All For One, One For All
My history with Pugs is a long and varied one. I have trained them (P is for Park), feted them (Pet Fair and Pug Fest), calmed them (Get Well Soon), puzzled over them (Check One: Female Male Other),...
View ArticleJune 24 – Take Your Dog to Work Day
Will all of the estimated 43 million U.S. dog owners bring their dogs to work with them this Friday? Maybe YOU will! If you’ve never brought your dog to the office before, your co-workers might...
View ArticleThat’s a No No
At the risk of sounding like a naysayer, I confess I must share a significant No No with you. Yes, I know, one of my recent blog posts was about pet peeves. Does negativity come with advanced age?...
View ArticleProblem Child
Aussie Labradoodle Martina can do no right. Her two “brothers” – Lab mixes, ages 8 and 10 – nap most of the day, rising only to follow the movement of the sun across the floor. Both boys greet family...
View ArticleWalking Dogs, Chewing Gum
Fenway and Wrigley are two charming Pitbull mixes that have tested the will, the strength, and the patience of their owners on walks. And their elbows, knees, and wrists, too. Oh, and ankles, one of...
View ArticleMean Girl
Brooks is a flashy, feisty little Long-Haired Chihuahua. Her big “brother” Dunn is a sweet-natured Lab mix. The dogs sleep together in a single bolstered dog bed. They play frenetic games of chase...
View ArticleThe new guy
Its pretty common nowadays for people to live with two or more dogs. While we humans manage to make the transition to the additional workload (feeding, walking, scooping, grooming, training, veterinary...
View ArticleA car! A car!
In a family of five dogs, the daily contest is who gets to announce the arrival of a car in the driveway first. The most sensitive dog is usually the initiator of the in-house alarm system. But not by...
View ArticleFinders keepers
A client once told me that his dog was “well-behaved but not well-trained.” Rosalita is one of those dogs. She may not know any tricks or be able to lie down on command, but she is so little trouble...
View ArticleNo one saw it coming
All the signs were there, though. If any one of the five human family members spoke canine. Gertrude, a 7 year old mini dachshund, would emit a low growl, almost a hum, from her perch on the back of...
View ArticleWhat makes stuff happen
Sally Mae is a terrier mix with a tendency to vocalize. That is, she barks. A lot. She barks to be let outside. She barks to come back in. She barks at the kitchen cabinet that has a box of treats in...
View ArticleThe right way to get a purebred puppy
Yes, I know. My motto, theme song, tag line, reason for living, is “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” Only 1 out of every 10 homeless dogs finds a permanent home. The rest end up in shelters or euthanized. That...
View ArticleThe dog that wouldn’t sit
Maisie is a 4 year old Golden Retriever that never learned to sit. There is nothing wrong with her physically to prevent her from sitting. And it isn’t for lack of trying – her owner enrolled her in...
View ArticleJust visiting
Joe and Michelle take Charger, their Yellow Lab, everywhere with them. Since they do most of their errands together, one of them stays in the car with Charger and the other runs into the cleaners or...
View ArticleOdd Man Out
Edgar is a 2 year old Miniature Dachshund who has never known a day without his siblings Rottweiler Hannah and Pitbull mix J.P. All of his life, he has deferred to the bigger dogs on everything from...
View ArticleHow rough is too rough?
My clients tell me they are very concerned about how their dogs play together. They want me to observe their dogs and tell them if or when they should intervene. Usually its because they have added a...
View ArticleFundamentally Not Fun
Two year old West Highland Terrier Stella takes her job as protector of the house and its contents very seriously. So much so that she refuses to have fun. Stella looks at any proffered toy with...
View ArticleTwo dogs, two separate walks
Everyone who has two dogs, raise your hand. Everyone who has two dogs AND walks each dog separately because one or both are terrible on leash, smile grimly. Yes, walking two dogs can be challenging,...
View ArticleMoving on
Who was it that said “All good things must end?” Certainly not your dog on a walk. Or your dog getting attention. Or chowing down on kibble. Your dog would say “Hey! This is great! Keep that dish...
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