Halloween is just days away, and although this is primarily a holiday focused on the children of the family, it would behoove you to have a plan for your furry child as well. Read More
It’s been a long time since I needed to care for a dog recuperating from surgery, but that is currently the situation at my house. The wearing of an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking and chewing, and daily doses of a variety of medications remind me of a few tricks that I haven’t needed to utilize in a while. Read More
Why is it that some everyday occurrences around the house cause our dogs to react wildly, but others are ignored? For example, anytime there is a knock at the door or a ring of the doorbell, your dogs probably go a little nuts, but flush the toilet for the fourth time during the day, and nobody moves. Read More
Q: Can you give me some tips on teaching my shepherd mix Zeus to come when I call him? So far, what I’m doing isn’t working. – Thanks, Jose Read More
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, many of us dog owners must begin to prepare for the inevitable: fireworks. The fact that our county and state are even allowing the sale of fireworks to the public during a severe drought is ridiculous, but alas, that is a topic for another column. Read More
Last month’s column prompted numerous comments and questions from readers, mostly about dog etiquette in public. Aside from common sense, being your dog’s advocate and keeping her out of danger, here are a few of my favorite practices: Read More
Recently, I took a trip with my son. As we stepped into the check-in line at the airport, a child bolted away from his parents and accosted my son, who was calmly standing by my side, yelling and screaming at him, creating a huge scene. The parent’s response? “Just ignore her, she’s harmless.” Read More
An essential part of any dog training program is a solid reward system. The learning process is accelerated when there is an element of fun or enjoyment for both the teacher and the learner. Rewards can come in many forms – treats, physical interaction or petting, toy play, hand play, access to something interesting in the environment, etc. Read More
Q: My dog regularly raids the cat’s litter box, a habit that I find disgusting. Why does she do this, and how can I get her to stop? Rhonda Read More
Q: I have been taking my 4-year-old dog Bruno to the dog park in our neighborhood for about six months. He likes to sniff around the area, but avoids other dogs and has bitten a few that come too close. What can I do to get him to enjoy the park and get some good exercise playing with other dogs? Robert Read More