Dogs, like people, are social creatures and most enjoy interacting with other dogs through play. This is an excellent release of energy, a great form of exercise, and a good psychological boost to dogs – unless, of course, playing becomes fighting. Playing dogs can appear vicious through barking, showing their teeth, wrestling, and even occasionally […]
Pets
Solutions to Winter Dog Behavior Problems
The calm after the holiday rush is finally starting, right along with the cold weather. This means more time will be spent indoors – for you and your dog. If you are lucky enough to have a calm, well-mannered dog, this could be a very relaxing time of year. However, if you find yourself stuck […]
Puppies (and Dogs!) as Presents
One of the most common ways that people acquire pets is as a gift. With Christmas right around the corner, it is possible that you may be considering giving a dog or puppy as a gift to someone you care about. It might be your children, spouse, parents, or friend – but whoever it may […]
Senior Dogs
Every single day, countless dogs who have entered their golden years, sit in shelters, waiting for the chance to find their next home. They watch puppies and young dogs come in and leave with a swiftness that they probably will never know. After all, why get a older dog when there are young ones to […]
Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month
In honor of October being “Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog” Month, I thought I’d share some hints and tips on adopting shelter dogs. All shelter dogs have had a rough go at life, whether they arrived at the shelter due to abuse or neglect, an owner’s death, financial hardship, “uncontrollable” behaviors, or any other reason. These dogs have been […]
The Thundershirt – Will it Work for Your Dog?
The Thundershirt (www.thundershirt.com) is marketed as “The Best Dog Anxiety Treatment,” but does that mean it really works? The Thundershirt is relatively new and sells for around $40 at most pet retail stores. It came out marketed to pet owners whose dog shows signs of anxiety during thunderstorms. Made of a soft, stretchy material, the […]
Adding Another Dog to your Family
“I think she needs a friend.” This is a pretty common line of thinking with single-dog households. At some point, we start to wonder if our dog would be happier if she had another canine to run around with. The answer varies from dog to dog – some dogs seem to adore other dogs and […]
Group Dog Training Classes Didn’t Work For You?
Methods of training our canine friends have evolved an incredible amount – even in just the last 15 years. Common methods of choke chains, harsh punishments, and forceful leadership that were prevalent, even in the 90’s, have now been replaced by methods that allow our dogs to learn to place trust in us, instead of […]
Scaredy-Dogs
We’ve all probably been called a Scaredy Cat at some point in our lives – maybe because we were too afraid to follow through on a dare, or because of an irrational fear of spiders , roller-coasters, etc. Fears are common among people and a part of life. We either learn to deal with them, […]
Toy-Guarding Dogs? There is a Solution!
My dog, Rusty, has a problem of toy-guarding against my other dog, Rosie. Whenever Rusty has a toy and Rosie gets close, he growls and snaps at her until she leaves him alone. I want to keep giving my dogs toys, but I’m afraid they’ll start actually fighting one day. What can I do to […]