When most people think of introducing pets to a new human family member, the first thing they usually think of is bringing home a new baby. Although it’s true this is a very common scenario for millions of families around the world, it’s not the only one when it comes to adding another human to […]
Why Trying To “Dominate” Your Dog Will Backfire
Chances are pretty good that if you’ve ever shared life with a dog, somewhere along the way someone has instructed you about the importance of learning how to dominate your dog. Most dog parents have heard the lingo: alpha dog, pack leader, top dog, dominant, submissive. The problem is, dominance theory (which has enjoyed an […]
When The “Good Old Days” Weren’t All That Good
Nostalgia can be a tricky thing. It’s in our nature as human beings to romanticize the “good old days”, fondly reminiscing about the way things were while somehow inexplicably glossing over the parts that were, for want of a better word, pretty crappy. I have to chuckle at some of the conversations I’ve heard recently […]
Dog Agility: Fun For You And Your Pup!
Dog agility, a fun and captivating sport in which dogs compete by racing through a course of various jumps and obstacles at a high rate of speed, is now recognized as the fastest growing dog sport in the world. Agility first debuted in England in 1978 as an entertaining halftime activity at the world-famous Crufts […]
Choke, Prong and Shock Collars: Why They Don’t Belong On Our Dogs
The other day I was walking through a large pet-supply retail store (the kitties needed food, again!) when I spotted a beautiful black lab puppy. Immediately, my “squee” alert went off… this puppy was so adorable, I think I might have actually gone a little weak in the knees. But that moment was short-lived when […]