.. By Jelena

As you give thanks for your beloved pets today, remember shelter pets and the people who work hard to improve their lives and find homes for them. Economic turmoil has caused an increase in the number of pets surrendered … Read More

Guests visiting for the holiday can cause stress for pets accustomed to a particular routine. Even if the “guests” are just college students who lived with the pets in question for most of their lives, the disruption … Read More

If you clicked this, you probably already know that pets shouldn’t be fed from the table. However, there might be a significant other, a child, or even a parent in your life who insists upon tossing … Read More

It might be tempting to just scoop some stuffing and a few bites of turkey into your pet’s bowl on Thanksgiving, but beware: Onions, raisins, garlic, and other ingredients in Thanksgiving staples can be harmful to … Read More

Yes, I know, it sounds counterintuitive to allow your horse to have a say in his or her training, but communication should go both ways between a horse and rider. For example, my horse recently was … Read More

Play is an important daily activity for your pet, especially if that pet is a puppy or kitten. It’s easy to forget playtime in the hustle and bustle of daily life with pets. There’s feeding, potty … Read More

Welcome to PetLvr Reviews, a new series here at PetLvr – The Blog, where we take a time-out to look at some interesting and (not-so-interesting) pet related products. If you would like your product reviewed by … Read More

Petsitters and boarding kennels each have advantages and disadvantages for pets staying behind while owners travel. Yesterday we examined the pros and cons of choosing a boarding facility. Today, we’ll do the same for petsitters. Some petsitters … Read More

When vacationing without pets, one must often choose between a petsitter or sending pets to a boarding kennel. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I hate to leave my dog for even a single night, so I … Read More

A jumping dog is seeking attention. In order not to reward the behavior, the best response is to ignore it. You’ve met a kid who acts up even though his parents yell at him, because he … Read More

I love my many pets, and they all get along fairly well, even the cat and rats. Interactions between pets of different species can be fascinating and humorous. However, there are certain common pets that simply … Read More

There are few things less fun than dancing around a fire hydrant blowing on one’s hands while waiting for one’s dog to do its business in below-zero temperatures, let alone taking the dog for a long … Read More

You know the stereotype: Cat owners can’t have nice furniture, because cats will always scratch the couch, unless they’re declawed. If you have one or more cats, you might already have furniture damaged by scratching. However, there’s … Read More

Volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way for children to learn responsibility and prepare for adopting a family pet. However, it can be tough to find organizations and activities that are child-friendly, particularly if … Read More

Barack Obama and his family will be moving into the White House soon, with a puppy in tow. But what could an Obama presidency change about dog ownership in America? Shortly before the election I received … Read More

President-Elect Barack Obama announced yesterday in his acceptance speech after winning the US presidency that a puppy will be moving into the White House with the Obama family. Michelle Obama said in a recent TV interview that … Read More

Does your dog vote? No, I’m not asking if he’ll be going to the polls and marking a ballot. But will your status as a pet owner influence your vote? Mandatory vaccination, dangerous dog laws, dogfighting … Read More

When a dog is frightened and whimpering or cowering, most people instinctually jump to soothe and comfort the scared pooch. However, if you fuss over a fearful Fido, you might be doing him a disservice. Then … Read More

Food thieving is a common problem, but tough to solve because it is self-rewarding. There is no point in punishing the dog once she’s gotten food. The punishment will only serve to create fear at this point, because … Read More

Kittens can be almost as difficult as newborn human babies when it comes to letting their caregivers get a full night’s sleep! If you’re a pet parent to a young kitten or two, you’ve probably been … Read More

We’ve talked about keeping a pet’s coat healthy at home, but let’s face it: Some breeds’ grooming needs just can’t be realistically met by most owners. For example, Poodles of all sizes need regular grooming to … Read More

Raw feeding is healthful, frugal when done right, and fun– but it’s also time-consuming and difficult at times. Most raw feeders know the frustration of being ten minutes late in the morning, reaching into the meat … Read More

One of the most frequent complaints by cat owners is that the cat won’t stay off the counters dining table. Even my own kitty, Monster, has been guilty! Luckily, there are several ways to discourage cats … Read More

Every pet owner should know by now that dogs and cats can’t have chocolate and shouldn’t eat any sort of candy. However, that doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely on Halloween! Some fall treats … Read More

The first time a stray found me, I was completely unprepared for the situation. A Cocker Spaniel turned up in the courtyard outside my apartment and proceeded to evade me for nearly two hours before finally … Read More

We just talked about why you should never buy a pet at a pet store, but why should you adopt instead? Well, setting aside that you’ll save a life and give a wonderful animal a second … Read More

This post was submitted to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption. Adopt a pet today! Monster at 4 1/2 weeks, fitting into the palm of one of my hands. During my time as a foster home … Read More

Yes, the title of this post probably has you calling, “BS!” if you’re a kibble feeder and have shopped for meat for your human family recently. However, it’s true: If you’re feeding a premium kibble, a … Read More

I think most pet lovers, especially those who read this blog, know why it’s a bad idea to buy a cat or dog at a pet store. Even Oprah has taken up the cause of raising … Read More

Halloween’s coming, and that means pet owners should be thinking about their pets’ safety as well as holiday fun. Treats like chocolate and caramel can be harmful or even fatal to some types of pets. In … Read More

Most dogs enjoy a visit to the dog park. Outdoor fun with a compatible group of dogs– what could be better? Unfortunately, dog parks are also often the site of serious injuries to dogs or to … Read More

Okay, we all know that you can donate a bag of dog food or a cat carrier to the animal shelter, or that you can volunteer or foster, right? But the truth is, shelters can put a … Read More

As worldwide financial panic continues, so does our series on pet ownership in a down economy. Last time, we talked about making pet toys at home. That’s a great way to save some money, but you … Read More