New beginnings
Rescue preparation
Preparing the home, setting expectations, and giving a newly adopted dog room to settle.
Read rescue guidance
About the publication
Hi, I’m Alicia.
I’m a mom of two in Connecticut who started A Friendly Dog while researching how to welcome a rescue dog into our family with care, patience, and a real plan.
It began with a family question.
My children wanted a dog more than anything. Instead of saying yes before we were ready, I began reading, comparing advice, and learning what daily life with a dog would ask of our family.
That research became a growing library for other people asking the same practical questions. Today A Friendly Dog includes 54 public articles, with additional guides held back whenever their sourcing, safety guidance, or advertising suitability needs another review, plus dog-friendly resources across 10 states.
The original A Friendly Dog emblem remains part of the publication and has not been redrawn or replaced.
What A Friendly Dog covers.
The site is organized around the moments when dog owners most often need a calm starting point and a practical next step.
Daily routines
Puppy training
Potty schedules, crate routines, rewards, accidents, and the small habits that build consistency.
Start puppy training
Life at home
Everyday care
Plain-language introductions to grooming, food, habits, comfort, and knowing when a question belongs with a veterinarian.
Browse everyday care
Beyond the house
Dog-friendly places
Useful places to know before a trip, move, appointment, or ordinary weekend outing across 10 states.
Explore the directoryHow Alicia approaches each guide.
A Friendly Dog is a personal research project, not a veterinary clinic. The publishing standard is to be useful, transparent, and clear about where general information ends and individual professional care begins.
Research the question
Start with the real decision or routine a dog owner is trying to understand, then compare reputable sources.
Make the guidance usable
Organize the information into plain steps, schedules, signs, and practical choices.
Name the limits
Medical, behavioral, and safety concerns should be discussed with a qualified veterinarian or trainer.
Stay accountable
Readers can contact Alicia with source questions or corrections. Affiliate relationships are disclosed when they apply.
A note from Alicia
“Every dog deserves an owner willing to learn what they need.”
I grew up with a dog by my side, and that bond never really leaves you. A Friendly Dog is where I share the questions I have researched for my own family and the useful things I find along the way.