The Cage Is in Your Head, Not Your Dog’s Almost everyone feels a twinge the first time they snap a crate together. It has bars. It has a latch. You just spent real money on something that looks like it belongs in a shelter. Take the twinge seriously for about ten seconds, then let it … Read more
Why Everyone Is Scared of This Nail trims go wrong for one reason, and it has a name: the quick. Inside each nail is a core of soft tissue carrying a blood vessel and a nerve. Cut into it and the nail bleeds — sometimes impressively — and it hurts. One bad trim teaches a … Read more
The Problem You Can’t See From Across the Room Dental disease is one of the most common health problems vets find in dogs, and by the time owners notice it, it has been developing quietly for years. Plaque forms within a day or so of cleaning. Left alone, it hardens into tartar, which you can’t … Read more
The Bath Your Dog Didn’t Ask For Somewhere along the way, a lot of us picked up the idea that a clean dog is a dog who gets bathed on a schedule. Every week. Every other Saturday. Whenever the guest room starts to smell like a dog lives in it, which it does. But your … Read more
Your dog jumps because it works. Here’s the simple, no-punishment method that actually fixes it — plus what to do with guests at the door.
“How much exercise does my dog need?” is one of the most common questions dog owners ask, and the honest answer is that there’s no single number. A twelve-year-old bulldog and a two-year-old border collie are both dogs in roughly the way a deckchair and a racing bike are both things you sit on. What … Read more
Depending on size and breed, dogs are generally considered “senior” around age 7 to 10. Here’s how to make those years golden. 1. Double the vet visits Twice-yearly checkups become important for seniors. Dogs hide pain and illness well, and many age-related conditions — kidney issues, thyroid problems, arthritis — are far more manageable when … Read more
Work, errands, life — every dog spends some time alone. The question is how much is fair. General guidelines by age Puppies (under 6 months): 2 hours or so at most. Young puppies can’t hold their bladder long — a common rule of thumb is one hour per month of age — and they need … Read more
Dogs are experts at begging, but some human foods can be genuinely dangerous. Keep these 12 out of reach. If your dog eats something on this list Call your vet right away, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Don’t wait for symptoms — with foods like xylitol or grapes, early treatment … Read more