Thanks to the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program, good dogs everywhere (mixed breeds included) can try their paws at certification. After they pass, not only can they include the prestigious “CGC” after their name, but they may be able gain special access too. For example, a landlord may consider renting to a family with a certified Canine Good Citizen versus one without the certification.

The test is also a prerequisite for working and therapy dogs, and it’s simply a great foundation upon which to build upon. Learn all about it here.

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As a dog owner, she’s curious to learn why dogs do the things they do and what they know, and as a cognitive scientist, she’s curious about understanding them on another level. Horowitz explores our understanding of the dog’s world view with practical application for the people who love them. Read a few excerpts from the book at the author’s site here.

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By taking the time to recognize these subtle cues, we can improve communication in our own little pack. In her critically acclaimed book, On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, Turid Rugaas describes over 30 different universal calming signals. Watch your dog canine conversation starters like yawning, freezing, licking and sniffing the ground, then read about more them at her site here.

Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan.

Leading canine researcher Stanley Coren, PhD, broke the news during his speech “How Dogs Think” at the recent American Psychological Association’s Convention. As it turns out, some super brainy dog breeds can even master 250 words including signals and gestures.

Read more about Coren’s research and see his top and bottom five smartest dog breeds here.

Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan.

Imagine it – your dog becoming a certified Dog Scout, participating in your community, and earning up to over 70 merit badges to wear on his adorable little cape. He can to earn badges for backpacking, tracking, even painting by paw. It’s every pup’s dream. Visit the Dog Scouts site to find a troop to join in your area, learn how to start a local chapter and more. We know you’ll love it as much as we did, Dog Scout’s Honor.

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Proving legal ownership requires showing that your name is on the following paperwork: Adoption application or breeder sales contract, veterinary records, city licensing forms, and microchip documents.

If you’re not able to do this, legal experts say it’s best to negotiate early on with the other party – before tempers begin to flare – to come to a mutually agreeable solution. To help with those talks,consider hiring a professional mediator.

Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here.

Next spray the soiled area using a mixture of one cup white vinegar and four cups of water. After a few minutes, rub the spot with a damp cloth. Then sprinkle the area (even if it’s still wet) with a mixture of one cup baking soda and two drops of bergamot oil, a pleasant smelling essential oil sold in health food stores. If it starts to bubble, don’t worry, that just means it’s working. Allow the mixture to completely dry before vacuuming.

Before trying this tip, test the mixture in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t discolor your rug.

Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here.

Parents – I generally tell my clients to find one hour long or two half hour long television shows they like and use commercials for training breaks. Average time spent training each day? Fifteen minutes.

If for any reason you are concerned about your children’s safety around your dogs, consult a well-qualified training professional or behaviorist immediately. Need help finding a good trainer or behaviorist? Try the Association for Pet Dog Trainers and the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants.

Parents – 3 components to safety in dog-child relationships:

1. Educate yourself. Learn about canine body language, stress signals.

2. Manage the situation – do not allow your child to approach unfriendly dogs, be unsupervised with dogs, or approach dogs in the situations listed above.

3. Train your dog – this means socializing them well, training behaviors like “leave it,” “go settle on a mat,” crate training, a recall, and a reliable sit and down.

To learn more, go to www.doggonesafe.com.

Parents – reinforce your dog for looking away from a child who is “being a tree.” Learn the “be a tree” posture and demonstrate it to your children (for more on “be a tree’” check out www.doggonesafe.com).