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Just Dogs

 

Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs

Before Dogs, I Used To Have a House That Martha Stewart Could Live In…

3 dogs in old farmhouse with muddy paw printsThere was a brief window in my adult life — maybe a couple of years — when I lived without dogs. My business had taken off, I was earning a good living, and my house reflected it. I’m talking actual white furniture. A cream-colored area rug that I vacuumed voluntarily. Friends would come over and compliment the place, and I’d do that thing where you wave your hand like it was nothing, when really I’d spent the whole morning … Read More

Why Dog Lovers Can’t Live Without Their Dogs: The Primal Power of Touch (And Why a Weighted Blanket Just Isn’t the Same)

Why is it that for so many people, the thought of a life without a dog feels incomplete, almost unbearable? (I know I fall squarely in that camp…) Of course, we love their playful energy and loyal companionship, but I think it’s something deeper, rooted in our primal biology.

We humans are wired for touch. Our ancestors lived in tight-knit groups where constant physical contact like grooming and huddling signaled safety, belonging, and protection. This touch triggered floods of oxytocin … Read More

Never Thought I’d See the Day…

dog umbrellaI have never lived with a foo-foo dog before. All of my many dogs over the years have stood on their own four paws, rain or shine.

Then came Kenzie.

Kenzie is my black-tri Cavalier, and she is a total princess. God forbid a single raindrop touches her during a potty break. She’d rather hold it until she explodes.

I tried the “giant umbrella” strategy, hovering over both of us like a personal valet, but she just freezes. She won’t … Read More

Suspect Lineup Arranged…

stuffed dog toys lined up in the snow

…and ready for questioning.

In Arrow’s never-ending attempt to get Riley to play with him outside, he carefully brought each stuffed dog toy outside through the dog door and lined them up so Riley could pick his favorite.

That black thing in front? Probably one of our socks. I’m sure when the snow melts, we’ll find all kinds of missing treasure.

Life with dogs…… Read More

Is Your Dog a Thinker, a Doer, or a Watcher? Science Has Answers

What’s Inside Your Dog’s Mind? New Research Reveals How Breed Shapes Intelligence

lineup of dogs

We all know that a Great Dane looks nothing like a Chihuahua, but what about their minds? A massive study from the University of Helsinki recently tested 1,002 dogs across 13 breeds to find out.

The researchers used a series of “puzzles” to measure things like memory, impulse control, and how well dogs read human body language. Use the following Breed-by-Breed Cheat Sheet to find the answers. The … Read More

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