Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 6 minutes Connecting with your dog is more than attaching the leash and going for a walk together. Attention must be paid. When I first got my Pug, she was reactive to everything: dogs, people, cars, the sound of birds. She’s better now, but one thing she still barks at is kind of funny: people who are […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes The doorbell rang. Rudy the Miniature Schnauzer erupted into a frenzy of barking. He ran to the door and back to his parents, back and forth, with increasing urgency. At times, his bark reached such a high pitch, you were certain it physically penetrated your brain. Even after his folks had retrieved a package and […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sometimes, victory doesn’t mean you cross the finish line first. Just ask ultramarathon runner Dion Leonard. He went to the Gobi Desert in China in 2016 to win a grueling six-day, 155-mile race. He finished second among the world-elite runners but is still enjoying life’s victory lap thanks to lessons he continues to learn from […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am often asked how long it took to train my dog. I like it best when I am asked this question when I am walking Sky, who will be 14 in November, because my answer is always the same: We’re still working on it. Pet owners often like to think of training as, say, […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Bodie, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever and one of the millions of dogs suffering from allergic itch, recently saw his veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. His journey with itch, however, is just beginning. Dogs with atopic dermatitis (allergy to environmental triggers) and their families face a lifelong challenge of managing the ups and downs of itch. […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Everyone who shares a home with a dog deals with poop on a daily basis. While it may not be the most appealing topic, learning about your dog’s “output” offers important insight into his health. Not only his food, but also your dog’s environment and emotional state, affects how his body works. Fear, anxiety, and […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Even those of us who love dogs don’t love the sound of constant barking. One effective way to get dogs to bark their heads off is to leave them outside in a yard alone. Maybe you have a neighbor who does this, but maybe you even do it yourself, because you think your dog loves […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes My dog Rio, a friendly Lab mix and former therapy dog, has been attacked numerous times over the years by other dogs – both leashed and unleashed. Once, we even had a dog jump out a car window to try to bite Rio. Panicked, I screamed while Rio defended himself before the owner came running […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Just like people, dogs want to feel safe and happy. The emotionally protective practices employed through Fear Free help to keep animals calm and comfortable throughout care and prevent them from feeling a need to escalate to a bite. But as much as we plan and try to protect our precious pooches, the truth is […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Do you love an adorable French Bulldog? Do you think that a fuzzy little Shih Tzu or a bouncy Pug is just the cutest dog ever?!?! If so, you are not alone. The popularity of these dogs, and others like them, has skyrocketed. The “cuteness” of these breeds occurs in part because they have a […]