If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
While many dog lovers will soon be watching pampered pooches strut their stuff on the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show stage, the ASPCA has this reminder: Dogs in shelters might not have a distinguished pedigree, but they are equally deserving of pomp and circumstance.
I'm not discouraging anyone from becoming a grandparent. But in the meantime, pet sitting seems to be just the ticket. What could be better than the cuddly love of a cat but no litter box in your kitchen?
As with so many slick marketing campaigns, the American Kennel Club has glossed over the downside of purebred dogs, including the fact that they often suffer miserably from congenital defects and inherited diseases. Here is the info that you won't hear from the AKC about those top 10 breeds.
You can learn a lot from animals. For instance, I always know when it's 7 a.m. on a Saturday, because that's when my cat, Spike, starts pawing at my sleepy face for her breakfast.
Just as with human health care in the United States, I believe the once good and affordable-for-all health care system for companion animals has been hijacked by those interested in money.
I've written a good deal on about some of the problems involved with using shock collars in animal training, mostly to stop behaviors. But an even worse application of this form of training is sing the shock to elicit desired behaviors.
This afternoon, my dog will leave this world in my arms without pain, with my lipstick kiss on her mature Maltese mane. Tonight, when it is late and dark and time to sleep, I will feel her presence beside me.
As a dog trainer, I've spent the last quarter of a century training dogs and influencing their people. As a wife and mom with two young kids, I'm doing pretty much the same thing.
Can seasonal affective disorder affect our pets? It turns out the answer is yes. And the urge to eat more, exercise less, and act a little grumpy is not a uniquely human experience.
Who doesn't love a sweet, inspiring love story? Who doesn't love cuddly cats and precious pups? And who doesn't love the happy surprise of inter-speci...
If your baby is prone to pet allergies, consider some of these highly effective solutions before giving away your pet.
When I meet someone new and say that I'm a dog trainer, the first question I usually get is, "Can you train my husband?" My reply is always, "Yep!"
Puppies, kittens, purebred animals alike -- they all suffer when there is no home to take them in and space restrictions mean that the shelter can no longer hold them. But it only takes Just One person to make a difference for them.
With time, patience, and the right tools and resources, every dog will eventually settle in. And there are few things as gratifying as knowing you are providing a bright future to a dog with a dark past.
Animals are near and dear to my heart, and I've devoted my life to trying to improve their lives. Since a girl like me already has more than I could hope for, I'm asking fellow animal lovers for a special birthday gift this year.
