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Dogs Training & Grooming

Headed to the Groomer? You’ve Got Homework

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes I get about three similar calls a week. Sometimes, callers are a bit coy. “My groomer said my dog was … er, um … well, we could use some help training him to behave.” Other times, they’re up front, “My groomer gave me your number. She said my dog tried to bite her when she […]

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Cats Dogs Training & Grooming Travel & Safety

Help Pets Adapt to Hearing Loss

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Growing up, we had the cutest little black-and-white Shih Tzu named Caterpillar. He was good-natured and playful, pulling toilet paper from the roll until it unraveled and climbing on top of our board games so he could become the center of attention. As he aged, Caterpillar gradually began to lose his hearing. It was difficult […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming

There’s No Place Like…Place

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes The doorbell rang. “Rosie, Place!” I called out. Four pounds of Yorkshire Terrier energy bolted across the home office, dashed into my open bedroom door, then pivoted around to face me. Her little nubby tail wagged furiously. “Yes!” I marked, tossing a treat into the bedroom. Rosie ran to inhale it, then dashed back to […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming

Shorter Nails, Less Stress. How to Use a Scratchboard

Article

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. […]

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Activities & Enrichment Equines Other

Scent Games for Horses Are Fun and Useful

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Your horse forcefully nudges your jacket pocket. What does he want? Oh, right, you put a handful of peppermint candies in it last night when you were leaving the restaurant. Sniffing them out is a pretty good feat for that long muzzle. While the vision and hearing of horses has been studied thoroughly, the equine […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming Veterinary Care

Give It a Chin Rest

Article

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 […]

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Birds Other Travel & Safety

Teaching Birds to Travel Stress-Free

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Like many pets, birds aren’t always fans of visiting the veterinarian. Part of that is likely because they aren’t used to riding in a car. Most avian companions rarely travel outside of the home. This means travel may have the potential to be challenging. Training your bird in advance for transportation can give you peace […]

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Equines Fears & Anxieties Other Training & Grooming

Tricks and Treats Help Horses Gain Courage

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes When a horse becomes part of your life, it is important to help him learn to deal with changes and unusual interactions without fear.

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Birds Other Training & Grooming

Scale Training Parrots Can Save Their Lives

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes What simple behavior could save your parrot’s life? Scale training! Sounds silly but getting and recording regular weights on your parrot can be a life saver. One of the things we know about parrots is that they have a tendency to mask signs of illness. The theory behind this is that in the wild, a […]

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Equines Fears & Anxieties Other Uncategorized

Is Your Horse Scared? What to Look for, How to Respond

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Can you tell if your horse is afraid or stressed? As prey animals, horses work hard to hide their emotions and the signs could be very subtle. A horse’s reaction to a scary thing might seem like a sudden explosion because you missed the clues about what he was thinking leading up to that moment. […]