)
)
Dog Safety Guidelines for Kids & Families
Any parent or grandparent appreciates the natural curiosity and energetic nature of a young child. A dog or puppy is an attractive object of that keen curiosity, an animated version of a cuddly stuffed toy; it should come as no surprise that most children are drawn to a puppy or dog like a moth to a flame.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
However hard it may be to imagine your sweet, snuggly best friend turning suddenly aggressive and biting you or someone else, the truth is all dogs are capable of biting. According to the Centers for Disease Control there are more than 4.5 million dog bite incidents each year in the United States.
How to Teach a Dog or Puppy to Come
“Come” is probably the single most important command you’ll ever teach your dog. A well-learned “Come”—on leash and off—can make your dog a pleasure to be around. A dog who comes reliably will not be a bother to people, and the dog himself will not be in jeopardy because you can always call him out of a potentially dangerous situation.
)
)
)
How to Leave Your Dog Home Alone and Happy
At some point every dog owner must leave his best friend home alone to run errands, go to work, or travel.Preparing and making arrangements to ensure your dcog is well cared for and not overly bored or anxious can be daunting and, for many, guilt-inducing.
)
How Long Can You Leave a Dog Alone?
You can’t be with your best friend every second of every day, as much as he (and you) may want that. Unless your office welcomes dogs, you’ve got to leave your dog at home when you head to work. Or when you’re running errands. Or when you’re invited to a humans-only shindig.
)
Separation Anxiety In Dogs
Naturally, a dog’s favorite spot is close by his human’s side. But most dogs are comfortable spending some time alone while their best friend works, runs errands, or takes a trip. For some dogs, however, the minor discomfort of being apart from their guardian develops into separation anxiety.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds: Separating Myth from Fact
If you suffer from dog allergies, take heart: there are things you can do to rid or ease your symptoms without banishing the beloved family dog. And some dog breeds seem less likely to stimulate an allergic reaction in humans than others; you may be able to avoid draconian measures after all.
How to Clean a Dog's Ears
No self-respecting dog wants his ears cleaned, but routinely cleaning your dog’s ears can help stop a potential infection in its tracks and prevent other long-term ear problems. Cleaning your dog’s ears can help reduce the likelihood of these and other undesirable outcomes, including chronic ear problems. But it may also simply make him feel better if his ears were uncomfortable in the first place—it’s the kind thing to do.
Are Rawhide Chew Toys Safe for My Dog?
There are a number of things you should know about rawhide chew toys and treats so you can give your dog the pleasure of chewing them safely. Rawhide is the minimally processed hide of an animal—it’s basically leather. The uncooked skin, or hide, of cattle is stripped of hair, then washed, shaped, and dried. The Tufts University Veterinary School publication, Your Dog, contradicts this definition of rawhide, stating it is not made from animal skin, but instead from connective tissue, which is the internal tissue between organs, and between muscles and bones.
)
)
)
Can Dogs Get Colds?
When you’ve caught a cold, it’s all too clear. Your runny nose, cough, sore throat, and overall weariness tell you it’s time to slow down, sip some chicken soup and take care of yourself. But did you know that your dog can also come down with a cold, and needs just as much TLC as you do when he’s under the weather?
Canine Bone Cancer: The Big Story on Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancerous tumor that develops in the bone cells of a dog and rapidly spreads throughout the body resulting in death. There is currently no cure. Osteosarcoma is linked to rapid growth and it is more common in large and giant breed dogs.
)
Running with Your Dog: Tips for Hydration
How often and how much should your dog drink? Life-giving water is the single most important nutrient for humans and dogs alike.
How To Evaluate Your Dog’s Fitness for Running
Is your dog ready to run with you? Exercising with your dog does not require a gym membership, nor special equipment. It does demand an able mind and body and a willingness to do it.
How to Hike Safely With Your Dog
Any seasoned hiker who routinely hits the trail with a canine companion knows having their beloved dog along for the adventure elevates the experience. Enjoying the reward of stunning vistas during a long hike takes on an added measure of joy with your tail-wagging friend by your side.
)
What to Do in a Bear Encounter With Your Dog
The best kind of encounter between a bear and a dog is no encounter at all. The single biggest problem for a bear—in his territory and in your own back yard—is an unleashed dog.
)
What to Do if Your Dog Gets Skunked
There’s no mistaking the awful aroma. You open the back door to let your dog in after his last wander around the yard before bed and get hit in the face with theoverpowering, eye-watering smell. Your dog was sprayed by a skunk.
)
Tick Safety for Dogs
Ticks are a delicacy—for Guinea Hens. But dogs are a delicacy for ticks. The tiny arachnids are known to carry at least ten different vector-borne diseases, often more than one at a time, which can lead to coinfections that complicate diagnosis as well as treatment.
)
)
)
How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Heat
You adore your dog through every season and no matter the weather. But there is something truly special about spending time with your dog in the summer months. The backyard beckons. Short walks evolve into long ones. You set off on adventures to the park, the beach, or the lake. Keep in mind, however, that the risk of dehydration and heat stroke in dogs rises along with the temperatures of the season.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Halloween
The candy is stocked, the pumpkin’s lit, that gauzy spiderweb stuff is strewn about—you’re all set for Halloween, but what about your dog? With more than $350 million spent by Americans on pet costumes every year, having fun with our pets certainly ranks near the top of the Halloween list. But pet safety should be right up there too, as this annual occasion presents a number of new or unusual challenges for our dogs, including dangerous foods and scary situations. And animal shelters see an increase in lost dog reports and an uptick in stray pet intakes the day after Halloween. Follow these simple safety tips to keep your dog safe and help him enjoy Halloween.
Pet Holiday Safety Tips
‘Tis the season to deck the halls for the holidays and prepare feasts for friends and family. If you have a dog, it’s important to decorate and host with care to keep your best friend safe until the table is cleared and the ribbons, lights and ornaments are packed away. Dogs and the holidays are a jolly, but potentially dangerous mix. Read on to learn how to protect your pet through the New Year: