Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs
Several times a day, Graidy comes and sits on my lap, and then gently presses his forehead to my forehead, with his nose to my nose. He does this with deliberate precision, until we are staring eye-to-eye. Then he closes his eyes and breathes his warm breath on my face. I feel his body relax. We stay like this, merged, for several seconds.
I wonder, is he trying to read my mind? I’ve no doubt that if he could climb … Read More
I’m helping a friend look for a new puppy. One of the breeds that made it to her short list was the Papillon. With a little more research, it wasn’t long before the cute little Papillon got crossed off.
Why?
The Code.
What is The Code, you ask?
It’s the positive spin breeders put on their breed descriptions, endorsed by the AKC. And, I believe, it’s a major contributor as to why so many dogs wind up in shelters and … Read More
Don’t waste your time vacuuming; there isn’t a vacuum on the market that gets all pet hair. I know because I’ve tried them all. To pick up ALL dog hair, use a squeegee and a little water in a spray bottle. Mist the furniture or rugs with the spray bottle and use the squeegee to loosen the hair. You’ll gather every single pet hair, leaving furniture and rugs perfectly clean.
For rugs use a … Read More
You have a barking dog that just won’t stop. You’re at your wit’s end and you’ll try anything. Or you’re looking for a quick no-training method. Are bark collars the safe and humane solution?
[Video was removed from YouTube.]
Nuf said about that.
Instead, take a couple of minutes and try this method to get your dog to stop barking. Works like a charm. If you don’t want to wind up with a neurotic dog, there are no shortcuts.… Read More
I’ve lived with and loved both of these breeds. So is getting a mix of these two breeds in one package — either by accident or by designer dog– a good idea? As one of my favorite dog trainers says, “It depends.”
My first thought is how much do you love vacuuming?
My next thought is how much do you love running, and training, and running, and training…?
And my final thought is how much money do you have to … Read More
Aussies and Australian Shepherd puppies are very high energy dogs, which means they need a lot of stimulation to help keep them out of trouble. Here is my list of top 5 toys that will help tire them out, while ensuring their health and happiness (and your sanity).
1. YOU. That’s right. If you’re not prepared to devote yourself to your Aussie in the same way that she will devote herself to you, then you’re not ready for an Aussie. … Read More
Sigh… Big sigh… Really big sigh…
I hate ticks.
Especially deer ticks–the carriers of Lyme disease.
And this tick season is as bad as I can recall. (Just to be clear–it’s never not tick season, because adult deer ticks don’t go completely dormant like the nymphs do, but they’re especially active during the Spring and Fall.) I’ve been picking several ticks a day off of each dog for a couple of weeks now. Even with using Frontline. It’s enough … Read More
Graidy, my border collie mix, is 14ish now. Wink, my Cavalier, just turned 9. And Finn, though not technically a dog but a Maine Coon cat with a dog’s spirit, is 12.
I’ve noticed the most significant changes in Graidy. He’s mostly deaf and nearly blind, and he’s slowed down to a trot from a non-stop gallop. He often stumbles on the stairs now.
And while Wink still seems to be going strong overall, he’s happy to lie quietly and … Read More
