Top Dog...
Bringing home a dog to join your family is exhilarating, rewarding and a lot of work! To make the transition as smooth as possible, animal behavior specialist and professional trainer Shelby Marlo offers expert advice to help you keep Rover in line and keep your house from going to the dogs.

Called the "Power Trainer" by Entertainment Weekly, and dubbed "top trainer to the stars" by E!, Entertainment Television, Shelby's popularity has skyrocketed among Hollywood's elite in recent years. In fact, clients like Barbra Streisand, Bridget Fonda and Kevin Costner have embraced Shelby's techniques to help them train their new puppies and to teach their old dogs some new tricks.

The key to her success? Her motivational training methods are simple and effective, using positive reinforcement and suitable alternatives for negative behaviors rather than punishment.

Bringing Home a New Puppy
Kids and dogs are a natural together, right? Not unless you properly train your new pet and teach your kids techniques to safely handle your new canine companion. Remember, a puppy is cute, but it isn't a toy. Don't expect a child under age 12 to take full responsibility for its care. These training tips can help your family through the "ruff" spots:

Don't give your puppy free run of the house - he'll develop a dominant attitude, be tougher to train, and he'll be more prone to having accidents indoors. Instead, set reasonable rules and boundaries that let the puppy know you are in charge.

To keep your dog from sleeping on the bed, train him to use a dog crate. Dogs are pack animals by nature, so they're instinctually drawn to a crate's den-like atmosphere. Trained properly, dogs will automatically return to their crates to sleep, and they won't soil their sleeping quarters if they can help it.

Don't wait to start obedience training. Dogs can learn basic commands such as "sit," "stay" and "come" as early as seven weeks.

Treat indoor "accidents" with patience. Never punish your dog after the fact, and don't rub his nose in the stain. These actions will only confuse him and may make him fearful of you and of relieving himself. Instead, take him outside and praise him for using the appropriate spot.

When stains do occur, immediately clean them with RESOLVE® Carpet Cleaner, which does not contain ammonia. Often dogs mistake the scent of ammonia-based cleaners for urine and will resoil the area.

Have children practice obedience commands with you. This will help the puppy learn to respect and obey your kids, and kids will learn what the puppy needs to thrive - gentle petting, calm voices and no running.

Puppies relieve anxiety by chewing. Provide chew toys to keep your pup from gnawing on furniture, shoes and other household items.

If your dog misbehaves, never strike him. Use instructive reprimands. If your dog jumps on people, say "sit;" if he barks, say "quiet."  Remember, only reprimand your dog when you catch him acting inappropriately. Reprimands after the fact only confuse him.

Introducing Rover to Your New Baby
If you're new parents and you own a dog ... be prepared. The arrival of your new baby may not be easily accepted by Rover if he was the "only child" until now. To help your dog adjust:

Before bringing an infant home, acquaint your dog with the baby's scent via a receiving blanket, baby powder, even a dirty diaper.

The day baby comes home, Mom should enter first to greet the dog. When the dog is calm, Dad and baby should enter. Avoid making the baby the center of attention for the first few hours to help minimize your dog's feelings of jealousy or rejection.

Despite your efforts, dogs may urine-mark carpet as a territorial gesture when the baby arrives. To minimize the bleaching effects of urine marks, immediately blot the affected area with paper towels, then spray with RESOLVE® Carpet Cleaner, wait three minutes and reblot.

Avoid running toward the baby when she cries as this could trigger your dog's chase/prey instinct.

When giving obedience commands, especially "lie down" and "sit," hold the baby in your arms to help transfer your dominance over the dog to the baby. The baby should always be kept at a higher level than your pet to reinforce this dominance.

The Secondhand Dog Finds a Home
Adopting a dog that has had a previous home is a wonderful experience that comes with unique set of joys and challenges. To help dog acclimate to his new home, shower him with love and affection.

You may also think its wise to allow him a short period of adjustment, before any rules are set. Wrong. Reasonable rules and boundaries are just what a secondhand dog needs when he joins a new family.

Pack animals by nature, dogs need a regimen and a strong leader not only to survive, but to become confident, especially when they've just lost their previous home and need to bond. To help you and your dog through the adjustment period:

Establish rules and boundaries immediately.

Come and go many times in the first hours after you bring the dog home. This will help him disassociate your departure with abandonment and alleviate anxious behavior.

Enroll your dog in an obedience class that uses kind, motivational methods to instruct. Offer treats or toys, as well as praise, for consistently good behavior.

Dogs love to play outside, but don't let dirty paws turn it into a negative experience. Keep old towels handy near entrance ways and clean high-traffic areas often with RESOLVE® High Traffic™ Carpet Cleaning Granules. Unlike traditional cleaning methods, RESOLVE® removes ground-in dirt without leaving carpet wet and soggy.

Practice low-key arrivals and departures. Don't use phrases such as "Be a good boy" or "I'll be right back" when you exit the house. The dog will get anxious every time you say it because he'll know you're leaving.

Tips to Keep Your House From Going to the Dogs
To remove stains and help avoid carpet discoloration from urine marks, use RESOLVE® Trigger Spray Carpet Cleaner. RESOLVE® cleans the toughest pet stains and also protects against resoiling.

Everyday activity inevitably causes carpet wear and tear. To rejuvenate tired carpet, use RESOLVE® Foam Carpet Cleaner. it cleans deep down to remove that dingy look while it renews and refreshes the entire carpet.

To clean paw and shoe prints in areas of heavy use, try RESOLVE® High Traffic™ Carpet Cleaning Granules. Unlike machine cleaners, it effectively cleans ground-in soils without leaving a soggy, wet carpet. Your room will be ready to use in one hour.

Dirty paw prints on your chair or sofa? RESOLVE® Fabric & Upholstery Cleaner removes the toughest spots and stains from fabric and upholstered furniture.

The "HOME ALONE" Syndrome
Separation anxiety is a common problem with secondhand dogs. Left alone, the dog becomes so anxious that his new owner may never return that he howls, barks and relieves himself in the house. Typically, the owner, oblivious to the dog's anxiety, will return home and punish the dog.

Punished after the fact, the confused dog becomes even more anxious. To alleviate the anxiety now associated with the owners return, the dog chews and barks even more. The solution? Patience and behavior modification training for both dog and owner.