.: Pet Dogs

Many dogs, particularly small dogs and those with short coats, refuse to do their business in deep snow. When Spring blizzards like the one blanketing my city with over a foot of the white stuff hit, … Read More

Dogs need baths, but owners’ opinions on how often range from “dump him in a tub of suds once a year whether he needs it or not” to “take her to a professional groomer every Saturday.” … Read More

Should you let your dog off-leash? The answer is usually no, but then how can your high energy dog get enough exercise? When leashed to  you, most medium to large dogs are limited to a slow … Read More

Once you’ve picked out a puppy, the hardest part of your dog search is over. But when should that puppy join your family? If it’s already weaned and separated from littermates, the answer is “as soon … Read More

Is your pet sneezing? At this time of year, the problem could be spring allergies. Just like humans, many pets have allergies to pollen, dust, or mold, and those allergies often flare up during the spring. … Read More

Warmer weather is coming, and with it will come the inevitable reports of dogs dying from heat prostration when left unattended in hot cars. But alongside those reports will be the stories of a dog owner … Read More

Most dogs don’t get enough exercise. The modern human lifestyle doesn’t always allow for dogs to get an ideal amount of playtime and physical activity. A large majority of dog owners will never worry about whether … Read More

It’s easy to smack a child or animal when  they make you angry, or to yank a choke chain, but what results does physical punishment really yield? For many dog owners and parents alike, the only definite … Read More

Puppies can be tough to housebreak, but the challenge of housetraining an older dog who has become accustomed to pottying inside is a whole ‘nother bag of chips, so to speak. While the most important part … Read More

Since Tory’s surgery to correct his elongated soft palate, his breathing has improved by leaps and bounds. These days, I can hardly tell he was ever impaired at all! He snorks and wheezes like a normal … Read More

Nothing is more discouraging to a pet lover than a failed adoption. You fully intend to give a loving, permanent home to a pet in need, and instead you find yourself over your head with an … Read More

Sadly, most people have been in a situation in which they’ve witnessed someone close to them mistreating a pet. Whether it’s your college roommate giving alcohol to the fraternity cat, or your aging mother beginning to … Read More

Even the most experienced pet owners sometimes dread giving pills to dogs and cats. Children are hard enough to medicate, let alone pets, who won’t understand, “This is for your own good!” However, with a little … Read More

Not all animals seem to watch TV, but some do. We’ve all known a dog who barks at Lassie or Garfield, or a cat that bats at the television when the Nature Channel shows songbirds. Why … Read More

We’ve talked about owning pets during a recession before, and as the economy continues to stagnate, it’s more  important than ever to share ways to keep your family together without breaking the bank. I’ve recently started doing … Read More

It’s a rare dog who’s never pilfered a sock from his owners, nor been caught fleeing the dirty laundry basket clutching a pair of panties in his mouth. But why exactly do dogs steal dirty laundry? … Read More

I’m tipping my hat to the movie “WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price” in the title of this blog post, because in a way, pet stores and puppy mills are the  Wal-Mart of the dog world. Of … Read More

Is My Dog Dehydrated? Is your dog dehydrated? Dehydration is fairly common in a sick dog or cat. And unfortunately, it’s a condition that can make a sick pet even sicker. Ultimately, a pet can die … Read More

You’ve heard it, as all pet owners have: “Mutts are healthier than purebreds.” But is that true? As it turns out, things aren’t really that simple. While in some instances mixed-breed dogs may have a better … Read More

Many dog owners are hesitant to put their dog under anesthesia for a procedure like a spay or neuter, and many wonder the precise benefits of spaying or neutering a dog. In this article, we’ll examine … Read More

In part three, a veterinarian diagnosed Tory with several health problems requiring surgical correction. Tory had surgery yesterday, and I’m pleased to report that he’s recovering well, although still pretty groggy and  achey. Now the real work … Read More

Tory visited the vet yesterday. The news is not good! As I suspected, Tory has an elongated soft palate. He also suffers from a number of other medical problems. Tory is scheduled for surgery tomorrow to … Read More

Last week, I introduced you to my foster dog, Tory. At the time, he had not yet arrived. Now he’s at home with me, and has proven to be a little more of a handful than … Read More

“Stump,”  a 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel, won Best in Show this week at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club championship. Stump is the oldest dog ever to amble away with top honors at the nation’s most prestigious dog show. … Read More

I mentioned yesterday that I’m expecting a new foster dog to arrive soon. We’ll be following my new foster dog, “Tory,” on his journey from intake to adoption. He’s not here yet, so today we’ll discuss the … Read More

When I mention that I volunteer for animal rescues, the most common response I get is something along the lines of, “That’s so great! I wish I had the time to do something like that.” Of … Read More

We’ve already covered the most difficult part of fostering: Letting go of a foster pet. However, I’m currently dealing with the other end of the foster cycle: Waiting for that call saying, “We’ve got a dog that … Read More

Veterinarians often recommend yearly tooth cleanings for dogs and cats, which require general anesthesia and often cost $200.00 or more. If your veterinarian has recommended dental work, you may be able to get the procedure performed … Read More

Dear Petlvr Mailbag … My dog has a fear of noises. At our training park, there is a BMX track next door. When the bikes take off, they go through an opening gate which comes down … Read More

What’s the most difficult part of feeding raw? Ask 100 raw feeders and you’ll likely get 100 different answers, but for me the answer is, “Fitting that much meat in my freezer and still being able … Read More

Most dog owners have experienced the consequences of failure to generalize a learned behavior at one time or another. For example, let’s say you just spent an hour carefully teaching your new puppy to “Heel” perfectly in … Read More

Children, even at a fairly early age, are perfectly capable of teaching and reinforcing simple behaviors with the family dog. Training a dog is an easy skill to learn. It builds self-esteem for children, and is … Read More

You’ve probably heard time and time again that table scraps should not be fed to pets, but how true is that old adage? Like most absolute statements, it’s not that simple. Some scraps could be lethal; … Read More