At some point, you may be required to leave the joy of your life with a dog sitter. You try to get referrals and read reviews, but how can you be sure this stranger will love and care for your dog the way you do? Eventually, you have to take the leap. But have you ever returned home from a trip and wondered if your dog sitter really did all that you paid him for? There is a lot of … Read more

If you’ve ever rescued a dog, no doubt, you’ve heard or even used the expression, “they rescued me.” But make no mistake. You saved this fragile life. That life that had its time on earth measured in days. As great as that little pup may make you feel, you may never know the boundless, heartfelt gratitude that your friend has for you.   A Letter From Your Rescue Dog My life hasn’t always been easy. I’ve been yelled at and … Read more

Dogs. They hog our beds, steal our shoes, and often cause us just as much worry as our human children. People who don’t have pets must wonder why we choose to share our lives with these furry little menaces. Only dog parents understand the devotion and unconditional love they offer. They may be challenging and downright naughty at times, but the adoration we see in our dogs’ soulful eyes makes it all worthwhile! If you have canine roommates, you’ll definitely … Read more

We know it by many names and fear it by them all. Cancer. The word alone has the power to conjure up deep and dark feelings in those of us whose lives have been impacted by it, which is most of us. Statistics show that the majority of American families have relatives who have been diagnosed by cancer. Unfortunately, our canine family members are at risk in high numbers as well. Stats vary largely depending on breed, but overall between … Read more

Dogs certainly have a way of bringing out the best in us. They read our emotions and provide quiet comfort or a good belly laugh when we need it most. Despite our shortcomings, they love us unconditionally, and would happily lay down their lives for us. With so many complex and admirable traits, it makes you wonder if your dog is really a human in disguise. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say they are the humans we aspire to … Read more

Getting on a dog’s good side might seem as easy as having a pocket full of treats and knowing the trick to a good belly rub, but our four-legged friends aren’t always easy to please. They’re quick to judge a person’s character, and there are some people they simply don’t like. It could be a specific person in the dog’s family, a friend of their owner’s, or a random person they meet on the street—but dogs know a foe when … Read more

By Chesney McDonald Contributor at Animal Channel Clearing leaves is a monotonous and tiring task as it is. And if we know anything abut baby Panda’s, it’s that they are notoriously clumsy, mischievous and just seem to want to have fun. Their curiosity and playful nature cause them to create havoc for anyone who may be in charge of them. Nanny Mei, I guess that’s you! Mei is a keeper at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The … Read more

Ever heard, “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”? Shakespeare said that, and I think he was talking about dogs – maybe without knowing it. If you have a small dog then you know that size doesn’t really matter. In fact, small dogs have just as much spark, personality, and loyalty as their bigger canine counterparts – usually even more. For little pup devotees, you know what it’s like to have one of these peanuts at home. If you have … Read more

They say there are two types of people: those that love big dogs and those that love little dogs. Okay, that’s probably an over-simplification. Most of us love all dogs, but most of us have a preference when it comes to size. For those of us that have a penchant for the bigger breeds, you’ve heard and seen it all before. Here are 11 things you can definitely relate to.   1. They start small, but they grow fast. Fast … Read more

Most of us consider ourselves polite people in polite society. We greet each other with smiles, kind words, head nods and handshakes. Our best friend, however, has a different sort of greeting. They choose to sniff bums. I would guess that most people with dogs conclude their pups do not have manners. But there’s more to the story. What does your dog get from sniffing butts? Since our canine friends are unable to shake hands, nature has provided them a … Read more

Despite the weird looks you get from people who don’t own dogs when you mention that your pup’s paws smell like Fritos, you aren’t crazy. Many dogs’ paws do smell like Fritos (or popcorn, depending on who you ask). The reason why they have that smell is rather mundane, but we’ll get to that. It should go without saying, but if your dog’s feet are excessively stinky or swollen or have a discharge, a trip to the vet is definitely … Read more