Dog Health

Puppies are cuddly, endearing and amusing to watch. They explore their world with wide eyed innocence, often with hilarious results. Puppies are babies that need to be nurtured, loved, and trained. Some people love the sweet aroma of puppy breath. When they are done exploring, puppies want to curl up in the closest lap and sigh contentedly. At some point those charming, innocent, delightful little puppies grow. They move into their adolescence where they test boundaries. It no longer holds … Read more

What does one look for in a guard dog? Do they want a dog to attack on command? Or merely bark excessively to scare off would be robbers? There are certain breeds that would lick someone into submission. Of course enthusiastic tail wagging has been known to cause serious injury. It is possible to train almost any dog to be an effective protector, but certain breeds were genetically designed to be protective and downright scary. Here is a list of … Read more

You’ve probably walked in on this scenario more than once, and you may have reacted with the utmost disgust and discomfort. The slobbery lips, the big puppy smile, and that cool, porcelain bowl…that’s right, we’re talking about toilet water. If you’ve had dogs, you’ve likely realized they can’t get enough of it. We know you’re probably feeling a little better now that we’re all sharing the disdain together. But it’s not just that drinking toilet water seems inherently distasteful, it’s … Read more

This will melt your heart, make you smile, and make you cry all at once. SO GOOD! If only more casual pet owners would follow #1, we’d put a lot of animal shelters out of business! And the last line of #10 is so true, isn’t it? The ten commandments was written by ©Stan Rawlinson (The Original Doglistener). A professional full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer. You can visit his website at www.doglistener.co.uk for more articles and training information. … Read more

Is your dog food manufacturer deceiving you? It never ceases to amaze us how much mass marketing can distort the truth. Check out the amazingly helpful infographic from PetsWeekly below to help decipher whether or not your dog’s food manufacturer is trying to deceive you. We want to hear from you. Which brand are you using and why? Are you or have you ever considered making your dog’s food at home? Which of these factoids surprised you the most? SHARE … Read more

Looking for the healthiest dog breeds? Let us help! As dog parents, one of our top priorities regarding our dogs is their health. The unfortunate fact is, despite our best efforts, some conditions and diseases are simply hereditary. When buying a purebred, finding a responsible breeder that tests their dogs for the presence of genetic health problems can certainly eliminate a lot of the guesswork. But if you’d like to rescue–which is a great thing to do!–there is no way … Read more

Sure, we all know that it’s rude and disgusting to not clean up after your dog, but some of these facts really surprised me. Especially the very last one. How do you react when you see someone who doesn’t pick up their dog’s poop? Leave a comment below! Infographic courtesy of PoopBuddy. SHARE to get the word out! SHARE to get the word out!

People are generally always concerned with their weight – and it’s no wonder given our current society. While being supermodel thin may not be everyone’s ideal goal (and with reason!) it is important not to underestimate the dangers of obesity. There is a healthy weight for everyone, and maintaining that promotes a healthier life in every aspect. With obesity rates at an all-time high, it’s no wonder that an estimated 55.6% of dogs are overweight or obese as well. Unfortunately, … Read more

All the lovely things we bring out to celebrate the holidays—tinsel, chocolate, holly, egg nog, poinsettias –a list that goes on forever, turn out to be not so lovely for our pets. In fact, many are extremely dangerous. Dr. Lisa Olsen, an emergency veterinarian at Iowa Veterinarian Specialties, says that vets are usually very busy this time of year. “We see more than a fair share of problems related to food in an emergency clinic during the holidays,” she says. … Read more

As a parent to a 3 year old daughter, a 6 month old son, and a 7 year old Siberian Husky, this great infographic from EdgarSnyder really hits home about child/dog safety. While walking our dog at the park, it’s not uncommon for  a well meaning, but overly excited child to run up to our husky to hug or pet her . Although she is great with children, the reality is you never know how a dog will react around … Read more

We came across this excellent resource by The Dog Training Secret. The only thing we’d add is in regards to tip #1, you don’t need to buy a puppy at all! If you look hard enough, you can find an adorable pup at a local shelter. And of course there’s always the option of skipping the puppy stage altogether and adopting a well behaved adult or senior dog as well 🙂

Since we’ve learned we can’t trust many treat makers, (especially these ones), why not begin making your dog’s treats at home? I know what you’re thinking… that sounds overwhelming right!? But what if there was an easy shortcut to making fresh, safe treats from home without having to necessarily make everything from scratch? Enter baby food! Think about it, why regulations around dog food and treats are sorely lacking, regulation around food for babies is certainly not! We’re about to … Read more

Most of us have been experiencing a cold front in some form or another by this time, and it can be particularly bad in certain areas. Wherever you are, your inside dogs probably aren’t very acclimated to the falling temperatures outside. It might seem that dogs are more resistant to cold with all of that fur, and some breeds may be more than others, but all dogs are generally as susceptible to cold weather ailments as we are. Frostbite and … Read more

I hadn’t even considered some of these points. Please share this! Thanks to Snoutschool for this great infographic!

How would you feel if animal control came knocking on your door, forced you to give up your best friend, only to have him be euthanized? It’s something so unfair, something so horrific and painful that you probably can’t imagine it in your worst nightmares. But for some, this tragic tale is a reality. Some people live in areas with breed specific legislation, that hold bans on certain dog breeds and breed mixes. Breed specific legislation, or BSL, is a … Read more

We have all heard the stories of dogs protecting their owners in the sign of imminent danger, and we’d probably all love to think that ours would do the same for us. However, it generally takes a properly trained dog to handle such courageous acts, and also to know when the time is right to take action. But how many of you have been visiting a friend or relative only to be approached aggressively by their seemingly friendly pet? Perhaps … Read more

Most new dog owners are aware of one of the most important aspects of raising a puppy – socialization. However, most of them don’t understand what socialization means and why it needs to be done. A common misconception is that the puppy needs to actually socialize with other people and other dogs – but this is actually pretty far from the truth. Socialization should really be called by a more accurate term – neutralization. What exactly does neutralization means? Neutralization … Read more

Look at that face. I mean can anyone really say no? We all know that table scraps are typically bad for our four-legged friends, but isn’t there something we can share? Much to our luck, there is! In fact, there are a few people treats we can pass over to our pups. But remember, all of the items on this list are without any extras – no butter, no salt, no sugar. They are as is, and believe it or … Read more

Why does my dog eat its poop? The condition is called coprophagia – when dogs eat their own stool. It’s disgusting, and most of us have seen it happen. Some are even unlucky enough to have a pup that’s constantly looking to snack on its own poop. But why? What on earth would make any animal eat its own poop? Behavioral Issues: There are a few theories that involve the behavioral standpoint of stool eating in puppies and dogs. Many … Read more

Each week, we’re going to start focusing on a small training tip that you can utilize with your dog. Training provides a happier and safer life for both you and your dog. Our goal is to help teach you how to make progress in training with your pup, regardless of age, in a way that’s easy to understand and follow through with. This week we’re focusing on a very important aspect that may not be for everyone, but can definitely … Read more

Is this not hilarious? Can you add any to the list? Comment below! #1 Yelling at me for barking… I’M A DOG FOR DOG’S SAKE!! #2 Taking me for a walk, but not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway? #3 Blaming your farts on me…not ok! #4 Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you’re not home 🙂 #5 Dog sweaters. Have you noticed the … Read more

How to give your puppy CPR, courtesy of Carrington.

I don’t think any dog lover has ever questioned this anyway, but here’s the scientific proof! Leave a comment and tell us how your dog(s) have improved your health! Source: Carlton Hobbs

Have you ever heard that statement that “a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s”? Be prepared to have this and 4 other myths busted! Infographic Courtesy of Greenies.

Years ago, shortly after we adopted our dog Splash, my wife’s grandmother randomly sent us an article about foods that are poisonous to dogs. My wife read the article, not thinking much about it. Not long later, our dog got into a bowl of grapes we mistakenly left within her reach. My wife immediately remembered that grapes were one of the most poisonous foods for dogs. We rushed Splash to an emergency vet clinic. After some induced vomiting and IV … Read more