Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s a saying often repeated by dog trainers to their students, “The leash transmits all of your emotions straight to your dog.” Whether you are worried, afraid, nervous, or confident, your dog will feel that. There’s much more to this, of course, because your dog or cat knows you so well they can sense and […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you are anything like me, you know that social contact can be positive or negative. Your cat feels the same way. One of the best ways to enrich your cat’s life is to spend time together. As little as five minutes, twice a day, can make a big difference for your cat. No one […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Are you helping or hurting your pet by providing comfort? You may have heard that comforting a pet when he’s frightened is the wrong thing to do because it “reinforces” that he’s right to be fearful. I’m here to share the good news with you that this concept isn’t correct. Here’s what to know about […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sound-sensitive dogs benefit from training that conditions a calmer response to perceived noises outside their natural comfort zone. Here’s how to get started. Prep your pooch with positive exposure to sounds. Exposure for exposure’s sake can backfire and increase fear in the future, especially if the dog is forced to face the scary sound scenario […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cats are more adaptable than you might think, and quite a few of them will tolerate a few minutes in a fun collar or costume for you to post on Facebook or Instagram.
Reading Time: 3 minutes For many pets, there is no escaping Halloween. Each year, people dole out more than $370 million in pet costumes so that their four-leggers can join them in celebrating this bewitching holiday, according to the National Retail Federation. This begs the question: do dogs and cats view donning costumes as a welcoming treat or a […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Play is an important part of a kitten’s development, and it remains important for a cat’s mental and physical health throughout life. Just a few minutes of exercise and enrichment each day is enough to help cats maintain interest in life and keep boredom at bay. Most important, playing with your kitten or cat builds […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Pet behaviorists say that 10 minutes of mental stimulation is the equivalent of 45 minutes of active play. Fortunately, there are a slew of new puzzles and electronic games offering different levels of difficulty and different challenges to keep dogs engaged and promote their wellbeing. And, of course, if you participate too, you are spending […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Your long haired dog needs regular brushing to keep his coat healthy, even if he makes regular trips to the groomer. Relax and enjoy some bonding time while you brush and cuddle together. Grooming can be a big job, but you don’t have to brush him from head to toe in one sitting. Teach him […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes My four-year-old Karma-Kat easily puts on weight, but is a model for picky eaters everywhere. In contrast, my 21-year-old Seren-Kitty weighs barely six pounds, eats everything, and wants to munch constantly. How does your cat fit in this spectrum? While there are exceptions to every rule, most cats follow in their ancestor’s pawprints. Blame how […]