Epic Toy Party: Say YES To This Mess!
I felt like I'd hit a rut with playtime. Buy new toys and see my dogs get excited about them, only for them to become forgotten at the bottom of the toy basket, topped with newer toys. There really is not much you can do with dog toys. Your dog can chew them up, you...
10 Weird Things You Should Know About Cow
You know Cow, but do you really know Cow? I need to share 10 things with you about my very unusual dog. These are things that I don't expect anyone to understand, but I hope you can believe at least half of it. 1. Cow has udders. Cow got her name when she was a puppy,...
How To Teach Your Dog To Put Her Toys Away In Her Basket
Having a dog is messy. Teaching your dog to put her toys away won't help with that... ...But at least she'll learn a fun new skill that's super impressive to your friends, family, and Instagram followers! You may be surprised at how simple this trick is to teach. Like...
How Long Can A Dog Wear A Sweater? Can She Wear Her Sweater When I’m Not Home?
Brr! I've just started to notice Matilda and Cow shivering in the morning, so we've started to put those cozy sweaters on in the AM. Matilda is a master at squirming out of her sweaters when she's sick of wearing them... only to start shivering again. But Cow doesn't...
Help! My Dog Won’t Stop Ringing Her Potty Bells All The Time… Even When She Doesn’t Have To Go Out
Potty bells are a blessing and a curse... but mostly a blessing. Without them, I'm not sure how I could have gotten the once-timid Matilda to let me know when she needed to go out. Potty bells have opened other avenues of communication, too. When she first learned to...
How To Make Smoothies To Share With Your Dog – The Complete Guide
Do you ever go on a smoothie kick, feel great for a week, and then go back to your old habits? To make healthy choices that stick, you have to make them easy and convenient so they'll actually become a part of your lifestyle. Making smoothies a few mornings per week...
Why I’m Totally Confused About Dogs (And You Should Be Too)
Today I saw a Facebook post on which someone was talking about their unvaccinated puppy. Someone responded, "There's no need for the rabies shot. Just let your puppy run around in a wooded area that has forest creatures like raccoons for ten minutes once a week." Not...
Can You Safely Pick Up A Dog By The Scruff Of Her Neck?
You may have seen a mama dog or a wild animal pick up their babies by the scruff of their necks. How cute! Your dog’s mom certainly used to carry her around by the scruff at one point. So, is it okay for you to continue the tradition? The truth is, although your dog...
How To Teach Your Dog To Roll Herself Up In A Blanket
It's clear to me that Matilda loves doing weird tricks. She loves the extra attention she gets when she's painting or playing dead. So, I'm always on the lookout for new, unique skills she can learn. I've seen dog on TV do a seemingly complex trick where they roll up...
Dog Hates Their Cone? How To Help Her Quickly Adjust To Her E-Collar So She Doesn’t Mind Wearing It
Ideally, we always have enough time to prepare our dogs for new, scary things. But that's not always possible. For example, it'd be nice if everyone were able to buy their dog a comfy, well-fitted cone and train them to adjust to it long before they needed it. That...
How Long To Stay At The Dog Park… And What To Do While You’re There
Dog parks are popping up everywhere. It's exciting to see how dogs are becoming more and more welcome as members of our communities! But how do you... you know... use them? How long do you stay at the dog park to make sure your dog actually gets exercise? What should...
How To Teach Your Dog To Play Dead (With Dramatic Sound Effects)
I can't believe I've never written about one of Matilda's favorite tricks. Yes, her favorite. Because when you use positive reinforcement, you raise a dog who loves to learn and practice cues. But that's not even the real reason she enjoys it so much. Matilda is a...
Are Puppy Pads Appropriate For Adult Dogs?
Are puppy pads only for puppies? Or is it okay to continue using puppy pads when your dog is all grown up? Having a dog use puppy pads is not like having a teenager in diapers. It's completely fine and appropriate to use pads if they work for you. Taking your dog...
5 Things Small Dog Owners Need To Stop Doing
Uh oh. I was seriously considering scrapping this blog post entirely. I normally veer away from negativity. I don't want to make anyone feel bad, especially if they're doing their best. But it's important for you to know about these things that small dog owners really...
The 5 Canine Love Languages: How To Love Your Dog How She Wants To Be Loved
The Five Love Languages (For People) This post is inspired by the concepts in Gary Chapman's #1 New York Times Best Seller, The 5 Love Languages. I'm not affiliated with the author, but I think some of you might also take an interest in it. The book is about romantic...
How To Get Your Dog To Eat Something They Don’t Like
Does your dog hate her new medication? Or that new food that you spent way too much money on? Or does she turn their nose up at her new chew bone? Dogs, just like people, have individual preferences for food tastes and textures. It's perfectly fine to seek out foods...
Why Do Chihuahuas Bark So Much?
People say Chihuahuas are yappy little dogs... and they're not wrong. When your little one is standing as tall as she can, hackles spiked up, chest puffing out with every overly confident ARF! ...you might feel annoyed, stressed, even a little embarrassed. It's tough...
Do Small Dog Owners Need To Worry About The Link Between Grain-Free And DCM?
Have you heard the buzz? Everyone and their vet is saying to stop feeding grain-free and to switch to a grain-inclusive kibble from one of the big brands. In case you haven't heard, or you need a breakdown on exactly what happened, here's what's been going down over...
How Much CBD Oil Should You Give Your Chihuahua?
Tiny dogs are especially prone to side effects from conventional medications. That's why it was such a big win for Chihuahuas when CBD oil products became legal almost everywhere. Finally, a natural product you can keep in your cabinet to help relieve pain,...
My Dog Loves Catching And Eating Flies… Is That Safe?
Now that summertime is in full bloom, summer rains are bringing many wonderful lifeforms into our yards and inside our homes. It's amusing, and honestly kind of handy when Cow and Matilda go after the flies that lurk on the walls. And it's also pretty yucky. We all...
How To Train Your Dog To Use Potty Bells In 3 Easy Steps
Your dog is going to love her potty bells. It's amazingly empowering for her when she has a clever and reliable way to get your attention. You're going to be pretty impressed when she rings her bell and patiently stares at you, waiting for you to take her for a potty...
Why Is It SO Hard To Potty Train A Chihuahua?
Potty train another Chihuahua? No thanks. I'd rather teach an octopus to put on pants. Potty training a Chihuahua is HARD. If you're here for troubleshooting, you're not alone. There are some ways that you can make this process a bit easier. It starts with...
Tethering Or Umbilical Cord Training – How Does It Work?
Tethering - or umbilical cord training, if you want to make it weird - is when you leave your dog's leash on inside your home. Usually, you'll hold the leash or attach it to your belt while you go about your activities, like cooking, cleaning, or looking at other dogs...
Does Rubbing Your Dog’s Nose In Their Own Poop Or Pee… Really Work?
If you're a regular reader of Little Dog Tips, this blog post is probably not for you. You most likely have learned a lot about potty training from my blog already, if it's been one of your personal struggles, and know that there are many ways to communicate with a...