Behaviour & Training

For centuries, dogs have been considered our best friends and most loyal companions, so it’s only natural that there are numerous pups that have risen to fame. At Purina, we’ve put together this list of our favourite famous dogs in history which includes everyone from movie stars to decorated military dogs, keep reading to find out more!

Are you in the mood for some pawesome dog fun? We put together a list of hilarious dog jokes and puns about our favourite furry friends. They’re not only fun, but also easy to remember and easy to tell. One thing we can all agree on is that our dogs are fun to be around. They somehow know how to make us laugh with their hilarious reactions and never fail to put a smile on our faces with their silly antics. It’s no surprise that many owners suspect their pup must have a ‘funny bone’ to be able to pull all this off. So, to match the playful spirit of our canine friends, we put together a list of dog-approved zingers. If you love dogs and don’t mind silly play on words, we’ve got the dog jokes and dog puns that will brighten up your day.

We’ve heard a lot about ‘lockdown puppies’ - dogs that have been bought during the pandemic when people have been at home rather than out at work - but amazingly there are now 3.5 million more dogs in the UK than there were before the pandemic started. This puts the total number of dogs in the UK to around 12.5 million, and this means lots of new dogs are out and about enjoying the summer - and with this increase in dogs, there are more chances for canine interactions to go wrong!  We’ve put together this guide to dog walking etiquette to teach you the basics on safe dog walking to keep everyone happy when out on their adventures.  

Most owners would love to spend every moment possible with their dogs but, unfortunately, this often just isn’t practical. For many of us, it’s inevitable that at some stage you’ll need to leave your dog alone and, at this point, you may be wondering, ‘how long can you leave a dog alone?’ Can they manage a full working day? Or will they need you to pop back at lunch to let them out to the toilet? At Purina, we’ve got all the answers you’re looking for! Keep reading to find out all you need to know about how to leave your dog alone safely, and discover our top tips for making sure your pup is happy when you’re out.

Just like us humans, dogs need enough space in their home to feel happy and comfortable. But not all dogs and not all owners - are the same, making the question ‘how much space does a dog need?’ quite difficult to answer. And some dogs are smaller than others so, whilea Pug can live happily in an apartment with surrounding outdoor space, a Golden Retriever will enjoy a proper back garden. There are a few insights into a dog’s needs that will help you navigate the ‘pet – living space’ conundrum easily. Keep reading to find out how much space a dog will need both indoors and outdoors.

We all need to wee, that’s a fact of life. However, whereas we can just pop off to the toilet to relieve ourselves as and when we need, it’s not that simple for our dogs. They can’t tell us when the time is nigh, and so have to rely on us to know when to let them out to do their business to avoid accidents in the house. But, how often do dogs need to pee? Should you be letting your four-legged friend out more often than you already do? And what about puppies? Keep reading to find out how often you should take your dog or puppy out to pee.

When you get a new dog, your life will change considerably, and one of the most significant changes is likely to be the daily walks your pup will require. Getting out in the fresh air is great for both you and your dog, as it gives you both a chance to exercise and burn off steam, stave off boredom with novel sights, sounds and sniffs, and it’s also a great opportunity for bonding between you and your four-legged friend. In the majority of cases, every pup should go on at least one walks each day. But how often should you walk a dog – and for how long? The answer depends on a few factors including breed, temperament, health, and age. Read on to find out how you can ensure your dog gets the perfect amount of daily exercise.

We all love our furry friends but can’t help but wonder how much time we actually have with them. We’ve put together an article to answer the question ‘how long do dogs live?’ and help you cherish your dog for years to come. Find out all you need to know below!

It’s only natural for your puppy to jump up when they’re excited or pleased to see you but this is something you should discourage before they grow up and this becomes a habit. So even though it might seem cute now, when your pup comes home with you, start to teach them the behaviours you’d like to see straight away. Find out more about how to stop a puppy from jumping up – and why they do it - by reading on.

Good music can improve anyone’s mood, our canine friends included! Some tunes might encourage us to put on our dancing shoes, while others have the calming abilities to put us to sleep - that’s just the magic of it. But there can be more to music than this — if your pup often experiences anxiety and shows signs of stress, playing certain types of music might be a good option to consider when trying to help them relax and settle down. While the idea of using soothing music for dogs to combat stress and anxiety might seem unconventional, studies have shown that music can in many cases have apositive impact on a dog’s behaviour. Read on to learn more about what types of sounds and music are best for calming them and how you may be able to use them as part of a strategy to help them navigate potentially stressful experiences.

When it comes to training dogs, the mantra always is ‘any behaviour that is reinforced will be repeated’. In other words if you are training your dog to sit, and when they do, you give them a yummy treat, they are more likely to sit when you ask in the future. Giving a treat as a reward for doing something you want is called positive reinforcement – and it is how we can train our dogs to do all the behaviours, exercises and tricks that we want to teach them. It’s also a great way to build a strong bond with your dog while you are working together. Training however is far easier if the dog knows exactly what bit of what they did you are so happy about and are rewarding – as by the time you get a treat out and given it to your dog, they have probably forgotten what it was they did that made you so happy. You can use a ‘marker word’ (like “good”) to pinpoint the specific thing you want them to repeat – or you can use a specific sound, such as a clicker.

Teaching your dog new behaviours and tricks is a good way to keep them active and mentally stimulated, as well as a great bonding opportunity for the two of you. If your dog has already mastered ‘sit’ and ‘down’, you can teach them how to roll over. Regardless of whether they’re pups or adult dogs, rolling over or at least lying on their side is a fun and easy trick for them to learn and can be extra helpful in certain situations likevet examinations. Not to mention the cuteness of it all! So, are you ready to learn how to teach a dog to roll over? Check out these easy and straightforward steps that you can follow to teach your little (or big) goofball some rolling skills!