Search Results for: ups

As more and more dog owners come into contact with the world of professional animal trainers, they begin to hear bits and pieces of the industry jargon. And, like most things, depending on who you ask you may get slightly different answers. But it’s important to try and understand the types of training that are out there and what exactly a trainer is doing with your dog (especially if you are sending them away to a board and train situation). … Read more

Of all the doggy myths, urban legends, and wives’ tales I have heard throughout my life, I think this is the one that still gets the most debate. I hear people saying, “Don’t teach your pit bull to tug, he’ll attack you.” Or “if you let your dog win at tug, he will think he is more dominant than you.” Then again, my dog trainer friends who do agility use it as a foundation for their training, teaching their eight … Read more

The common belief is that if a dog is eating grass, their stomach must be upset. And sometimes dogs do vomit after eating vegetation. However, what about those dogs that just seem to “graze”? Recently, with the new spring grass, two of my shelties have become sheep – eating up the grass like candy with no vomiting. So, I decided to research why and went to the experts for the answers. Here’s what they said. Fresh Spring Greens Although dogs … Read more

Summer is here! That means road trips, hikes, swimming, and so much more! Summer often means more free time, and that means more free time with our dogs! It’s pretty obvious that dogs love going outside, and summer gives us the beautiful weather to explore the great outdoors. Whether it’s your local park or a backpacking trip with your four-legged pal, summer is the time for adventure. But with the freedom also comes a possibly dangerous component – heat. Being … Read more

Summertime; the heat is on, kids are out of school and all thoughts turn to vacation. Then the family dog comes in and plants herself at her human’s feet.  Boarding a dog can be expensive and may be worrisome for a first time owner. Should thoughts of vacation be scrapped? Absolutely not! Below are some of the most dog friendly destinations in North America and some global inspiration Chicago, IL. Chicago boasts miles of parks and walking trails, canine friendly outdoor … Read more

Google the term “Dangerous Dog Breed” and 1,440,000 results appear in less than two seconds. That is one million four hundred- forty thousand results on a subject that really doesn’t exist. There are lists, articles, warnings, news stories all about the top dangerous breeds and how these particular dogs need to be closely watched or simply eradicated from existence. How can a million posters be wrong? Bad Press? The media loves a storm. If there is a dog bite or … Read more

We always think of our backyards as the safest place for our dogs – we put up sturdy, tall fences, make sure the gates are escape proof and feel confident about leaving our pups outside unattended for some sunshine and exercise. And yet almost all of our yards have these 8 deadly objects waiting to cause a tragedy. Of course, we’re not saying you can’t have these objects in your back yard at all. But we do need to be … Read more

We all joke about “doggy breath,” but the fact is that nasty breath may be telling you something is wrong in your pup’s mouth. According to Dr. Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, DipABVP, “a full 85% of pets have periodontal disease by age 3.” (www.veterinarypartner.com)  The Signs Unfortunately, periodontal disease has really no signs except for halitosis (bad breath) in its early stages (http://www.avdc.org). The Stages “In progressed cases your pet may refuse to eat, unable to chew. Look for redness … Read more

For some reason or another, the topic of fixing a dog has become a rather touchy subject. While we all think of our pets as our kids, there are some differences that needed to be considered. For example, you are not going to give your fur-kid a chocolate cake for their birthday or teach them to drive your car. Nor are you going to put flea treatment on your human child or expect them to stay in a crate at … Read more

In honor of this year’s National Puppy Day, Aimee Gilbreath, Executive Director of Found Animals has a few tips to help you make an informed decision about choosing your next family member. 1.  Consider the Benefits of Adopting a Puppy The mere presence of a puppy can melt your heart immediately, so it is very important to understand that your new pup will require a lot of time, energy and patience before making any decisions. With that in mind, puppies … Read more

A fast growing industry as more pet parents are finding they just don’t have time to do their own grooming, getting a job as a dog groomer is competitive. In order to make a true career out of this job, you need to be dedicated, willing to put time and effort into practicing your craft, and be good at client relations. Many groomers get a dog that requires a high level of grooming, such as a poodle, to practice on. Really … Read more

Your dog’s skin is the largest organ he has, shouldn’t you make sure it stays healthy? Skin afflictions can be painfully uncomfortable for your dog and cost you hundreds at the vet. There are over 160 skin disorders, some of which are chronic, incurable diseases, while others are preventable. Help prevent what you can by following these tips to keeping your dog’s skin healthy. 1. Sun Protection Just like humans, overexposure to the sun is bad for your dog’s skin. … Read more

Many dog owners find it easier to feed their dog either once a day or just to free feed them throughout the day—both of these can be dangerous to your dog’s  health. Free feeding can cause a obesities as most dog’s will continually eat if given the choice. In addition, it can be hard to monitor your dog’s health if you are not sure how much or even if he is eating. For example, if you feed your dog a … Read more

A common plight among dogs is car sickness. No fun for the owner, it also takes the joy right out riding in the car for your canine traveling companion. Many dogs that suffer car sickness get so upset they won’t go near the car, and who can blame them? Don’t you avoid boats if you get seasick or that certain carnival ride that makes you nauseous? Bring the joy back to your dog’s joy riding by trying some of these … Read more

Inclement weather can make exercising your dog a chore or even impossible. When your best friend can’t get outside, pent up energy can lead to destructive behaviors like chewing, zooming through the house, getting into the garbage, etc. So how do you tire out your dog when you can’t go outside? Here are a few ideas to help get your dog’s energy out, without destroying your home. 1. Indoor Obstacle Course. Clear out a space in a room (be sure … Read more

Commonly called “doggy breath,” it is something most of us find repugnant. In fact, a lot of owners confess they don’t let their dogs kiss them solely because of the smell from their favorite canine’s mouth. While a dog’s mouth will never smell like roses, there are a few things you can do to fix it…and a very good reason why you shouldn’t ignore it! Symptom of a Disease Dog owners should never ignore bad breath, especially if it is … Read more

Lethargy Some dogs are inherently lazy, but you may notice it to be more extreme than usual. Lethargy is a very common sign that your dog is not feeling well. And who can blame him? You don’t want to do much when you’re sick either. If the lethargy lasts more than a few hours, you should probably take him in for a check-up. Lethargy is a symptom of many ailments, some minor and others very serious. Lack of Appetite Most … Read more

With the large number of dogs that now live in urban settings where they come in daily contact with dozens of people, it’s not really surprising (though it is sad) that dog bites are on the rise. Approximately 4.7 million dog bites happen in the U.S. each year. 50% of those were children under the age of 12 years (www.Americanhumane.org). Just because a dog lives in the city does not mean it is comfortable with strangers, children in particular. A lot … Read more

There is the normal licking; ice cream dripped on the kitchen floor, many happy (and not so welcome) kisses when an owner walks through the door. Then there is the questionable tongue bath; constant licking of an owners hand or the licking of their paw. How does one tell the difference between harmless grooming and a compulsive behavior? Attention seeker Sometimes dogs like the scent of a soap or hand lotion and can’t seem to get enough of it, so … 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