Some barking is normal — it’s how dogs talk. But nonstop barking is stressful for you, your neighbors, and often your dog too. The key to fixing it is simple: figure out why your dog is barking, then address that reason. This guide walks you through it. Quick answer: Dogs bark for a reason —
How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking: A Calm, Step-by-Step Guide Read More »
The short answer: Dogs bark at “everything” because something about those moments reliably pays off for them — usually alarm barking at movement or noise, attention-seeking, boredom, or anxiety. Barking always serves a purpose for the dog, so the fix is to find the trigger, manage the environment, reward quiet behavior, train a “quiet” cue,
Why Does My Dog Bark at Everything? 9 Causes and What Actually Helps Read More »
How long can a dog be in a crate? Most healthy adult dogs handle 4 to 6 hours of daytime crate time and a full night of crated sleep. Puppies under six months need far less — roughly their age in months plus one hour. On October 8, 2026, New Zealand proposed $500 fines for
How Long Can a Dog Be in a Crate? New Zealand Just Proposed Fines for Over-Crating Read More »
The puppy in your lap right now is a sponge — and the clock is ticking. Between roughly 3 and 14 weeks of age, your puppy’s brain is wired to accept new experiences as normal. After that window narrows (around 16 weeks), unfamiliar things start registering as suspicious instead of interesting. That makes a puppy
Puppy Socialization Checklist: 100 Experiences Before 16 Weeks Read More »
Staring at a crate in the corner and a puppy who treats it like a prison cell? You’re not doing anything wrong — you’re just missing the sequence. Learning how to crate train a puppy isn’t about forcing your dog inside and waiting out the protests. It’s about a short, deliberate process that turns the
How to Crate Train a Puppy: Step-by-Step Guide Read More »
Separation anxiety in dogs is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — behavior problems owners face. The short version: it is treatable, but it takes gradual desensitization, not quick fixes. A calm 14-day starter plan built on short, structured sessions can lay the foundation for a dog who learns that being alone
Separation Anxiety in Dogs: A Calm 14-Day Starter Plan Read More »
Most adult dogs need between 30 minutes and 2 hours of activity per day — and the right number for your dog comes down to energy level, age, and health. A Border Collie and a Bulldog are not playing the same sport. Puppies need short, frequent sessions (the 5-minute rule below), and seniors do best
How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need Per Day? By Breed, Age and Energy Read More »
Get a personalized 14-day starter plan for your dog’s behavior challenge. Answer a few quick questions and receive a day-by-day, force-free plan for separation anxiety, excessive barking, or recall training — built around your dog’s age, symptoms, and the time you have each day. Get your free new-puppy starter checklist Join the BlueTarg email list
Dog Behavior Plan Generator Read More »
Four hours is the welfare guidance for a healthy adult dog, and less for puppies and seniors. Here is the breakdown by age, and what to do when your day does not fit.
How Long Can You Leave a Dog Alone? Read More »
Enter your puppy’s date of birth and get every vaccine, the socialisation window, teething, feeding changes and adolescence on real calendar dates.
Puppy Timeline: Vaccines, Socialisation and Milestones by Date Read More »
