In recent years, we have been hearing more and more about wildlife posing a threat to dogs and cats. News headlines have highlighted the tragedy that can unfold if a hungry coyote crosses paths with a small, unattended pet. People have reported coyotes snatching their pups from their backyards, causing mass hysteria. But how common […]
Complete and Balanced Dog Food Diets It’s important homemade food for dogs is “complete and balanced,” meaning it meets all of the dog’s nutritional needs. It is not important, however, that every meal be complete and balanced, unless you feed the same meal every day with little or no variation. Home-prepared dog diets that include […]
You’re walking down the street when you come face to face with a growling dog. You stop short and quickly run through your options. Can I befriend this snarling dog? Can I outmuscle or out run him? At the same time, the dog is thinking: Can I outrun this person? Can I escape somehow? Should […]
One of the greatest challenges of dog training is keeping the pooch focused on the lesson — and on the person in charge. The good news is that for dogs, focus and joy frequently coincide: The more fun your dog has while training, the more likely he will remain focused on you. Here are five […]
Since doggy dentures aren’t a thing, keeping your pup’s teeth clean and gums healthy is crucial for their overall health and well-being. Obviously, the best way to get your dog’s teeth clean is to have the vet scrape them while your dog is under anesthesia. This can be very expensive and there are risks associated […]
With a winter frost settling over the country, serving warm comfort foods is the perfect way to add a touch of coziness to an otherwise chilly season for pets and their people. For humans, there’s nothing quite like coming in from a bracing winter walk, then snuggling up with a good book and a cup […]
Puppies can play rough. Puppy play consists of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting. Many pet owners mistake normal play behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior. Although normal play can become intense, it’s important to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior. In normal […]
We’ve all seen dogs who exude impulse control – the ones who are calm in the face of excitement, and patient when it comes to getting what they want. Of course, we’ve all seen those dogs who are lacking impulse control, too – dogs who can’t seem to handle excitement and become overexcited, pushy, or […]
While part of a dog’s job is to warn us of potential danger in the environment, sometimes they can overdo it. A dog giving a couple of barks when the mailman comes by is fine, but if a dog barks constantly throughout the day, it’s not. Likewise, while it can be normal for a dog […]
Vet visits are an essential part of every dog’s life, if only for routine check-ups and yearly vaccinations. With a little careful preparation they needn’t be traumatic — for your dog or you! If you can make your puppy’s first vet visit relaxed, she won’t develop anxiety about future appointments. Your puppy should be comfortable […]