Today, October 14th, is Pet Obesity Awareness Day, although most owners of overweight dogs and cats are aware every day of their pet’s health issues.

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.

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.