Dog Experts FAQ

Dogtopia’s experts can provide a wealth of information about health, safety, nutrition and dog behavior. We employ an environmental biologist, a veterinary scientist and an animal behaviorist. Together, this dream team helps to ensure the highest level of safety in all Dogtopia locations — as well as offering you advice on keeping your pup happy and healthy. Browse our frequently asked questions below:

Behavior
Care
Grooming
Health
Safety
Socialization
Training

Behavior

How do you train a puppy not to bite?
How do you stop a dog from barking?
How do you help a dog with separation anxiety?
How do I get my dog to stop jumping on the counters?
What is the best way to introduce a new dog into a home that already has a dog?
Why does my puppy bark at my child? Do they just want to play?
How do I keep my dog calm while walking around other dogs?
How do I change my dog’s behavior from peeing in the middle of the night to more regular hours?
What do I do when my new dog starts misbehaving at the dog park, especially when they single out specific people to bark at/nip?
Why is my puppy digging in his water bowl?
How do you stop a puppy from biting and nipping at your hands when you are trying to pet them?
Why does my dog steal things like socks and bury them in the backyard?
Why has my dog begun barking at other dogs on the street even though he has been socialized?
My three-year-old dog has become aggressive when he sees other dogs. Why?
How do I stop my dog from jumping on guests?

Care

What is the difference between a Service Dog, an Emotional Support Dog and a Therapy Dog?
How often should you see your vet?
What is the best way to remove pee and pee odors from flooring and soft surfaces?
What’s the best way to remove fur from clothing, furniture and flooring?
What kind of toys should I be buying for a new and teething puppy?
Do I need to brush my dog’s teeth?
What should I do to be prepared for an emergency with my dog?
What is the best way to handle odor?

Grooming

Does my dog need dental cleaning? Is there risk with being under anesthesia when getting their teeth cleaned?
When should my puppy have his first bath?

Health

Is the slow kill method of heartworm treatment effective?
Should I be worried if my dog was diagnosed with a heart murmur?
Can I give my dog extra fish oil?
What is the best diet and wellness regimen to help dogs lose weight and exercise, especially senior dogs with arthritis?
Can I give my dog CBD oil for anxiety?
What is a healthy weight for my dog?
My dog sneezes a lot, is it because he is excited or is it an allergy?
What food should I feed my puppy?
How do you check your dog for ticks?
After my puppy is fixed, when can they start going up and down stairs?
How do you know if your dog is suffering from dry eye?
Does diet affect the smell of a dog?
Why did my dog get Kennel Cough, even after taking getting the vaccine?
What do I do to help my dog’s grass allergy, short of ripping up my backyard?
Why does my dog sometimes walk around the house when he pees?
Can my dog make me sick?
Is my dog overweight? He doesn’t eat much.
What are the developmental stages for a puppy?
Will my puppy get sick in daycare?
What is the Bordetella vaccine?
What is the DHLPP vaccine?
Why is the rabies vaccine required for dogs?

Safety

Is it, or is it not, safe to play with laser pointers with dogs?
Should I get pet insurance?
How do I ensure the toys and food I give to my dog is safe?
Are there any dog toys to avoid?
What should be included in the family first aid kit for my dog?
Do I need to be careful using an essential oil diffuser around my dog?
Do I really need flea, tick and heartworm medication?
How can I be sure my dog’s new toys are safe?

Socialization

How do I get my boxer to have better experiences at the dog park?
How do I encourage my cats to come down stairs when there is a dog in the house?
How do I get my puppy and older dog to get along?
Does the length of a dog’s nose affect how they interact with others?
How do I introduce my dog to our neighbor’s new dog?
Does my puppy get all the socialization needed at Dogtopia?
Is a full day of daycare too much for a puppy?

Training

What are puppy training tips for the first week?
How do you train a dog to walk on a leash?
How do you train a dog not to bite?
How do you stop a puppy from barking when left alone?
What are a few easy training tips for dogs?
What are different types of training methods for dogs?
When is the best time to start training a puppy?
How do I teach my puppy their name?
How do I get my two dogs, who walk well separately, to walk well together?
Why does my dog bark all the time at home, but not at daycare?
Why does my dog start to pee when they meet new people/get excited?
How do I train, especially when other dogs and distractions are around?
How do I prevent my dog from spilling water in its crate?
Do potty pads confuse dogs about going inside the house?
How do I stop my dog from jumping on the table and taking down my decorations?
How do I get my dog to potty train?
My timid dog barks at everything he hears in the house. What do I do?
How do I get my 11-month old puppy to stop chewing on my dining room table?

Dog Experts FAQ

Behavior

How do you train a puppy not to bite?

How do you stop a dog from barking?

How do you help a dog with separation anxiety?

How do I get my dog to stop jumping on the counters?

What is the best way to introduce a new dog into a home that already has a dog?

Why does my puppy bark at my child? Do they just want to play?

How do I keep my dog calm while walking around other dogs?

How do I change my dog’s behavior from peeing in the middle of the night to more regular hours?

What do I do when my new dog starts misbehaving at the dog park, especially when they single out specific people to bark at/nip?

Why is my puppy digging in his water bowl?

How do you stop a puppy from biting and nipping at your hands when you are trying to pet them?

Why does my dog steal things like socks and bury them in the backyard?

Why has my dog begun barking at other dogs on the street even though he has been socialized?

My three-year-old dog has become aggressive when he sees other dogs. Why?

How do I stop my dog from jumping on guests?

Care

What is the difference between a Service Dog, an Emotional Support Dog and a Therapy Dog?

How often should you see your vet?

What is the best way to remove pee and pee odors from flooring and soft surfaces?

What’s the best way to remove fur from clothing, furniture and flooring?

What kind of toys should I be buying for a new and teething puppy?

Do I need to brush my dog’s teeth?

What should I do to be prepared for an emergency with my dog?

What is the best way to handle odor?

Grooming

Does my dog need dental cleaning? Is there risk with being under anesthesia when getting their teeth cleaned?

When should my puppy have his first bath?

Health

Is the slow kill method of heartworm treatment effective?

Should I be worried if my dog was diagnosed with a heart murmur?

Can I give my dog extra fish oil?

What is the best diet and wellness regimen to help dogs lose weight and exercise, especially senior dogs with arthritis?

Can I give my dog CBD oil for anxiety?

What is a healthy weight for my dog?

My dog sneezes a lot, is it because he is excited or is it an allergy?

What food should I feed my puppy?

How do you check your dog for ticks?

After my puppy is fixed, when can they start going up and down stairs?

How do you know if your dog is suffering from dry eye?

Does diet affect the smell of a dog?

Why did my dog get Kennel Cough, even after taking getting the vaccine?

What do I do to help my dog’s grass allergy, short of ripping up my backyard?

Why does my dog sometimes walk around the house when he pees?

Can my dog make me sick?

Is my dog overweight? He doesn’t eat much.

What are the developmental stages for a puppy?

Will my puppy get sick in daycare?

What is the Bordetella vaccine?

What is the DHLPP vaccine?

Why is the rabies vaccine required for dogs?

Safety

Is it, or is it not, safe to play with laser pointers with dogs?

Should I get pet insurance?

How do I ensure the toys and food I give to my dog is safe?

Are there any dog toys to avoid?

What should be included in the family first aid kit for my dog?

Do I need to be careful using an essential oil diffuser around my dog?

Do I really need flea, tick and heartworm medication?

How can I be sure my dog’s new toys are safe?

Socialization

How do I get my boxer to have better experiences at the dog park?

How do I encourage my cats to come down stairs when there is a dog in the house?

How do I get my puppy and older dog to get along?

Does the length of a dog’s nose affect how they interact with others?

How do I introduce my dog to our neighbor’s new dog?

Does my puppy get all the socialization needed at Dogtopia?

Is a full day of daycare too much for a puppy?

Training

What are puppy training tips for the first week?

How do you train a dog to walk on a leash?

How do you train a dog not to bite?

How do you stop a puppy from barking when left alone?

What are a few easy training tips for dogs?

What are different types of training methods for dogs?

When is the best time to start training a puppy?

How do I teach my puppy their name?

How do I get my two dogs, who walk well separately, to walk well together?

Why does my dog bark all the time at home, but not at daycare?