Introducing a new dog into your home can sometimes be a challenge. By easing into things at a neutral location, and avoiding some common mistakes, you’ll help lay the foundation for a lifelong friendship. My former neighbor, Tracey, has a large, lovable, laid-back yellow Labrador named Cody. Last year, she wanted to add a new dog…
Looking for ways to celebrate the season with your dog? We take a page from the traditional holiday carol with 12 days of festive ideas. Our dogs may not care much about holiday music, but they love spending time with us, and that doesn’t change during the festive season. Here are a dozen fun and…
Ensure success when adopting an older dog with these helpful tips. Dogs are considered teenagers when they’re around two. A few years after that, they’re cresting middle age, and by seven, they’re considered seniors. For this reason, many people go for adopting puppies over older adult dogs. There’s a perception that mature dogs are set…
There are thousands of flower essences available and some can be used to naturally help fearful, anxious or hypersensitive dogs. “We have a 12-year-old pit bull and our veterinarian said you might be able to help,” Marcie anxiously told me. “Kelly gets really frightened sometimes, and goes berserk with panic. The other day, we came…
Studies have shown playing the right music can have a powerful and calming influence on dogs and cats. Sound is a major factor of our surroundings, especially in today’s loud, fast-paced world. Noise pollution can be a significant stressor for both animals and humans, while healing music can calm us and improve our lives. Sound…
Does your dog have behavior problems? Find out why a dominance approach doesn’t work, and why a positive training is so much better. You’ve heard the term “positive training”. But what exactly does it mean? Positive trainers are opposed to the dominance/submission approach still used by many trainers. They often work with fearful and reactive…
Rescue dogs often come from situations of neglect and abuse, so may have trouble adjusting to adoption. These tips will help your new friend feel more secure as he gets used to living with you. Rescue dogs often know little beyond neglect, loneliness and abuse. Giving them loving and supportive forever homes after all they’ve…
Unfortunately, our dogs can’t tell us how they’re feeling. But we can get a pretty good idea by reading their body language. When your dog barks as you enter the house, you recognize it as a joyful greeting. If he whines as you’re eating a sandwich, you know it means “can I have some?” But…
If you’re traveling with your dog, help ensure his health and safety by being aware of some often overlooked hazards that could spell trouble. You’ve made all the necessary arrangements for traveling with your dog. You have a canine-friendly place to stay, you’ve packed his food, bedding, leash and veterinary records, and his ID info…
Alleviate your dog’s fear based behaviours stemming from poor socialization, abuse, traumatic events and even genetics. Joe and Melissa adopted a young mixed breed from a rescue group. Shilo was found as a stray, so no one knows her early history. But her new family is convinced she must have suffered some abuse, because she…