If your dog sheds a lot, you’ve probably thought about shaving them to reduce the amount of hair left around your house. Maybe you thought shaving your dog would keep them cooler in the summer. Perhaps you think your dog would look cute shaved. Generally, dogs whose hair only grows to a certain length and then stops, and specifically double-coated dogs – dogs that have an undercoat that sheds out – should not be shaved. Here are three reasons why … Read more

We’ve all been that person frantically calling our dog’s name only to have them do everything possible to pretend we don’t exist. Not only is this scenario frustrating and embarrassing, it’s also dangerous. The first thing people do when bringing home a new dog is play the name game. They think long and hard about the perfect names for their prized pooches, but most spend significantly less time working on name recognition. Copper, Bailey, Luna, and Jewels are at a … Read more

Veterinary clinics in Virginia are warning pet owners of a mysterious new threat to their furry family members. In the past month, more than 150 dogs in the Charlottesville area have received veterinary attention for a type of respiratory condition similar to whooping cough. The disease is highly contagious, and local vets are officially calling the issue an “epidemic.” Autumn Tails Veterinary Center in Charlottesville, VA is one of many veterinary clinics that has seen a huge intake of dogs … Read more

There are close to 200 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Each is assigned to one of seven groups based on the traits they were bred for. While there is no such thing as a bark-free dog, the following 10 breeds are among the quietest, thanks to their inherent characteristics. 1. Pug Pugs were originally bred more than 2,000 years ago to serve as companions to Chinese emperors and their families. To this day, these loyal cuties … Read more

Aggression between females is an unfortunately common behavioral issue faced by countless dog owners. Households with more than one adult female dog often struggle with conflicting personalities that lead to dangerous fights. While every situation and every dog is different, aggression between female dogs has been linked to a few key causes. Living with a pair of feisty females disrupts the entire household, but continuous fights don’t have to be your everyday reality. Before you can solve the problem, you … Read more

Is your pooch ecstatic every time you come home, and act like your shadow whenever you’re in the house? That’s because you’re the center of his world, and he always wants to know where you are and what you’re doing. As it turns out, our dogs are such good observers that they can pick up on our emotions or even detect things about us that we don’t even know ourselves. Ever hear stories of pups who have alerted their people to … Read more

Human or canine, eye contact is a big part of communication. Eyes convey emotion, indicate intent, and they reflect individual personality in ways many people don’t realize. There’s a lot that’s the same when it comes to human and canine eyes—you and your pup can even share the same eye color—but the way dogs understand eye contact will always be slightly different than what seems normal for humans. Understanding how your dog feels about eye contact is important for your … Read more

The other day, my neighbor’s dog darted out the front door and chased a young boy on a bike. She ended up biting the child’s foot, fracturing two of his toes. The dog now faces a mandatory 10-day Rabies quarantine and possible euthanasia. Sadly, the whole situation could have been avoided if her owners had provided the intervention, correction, and training to break her dangerous habits. As much as we love our dogs, there is no such thing as a “perfect” … Read more

Your backyard is where your dog is free to run around and soak up the sun, but it’s your job to make sure that happy place doesn’t end up being a dangerous place. You’ll need to look at your yard with a critical eye to spot the things that might get a curious sniffer or mischievous mind into trouble. Most of the things on this list are everyday items you probably have in your yard right now. They’re safe when … Read more

You know your rescue dog had a life before you walked into the shelter, but how much of that time do they actually remember? Would your dog recognize their old owners or where they used to live? Can they recall specific experiences whether they were good or bad? For some rescues, forgetting a painful past might be a good thing, but is that even possible? Here’s a closer look at how your dog’s memory works and what scientists think they … Read more