As most pet parents can attest, dogs are both amiable and feisty. These two seemingly incompatible traits are what dog training so difficult, especially in the early years. Luckily, experts abound that can give us helpful hints on how to get our treasures pooches to mind their manners and behave in public and in the home.

Below are the things you should know to train a puppy and a full grown canine. You can modify these approaches to fit the personality of your dog as these are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.

Most dogs, in the early stages of their life, are afraid of the water or taking a bath. But no matter how hard it is to bathe your puppy, you should still do this to make him clean, healthy and free from pet infestations. During the first few bathing sessions, you’ll definitely find yourself impatient when bathing your puppy. Like training your dog to obey you, bathing your pup also requires a lot of patience and persistence.

Just as if you brought home a new puppy, bringing home a new cat or kitten requires just as much patience. Your new kitty will need your undivided attention to help him/her get used to his/her new surroundings. Cats are wary of change, so it is important to make the process of welcoming a cat home slow and calm. There are many ways for you to connect with your new pet. During this crucial time, here are some ways you can bond with your new cat and continue to have a loving relationship with your kitty.

Merry Christmas to all CatDog readers and members - and if you received (or gave) a pet as a Christamjas present enjoy the happiness a pet will bring to your life and remember it comes with many responsibilities for years to come...

Making the email rounds is the following, feel free to email on or print out...it was been seen at the bottom of a refrigerator door:

Days of rain or bitter cold, even unbearable heat usually mean we coop up the dogs with nothing to do. And that got me to thinking: What do we do with our dogs when they don't want to be outside for more than a quick potty?

Just like some dog owners like to go through tons of dog names to find the one that suits their dog the best, similarly, dog treats should be only selected after careful consideration of their nutritional and quality values.

If you have been following the latest trends and changes in dog breeding you may have come across the term "Designer Dogs".

These are, in fact, simply mixed breeds that are crossed to produce a specific physical appearance, usually easily identified as a cross between the two breeds. The breeders attempt to include only the desirable traits of the two parents while minimizing the chance of physical or health issues between the cross.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (often referred to as the PBGV due to his long name which can be sometimes hard to pronounce), is a small rough coated, scent hound that originated in the harsh region of Vendeen in France.

He is generally used in small packs to hunt rabbit and other small game.