R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What It Means to...

Having a dog as part of your family unit is trickier to negotiate than you might imagine. If your family reflects the nuclear family model – a mom, a dad, and two kids – it practically goes without saying that there is some kind of pet involved. If you have a cat, a fish, or a rodent of some kind, it is likely that said pet would be perfectly content doing its own thing. However, you do not have a cat, a fish, or a rodent. You have Blackie the Spaniel. So how do you go about successfully incorporating Blackie into your family’s life, with each and every family member having...

Feeding Hector from the Table...

Little Hector has been giving you the sad puppy eyes. The ones that express that the poor little guy is starving. Don’t give into that face! Giving him table scraps can have some serious and some annoying consequences. There is almost no good reason to give Hector anything from your dinner plate. Obesity You’ve probably heard the startling news. Yes, even America’s pets are obese. Our pets get fat in much the same way that we humans do. They eat too much and they don’t get enough exercise. Dog food is specifically formulated to provide dogs with the right balance of...

What Your Dog Really Wants...

The pet industry has long since been considered recession proof but it has proved to be more recession resistant than anything. While spending continues to increase, the products being bought display more value-for-money thinking, where frivolous expenditure is replaced with thoughtful. People are willing to shell out money for pet services such as grooming, hotel boarding and a good deal of novelty canine items as the population ages and pets replace children who have left the nest. Is this what Rocky really wants? Sweaters and monogrammed bandanas with home cooked-meals are...

Why Do Dogs Eat Strange Things and Then ...

Sherlock, a rather distinguished-looking Irish Setter, and his companion, Watson, a squat but scrappy English Bulldog have been quite an inseparable pair, ever since they were puppies together. They don’t seem to notice the differences between them – breed, size, face shape, and all that. In fact, the two behave somewhat like littermates, playing together and sharing food, beds, and toys quite freely. Sherlock, of course, is in charge, which Watson seems to be fine with. Why Do Dogs Eat Grass (And Then Throw It Up) This pair of pooches demonstrates a mystery behavior that...

From Dog Fighting to Dog Rescue and Reha...

Most Americans have at least heard about the Michael Vick, NFL star who got in trouble with the law for running a dog fighting ring from his “Bad Newz Kennels” in Virginia. What you might not have heard, though, is that the property was sold to a not-for-profit group called Dogs Deserve Better (DDB). The group plans to use the property as a rehabilitation and training center for dogs who have been abused. Specifically, DDB focuses on dogs who have been chained or tied up outdoors and campaigns online using social media, such as Facebook and Twitter as well as other means...

Why do you want a dog?...

There are many great reasons to get a dog, and, unfortunately, probably a great many terrible reasons to get a dog. As with most decisions, there are rational approaches to exploring the question and emotional responses. Wanting, desiring or hankering for a dog is a very different experience compared to the stone cold sober accounting of your resources (financial, emotional and time) that taking on a dog requires. Let’s try to break it down. What is a Dog? Stupid question? Not from this uber rational point of view. A dog is • A 10-15 year commitment, depending on the...

Working at Home with a Dog That Loves Yo...

The idea of working at home is exciting for many reasons, not the least of which is that on the surface it seems like an efficient way to avoid wasting time. You don’t have to bother getting dressed up to fit the requirements of your workplace, and you can avoid the stresses and tensions of time spent enmeshed in rush hour traffic. Working at home is a no-frills, meat and potatoes way to get things done in a comfortable environment, at a pace that can be as fast or slow as you want it. How you spend your time is up to you, since you are your own boss and you don’t have to...

Samosa’s Hip Pains...

Samosa, the energetic and lovable Corgi who has become an indispensable part of your family is now suffering from hip pain. He limps, and going up and down stairs is nearly impossible. The loving and diligent dog owner that you are, you take him in to the see the Vet. You get the news you didn’t want to hear but assumed it would be. Samosa has hip dysplasia. Stunned and deeply saddened, you are willing to do anything to rid your faithful companion of the pain he’s suffering. The doctor suggests using cortisone injections on Samosa, which makes sense to you. Almost immediately...

Guide Dogs – Not Just Leading the Blin...

Humans have been using dogs for thousands of years in various capacities. We take advantage of their affectionate natures, their loyalty and their natural talents and put them to work for us. With their vision, hearing, and sense of smell, they have become our hunting aids, search and rescue workers, and police assistants. Perhaps their most important job for humans has been that of guide. With patience and care, dogs have been leading the disabled for hundreds of years. Leader Dogs Images of dogs leading the blind have been found as far back in time as the Roman Empire. In...

Diet, Nutrition, and the Health of Your ...

Cats, like all animals, have nutritional and dietary requirements that are different from those of human beings. Every cat owner must be aware of certain nutritional truths about their feline companions, if they want to help their pets maintain good health. For example, it is a fact that cats, unlike dogs, cannot under any circumstances survive on a strictly vegetarian diet. There are certain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that cats must obtain through food sources because they do not share the ability of other mammals to synthesize those substances in their bodies....