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Lynnette Walczak

I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.

Want a singing dog? See how we taught our dog to sing on cue.

These cute puppy pictures were submitted by our readers. Feel free to send in pictures of YOUR adorable puppy!...

If your dog ever leaves the house, then here are some things you should do to assure that you are always prepared should you dog become separated from you -- or lost. And what to do in case of emergency. The best tip: prepare NOW by doing these simple things.

Here's how we taught our dogs to 'get the mail' or 'get the paper' and then immediately -- before it gets too soggy -- to 'give' it to us. This is an easy dog trick to teach. First, you begin with 'get'... then you end with 'give' or 'drop it'.

Dogs at drag racing events and other loud sporting events like hunting need ear protection. Here are some ideas for protecting your dog's ears from damaging loud noises. These might even work well for fireworks!

Check out this dog chew toy created in the likeness of Michael Vick. It is being sold to dog owners everywhere in hopes of bringing greater awareness to the issue of animal abuse.

Another funny dog tongue picture.

dog-pray

The fastest and easiest way to teach a dog a new trick is to build on some action that they already do well on their own. Then, just assign a name to it! Here's one example of how we did just that to teach our dog to pray.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to program the phone number of an emergency care center in your cellphone now. You never know when you might need a little after-hours care or advice.

There are a few things that I always have on me any time I'm out & about with my dog. I take different things, depending on whether we're going for a walk vs going for a ride in the car. Here's what we take...

Check out these funny videos of dogs scooting their butts on the carpet. Hey, it's only natural!

Lately, I've been seeing so many people riding around with their dogs in the car. Some have the windows completely down. Others have the windows partially rolled up, hoping to keep their dog from jumping out. I'm here to tell you: A dog can fall out of a window that is half-way or even most of the way rolled up!