Dog Care

You and your new dog will both benefit from some dog training. Not only will it ensure that your dog knows the rules of his new house, but it will help you let him know that you are leader of the pack and will help you bond with your adopted dog.

Finding the right veterinarian for your new dog is a priority. Plan to take your dog in for a check-up soon after you bring her home.

Brush, comb…brush, comb…pet, stroke…brush, comb…snag.  There it is, the dreaded mat, that hopeless tangle that can sneak into the most perfectly groomed long coat when you aren’t looking. 

When you head toward the shelter, the supplies you’ll need are few and frill-free: cash for the adoption fee (plus a little extra for a donation, so the shelter can carry on doing dog’s work)… photo ID… phone numbers of personal references, including a trusted veterinarian or dog trainer… and, if you rent your home, a copy of your lease or letter from your landlord stating that it’s OK for you to have a dog on the premises.

Older dogs have nutritional needs that differ from those of younger dogs, but then just when is a senior a senior? Many dog food companies and veterinarians will tell you that a dog is a senior once he or she turns 7 years old, but it’s not that simple.

There will be times when you want to give your dog a treat as a training incentive, reward, or just because she’s so cute.

A truly healthy diet does not only keep dogs alive, it meets their nutritional needs and truly lets them thrive. Outward signs of this include:

Moving to your house is a big change for your dog. Think about it – he’s got a new home, a new name, new people, and possibly even other pets to meet.
Thanks to his pack mentality, your dog will soon be figuring out who the leader of your pack is. Who is the leader of the pack? You are!
Establishing yourself as the pack leader is not tricky.

Your adopted dog may have been housetrained in her previous home but fallen out of the habit at the shelter. Certainly, she doesn’t know the routine at your house, and it’s your job to show her.

Sooner, or later, many of us need a professional dog walker or pet sitter. Unlike your neighbor’s child or your sister’s friend who lives nearby, a professional dog walker or pet sitter is experienced with all kinds of pets and pet situations, including emergencies.

Every dog that is microchipped gets a unique ID number. When a dog is found by Animal Control or by a veterinarian with a scanner, they can read the chip ID and contact you.

Even the most well-groomed show dog can pick up fleas and ticks at an outdoor dog-show, but a well-brushed dog with healthy skin and a tangle-free coat will be easier to treat for parasites, and regular brushing and combing will help you spot any pests right away so you can take action to nip a flea infestation.

The nationwide pet-food recall, prompted by the tragic deaths of several dogs and cats who suffered kidney failure, will have repercussions for years to come. On the positive side, it has motivated pet lovers to be more careful about what they feed four-legged family members.

Puppies need a secure yard with room to play and no hazards.

Call it a Dog Hotel, a Dog Spa, or Doggy Daycare with Sleepover, if you need a boarding kennel you want one that is safe, clean, comfortable, and a satisfactory home away from home.

It was a little difficult for me to write this article after almost all of the pet food recalls affected wet food products in cans and pouches and very few dry kibbles. But in my opinion, dry food, as convenient and economical as it may be, is not ideal.

If your only experience of skunks is the animated antics of The Looney Tunes’ Pepe Le Pew or adorable “Flower” of Bambi fame, consider yourself very, very lucky. These backyard creatures are armed with a defense mechanism like no other: anal scent glands that spray powerfully foul-smelling sulfurous chemicals.

Buckle up, it’s the law! Many U.S. cities require that dogs wear identification and rabies tags and be under their owners’ control when they’re out and about. That means you need the right stuff—dog collars and dog leashes—to ensure you’re both happy and comfortable when you take a stroll.

When that Cocker spaniel with the glistening coat or fabulously clean Bernese saunters by your somewhat muddy and bedraggled-looking pup, you may think to yourself, "how do they do it?" It’s easy. The secret to a good hair day for your dog is the same as it is for you: professional help.

Obesity is not only a rampant problem in the human population, but also in dogs.