Playing Tug with Your Dog
For dogs who are hard to tire out and love toys, playing tug is an excellent way to burn both physical and mental energy. This game is not so much about discipline and control, as a legal outlet for good plain fun. Just as it’s a basic need for humans to carouse from time to time, your dog also deserves to kick up their heels and paint the town from time to time!
Bringing Home a New Friend
Twelve years ago, I fell in love with a quiet, meek yellow fraidy-dog who had, ironically, been named by his previous owner, “Argonaut” after the bold sailor Jason. I was a volunteer groomer at an animal shelter, and every week when I saw his name was on the bath list, I eagerly sought him out. At first, he had to be carried into the room, because he was too scared to walk….
Training in the Winter Time
“A tired dog is a good dog.”
This age-old saying is a well-known adage for good reason. As winter approaches and daylight time decreases, many young, healthy dogs may find their outdoor time constrained. This in turn can lead to excess energy which translates into a slew of common behavior complaints such as barking, jumping and chewing. Training and exercising your dog can be a tremendous challenge when it’s bitterly cold outside….
Home with Your Dog for the Holidays
Planning a wonderful, memorable get-together with family or friends this holiday season? Worrying if your dog will behave around great-aunt Suzie? Worry not! Here are some tips to ensure your dog stays on Santa’s nice list this holiday season…
Why Cuddling Your Puppy is a Good Thing
One area of socialization that deserves more comprehensive attention is what we call body handling: that is, touching and manipulating various body parts for veterinary, grooming, or social purposes. Puppies are not born with an innate love of being touched on every hair of their body. In fact, they may often respond to being handled or picked up by quickly turning their mouth toward the handler’s hand….
Downtown Dog Etiquette
Etiquette is such a funny word, especially in connection to dogs… it has a whiff of being old-fashioned and stuffy. And yet, when you decide to head downtown, and bring your adorable four-legged companion with you, many people will harbor certain expectations for you and your dog’s behavior. Below are some common ones that you may or may not agree with personally, but people may hold you to nonetheless….