A day at the dog park can be a great outing for you and your dog. If introduced correctly, dog parks can be a fun and social experience for your canine companion. Dog parks can also be a fiasco. Before going, it is important to determine if a dog park is a good option for your dog based on his own personality.
Know Before You Go: Recognizing
Much like children, young dogs lack a sturdy sense of impulse control. As responsible pet parents, it’s important to teach your canine companion proper manners.
Say Please
Keep your dog from bombarding you as soon as you pick up a toy or treat by teaching him to “say please”.
First, tell your dog to sit or lay down.
Hold a food or a toy in
Outdoor events are great ways to spend time with family, friends, and with a little extra planning, your canine companion too! With the right preparation and planning, bringing your dog along to outdoor events can be a doggone good time for everyone.
First, make sure that the event is in a dog-friendly location and follow all the posted rules.
Bringing home a new family member? With all the fun and excitement a new dog brings, it is easy to fall short in being fully prepared. Here is a list of basic items that will help make your dog’s transition period go as smoothly as possible.
Food and Water Dish:
In general, stainless steel dishes are the best option. Stainless steel bowls are
Make sure you and your pet are prepared for any emergency by following these tips:
Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit
Food
Keep at least three days’ worth of food in an airtight, waterproof container
Water
Store at least three days’ worth of water specifically for your pets, in addition to the water you need for yourself and your family
Medicine
Pet ownership is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences in one’s life. However, it also costs money. As much as our pets require love and patience, they also require annual visits to the vet, vaccines, grooming, food, and bedding. It is important to remember that there is more to owning a pet than the initial adoption fee and to be
A well-exercised dog is a happy dog. Sufficient exercise is a key part in keeping your dog healthy, happy, and away from destructive habits such as chewing. In general, dogs need at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Along with that 30 minutes, your dog should also get at least 15 minutes of interactive play each day as well. For
Halloween may look a bit different this year, for humans and pets alike. You may experience less doorbell rings and not as many oddly-dressed strangers, but it’s still important to consider some safety precautions to keep your pets calm and safe. By keeping these tricks in mind, you’ll be sure to make this Halloween a real treat for both you and
‘Tis the season for pet safety! With all the hype of the holidays, it’s important to keep in mind potential pet hazards. Here are a few tips and tricks to help keep your pet out of harm’s way this holiday season.
Christmas Tree Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip or fall. Covering the tree holder or preventing access to it is
Never leave your pet in a parked car. A parked car quickly becomes dangerously hot, even with the windows left partly opened. Outside temperatures do not need to be high for a car to become dangerously hot very quickly. This puts your pet at risk for irreversible organ damage or death.
Be aware of the humidity. When the humidity is high, dogs
Fireworks, Thunderstorms, and Big Booms, Oh My!
How to Navigate Loud Noises That Scare Your Pet
Many dogs and cats experience anxiety when they hear sudden, loud noises. With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, more people will be gathering for holiday parties where fireworks may be set off at odd times and in unexpected locations. Plus
Like fine wines, our companion animals only get better with age. (That’s why we call them the Golden Years, right?) As pets get older, they require our extra love, care, and attention. Companion animals begin to show age-related changes anywhere from seven to twelve years old. Generally, larger dogs begin to show signs of age earlier than smaller
For some pet parents, a trip is never complete without their favorite canine companion. Traveling, however, can be highly stressful for some pets. With some basic supplies and careful preparation, you can make your trip safe and happy for everyone involved.
Make sure your pet is safe and secure in a well-ventilated, appropriately-sized crate. An
Education and responsible pet ownership are the keys to preventing animal bites. To reduce the chance of you or your child being bitten by an animal, make sure that you both know the basics of canine body language and how to behave appropriately around animals.
Recognizing Signs of Aggression, Anxiety, and Fear
Understanding canine body
Canine Distemper Disease is a very serious disease that affects the nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems of a dog or a puppy. Canine Distemper affects many species of wildlife other than dogs and spreads through airborne exposure (such as sneezing or coughing) or by sharing food or water bowls.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Eye
Canine Parvovirus, “parvo”, is a serious and highly contagious disease. Disease transmission occurs through direct dog-to-dog contact or contact with contaminated feces (stool), environments or people. Canine Parvovirus does not affect people.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Fever
Vomiting
Severe, often bloody, diarrhea
Coprophagia, also known as the ever-so pleasant behavior of poop eating. Eating feces is certainly one of a dog’s less endearing habits but it is not abnormal. There are a variety of reasons for this behavior. It is important to consult your veterinarian first to rule out any potential medical problems. However, sometimes there is no reason for it
As pet obesity becomes more widespread, it is your duty as a responsible pet owner to recognize the signs and prevent your furry friend from becoming overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to your pet’s well-being and overall quality of life. Overweight pets have an increased risk of developing weight-related diseases such as diabetes
Fleas and ticks are common external parasites that affect many pets. Although they are common, these pests can be dangerous and put your furry friend at serious risk if left untreated. Fleas can carry serious diseases which may be harmful to your pet. Ticks, too, can cause serious effects including dermatitis, allergies, itching, skin infections,
Canine enrichment is a great way to reduce your dog’s stress and boredom. Like puzzles do for us, canine enrichment offers your dog the opportunity to exercise his brain while also having fun.
Canine enrichment can help with a wide variety of behavioral issues including destruction, barking, escaping, anxiety, arousal, hyperactivity, obsessive/
Chewing is a normal dog behavior. However, it doesn’t have to be a destructive behavior. Redirecting your dog’s chewing onto appropriate items prevents your most prized possessions from suffering the wrath of your chewing pup.
Puppies especially have an urge to chew. As responsible pet owners, it’s our job to provide them with chew-tastic toys
Clicker training is a positive reinforcement method of training. Studies have shown that animals respond best when an action is followed by a reward. The animal is therefore more likely to perform an action if they believe it will be followed by something good, such as a tasty treat. In clicker training, the clicker makes a sound and marks the
Crate training is a wonderful tool to help keep your canine companion out of trouble when you’re not around. If introduced correctly, a crate can provide your dog with a safe, comfortable place to relax.
The Benefits of Crate Training:
Crates provide your dog with her own personal safe space
Limits your dog’s access to the house while she is
Digging is a normal behavior for most dogs. For many dogs, it is even instinctual. Digging may occur due to a variety of different reasons, including to seek attention, to hunt prey, comfort or protection, to escape or merely just for their entertainment.
As with any improper attention seeking behavior, it is important to refrain from giving
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Some bark at passer-bys outside the window, while some bark only when you leave the house. The first step in managing your dog’s barking is to determine what exactly is causing it. Below are several reasons why dogs bark and recommendations on how to manage it.
Territorial/Protective Barking
Dogs often bark