“Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into sticky situations…”

So begins a story in the latest report from the ASPCA on foods that may be toxic to dogs. It turns out that Magoo got into the pantry and snagged himself about a pound of raisins. He ate the whole thing, of course.

The ASPCA never mentions Magoo’s fate. But they do tell us that as little as a handful of raisins can impair a dogs health and has been fatal for some. Ditto for the grape.

Who Knew?

Growing up, I regarded our family dogs as “the first cycle of the dishwasher”. They were good about waiting their turn for whatever we left on our plates, and we weren’t too concerned about offering them “people food”. It never crossed our minds that our dogs health could be affected by a few measly table scraps. What was safe for us, we figured, was safe for our pets.

Read more »

As the weather gets warmer, weather conditions can change quickly. Recent hurricanes taught us many hard lessons, but one of the clearest was that pets left behind in a disaster don’t fare well. Here are some tips to help prepare your extended family for almost anything:

• Keep a pet carrier ready. Hard-sided carriers and crates often end up in attics or basements, gathering dust until the annual veterinary visit. If you live in an area that is frequently at risk for weather-related disasters, keep your carrier/crate out where it can be easily accessed.

Read more »

Anytime your cat backs himself up to a door or other object in your house, lifts his tail, and releases urine you have a problem. This problem is known as spraying, and is very common with cats kept indoors. Even though it is a very annoying problem, it’s a problem that can be solved.

Contrary to what many think, spraying isn’t a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking.

Read more »

If your are searching for one of those trendy small dogs then you no doubt know that there are many breeds to choose from. The most popular type of small dog is the kind that will fit into your pocket or the lap sized small dog. But with so many breeds to pick from how do you choose the small canine that is right for you?

With a little advice and some tips on what you should know about certain small breed types, then you should have very little difficulty choosing from the types of small dogs that fit your taste and lifestyle.

Read more »

It happens every year. Millions of vacationing and moving families face the question of “what to do about their pet.” If on vacation, should you take him or leave him? As a member of the family, your pet is entitled to share the fun of travelling. On the other hand, some pets can take all the pleasure out of a trip. Think before you decide. A week or two in a clean, well-run boarding kennel might be your dog’s idea of a perfect vacation!

A dog should be thoroughly familiar with riding in a car before you consider taking him on a long trip. After a few rides around town most dogs overcome their motion sickness and begin to enjoy riding with the family. If you pet does not travel well and continues to get sick or restless, consider a boarding kennel. Don’t take a sick or unhappy dog on a trip. Both you and your pets will be miserable.

Read more »

Did you know that half of all dogs bite someone or some other dog at least once in their lifetime? Dog biting is directly linked to dog aggression. So, if you want to stop dog biting you must deal with the aggressive behavior of your dog as early as possible. Doing that, you will prevent any anti-social behavior from your dog and you will have a nice and friendly dog that won’t be of any danger towards the others.

Read more »

Have you ever passed by a pet store only to turn around and walk back to stare at the antics of an adorable bundle of fluff. When this happens you may find yourself in the pet store looking into the idea of how to adopt a puppy. Once you have finished with the various procedures that are necessary for the adoption of your new pet you are ready to go home with this little bundle of fluff.

Now if you are prepared for the realities of having a puppy then adopting a puppy will not cause much havoc in your lifestyle. On the other hand you may have thought to adopt a puppy as a spur of the moment decision. The result of an action like this is that both you and your new puppy are in somewhat of a mess.

Read more »

For years Hollywood has portrayed motion-picture canines as animals whose motivations are based on human perceptions and values. Lassie saves a rabbit from death, for example, or Benji solves a crime, or Rin Tin Tin protects the fort from outlaws. These animal films are very entertaining, and the canine actors are extremely well trained, but they tend to give the viewer a distorted, unrealistic picture of a dog’s ability to think and reason.

This misrepresentation of canine behavior is the do wnfall of many dog owners and their unfortunate pets. A person who has never taken a dog training course or read a good training manual containing information on canine behavior very often expects from his or her dog things that canines are unable to do. Such a person may teach even those behaviors that the dog is capable of carrying out in a confusing and haphazard manner. Many poor dogs are then unjustly labeled, spiteful, stupid, stubborn, and sometimes just plain bad. The proper label is ignorant, and it belongs to the owner, not the dog. Whenever you try to evaluate canine behaviors through a human point of view, you will misinterpret them.

Read more »