Dog Training Tips

Imagine teaching your dog new skills in a way that feels fun, clear, and deeply rewarding — not just for your dog, but for you too. That’s the promise of clicker training, a positive, science-based training method that dog experts and pet parents alike adore. At its...

We have all been there. You are walking through the park, the sun is shining, and you feel a swell of pride as your dog trots perfectly by your side. For a moment, you feel like the ultimate team—a duo perfectly in sync. Then, it happens. A leaf skitters across the...

Aggression in dogs is one of the most stressful situations an owner can face — whether it’s growling at strangers, lunging at other dogs, or snapping when someone gets too close. While aggression is uncomfortable to witness and can shake your confidence as a...

Watching two dogs romp, chase, and tumble together in the grass does more than make us smile — it can also show us something profound about communication, boundaries, and respect. But not all dog play is created equal, and understanding what makes play polite is one...

If you think feeding, walking and cuddling are the only things a dog needs to thrive, think again. Like people, dogs crave stimulation — mental challenges, physical outlets and flavorful experiences that make each day feel interesting and rewarding. At Riverview...

Teaching your dog to sit or stay is great — but there’s something uniquely magical about watching your dog perform a trick that truly turns heads. Advanced tricks are more than crowd‑pleasers; they deepen communication, strengthen your bond, and tap into your dog’s...

Bringing a new pet into your home can be one of the most joyful decisions you’ll ever make — but it can also be one of the most challenging transitions for your household. Whether you’re adopting a puppy, welcoming a rescue dog, or introducing a new cat to resident...

If you could teach your dog just one skill—one single behavior that quietly fixes dozens of others—this would be it: getting your dog to look at you on cue. Not sit.Not stay.Not heel. Eye contact. Because the moment your dog chooses you over the squirrel, the...

You walk into the living room. Your favorite slippers are shredded. The baseboard is gnawed. The trash bin is exploded. Your dog tilts its head at you, tongue hanging out, tail wagging — as if to say, “What? I was just bored.” Sound familiar? If so, you’re not cursed....

You’re loading up the car. Bags, snacks, phone charger, maybe sunglasses. The breeze is calling. The open road lies ahead. And right there beside you… your dog. But wait. Before you crank the engine, you’ve got to treat this like more than a quick spin. Traveling with...

If you’ve ever watched your dog drift toward the kitchen like a heat-seeking missile…or try to make a break for it the second your front door cracks open…you know exactly why boundary training matters. And here’s the good news: you can teach your dog to stay put —...

Dogs bark for the same reason humans talk: to express emotion, needs, and reactions. But when the barking becomes chronic, there’s always a deeper cause behind it. Most dogs fall into one of these categories: Boredom A bored dog is a noisy dog. When they don’t get...

You’ve seen the scenes: your dog staring at you blankly as you toss the toy … again. No leap, no dash, no triumphant return with tail wagging. It’s frustrating. You want a companion who’ll chase, fetch and bring that toy back like a pro. Well, good news: this game can...

You’ve mastered “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and “come.” Your dog responds reliably, you’ve earned the praise from friends and family—and now you’ve got that itch: What’s next? Good news: secret’s out. It’s time to turn your pup from polite to playful & impressive....

Imagine this: your dog sees something—say, another dog, a stranger, or the dreaded vacuum cleaner—and instead of calm curiosity, you get barking, lunging, trembling. Your heart sinks. You hate seeing your dog that way. But what if I told you that fear is an emotion...

Why Dogs Jump — And Why It’s (Actually) Your Fault (Kind of) Let me lay it on you straight: when your dog jumps on people, it’s not because she’s a monster. It’s because somewhere along the way, you’ve rewarded that behavior—even unintentionally. The good news: you...

Let me ask you something. Have you ever seen a person being dragged down the street by their dog? The leash is stretched so tight it could tow a truck, the human looks half-strangled, and the dog thinks it’s competing in the Iditarod. Not fun. Not dignified. And let’s...

If your dog lunges at dinner time, rushes through doors, or snatches treats before you’re ready—don’t panic. What you’re seeing isn’t a permanent flaw. It’s a lack of emotional self-control (also called impulse control)—and the good news is, it can absolutely be...

Imagine you’re out at the park. Your dog is off-leash, sniffing, chasing butterflies, rolling in grass. Then you call: “Come!” You wait. And… nothing. Disappointment. Frustration. Maybe worry. Because recall—the ability of your dog to come when called—isn’t just...

Training a dog can feel like trying to decode an alien language. Sit. Stay. Heel. Why isn’t Spot doing these things? Is it stubbornness? A lack of respect? Usually not. What dogs crave—what makes them shine—is positive reinforcement. It’s one of the gentlest, most...