I've been reading a lot of puppy training books, and they keep mentioning expressing your dog's anal glands. How do you know when to do it? What if you have a dog and never did that, is there any risks to the dog? Any information would be so helpful, thanks a lot! Oh, how dou you do it?

Some breeds to have this done more than others. I'd ask your vet about it. It is done by squeezing the glands at the base of the tail. I had to do this to my Boxer whenever he started rubbing his butt on the carpet. I ended up having the vet do it mostly, groomers can do it too.

This is a really weird thing to do but this is how. About half an inch from their anus you have to squeeze lightly and push upward at about 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock (if you were to look at their anus as a clock they say) It happens because their inner anal glands get impacted. Hot spots go right along with impacted anal glands. Some dogs may never have to have it done though. If you have a dog with this pvoblem they say to feed him a high fiber diet..

Please do not try to watch what you are doing when you express them! Turn the dog's butt away from you, and do it outside or with the dog in the bathtub. There is nothing worse than anal gland "juice" in your face and hair!!

Great advice from everyone, just one thing to add. Wear disposable gloves. My Black Lab has this problem, it's not a great smell when it does release, you definitely don't want it all over your hand, there's not enough soap in the world to get that smell out.