Fun, sun, barbecue and fireworks are what we think about come Independence Day. But for your dog, the 4th of July can be stressful.

When TMZ reported this week that Mark Zuckerberg was trying to decide between a Komondor and a Puli, we thought we needed to step in with some friendly advice.

Destructive dog chewing runs the gamut – from “taste nibbles” you may not notice on your leather shoes to complete decimation of your cabinetry, furniture or wardrobe. Unfortunately, chewing is a natural behavior, particularly for puppies and young dogs, who chew to satisfy curiosity, curb boredom and satiate oral cravings. By understanding that this is in fact a natural drive, you can begin to appreciate that it will take a concerted effort to stop dog chewing.

When a dog runs away by bolting out the front door, panic ensues. Learn how to prevent a runaway dog by understanding and conrolling this behavior problem.

Counter-surfing dogs often develop ingenious solutions to score food off of the counters, employing elaborate tactics to stealthily acquire and consume their “prey.” Stories abound about dogs that have learned how to open the refrigerator in order to consume the holiday turkey. Or the Pit Bull who stole an entire tin of Danish butter cookies off the counter and buried them under his bed for a week. (True story!)

Bringing home baby can be an exciting time for everyone in the household. The one exception may be your dog. A new baby, thrilling for parents, can be a source of tremendous anxiety for your dog, who may find that his world has been completely upended. However, with a little careful planning, most dogs adapt quite readily to the new arrival, and some absolutely adore babies.

Digging dogs can cause all kinds of problems in the home, which can range from mildly irritating to downright dangerous. While wrecked flowers and ruined landscaping is expensive, a dog that digs to escape the yard can easily become lost or even killed.

Jaime Van Wye, founder of the Zoom Room, is interviewed on the popularity of the Skateboarding Dog. Teaching your dog to skateboard is part of Tricks Training class, and also something you can try right at home.

Has this ever happened to you? You need to give your dog a pill – a vitamin, heartworm, aspirin – some sort of repulsive-tasting pill. You think you’re clever. You hide it in your dog’s favorite food. Your dog happily gobbles it up. You think you’re brilliant; you’re feeling relieved. Then your dog spits out the tiny pill and trots away.

Jumping is one of the most common behavior problems seen by dog trainers, and it can be an irritating habit to break. While cute – or at least seemingly innocuous when your dog is small – once your 80-pound Labrador leaps upon the house guests while you scream, “Don’t worry! He’s friendly!” things can get quickly out of hand.

Just what is clicker training? Many dogs owners are hearing about this “new” style of positive-reinforcement training, and it’s become the training style of choice for most puppy classes, but few really know what it’s all about.

Bringing home a new dog can be exciting for you, but your resident dog may have a differing view on the new arrival. Just as human babies can disrupt the balance at home and create behavioral issues for younger children dealing with a new sibling, a new puppy or dog can wreck havoc on your home’s serenity. Introducing a new dog into the household appropriately can go a long way toward making sure the transition is a smooth one.