Tech for Your Pets: Fitness and Location Trackers
Learn more about tech tools available to use with your pet.
Category: Dog training
Celebrating Small and Independent Pet Businesses Across Virginia
One of the most rewarding things you can do as a pet parent is finding a local pet business that knows your pet and their needs and treats them with love and respect. At Hello Ralphie, we support these local, independent businesses and have chosen to highlight a few of our favorites in the state of Virginia!
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian While teaching your furry friend to lay down on command may just seem like a fun trick, it’s actually an important trained skill that can help keep your pet both calm and safe. A dog that’s laying down is far less likely to bolt and jump up, which can come in handy when you’re answering the door, sitting outside of a restaurant, or hosting guests. When to Teach the ‘Lay Down’ Command While puppies have short attention spans, they’re capable of learning basic commands like “sit,” “lay down,” and “stay,” at a
How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking at the Neighbors
Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian It’s unreasonable to expect your dog to never bark. However, excessive barking, especially when it’s directed at your neighbors, can quickly become a nuisance. All of that unwanted barking can cause your neighbors to complain and create a strain in a once pleasant relationship. To help put a stop to your dog’s incessant barking, we’ll examine why they bark in the first place. We’ll also go over some of the most effective training methods you can employ to stop your dog from barking at the neighbors. Think your dog may be exhibiting
How Often Should You Walk Your Dog?
Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise and fresh air. A dog’s mental and physical health will suffer without regular walks. However, the exact amount of exercise a particular dog needs will depend on a variety of factors, including their age, breed, size, and health conditions, among other factors. We’ll go over some general rules to help you understand how often you should be walking your dog, including the needs of small-, medium-, and large-sized dogs. Additionally, we’ll explain how a dog’s age can impact their exercise needs and when you should
Why Does My Dog Follow Me Everywhere?
Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian You’ve probably noticed your dog following you like a shadow from time to time. But whether this behavior is constant or occasional, there is an explanation. Here, we’ll explain why your dog may be following you and when this behavior can be a cause for concern. Are There Scientific Explanations for Why Dogs Follow Their Owners? It may seem like your dog is following you because of their fondness toward their owner, but these animals have strong pack instincts. This pack mentality can be a partial explanation, but there are other scientific
Helping Pets Who Dread the Fourth of July
Signs of Dog Anxiety “She will literally crawl up my body and try to sit on my head, that’s how nervous she gets!”Who can imagine, a 50-pound Golden Retriever, trying to sit on one’s head?! My aunt laughs as she tells this story of Faith’s case of dog anxiety, and I glance over to one of her two adopted retrievers, Faith, as she sits in the cool shade of a sun umbrella. It is a bright, late-Spring afternoon and my family and I are having a small family get-together in my aunt and uncle’s back yard. My aunt continues, “We