.. By Jelena

Dogs need walks year-round, but walking on icy streets during the winter months can be dangerous in more ways than one. Your dog’s paws are exposed not just to ice and snow, but to road salt, … Read More

Puppy kindergarten, or puppy socialization class, is a vital part of your puppy’s upbringing. Puppy kindergarten teaches basic obedience and how to play safely with other dogs. It also exposes your puppy to  variety of stimuli that can help … Read More

Some people feel so strongly about allowing horses to go without horseshoes that they consider shoeing a form of abuse; others won’t let their horses take three steps without iron armor on their soles. The most … Read More

No, I don’t mean the winter coat your dog can grow all by himself– I mean the manmade creations that come in every color of the rainbow and can be found adorning pooches belonging to fashionistas around the world. … Read More

Cat owners often ask me about unusual vocalizations from their pets. One of the most common and alarming experiences for the concerned cat parent is unexplained yowling. Cats yowl for a variety of reasons, ranging from … Read More

Stuffed toys are fun for dogs, but swallowed stuffing can cause intestinal blockage. Is the fun of playing with a stuffed toy worth the risk of surgery or death if stuffing is swallowed? Squeaky stuffed animals … Read More

Tug-of-war is one of the most common games played with dogs, but some trainers strongly recommend against it. Others see no reason not to play tug with dogs, so long as the pet parent follows a … Read More

Almost everyone knows what a guide dog is, and most people even understand it’s not appropriate to pet them while they’re working. For many people, that’s as far as their service animal knowledge goes. There’s nothing wrong with that– … Read More

Your pet’s safety should always be among your top priorities when traveling with pets.  Most people wouldn’t leave a chocolate bar next to a dog, or leave a pet in a hot car, but many drivers do something … Read More

As the New Year dawns, I encourage pet owners to resolve to improve their pets’ lives in 2009. A happier, healthier pet will make you happy, too. My resolutions include taking a Flyball class with my … Read More

Trimming cats’ nails is often a task that intimidates pet owners far more than performing the same procedure when trimming a dog’s nails. While it’s true that some cat owners have attempted a nail trim and … Read More

If you’re worried about upcoming pet-related legislation in your area, like a breed ban or pet limit law, one great way to make your voice heard is to write a letter to the Editor of your … Read More

When you think of a child’s first pet, do you picture a hamster? A kitten? A wiggly puppy? Maybe a Shetland Pony? A goldfish? If you’re like most people, one thing you’re not thinking of is an … Read More

Pets are my favorite exercise equipment. Nothing motivates me to go for a run like the pleading eyes of a dog who’s been cooped up indoors all day. Even the cat helps me exercise: When she … Read More

Keiji was my first foster pet, and since he came to me in the holiday season, Christmas Day seems like a good time to post his story. Kitten-in-a-Box Keiji entered my life in a blue plastic box … Read More

Did you forget to get yourself a Christmas gift? If you’re like most people this time of year, you’ve been running around like crazy shopping for gifts for friends and family, but you haven’t taken time to … Read More

Training with distractions is a great way to make sure a learned behavior will be performed on cue in a variety of situations. Dogs don’t automatically generalize learning. If you train your dog to sit in the living … Read More

If you’ve ever had a young cockatoo or a playful caique handed to you at a pet store, you know how hard it can be to resist bringing a parrot home. At their best, they’re cuddly, … Read More

A house full of visiting family can get hectic and noisy, particularly if kids are visiting and have extra energy from being stuck inside. The solution? Round the whole group up, and perform a volunteer project … Read More

Most dogs need their nails trimmed regularly, but few of them enjoy it. Worse yet, a clumsy snip could cut into the quick, causing profuse bleeding. I quicked my own fingernail recently after I was startled … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag … My family is in the market for a puppy and when I went to obedience class with a dog years ago they had me use a 30′ lead and a choker to … Read More

Ice storms are battering the Northeast, while the West and Midwest are now experiencing record cold due to an Arctic front. In my city, a record-breaking low was recorded yesterday, with temperatures of -15 degrees Fahrenheit … Read More

Christmas trees are a wonderful tradition, but they can also present a safety hazard to pets. Decorations like angel hair and tinsel could be fatal if ingested. Then there’s the tree itself– a cat could be … Read More

How often do you look at your pet’s teeth? If you’re like most pet owners, it’s been a while since you peeled back your pet’s lips and took the time to examine his or her molars … Read More

A report earlier this fall from a group of USA pediatricians cautioned parents against keeping exotic pets in a home with young children. The doctors involved cited Salmonella, as well as possible bites and scratches, as reasons … Read More

Obviously, there’s no one proven way to be sure your pet won’t ever get cancer. If there was, we’d all be doing it, and veterinary oncologists would all be out of business. However, it may be … Read More

Most dogs and owners can benefit from studying with a good, professional trainer. Many trainers offer both group classes and private lessons. Which is the best choice? That depends entirely on your needs and the needs of … Read More

I’m a firm believer in biodiverisity. Variety is the spice of life, after all! For that reason, I’ve decided to start occasionally profiling a rare breed on Petlvr: The Blog, in hopes of encouraging dog lovers … Read More

Most puppies nip and mouth their owners’ hands,  ankles, pant legs, and even small children’s behinds, to at least some extent. This behavior can seem cute (the Coppertone bottles with the little girl and her terrier … Read More

New rat owners often purchase exercise balls and wheels and are disappointed when their rats will not use them. Sometimes, rats are even brought to veterinarians by well-meaning owners concerned about their health because they don’t … Read More

The temptation of the Craigslist Pets section haunts me every time I browse the web. I want to scoop each and every animal being sold there up in my arms and take them home with me. Of course, … Read More

Most pet rats don’t bite. I’ll say that again for emphasis: Most pet rats do not bite. The vast majority of domestic Norwegian rats are far less likely to bite than hamsters, mice, or gerbils. Rats are … Read More

What would Junior really love to find under the Christmas tree this year? A wiggly little puppy, of course! And wouldn’t Hannah love a hamster for Hanukkah? Grandma Sally has been lonely since her husband passed … Read More