Entries by bruce

Cold Weather Pet Safety

You’re probably already aware of the risks posed by warm weather and leaving pets in hot cars, but did you know that cold weather also poses serious threats to your pets’ health? Here are some tips to keep your pets safe during cold weather: Winter wellness: Has your pet had his/her preventive care exam (wellness […]

A Pet-Friendly Fire Escape Plan

If a fire is spreading rapidly through your home, you could have as little as two minutes to get out safely. This is where your previous fire safety drills will be life-saving, as you won’t have to think about what to do in the middle of a crisis, you’ll already have your plan in place. […]

The definition of shaping

Shaping is commonly defined as: The differential reinforcement of successive approximations toward a target behavior. Now, that’s a mouthful! In plain English, this basically means that you start by reinforcing (rewarding) little pieces of the behavior, and gradually build up the behavior until you reach your final goal. However, let’s break this down and look […]

Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

O Christmas Tree, Don’t Hurt My Pet  Keeping your furry family members safe during the holidays can be a difficult task. There are the ornaments, plants, presents, lights — oh, and who could forget the Christmas tree (if do you decide to put one up this year)? Let’s take a look at some simple steps […]

Ways to Treat Dog Dandruff

Dog dandruff can be distressing—it’s not only unsightly, but it usually means something’s not quite right with your pup’s skin. In fact, dandruff could be caused by a variety of things, including allergies, parasites, an illness, or food sensitivities, says Dr. Danel Grimmett of Sunset Veterinary Clinic in Oklahoma. “There are so many causes, but […]

FACT or FICTION: Can Ice Harm Your Dog? The Truth Behind The Viral Story

Many of you may have been alarmed by the recent blogs and articles that have been circulating the web, as things that are alarming often do, that warns you to NEVER give your dog ice or ice water as it may cause serious injury even death. There are various accounts of the article, with different […]

How Does Daylight Savings Time Affect Your Dog?

It’s time for our twice-yearly clock adjustment to save energy and eliminate excuses to wake up earlier. Everyone in U.S., with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii, sets clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of each March. This inevitably causes millions of Americans to miss worship the following morning and […]

Why Does My Dog… Sniff the Ground Before He Poops?

Every day, all over the world, dogs repeat the same ritual: Nose to the ground, they sniff along a dotted line of an invisible treasure map, stopping at that “X” marks the spot where they can finally get down to business. What’s with all this sniffing, anyway? The simple answer: It’s the way dogs have […]

How Soon Can a Puppy Become a Runner?

You need to wait a while before putting the miles on that pup or risk permanent damage to her developing body. Assuming she’s in good overall health (your vet can help determine that), eight months of age is about the earliest you should start letting her run with you, and even then, you should figure […]

Why Walking Your Dog is Great Exercise

Having trouble sticking to an exercise program? Research shows that dogs are actually Nature’s perfect personal trainers—loyal, hardworking, energetic and enthusiastic. And, unlike your friends, who may skip an exercise session because of appointments, extra chores or bad weather, dogs never give you an excuse to forego exercising. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor […]