It’s that time of year again! The time of year of warmth and long, sunny days; the time of year when people hike on trails through forests and up mountains, camp in grassy meadows, etc. Sounds nice, right? Well, if you are doing these activities with your pet, be aware that these are all possible…
A dog who is socialized well, who understands how they are expected to behave around other people and animals, is a dog that is much more enjoyable to be around. Socialization is important; it’s important for the reasons listed above but also to teach the dog how people and animals are likely to respond to…
Bad breath is common for dogs. It can be bad enough that it ruins the time we spend with them. It is possible that a dog’s bad breath is caused by troublesome, underlying conditions, conditions discovered and treated by your dog’s veterinarian, but it’s more possible that the cause is simple and easily treatable at…
Many of our animals behave as if nothing bothers them; they don’t seem overly affected by environmental conditions and rarely would they ever overtly complain about being cold. But in the wintertime, it’s important to keep your pet safe from the snow and ice; it’s very possible for your pet to develop frostbite on their…
Dogs and cats are naturally clean animals. It may not seem that way when your dog is out rolling in the mud (or something worse!), but they have an innate ability to keep clean themselves. For instance, when your dog sheds, they are continually renewing their fur (Like a change of clothes for us), it’s…
Grooming is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. Your pet is able to keep themselves reasonably clean, and most dogs and cats by nature are incredibly clean animals. But it’s still important to help your pet clean their coat and within their ears frequently. If you are wondering where to begin in the process…
Ticks are an unfortunate consequence of the warm spring weather. Those creepy little bugs will get active soon, and unfortunately your pet is a choice target. Ticks have barbed legs that grasp clothing and pet fur easily; they hang out in shrubs and trees, tall grass, and wait with open arms for something to pass…
Young puppies, fresh from the litterbox, are prone to bite, constantly. They have spent a few months exploring the world with their mouth, playing and exercising with siblings, and they arrive in our homes and believe in earnest that we want them to continue to bite and play with us. And those little puppy needle…
One of the simplest ways to potty-train a puppy is to crate train. And, in addition to potty-training, crate training extremely helpful for a number of reasons. First, the puppy cannot damage anything within the home with they are crated; second, a crate-trained puppy will likely sleep better at night once they become adjusted to…
All dogs and cats enjoy exercise. Some breeds require much more exercise than others, and to limit exercise is to increase the likelihood of behavioral problems. Consider a working breed such as a Siberian Husky; a husky kept inside without daily long walks or runs, without playtime, will likely become destructive or estranged. It’s become…