Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 3 minutes My first dog as an adult was a Shetland Sheepdog named Sundance. I was determined to do everything right with Sundance, without the dependable net of my parents, who had done all the work with our dogs when I was growing up. I was going to love her, train her, and take care of her. […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes I had just started a private training lesson when I noticed the little Poodle’s right eye was swollen, with yellow-greenish goop gathering in the corner and seeping down the side of his nose. He kept winking at me, clearly uncomfortable. “Has Buddy seen your veterinarian?” I asked. “Poor guy, his eye looks awful!” “I just […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes My 80-pound Labrador, Logan, was quivering in excitement to meet his new little brother. “Little” was not an exaggeration. My new Papillon puppy, Finian, weighed a scant 1.2 pounds. Was the size difference between the two a big deal? Yes! Planning ahead, I had prepared everything for a safe, positive introduction. I sat on the […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes “I don’t understand why my dog is so aggressive toward other dogs when she’s on leash. When she’s off leash, she’s great with other dogs!” my client said. “When does she get to interact with other dogs off leash?” I asked. “We go to the dog park at least four times a week,” the client […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Emotional Support, Therapy, Service. Each is a different type of job a dog can have. Can you guess which label fits each dog?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Your new puppy’s first few days can have a big impact on the rest of your lives together.
Reading Time: 3 minutes “CAN HE HAVE CHICKEN?” I yelled, projecting over the commotion of the terrier barking and growling at me. He was safely behind a baby gate, something I had arranged ahead of time with my client. This was our first meeting. “SURE!” the client yelled back. I tossed a piece of freeze-dried chicken over the baby […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes The last year of my cat’s life was a nightmare rollercoaster. Sebastian was battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. He lost his appetite, and I became obsessed with feeding him. I tried every brand of food, cooked for him, and checked his food bowl a dozen times daily to monitor how much he was eating. Finally, […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Bring up the subject of dog parks to a group of dog trainers and watch their heads explode. You’ll get a slew of opinions, most unfavorable. While I confess I have occasionally rolled my eyes at the topic, I don’t hate dog parks. They can be a good place for some dogs to run off […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes “The monster must DIE!” At least, that’s what I imagined the Chow mix was thinking as she launched herself at the vacuum cleaner, growling and snapping as if she were taking on a zombie horde. I cued the owner to shut off the machine. “You’re right,” I nodded. “She hates the vacuum cleaner.” Now that […]