat. That being said, some breeds tend to shed more due to an undercoat (ex: Huskies). The best way to manage the shedding is active brushings - especially with brushes that reach the undercoat (ex: Furminator) and grooming products.

It could be as simple as hyperpigmentation (especially if your pup is white like mine) or allergies. That being said, always consult a vet if your pup experiences:

• Hair loss
  Severe itching/scratching
  Bleeding
  Crusty Fluid-filled bumps
  Lumps that extend beyond the surface of the skin
  Thickened and crusty/scaly skin