I admit it: I talk to my pets. I even have a different voice for each one. My non-animal friends think it’s silly and more than a little crazy to carry on these one-sided conversations. But Nicholas Epley, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago, disagrees. He feels it’s perfectly normal to engage in […]
Sickeningly Sweet Within 15 minutes it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar, within 30 minutes it can cause seizures, within 24 hours it can cause severe liver damage, and without emergency veterinary care, irreversible brain trauma occurs, and the patient dies, so deadly a couple of sticks of it can kill a small […]
Just like people, dogs can get stressed from time to time. And while there are plenty of external elements that can get our dogs stressed, sometimes we, the owners, can create that stress without even realizing it. No dog owner wants an unhappy dog and this is why it’s important to take notice and learn […]
If your dog does not perform a simple sit-stay, there could be an underlying issue that isn’t being addressed. When the role of the leader is not determined or is inadvertently handed over to the dog, it could be the cause behind many behavior problems that the dog is having or difficultly experienced during training. […]
Teaching your dog/puppy to understand the meaning of leash pressure is extremely important. Pressure from the leash, whether created by the handler or the dog, is going to be a factor in your dog’s life, in one way or another, so it’s important that they understand it’s correct meaning. When properly understood, a dog will […]
Dog owners have reported this summer that their pets became fatally ill after swimming in freshwater lakes and ponds, apparently after ingesting water laden with toxic blue-green algae. Intense blooms have led to swimming bans from lakes in the Pacific Northwest to the entire Mississippi seacoast, to Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest lake. Algal blooms […]
All puppies go through critical stages – important times when the environment profoundly influences later behavior. There are several critical stages in your dog’s psychological development, and some excellent books on the subject. Here’s information that will help you handle your puppy properly. Early socialization is critical to a dog’s healthy psychological growth. Think it’s […]
The bonds between humans and animals are powerful. And the positive correlation between pets and mental health is undeniable. According to a 2015 Harris poll, 95 percent of pet owners think of their animal as a member of the family. And that’s true no matter how old we are. Children, adolescents, adults, and seniors all find […]
Depression is a widespread issue in the U.S. affecting about 40 million adults. Fortunately, there are many ways to feel better. Talking to a licensed psychiatrist can make a huge difference and there are so many effective medications out there. Exercise and healthy eating can help too, as can opening up to and spending more […]
There are plenty of people foods we’d love to share with our dogs, but some are much healthier than others. In fact, some foods are even toxic to our dogs. But fear not, there are certain human snacks that can actually benefit our four-legged friends. To see what they are, check out this list of […]