For dog breeders, Facebook seems to be such an underused tool. Breeders love the groups. Groups for breeds, groups for breeders, groups for fighting new animal rights laws, and groups for arguing about whether designer breeds are acceptable. But are you using Facebook to help your kennel, to hurt it, or just to stay in … Continue reading Facebook for Dog Breeders
A whelping box is almost a requirement for breeding dogs. "Whelping," or the giving birth by a female dog, is a stressful process. The puppies must stay warm and near their mother, or they will be unable to nurse. Whelping boxes should have firm sides, be just the right size, and have an absorbent liner. … Continue reading Whelping Box Supplies: The Best Stuff
According to conventional wisdom, bitches need a "rest" cycle between litters. However, in the past few decades researchers, most notably Dr. Robert Hutchinson, have discovered that the hormones that lead to ovulation (progesterone) cause deterioration of the bitch's uterus. (Source: DPCA Transcript.) The deterioration of the uterus leads to reduced litter sizes and higher risk … Continue reading Breeding Back-To-Back: Is It Truly Better?
Searching for the perfect gift for the dog lover in your family? People who love dog lovers often have trouble finding the perfect Christmas present. It's easy to assume that your dog lover already has everything they need to care for their dog (because they probably do!) and don't know what they might like. Don't worry--I've … Continue reading The 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Dog Lovers
Welcome to Pumpkin Spice season. Now that we've welcomed fall, most of us are probably thinking past Halloween and into Christmas. Getting a puppy for Christmas is a huge decision that many families make this time of year. Many families choose to surprise the kids or significant others for Christmas. One of the most … Continue reading Getting a Puppy at Christmas: Making Life Easy
Cats are fickle creatures. They spend most of their time sleeping or begging for food. They like warm spots. Sometimes they hunt your feet, and they spend most of their time pretending to ignore you. Today, I'm going to teach you how to train a cat to do what you want. Anytime, anywhere, any behavior. … Continue reading How to Train a Cat to Do What You Want
Most people fear dog bites at a primal level. Yet, somehow, dogs exist peacefully in our world, at least for the most part. Prevent dog bites to keep both your family and your dog safe. A report from the CDC suggests that over 4 million people are bitten each year in the United States, and … Continue reading Prevent Dog Bites Before Your Dog Hurts Someone
Many new pet owners choose to rescue dogs. Rescue dogs exist in all breeds, colors, sizes, and ages. But when rescuing a dog with special needs, many factors affect your long-term success with your rescue dog. Types of Special Needs Rescue Dogs Many rescue dogs do not have special needs or issues. Those that do … Continue reading All About Rescue Dogs with Special Needs
Living out in the sticks, I grew up seeing lots of wildlife. Deer, foxes, raccoons (oh, so many raccoons!), woodchucks, and even a few possums. One night, I let the crew out for their just-before-bed potty, and I heard it. They had cornered something. A few seconds later, and I discovered what they had cornered. … Continue reading How To Remove Skunk Smell From a Dog (And House!)
Feral cats are a double-edged sword. Many people consider them vermin, but once a population has settled into an area, odds are feral cats will remain indefinitely, even if the initial group is killed. Good habitat will be invaded by a new population. You'll learn how to care for a feral cat colony, what kinds … Continue reading Feral Cat Care: How to Care for Feral Cats
If you haven't read my full biography, you might not know that I currently can't keep most pets. Yep. My significant other and child are both deathly allergic to all things furry or feathery or that require any sort of bedding. I do have hopes of keeping pets again in the future, but our living situation … Continue reading 6 Important Betta Care Tips
In any family with pets, providing safe and responsible care needs to be a priority. Children, especially, learn empathy and responsibility by caring for the family pet. Teaching kids pet care is easy, so long as age-appropriate tasks are chosen. Toddlers While not necessarily suitable for any heavy-duty tasks, toddlers can measure food and pour … Continue reading Teaching Kids Pet Care
Many families choose to add a new puppy to the family on, or around, Christmas. They are so cute, and tiny, and the kids promise to take great care of her. And then, it happens. School starts again, and all the help goes out the window. The kids don't play with her, she needs housebreaking, and … Continue reading What To Do When You Don’t Want a Puppy Anymore
The kids want a pet for Christmas. They asked for a pony, and you settled on guinea pigs. I've already addressed why guinea pigs make awesome pets, so the only question left is what you need to take care of them. This is my ultimate new guinea pig supply list. Everything on this list is … Continue reading The Ultimate New Guinea Pig Supply List
Dogs love food. Well, most dogs do. Some have better manners than others, but most treat dinnertime as a free-for-all. Dinnertime is a great opportunity to teach your dog, and using that time to teach your dog manners means they won't be knocking the bowl out of your hand, or fighting with each other. Learn … Continue reading Teach Your Dog Manners: Why Your Dog Should Wait To Eat
What does your dog want for Christmas? Finding the perfect Christmas gift is tricky. I know that for me, I have to find something that the recipient doesn't have, and maybe doesn't even know they want. My brother & his family always get us the best Christmas presents. They're always gifts we didn't even know … Continue reading 2017’s Top Dog Christmas Gifts
I remember my first dog show. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Frankly, I don't even remember how I heard about it. Needless to say, I was floored. Looking back, I wish I read some sort of novice guide to dog shows, because I cringe when I think about the early … Continue reading The Novice Guide to Dog Shows (Or, How to Not Be Rude.)
As a life long retriever person, I know a lot about pushy dogs. Labs love everything. They are not known as a breed with impeccable manners. When my Labs want something, they go for it with much enthusiasm and not much forethought. I haven't met a Lab that wasn't a pushy dog in some way. … Continue reading How to Stop a Pushy Dog
Last week, we talked about things that can hurt your dog during the holidays. With the holidays fast approaching, your home probably has much more chocolate in the cupboards than normal, with more coming in just a few weeks. Chocolate toxicity is a real danger to dogs, especially small breeds who don't have enough body … Continue reading How to Keep Chocolate Toxicity from Killing Your Dog
The holidays are, in my opinion, the best time of year. You get to see your family, even those from far away. The food is amazing. I have a cousin who bakes the most amazing cookies, and dozens of kinds. She uses my grandmother's recipes as well as her own, and it's amazing. And everyone else … Continue reading 9 Things That Can Kill Your Dog This Holiday Season
