Governmental agency dogs are specially bred and highly skilled. Sometimes puppies are unable to complete training. Others, at the end of a fine career, are retired due to disability or age. But then where do they go? Are they ‘too trained’ – too reactive – to be adopted by average people? There are certain breeds […]
Can I Adopt a Retired Military or Police Dog? Read More »
Big eyes are locked on you, wide and unblinking. Your cat is commanding your full attention. It’s a little unnerving. You don’t know what he wants, but one thing is certain. If you look away, he’ll demand that you return to his mesmerizing gaze. He has an urgent message for you. When your cat is
The Cat Stare – Would You Stare Back? Read More »
Every time your dog steps outside, he’s exposing himself to whatever is on the ground. Chemicals and some nasty natural substances can cling to fur and paws. You may find him licking his fur or his feet, swallowing whatever he has tracked. Everyone likes a green lawn, but fertilizers, weed control and pesticides can cause
Are Lawn Treatments Safe for Your Dog? Read More »
A police car zooms by. Your dog gives a long, soulful howl. Then he goes back to business as usual. What was that all about? It’s incongruous, like those movies where the cast suddenly breaks into a song and then goes back to work. As your dog throws his head back, he resembles a wolf
Why Does My Dog Howl at Sirens? Read More »
Cats are notorious for knocking over anything that isn’t nailed down. If it’s full of liquid, all the better. They’ll even go out of their way to clear your desk for you. Why do they compulsively knock things over? Here are a few possibilities: For the reaction. What positive reinforcement does your cat receive when
Why Does My Cat Knock Things Down? Read More »
How many dog parents let Fido out to play, only to find a romping dirt monster showing back up at the door? Some dogs are so obsessed with digging that they have to be pulled out of the hole. The American Kennel Club blames it on wolf ancestors. It’s just a ‘dog’ thing to do,
Why Does My Dog Dig Holes? Read More »
Etiquette is about displaying good manners and polite behavior in society. Sometimes we have to travel with pets, moving cross-country, for example, and a hotel or motel is likely to present an overly exciting situation. So doggie manners and ‘parent’ protocols are of the utmost importance. Here are some things to consider as you prepare
Hotel Etiquette for Your Dog Read More »
As with all seniors, human or animal, aging brings frailties; issues such as arthritis, muscle weakness, inflammatory conditions, poorer breathing, and a reduced ability to fight off infections. Older dogs also have trouble regulating their temperature, or have heart issues, both of which can contribute to poor circulation and trouble with cold weather. How can
Your Senior Dog and Winter Weather Read More »
Can you tell how a cat is feeling by simply looking at her tail? Cat parents would tell you they are way more complicated than that. The entire body is a complex series of combined messages. But animal researchers say there definitely is an emotional pattern to tail activity that can help to quickly identify
Tell-Tail Signs: What Your Cat’s Tail is Telling You Read More »
It’s one of those old farmers’ axioms that if your animals put on a thick coat in the fall, a bad winter is coming, so we should prepare. Is there any truth in that? As summer rolls into autumn, it’s the shortening of the days and less sunlight hours that causes dogs and cats to
Can My Pet’s Winter Coat Predict the Weather? Read More »
