National Adopt-A-Shelter-Pet Month

October is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, and I wanted to take a few minutes to emphasize the plight shared by shelter dogs throughout the country. How would you like it? Imagine for a moment you are a dog.  You are living with a really cool family, but the father just lost his job, […]

Canine Mammary Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we’ve all seen everyone going pink to support the cause.  Even the NFL has its players wearing pink shoes, sweatbands, and mouth guards.  But how much do you know about canine mammary tumors?  Did you know, for instance, that mammary tumors are the most common tumors in female […]

Don’t Litter! Spay or Neuter Your Puppy

In case you haven’t heard, pet overpopulation is a huge problem, and as the economy continues to stagnate, the problem is getting worse. People are often forced to leave their pets behind when they lose their housing after losing a job, or they may surrender the dog to a shelter because they can no longer […]

It’s Back to (Obedience) School Time

It’s September!  You’ve picked the last of your vegetables and are now waiting on your pumpkins to ripen.  You’ve started packing up your summer stuff and getting out the fall lawn equipment, clothes, and decorations.  You’ve sent your kids back to school. (Yeah!)  But what about your dog?  Does your four-legged best friend need a […]

Surrendering a Dog at a Shelter

I can’t have a dog at my new apartment. He’s sick. She’s too old. My kids are allergic to him. She’s too rambunctious. He’s too big. She bit my new boyfriend. The people who work in shelters have heard all of these reasons and more.  Every day, someone shows up on their doorstep and surrenders […]

Herding Dog Trials

Have you ever watched a sheep dog work?  It’s amazing to me that they can move a whole herd just by the look in their eyes.  It’s your mother’s evil eye, on steroids.  Competitive events featuring herding dogs are often called Sheepdog Trials, but the term “Sheepdog” is used to indicate the function for which […]

How Do I Say Goodbye to My Dog?

OK, so that sounds like a country song title, but it’s actually a serious topic of interest to every dog family, because all of us will go through it at some point, hopefully later rather than sooner.  When it is time for your dog to go to that big park in the sky, what can […]

Doggie Dentistry

Most people have, by now, seen the commercial for the bone that is made to clean your dog’s teeth.  The commercial suggests that if dogs want beautiful teeth, we ought to buy them dentures.  The pictures are really funny, but the topic itself is serious.  Just as in humans, good oral health can be a […]

Camping With Your Dog

Do you love the idea of camping out under the stars?  Lying on the ground with just your sleeping bag to keep you warm?  Or setting up a tent in one of the wilderness areas near you?  Your trip might include hiking, swimming, backpacking, and yes, even your dog! Preparing for your camping trip The […]

Keeping Your Dog’s Joints Healthy

Although we normally think of aching joints associated with older dogs, you should begin to think about your dog’s joint health before the dog is even born and continue with strategies to maintain healthy joints throughout the dog’s whole life.  Preventing joint disease before it starts is a much better strategy than trying to deal […]

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