Happy New Year, DogTails readers! 2014 was a busy year for us on the blog. We covered popular news stories about dogs, brought you training and health tips for every season, tackled some of the challenges of life with puppy, and (hopefully) made you laugh with photos and videos of dogs being dogs. 2015 looks to an even more exiting year for us at DogWatch, but before we get there, we wanted to review some of our favorite blog posts from the past year. Happy reading!

Chihuahua puppy on carpetThe Do’s and Don’ts of Potty Training Your Puppy
There’s a lot of love about puppies, but an accident on the new sofa is not one of those things. Housebreaking your puppy can be a challenge, and if you’ve never done it, it’s hard to know where to start. To help, we compiled this collection of do’s and don’ts of potty training your puppy, including a helpful video and some advice to keep your puppy happy and yourself sane during the process.

DogWatch dog in snow5 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Dogs
We are in the middle of a very cold week at DogWatch HQ in Massachusetts. If you also experience frigid winters, it’s important to make sure your dog is prepared for the chilly days ahead. To help, DogWatch has put together a list of 5 cold weather safety tips for dog owners, including protecting your dog’s vulnerable paws and adding indoor playtime to make up for shorter outdoor walks.

Spaniel mom and puppyWhat Is Your Dog’s Lifespan?
Back in February, we shared this chart listing the average lifespan of over 100 dog breeds. Lifespan varies from breed to breed, and depends on other variables too, such as genetic disease, weight, gender and whether the dog is spayed or neutered. Female dogs live longer than males by an average of one and a half years, while spaying and neutering can give a dog protection from certain kinds of cancer.

Beagle puppy jumping“Down, Boy, Don’t Jump On Our Guests!”
Hosting guests at your home can be stressful for dogs and dog owners. We compiled these training tips to help you teach your dog the proper behavior and ensure that you, your guests and your dog all enjoy the visit. Included is a video featuring Dog Trainer Martin Deeley, in which he demonstrates how to train a dog to go their place (for example, a dog bed). The “place” command is a great way to teach your dog not to jump on guest, but instead wait for the right time to say a calm “hello.”

Lucy in her Oreo cookie costumeHowl-O-Ween: 10 Homemade Halloween Dog Costume Ideas for Beginners to Experts
We had a lot of fun putting together this post on 10 creative homemade dog costumes for Halloween. Our own dogs even got involved, with DogWatch office dog Lucy modeling her Oreo cookie ensemble. Even though next Halloween is a long ways off, it’s always fun to scroll through these suggestions and the accompanying photos of costumed canines!

Now that we have looked back at 2014, let us know if there are any topics you’d like us to cover in 2015.  We’d love your ideas and input!  Thanks!

Photo of Beagle puppy jumping: “A Very Excited Puppy” by Eric Danley. CC2.0.