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What to Feed a Puppy Who Is a Picky Eater

King Charles Cavalier blenheim puppyRiley is a picky eater. A very picky eater. I didn’t even know it was possible to have a dog that’s not totally food driven. Over the course of my life, I’ve lived with 20 dogs and this is a first for me.

Very quickly after Riley arrived, he decided he didn’t like the food that his breeder sent home with him and just stopped eating. No amount of coaxing helped. Going hungry didn’t help. He actually started losing weight. … Read More

Tonight’s Light Show

Looking at the western sky and wondering what those two bright stars are? They’re actually planets. Venus (bottom) and Jupiter (top) have been moving together throughout February 2023. Tonight and tomorrow night (weather permitting), February 21 and 22, 2023, you’ll be able to see the moon join them later in the night.Read More

Learning from My Mistakes. What I’m Doing Differently with Riley.

puppy with toysI loved my life with my previous animals. All of them were incredible for different reasons. Kiera was my beloved brilliant partner. Graidy was my sentry dog who probably adored me more than any animal I’ve lived with. Finn was the perfect cat (minus furniture scratching) because he was essentially a dog in a cat’s body. And Wink… Wink was the embodiment of joy and love.

But in starting anew, I’ve had a chance to think about what I would … Read More

5 Things You Should Not Cut Off Your Dog

Since we’re all adults, I’d like to discuss a few dog parts that have really good reasons why they should never be cut off a dog. Animals come with all the body parts they’re meant to have. If it’s there, it’s there for a reason. Certainly, none of the following should be removed for human vanity reasons.

1. Male Dog Penis Guide Hairs

dog penis hair Some people feel compelled to trim male guide hairs (don’t know what the technical name is for … Read More

2024 Rate Your Dog Food: Does Your Brand Get an A or an F?

Updated for 2024: illustration of various dog foodsIs your dog food cutting the mustard?

We all want to make sure our dogs are getting healthy, safe foods. (To keep abreast of the latest pet food recalls, go to DogFoodAdviser.com. You can even sign up for alerts.) It can be hard to sift through all the advertising and positioning. Should we go with Dry? Wet? Raw? Freeze-dried? Some combo? Too many options!

I offer the following lists, chart and quiz to help you sort … Read More

What is the Best Gender Combination for 3 Dogs?

3 dogs playingI’ve had so many readers ask me over the years what I think is the best gender combination for 3 dogs. Having lived with multiple  dogs for more than 30 years, following is what I think based on my experience.

These are pics of the most recent combination of my 3 dogs—two males and a female, all different breeds, and each spaced about 3 years apart in age.

3 dogs on couch

What You Need to Know About Dog Gender Combinations

Because I started … Read More