Having lived with dogs all my life—I feel uniquely qualified to warn you about the perils of dog ownership. Sure, they look adorable in those Instagram posts, but here’s the unfiltered truth about why you might want to reconsider that trip to the shelter.
Remember when you bought that fancy vacuum and thought, “This will last for years”? Yeah. No. Your new full-time … Read More
[Just heard from Sarah that a great family adopted Blue! May he live a long and happy life!]
Meet Blue. He’s a 2 yr old Mini Aussie. WITH A TAIL! He’s looking for his forever home. His foster mom, Sarah, is trying to help make that happen. I swear if my house wasn’t already full to the brim, I would take him myself.
Even though Sarah is in Hawaii, she says that she’d be willing to fly him to Seattle.… Read More
Actually, when is it NOT tick season? Unless temps stay well below 35 degrees F, these little critters can be on the move.
But, you say, there’s snow on the ground. Think if there’s snow, you’re safe? Think again! Snow cover actually provides insulation for ticks, allowing them to survive even when air temperatures drop below freezing. They can emerge quickly when the snow melts, and temperatures rise, even briefly. This is why many veterinarians and researchers have documented tick … Read More
Walking your dog is one of the most enjoyable and beneficial activities you can share with your dog. It provides exercise, mental stimulation, and an opportunity to bond. But walking your dog on roads, especially busy ones, comes with its own set of challenges and risks.
As someone who shares life with three dogs, I’ve learned that walking them safely on roads requires more than just a leash and good … Read More
When we choose to share our lives with animals, our lives are often enriched in ways we could never imagine. And we add new levels of worry that didn’t exist before. This can be especially true for people who live alone and have animals.
I’ve been “blessed” with a lot of unusual life experiences. Like, when I lived alone and had two houses totally destroyed by fire in the same year. Neither fire was my fault. And, yes, I lost … Read More
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m betting you’ve seen these button boards. Even mainstream media is on the bandwagon.
This new communication technique, developed by speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, has opened new ways of understanding our dogs using structured, intentional communication methods.
Button boards consist of programmable sound devices that, when pressed, play pre-recorded words or phrases. These “buttons” give dogs a concrete way to express their needs, desires, and … Read More
There’s been a bit of a war going on in the dog training world.
Have you chosen your side? The side between the alpha wanna-be’s group (the old-fashioned punitive types) and the your dog is never bad, you are just a bad trainer group (the violently positive types)?
The Great Divide in Dog Training: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes
In the world of dog training, a heated debate has been raging for years, known as the “Training … Read More
See that cute little Cavalier there… safely tucked under her big Aussie brother’s belly. She’s there seeking cover because she just finished barking her head off at the postman stopped in front of our house. But then, when he actually walked up to the front door… Well, not so tough anymore.
Yup, she’s got a touch of the case of “Small Dog Syndrome.” Since I’m working it through with her, I thought I’d share what it is, what causes it, … Read More
