The first recognized therapy dog was a four pound Yorkshire Terrier named Smokey. It was during WWII; Smokey was rescued by a soldier and traveled with his human through various battles. When his human was hospitalized, Smokey was brought to the hospital. The dog slept on his person’s bed, keeping him company and raising his spirits with amusing canine antics. Pretty soon nurses were borrowing Smokey, to entertain other wounded soldiers in the hospital. Continuing the tradition It is a … Read more

Love dogs? Why not turn it into a career? There are the usual suggestions of becoming a dog trainer, behaviorist or even a groomer. These ideas take time, schooling, certifications and licensing. People may suggest dog walking or becoming a pet sitter. While they are decent start-ups, they’ve been covered the internet over by animal lovers all around the world. The pet industry is a multi-billion dollar operation. Owners are spending more on their pets now than ten years ago. … Read more

  Quick! First thought with the word—Chihuahua? Ankle biter? Snuggle bug? How about—Dachshund? Weiner dog? Digging fanatic? Everyone has preconceived notions about most breeds. Thinking of a St. Bernard may equal rabid killer for some or slobber giant for others. What about a Collie? Is she a multi-lingual communicator or dog with an attitude? What if the breed had a less than stellar reputation? How does society overcome breed stereotypes and accept a dog at face value? The history of … Read more

    Sometimes well meaning owners will take on the responsibility of two dogs at once. The dogs have bonded and will be heartbroken if separated… Dogs are social animals, so they will always need a buddy…  Two is better than one? The list of reasons may go on and on. Reality is, potential owners don’t see the downside of bringing in two dogs at the same time until the negatives become glaringly obvious. Double the bills… double the training… … Read more

Another round of dog shows have come and gone and there is still a little nagging voice in the back of the head, “My dog is better looking than that dog!” Well, that may be true, but no one will ever know unless the dog steps foot in the ring. How exactly does one get involved in dog showing? Normally a pure breed dog is involved; but there are a whole slew of other things to train for before Fido … Read more

We call them our fur kids and for good reason – they have a lot in common with two-legged children. In fact, if you have dogs thinking you are avoiding the struggles (and joys!) of parenting, think again! Here are 15 things parents and dog owners have in common. #1 – Cleaning up poop Whether it’s a dirty diaper or a doggy bag, both types of parents are all too familiar with this chore. Parents of two-legged kids have an edge … Read more

Being a pit bull owner is full of all the joys of dog ownership, along with some painful circumstances that only other pitty owners could possibly understand. Here are ten trials and tribulations of owning a pitty. #1 – Having to choose where you live based on whether or not your dog is welcome #2 –Getting dirty looks when you walk your dog down the street because people assume he’s aggressive #3 – There is nothing like a bully cuddle     … Read more

Canines are expected to have decent manners when they go out in public. Most dogs go through basic obedience training learning the most rudimentary commands sit, down, stay. Of those dogs, some may go on to advanced obedience training. Advanced training is basic commands with distance and focus. The purpose of advanced obedience is to have a well behaved dog both on and off leash with a myriad of distractions present. A select few will go on to the Canine … Read more