Getting Wet With Waldo: Boating, Swimming, and More
Exercise & Enrichment
Does your dog love water? Some dogs are natural water babies—think Labs, Portuguese Water Dogs, or Boykin Spaniels, for instance—while others take to water play gradually when they’re introduced to it in a fun way. The most important factor when introducing dogs to water is adaptability. Depending on what you plan to do, your dog […]
Lesson Plan Aids Training, Ensures Fun
Training
Having a plan can help training sessions to go smoothly. Here’s what to consider to ensure you cover everything you want while allowing space for changes. Years ago, when I taught high school English in Brooklyn, New York, all the teachers had to submit weekly lesson plans explaining what we were going to teach each […]
De-Stressing Dog Bathing: Home Design Tips
Fears & Anxieties, Grooming
At our house, giving our dogs a bath used to be a struggle! As an animal-care architect, I now understand that bathing areas can be better designed to reinforce gentle handling and to reduce the stress of bath time. I look forward to sharing some of the ideas that work best in our home and […]
Chinchilla Challenge: Are They Right for You?
Behavior, Exotics
Confession: I once bought a pet completely on impulse. I knew that wasn’t how you were supposed to do it, but I just handed over the money and took him home. That’s how irresistibly cute chinchillas are. I’d owned rodents before, so I knew some of the basics, but I quickly discovered that a chinchilla […]
Conquering Everest: Learning Stairs the Fun Way
Kittens & Puppies, Training
“Nope. Not happening. No way.” The Poodle puppy’s mind was made up. I was crouching at the base of the stairway, with the puppy on the first step. The goal: make it to the bottom of the staircase. Just one little step. “You can do it!” I encouraged, waving a treat. The puppy started barking […]
Sound Management: Reducing Stressors in the Home
Environment, Fears & Anxieties
Many of us have experience with sound-sensitive pets. Fear of thunder, for example, is common among dogs and cats, and we all know how crazy our pets get when a home smoke alarm is malfunctioning! Pets get worried about sounds in part because they can hear much better than we can. Humans can hear a […]
The Best Puppy for You: How to Make the Choice
Kittens & Puppies, Relationships
Choosing a puppy is a momentous decision. Here’s what to consider. My friend Andrew wants a huge dog, a Newfoundland or perhaps a Mastiff. His wife, Jane, wants a dog she can pick up and cuddle, one who will be easy to walk and undemanding. For some people, there are German Shepherds or Border Collies, […]
Calling All Itchy Pets: August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month!
Health
In 2019, Zoetis Petcare launched Itchy Pet Awareness Month, recognized each year in August, in order to help bring awareness to the millions of pets with skin disease and to provide resources for pet owners and veterinarians to identify and manage pet itch. Skin allergy is consistently among the top reasons that pets visit the […]
A Mouse Has Only 30 Calories, and Other Things You Didn’t Know About Caring for Cats
Behavior
Even if you’ve shared your life with cats for years or decades, their ways can be mysterious. Cat lover and veterinarian Dr. Liz Bales shares some secrets to understanding how cats think and why they do the things they do. A mouse has only thirty calories. That is a meal for a cat. This translates […]
How to Prepare Dogs for Back-to-School Season – and Possibly Homeschooling
Exercise & Enrichment
Back-to-school season can be an exciting time for children, but a stressful time for dogs. After all, our pups love the extra time and attention enjoyed during summer vacation. During the coronavirus pandemic, our pets have been the beneficiaries of stay-at-home orders, as parents are often around more, too. Plus, many families have adopted pets […]
