Obsessive Dog Behaviors and What to Do

Does your dog exhibit obsessive behaviors? Here are some examples of the most common obsessive dog behaviors Spinning around and chasing their tail Barking incessantly Being fixated on a toy Pacing Licking the ground Air licking or biting Pica: picking up and chewing non-food objects Light and shadow chasing Scratching, chewing or licking a part of their body Causes of an Obsession A dog may develop an obsession for several reasons. The first thing that might cause it is some type of physical injury or discomfort. Another cause could be socially-related. An obsessive dog might be under-stimulated, not given enough social contact, not enough exercise or somehow mistreated. A less… Read More Continue Reading

Jogging With Your Dog

We all know that dogs make for fantastic companions, but we often forget that they can benefit our health as well.  Having a canine companion gives a great excuse to get out and exercise! However, just as you wouldn’t drag an untrained spouse or friend out for a five-mile run, you shouldn’t take your couch potato pooch for a 5k without training.  Even though many dogs are born to run, you need to start slow.  Here are six easy steps to get started: Step 1: Wait till they are grown Puppies should not go running until their bones stop growing.  If you take a puppy out to soon you can… Read More Continue Reading

5 Holistic Therapies for Dogs

Canine Massage A form of alternative therapy, canine massage offers dogs the same benefits to dogs as it does to humans. Dogs who are lucky enough to receive canine massage can expect relaxation and relief from pain. They also will receive increased oxygenation, improved joint flexibility and overall benefits to the immune system. Touch is used to improve well-being, physically and emotionally. Canine massage therapists may use their craft to calm down nervous, anxious or hyperactive dogs. It is also helpful in situations where there is muscle atrophy, soreness, spasms, or weaknesses. Canine Acupuncture Derived from the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, canine acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles… Read More Continue Reading

Dogs and Extreme Heat Emergencies

More dogs are lost to heat-related situations than any other cause. Preventing these emergencies before going out to the field is key to keeping your dog out of trouble. When your dog begins to display signals of overheating, knowing what to do can be the difference between something alarming and a heartbreak. Being properly hydrated ahead of time is crucial. You should be giving your dog every chance that you can for them to drink lots of water early in the day. Also be sure that you are bringing as much water as you can with you, for however long you will be away from home. This alone may be… Read More Continue Reading

Building a New Home? Consider These Underground Dog Fences

Perimeter® Ultimate Dog Fence PRO-Grade What stands out about the Perimeter® Ultimate Dog Fence is its collar, which is one of the lightest and smallest collars in the industry. It only weighs 1.1 ounces. The collar is also unique in that its contact points are covered in rubber. This means that it will be more comfortable to your dog. The collar is so waterproof that it can be completely submerged and still work great. It has 4 correction level settings and 1 level that increases progressively as the dog goes toward the boundary line. Instead of the level being set on the collar, it is set on the transmitter. It… Read More Continue Reading

The Happiest Dog Breeds

Labrador Retriever Labrador Retrievers are synonymous with sweet and loving. Labradors tend to be very active and their very playful disposition makes them one of the happiest dog breeds. Appreciated for their friendly personalities, Labradors are the most popular breed of dogs in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK. Popular as therapy dogs, Labradors are also trained to help the visually-impaired and people with autism. Golden Retriever Also known for their happy disposition and loving nature, Golden Retrievers are friendly to everyone, even strangers. They are sporting dogs who love to be in the water. Active and energetic in nature, Golden Retrievers are relatively easy to train. Their… Read More Continue Reading

How to Housetrain a Puppy

The key to house-training your puppy is to be consistent, patient and practice positive reinforcement. Your goal should be to introduce good habits and create a loving bond with your dog. While you are training your puppy, don’t fret when there are setbacks. If you continue taking the puppy outside at the first signal that he needs to go and rewarding him when he does, he will learn. The right time to start house training your puppy is when he is 12 to 16 weeks of age. At this age, he will have enough control of his bladder and bowel movements to grow accustomed to holding it. If the dog… Read More Continue Reading

Worms in Cats

There is possible nothing more disgusting then going to clean out your cat’s litterbox and finding *gasp* a spaghetti like WORM in there! Ok…well, maybe tapeworms left behind on your lap after your cat gets up takes the cake for what is grosser-than-gross. It’s a fact: cats get intestinal worms While you might think that just outdoor cats get worms, indoor cats who hunt mice or have fleas are also at risk. Cats get worms from a variety of places: they can inherit them from their mother, they can get worms from coming into contact with contaminated fecal matter, cats can get worms from the prey that they hunt, and they… Read More Continue Reading

Doctor Help! My Dog ate Chocolate!

Chocolate is a very common toxicity in dogs. Dogs are far more sensitive to compounds found in chocolate; caffeine and theobromine cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperthermia (a high temperature), seizures and a variety of other symptoms. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are far more toxic than milk chocolate or white chocolate; in general, the darker the chocolate, the higher the toxicity. Chocolate toxicity is dependent on the amount the dog ate, and the size of the dog. petmd.com has an excellent calculator that will will help you determine whether your dog ate a toxic amount or not. If you dog ingested chocolate in the immediate past (less than a 1/2… Read More Continue Reading

Top 5 Restaurants for People with Dogs in New York

Looking for a great place to dine with your dog? Let’s take a look at 5 of the best-quality dog-friendly restaurants that New York City has to offer. Cornelia Street Café New York City’s Cornelia Street Café is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This hot spot has won many local awards including Time Out’s “Top 100 Restaurants” and Village Voice’s “Best of New York Food.” This dog-friendly restaurant has also won for its looks in Where Magazine for “Best Neighborhood Ambiance.” It also was rated as “excellent” by 100 travelers by Trip Advisor. The restaurants displays fine art from local artists and hosts a variety of top-notch performances… Read More Continue Reading