Books Five SFF Bookstores and Libraries I’d Love to Browse From cozy secondhand bookshops to massive multiversal libraries, here are five fictional places we’re longing to visit… By Cole Rush | Published on May 31, 2024 Art by Carson Lowmiller (Bookshops & Bonedust, Tor Books) Comment 0 Share New Share Art by Carson Lowmiller (Bookshops & Bonedust, Tor Books) Readers can never truly get enough of books, and the proof is in the pages: Even when we’re reading to escape to another world, we love when we encounter the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of places packed with shelves of old and new books. Bookshops and libraries tend to make appearances in many of my favorite sci-fi and fantasy tales, and they’re always a welcome addition to any fictional world. I never pass up a chance to explore a bookshop, even when I’m right in the middle of a story! Here are five of my favorite bookish settings in SFF, featuring the kinds of bookshops and libraries designed to capture the imagination of any bookworm… A.Z. Fell & Co (Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman) Aziraphale is such a tease. He founded A.Z. Fell & Co in the 1800s as a place to store his incredible rare book collection. The problem? He doesn’t sell any of his books, so it’s essentially a massive personal library. That doesn’t stop me from wanting to wander in through those big doors and peruse the volumes Aziraphale has found over the years. His shop has that undefinable je ne sais quoi every book lover knows. It’s a cozy, warm, dimly lit room full of comfortable furniture and natural ambiance that makes for a perfect reading environment. While it’s a damn shame we can’t visit this heavenly bookshop in real life, RadioTimes got us close with last year’s excellent profile of the A.Z. Fell & Co set for the Good Omens TV series. Thistleburr Booksellers (Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree) Travis Baldree found a legion of fans with his breakout debut, Legends & Lattes. He struck gold again with Bookshops & Bonedust, a charming prequel that follows orc barbarian Viv as she recovers from a battle-related injury in a quaint seaside town. Impatient and frustrated with being temporarily out of action and worried that her comrades won’t return for her, Viv finds solace in fixing up the town’s bookshop, run by a foul-mouthed rattkin named Fern. The bookshop starts off as a musty, ramshackle place reminiscent of many an older used bookstore, filled with dusty tomes. Through hard work, a few grassroots marketing campaigns, and a bit of charm, the bookshop soon becomes a destination for readers of all sorts–poetry buffs, romantasy fans, and everyone in between. After it’s fixed up and finally thriving following years of neglect, Fern’s bookshop retains its homey feel. The result is a wonderful bookshop and a cornerstone of Murk, the seaside community that soon falls in love with books in a way that will be instantly familiar to any reader. Natsuki Books (The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa) Rintaro’s grandfather passes away and leaves him the local secondhand bookstore, Natsuki Books. The reclusive and antisocial Rintaro plans to close the shop and move in with his well-to-do aunt. When a talking cat saunters in, asking Rintaro to join him on a quest to save books, the whole plan goes awry. Rintaro becomes embroiled in an effort to “rescue” books from owners who don’t want the best for the stories within their pages. Since I’ve written about my fondness for cats on Reactor in the past, you might be wondering whether my intentions are pure, including a book like this on such a list. “This guy loves cats,” you might say. “He just wants a talking cat to take him on a bookish quest.” Of course I do. Sure, Natsuki Books is a charming shop full of rare and esoteric tomes containing vast sums of knowledge. But the prospect of being guided through a labyrinth of shelves and into corners of the world in dire need of help—the kind of help only a shy bookworm can provide—is just too good for me to pass up. When my quests are complete, I’ll curl up in the cozy nooks of Natsuki Books and reminisce on my adventures with my nose firmly lodged between the pages of my latest read. The Library of the Neitherlands (The Magicians by Lev Grossman) Imagine a library connecting all universes and collecting every single story, told or untold, within its infinite walls. If you can do this, then you have a sense of the expansiveness of the multiversal Library of the Neitherlands from Lev Grossman’s The Magicians series. I wasn’t sure about including this one on this list, thanks to the sheer volume of knowledge in the library. It quite literally contains all the knowledge in the universe, and that’s a dangerous place to get lost in. What wonders and horrors might it hold? What might you learn about yourself, your dearest loved ones, or your greatest enemies if you could spend an hour or a day in this library? Or perhaps you would seek the answers to some of life’s big questions, whatever you deem them to be! The thought of it gives me chills both out of fear and excitement, and I ended up deciding to include the Library of the Neitherlands here because, if my safety was guaranteed, I’d definitely visit… for a while. The Library (The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern) Author Erin Morgenstern is no stranger to settings that overflow with magic, wonder, and whimsy. I loved her worldbuilding and descriptions in The Night Circus, and The Starless Sea carries on the tradition. The ancient underground library of The Starless Sea features mysteries and personal secrets galore, as protagonist Zachary discovers within the book’s pages. Like the Library of the Neitherlands, this library is impossibly labyrinthine and absolutely massive. It is full of twists and turns and doors leading to odd places. And for any fans of felines who might be reading, it’s got plenty of cats. Leave it to Erin Morgenstern to take something utterly familiar to readers and turn it into a captivating and unforgettable fantasy locale. Perhaps one day, we’ll get to cross a painted threshold and see the place for ourselves… Alright, readers—you know the drill! Please recommend your own favorite SFF bookstores and libraries in the comments below.[end-mark] The post Five SFF Bookstores and Libraries I’d Love to Browse appeared first on Reactor.

PANICORE is a co-op survival horror game by ZTEK Studio that uses audio technology to adapt the behavior of its terrifying entities to the level of noise the player is making — both in-game and in real life. Despite being petrified of my own shadow at the best of times, the thought of being able to scream at a monster and cause it to sprint up to my friend and eat them (sorry, Anyka!) was intriguing enough to dive into the equally horrific and hilarious experience. Developed entirely by two horror-loving brothers fresh to the industry, PANICORE is a low-budget but engrossing take on the co-op survival horror genre. Players take on the role of an explorer drawn to the mystery of abandoned buildings, which conveniently all host monsters (dubbed “entities”) that trap them inside. With only a flashlight in hand, players must work together to find the necessary materials to repair or create an escape, all while the entity can hear your every move. A sound strategy PAN...

Volga Middle School is the first level of PANICORE, throwing players into a dark and dreary hallway with nothing but a flashlight and a hideous monster lurking around the corner. Here’s how to escape and beat the game’s first level. There are two different methods of escaping Volga Middle School in Panicore: building the ladder or fixing the car. The ladder escape is typically the fastest and earns you an achievement, but the car method can be an option if you find the necessary items first. Table of ContentsHow to build the ladder and escape the school in PanicoreHow to get wood, rope, and the sawHow to build the ladder (Carpenter achievement)How to escape using the ladder in PanicoreHow to get the emergency door keyQuick recapHow to escape the school using the car in PanicoreHow to fix the carQuick recap How to build the ladder and escape the school in Panicore Players can escape the school in Panicore by crafting a ladder an...

Yesterday, former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges after the jury deliberated for only two days. He had been on trial for a hush money scandal that many believe was a weaponization of the court system to try and take down a candidate who was likely to beat current President Joe Biden. There is a huge variety of responses to the Trump verdict: everything from celebration to condemnation. How commentators reacted to the Trump verdict Independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr was appalled by the entire courtroom fiasco. The Democratic Party’s strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box. This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic. America deserves a President who can win at the ballot box without compromising our government’s… — Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 30, 2024 Other commentators have said this is a call for civil war. Even some Democrats are outraged. Shaun Maguire, the big kahuna at Sequoia Capital, immediately donated $300,000 to Trump’s campaign. He wrote: I just donated $300k to Trump. I’m prepared to lose friends. Here’s why. Back in 2016 I had drunk the media Kool-Aid and was scared out of my mind about Trump. As such I donated to Hilary Clinton’s campaign and voted for her. By 2020 I was disillusioned and didn’t vote – I didn’t like either option. Now, in 2024, I believe this is one of the most important elections of my lifetime, and I’m supporting Trump. I know that I’ll lose friends for this. Some will refuse to do business with me. The media will probably demonize me, as they have so many others before me. But despite this, I still believe it’s the right thing to do. I refuse to live in a society where people are afraid to speak. He’s not the only one putting his money where his mouth is. So many people flocked to donate that Trump’s website crashed. Commentator Colin Rugg summarized: HAPPENING NOW: President Donald Trump receives massive wave of support after he was found guilty in the New York City trial, crashing his donation page. Sequoia Capital’s Shaun Maguire: Donated $300,000 to Trump’s campaign. Lee Zeldin: Secured an $800k donation for Trump’s Joint Fundraising Committee. Tim Pool: “I have just donated the maximum to Donald Trump.” Tucker Carlson: “Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw. This won’t stop Trump. He’ll win the election if he’s not k*lled first.” Megyn Kelly: “Guilty on all counts. The country is disgraced. Alvin Bragg should be disbarred. They will rue the day they unleashed this lawfare to corrupt a presidential election.” Scott Adams: “I just donated to Trump. The donation page crashed from traffic. This is the hill to die on.” Tristan Tate: “Trump donation page? Link?” Piers Morgan: “Trump’s donation websites are crashing… my guess is this verdict will propel him back into the White House.” Supporters on X: Donating amounts of $3300 and $1000. But it doesn’t really matter what the pundits think. I’m curious what YOU think about this verdict. Do you feel it was just? Do you feel the courts have been weaponized? Has this made you change your mind in either direction about supporting Trump in the presidential election? Will this help him or hinder him in the upcoming election? Clearly, we won’t all agree, but let’s remain civil and discuss it in the comments section. The post How Folks Are Responding to the Trump Verdict appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Following our recent reporting about the rise of “bias incident” reporting systems on college campuses, threatening free speech, Speech First has filed a lawsuit against Indiana University and several of its officials, challenging the university’s bias incidents policy. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleges that the policy infringes on students’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. We obtained a copy of the lawsuit for you here. Speech First, a nationwide membership organization dedicated to preserving civil rights and free speech, claims that Indiana University’s “bias incident” policy stifles open discourse and chills protected speech. The policy defines a bias incident as “any conduct, speech, or expression, motivated in whole or in part by bias or prejudice meant to intimidate, demean, mock, degrade, marginalize, or threaten individuals or groups based on that individual or group’s actual or perceived identities.” According to the complaint, this broad and vague definition allows the university to police a wide range of speech, deterring students from expressing controversial or unpopular opinions. The policy’s enforcement mechanisms include tracking and logging incidents, investigating reports, and potentially referring students for disciplinary action. Speech First’s lawsuit argues that the bias incidents policy is a content-based and viewpoint-based restriction on speech, which is presumptively unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The plaintiffs assert that the policy’s overbreadth and vagueness violate the constitutional rights of Indiana University students, who fear repercussions for expressing their views on sensitive topics such as gender identity, immigration, and racial issues. The complaint highlights the experiences of several anonymous students, identified as Students A through E, who refrain from fully expressing their views due to the potential consequences of being reported for bias incidents. These students hold political views that are often in the minority on campus, and they fear that their speech will be labeled as biased, leading to administrative action against them. The lawsuit references several legal precedents where courts have struck down similar policies at other universities. For instance, Speech First successfully challenged bias response teams at the University of Texas, the University of Michigan, and the University of Central Florida, leading to the disbandment of these teams. In these cases, courts recognized that such policies impose an “objective chill” on speech by implicitly threatening punishment and intimidation. Speech First argues that Indiana University’s bias incidents policy similarly creates a surveillance state on campus, where students must guard their speech to avoid being reported and investigated. The complaint calls for a declaratory judgment that the policy is unconstitutional and seeks a permanent injunction to prevent its enforcement. This lawsuit comes at a time when issues of free speech and academic freedom are highly contentious on college campuses across the United States. Surveys have shown that a significant percentage of college students feel unable to express their views without fear of retaliation. At Indiana University, a 2022 campus climate survey revealed that 61% of conservative undergraduates feared speaking up for what they think. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Students Sue Indiana University Over “Bias Incident” Reporting System appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

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The saying goes that good things come in small packages, and while the discovery of the world's largest genome in any organism is an incredible find, the reality is a little bit more complicated than that. The New Caledonian fork fern species Tmesipteris oblanceolata has a genome that when stretched out would be taller than Big Ben’s tower, and is now a three-time world record holder. With more than 100 meters of DNA (328 feet), the tiny unassuming fork fern has the largest amount of DNA stored in the nucleus of any living organism on the planet. To put this into context, the human genome has 3.1 gigabase pairs, which would stretch out to around 2 meters (6.5 feet), while T. oblanceolata has 160.45. The fern has thereby taken the largest fern genome, the largest plant genome, and the largest genome world records. That means that these plants with the bigger genomes are less efficient or less able to grow quickly.Dr Ilia LeitchWhile this may sound surprising for such a small plant, six of the top 10 largest genomes are held by plants. The previous title holder Paris japonica, a Japanese flowering plant, has a genome of 148.89 gigabase pairs, while in the animal kingdom the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) joined the party at 129.90 Gbp, with the salamander species the Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi) at 117.47 gigabase pairs. These species have some of the largest genomes among animals, but they're far smaller than these plants. Despite holding the world record, T. oblanceolata is actually at more of a disadvantage than its smaller-genomed compatriots. Having a big genome and lots of DNA requires big cells, meaning that the larger-genomed species are more likely to be slower growing and less efficient at photosynthesis. Packed into the nucleus of each cell is 100 meters (328 feet) of tightly ravelled DNA.Image credit: Pol Fernandez“In the majority of cases, it's a negative fact. If you have a big genome, you have to have a big cell to house it in. So what we see is that plants with big genomes are restricted, so less efficient photosynthesis than species with small genomes, where you get a whole range of photosynthetic efficiency. And of course, photosynthesis makes sugar, which makes the ability to put on biomass. That means that these plants with the bigger genomes are less efficient or less able to grow quickly,” Dr Ilia Leitch, Senior Research Leader – Character Evolution at RBG Kew, told IFLScience.As well as less efficient photosynthesis, the giant genome of T. oblanceolata means it is less able to compete with other more fast-growing species. The genome is so large that the team believes the fern to be octoploid, meaning it has eight sets of chromosomes. Humans, by contrast, are diploid, only having two sets. Plants are so important for the survival of our planet, and all our life depends on plants. Dr Ilia Leitch“The bigger your genomes, the more constraints you have on ecological opportunities and your ability to grow and compete successfully with other plants. And so, the species with the biggest genomes, like Paris japonica or Tmesipteris, this fork fern, tend to be found in very stable environments, which are not competitive,” continued Leitch. With the record breaker now firmly in the history books the question remains: Could we find something with an even bigger genome? Leitch doesn’t think so.“This genus Tmesipteris, this fork fern genus, they're 15 species. And we've got genome size data now for five or six of them. And this is the record holder, but there are others, which are in that same area, but not quite as big. It's possible if we got one other one, we were able to collect and analyze it, it might be 161 gigabases, but I don't think we're gonna get something that is 200 gigabases.”To even get to analyze this plant was an achievement in itself, as senior authors Dr Jaume Pellicer and Dr Oriane Hidalgo traveled to New Caledonia to work with locals to find and transport the plant back to Europe for testing. This analysis involved flow cytometry, using dye to stain the DNA in the nuclei within the cells and then measuring how much dye had bound to the DNA. The specimen was collected in New Caledonia and found to have a genome 7 percent bigger than the previous record holder.Image credit: Pol Fernandez“If this tiny little plant, which, you know, you really wouldn't notice if you trod on it, you know, but it holds this world record high. If it can raise the profile of plants – because plants are so important for the survival of our planet, and all our life depends on plants, because they produce the oxygen we breathe, the air, the clothes that we wear, often the food that we eat. So, keeping plants in people's minds is always good,” concluded Leitch. The study is published in iScience.

In a surprising turn of events, Thursday's CBS Mornings covered the growing issue of the housing market, especially in swing states, and an economic crisis that ripples through the rest of the economy. Even more admirable was political correspondent Ed O’Keefe explaining how crucial this topic will be in the next election. O’Keefe went to Arizona, where the issue of affordable housing is a major problem with ownership out of reach for 42% of Arizonans in a CBS poll. He asked locals their thoughts: MAN: Most normal people are pushed out of line. WOMAN: Whether you’re housing, whether you’re renting, everything's increasing. WOMAN #2: Oh, it's outrageous right now. At this point, we're saying that we’re probably not going to be able to move.         A local realtor of the same area described the same issues, explaining the changes a time has made on the market:  NATHAN CLAIRBORN: I mean, affordability is certainly the issue here. Your police, your teachers, your firefighters, they can’t afford this house. O’KEEFE: Or this one he showed us, with three bedrooms -- CLAIRBORN: All new flooring, all the fixtures are new. O’KEEFE: -- listed for over half million dollars. This might have been 20 to 40 years ago, a starter home.  CLAIRBORN: Yeah! O’KEEFE: Now, this is the end goal. CLAIRBORN: This is the move up home, yeah absolutely.  Yet what was most important was the impact upon November’s election. After his taped report, O’Keefe said none of those interviewed had decided who they planned to vote for. Yet one thing is for sure, maybe four years ago this may not have been the situation for many: O’KEEFE: Is it easier or harder to buy a home now than, say, it was four years ago? GRAFT: Harder. TUTTLE: Definitely harder. GRAFT: Mmhm O’KEEFE: And Clairborn agrees. [TO CLAIRBORN] It does seem increasingly like it's out of reach for a lot of people. CLAIRBORN: Yeah. It doesn’t just seem out of reach, it is mathematically out of reach for lots and lots of people. Afterword, co-host Tony Dokoupil agreed: TONY DOKOUPIL: It’s a nightmare for most people. And one of the big issues that Ed touched on is people with blue-collar jobs, cops, firefighters, nurses, they can't live in the neighborhoods where they’re working. And a great example of that Archie Bunker, all the family, that house is in Queens, still there. I went to that neighborhood recently. Just was curious — asking people, there's no dock workers, taxi drivers, regular people. It's all doctors, lawyers, tech workers now....Got to fix it.   The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CBS Mornings 5/30/2024 11:37:49 AM ET   MICHELLE MILLER: In today's Money Watch, we look at one economic indicator that could hit home in the presidential election: the high cost of buying that first home and living the American dream. This may feel almost unattainable in key battleground states like Arizona where would-be buyers face housing shortages and high interest rates. Ed O’Keefe spoke with some first time buyers, in the Phoenix area. [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Money Watch; Price of the American Dream; People Struggling to Buy First Home Could Help Decide Election] ED O’KEEFE: This election year in key battleground states, the keys to a first home may feel further out of reach. MAN: Most normal people are pushed out of line. WOMAN: Whether you’re housing, whether you’re renting, everything's increasing. WOMAN #2: Oh, it's outrageous right now. At this point, we're saying that we’re probably not going to be able to move. O’KEEFE: The housing market, up almost everywhere, is especially hot in Arizona. [TO CLAIRBORN] Finish this sentence, the cost of housing is -- NATHAN  CLAIRBORN: Is too high right now. There's no question about that. O’KEEFE: And Nathan Clairborn isn't looking to buy a home. He sells them as a realtor in the Phoenix area. CLAIRBORN: I mean, affordability is certainly the issue here. Your police, your teachers, your firefighters, they can’t afford this house. O’KEEFE: Or this one he showed us, with three bedrooms -- CLAIRBORN: All new flooring, all the fixtures are new. O’KEEFE: -- listed for over half million dollars. This might have been 20 to 40 years ago, a starter home.  CLAIRBORN: Yeah! O’KEEFE: Now, this is the end goal. CLAIRBORN:This is the move up home, yeah absolutely.   O’KEEFE: In part, Clayborn says, because a lot of buyers are moving in from out of state. Now, only two percent of Arizonans say housing is very affordable while 42 percent tell the recent CBS News poll it's very unaffordable. Like those we met at Goodwood Tavern in Scottsdale.  JOSHUA SNYDER: You guys doing okay over here? O’KEEFE: Joshua Snyder runs the bar. He's 45 and is closing tomorrow on the first home he’s owned. [TO SNYDER] Did you get everything you were looking for? SNYDER: I think we did.  O’KEEFE: But it took years of looking, as prices kept going up. SNYDER: I feel like it jumped 40 percent – 30, 40 percent in three years. O’KEEFE: Our poll finds 88 percent of Arizonans say buying a home is harder than it was for their parents. LAURA NEWKIRK: Cause when my parents were my age they had owned a home and had been for a couple of years. O’KEEFE: Laura Newkirk’s parents helped her save for a down payment. RYLAND TUTTLE: I think we’re on our fourth or fifth offer. O’KEEFE: And you’ve come up short each time? KELSEY GRAFT: Yes. TUTTLE: So far. [Laughter] O’KEEFE: So Ryland Tuttle and Kelsey Graft, moved in with family to save. [TO TUTTLE AND GRAFT] Is it easier or harder to buy a home now than, say, it was four years ago? GRAFT: Harder. TUTTLE: Definitely harder. GRAFT: Mmhm O’KEEFE: And Clairborn agrees. [TO CLAIRBORN] It does seem increasingly like it's out of reach for a lot of people. CLAIRBORN: Yeah. It doesn’t just seem out of reach, it is mathematically out of reach for lots and lots of people. [Cuts to Live] O’KEEFE: Out on the campaign trail, President Biden, former President Donald Trump, they hear these concerns, they’ve been talking about concerns about the price and  the supply of housing and notably, every one of the voters we spoke to, in Arizona, says they haven't made up their mind come November, but the issue of housing -- how much it costs, whether there is supply will be a big factor in who they ultimately vote for, Nate. Perhaps not surprising they haven’t made up their mind. After all, they live in a battleground state. NATE BULESON: Right about that, top of mind for everyone across the country. Ed, thank you. The American dream TONY DOKOUPIL: Oh gosh BURLESON: It's a nightmare for some people. DOKOUPIL: It’s a nightmare for most people. And one of the big issues that Ed touched on is people with blue- collar jobs, cops, firefighters, nurses, they can't live in the neighborhoods where they’re working. BURLESON: Right! DOKOUPIL: And a great example of that Archie Bunker, all the family, that house is in Queens, still there. I went to that neighborhood recently. Just was curious -- MILLER: Mm-mm. DOKOUPIL: -- asking people, there's no dock workers, taxi drivers, regular people. It's all doctors, lawyers, tech workers now.  BURLESON: Mm-mm. DOKOUPIL: That’s the change. MILLER: Yeah. BURLESON: That’s the change. MILLER: There's a big push to live in urban centers now. BURLESON: You're right about that. DOKOUPIL: Got to, got to fix it  

Housebreaking a puppy isn’t usually too challenging, however it is time-consuming and requires patience. The key to housetraining your puppy successfully is repetition and reward. If you take small steps consistently, your puppy should be housetrained relatively quickly. Some puppies take longer than others to get the hang of it. In particular smaller puppies have tiny digestive systems that can’t hold on for very long and so they may take longer to potty train. If you’re at work for long periods of the day, housetraining is also much more difficult. Let’s take a look at the steps required to housebreak a puppy. The 5 Steps on How to Housebreak a Puppy 1. Prepare the Environment You want to set your puppy up for success, and that means setting up an environment that makes it easier for them to potty in the proper area. Start by setting up a designated potty area. While “outside” might work for a housetrained dog, puppies need something a bit more specific. Choose a part of your yard that you can take your dog to every time. Preferably, it should also be away from distractions. If you don’t have regular enough access to an outdoor area, then you can train your puppy to use a puppy pad or other indoor toileting area. It can take a bit longer though when you then want them to adapt to going outdoors only. Crate training can also help with toilet training as dogs naturally avoid making a mess in their ‘den’ where they sleep. Crates are also very useful as a safe place where your puppy is happy to be confined when they are not supervised. Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock 2. Establish a Routine Next, you want to establish a routine as soon as your puppy comes home. Take your puppy to the designated potty area at least every hour or two. Always choose more often, when possible, though. You should try and take your dog potty after waking up, eating, and drinking. Often, these activities signal your dog to use the potty, so it’s important to take advantage of these times. Always supervise your dog closely when indoors. Watch for signs that your dog needs to go to the bathroom, like sniffing and circling. 3. Use Cue Words and Treats When your dog uses the bathroom outside, use a specific word or phrase like “go potty.” You want them to associate this word with using the bathroom, even if they don’t particularly use the bathroom on cue. Once your puppy uses the bathroom properly, lavish them with praise and petting. Treats are absolutely encouraged, though use small ones since your dog will be using the bathroom a lot. This positive reinforcement helps your dog understand that you want them to go outside. Image Credit: Melounix, Shutterstock 4. Clean Accidents Thoroughly Even if you do everything perfectly, your dog will have some accidents. It’s important to clean these thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. Otherwise, your puppy may be attracted back to the spot even if you don’t smell anything. Punishment is ineffective, and it may damage your dog’s budding confidence and their bond with you. When punished, your puppy only learns not to use the bathroom in that spot. Unless you want your dog to use the bathroom on every square inch of your house, it’s better to focus on rewarding them when they use the correct spot. If you're trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray. Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical... Check Price on Amazon It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There's even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today. At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company! 5. Seek Professional Help It’s important to be patient with your puppy. Setbacks are very normal, especially right after a change in routine. It’s important to be as consistent as possible and not let your routine slide. You may find that housetraining your dog is more about your own discipline than your puppy’s. However, if you are being consistent and your puppy hasn’t shown any signs of improving, it’s time to seek professional help. Sometimes, small bumps in your routine or training method may be hard for certain dogs to overcome. Plus, some dogs are also harder to train than others. If your dog was previously housetrained and starts having accidents again, make a vet appointment. Improper urination can be a sign of health issues, ranging from urinary tract infections to anxiety. We highly recommend getting your dog seen by a vet before assuming they’ve just forgotten everything they’ve learned. Image Credit Friends Stock, Shutterstock Final Thoughts Housetraining a puppy is mostly about time and consistency. If you consistently take your dog outside at regular intervals and reward them, they should make steady progress toward housetraining. Of course, accidents will happen. When they do, consider what went wrong. Were you not supervising properly? Or have you not taken your dog out often enough? Don’t use punishment, as this only teaches your dog what not to do. Sources https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-potty-train-your-dog-or-puppy https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/toilettraining Featured Image Credit: Jaclyn Vernace, Shutterstock The post How to Housebreak a Puppy: 5 Vet-Reviewed Steps appeared first on Pet Keen.

This Sausage Spinach Quiche is made without a crust. Great to make on a Sunday and enjoy throughout the week. It’s super versatile too and my family loves it! If you are a fan of pizza you will love this Supreme Pizza Crustless Quiche. It’s a great variation that your family will love. ❤️WHY WE...