It’s Memorial Day again and, if you follow fashion, it means that it’s now safe to break out the white outfit and shoes, at least according to custom from the nineteenth century. The real reason for Memorial Day, of course, is to remember those who died while serving the country. While we may celebrate the […]
Month: May 2017
Foxtails: Tiny Things, Enormous Danger for Dogs
Introduction to Foxtails and Their Risks to Dogs The secret to a fishhook is its barb. Once a fish has taken the bait, and the hook sinks in, it won’t go in the other direction easily. Now, while we don’t know what inspired ancient humans to create the first fishhooks, possibly as long as 23,000 […]
The Scoop In The Poop: Your Dog’s Health Secrets Revealed
It may be an unpleasant reality but a necessary subject. Dog lovers have to deal with their dogs’ poop constantly, whether it’s cleaning up the yard, picking it up on a walk, or (we hope rarely if ever) scrubbing it off of a floor. While it may be tempting to try to look (and smell) […]
Winding Up
One of the issues I get asked about the most is separation anxiety. It most often shows up as a dog being either destructive or excitable while the humans are away — or sometimes even while one human is away even if the rest of the pack is there. The best solution to separation anxiety […]
Letting Go
Today is Mother’s Day in the U.S. It’s a commemoration that happens all over the world on different dates, although the vast majority of those happen in May, covering the entire month. In my home country of Mexico, the date is fixed on May 10. In my adopted country of the U.S., it’s always the […]
Internet To Life Net: How Social Media Is Saving Dogs
One day in 2015, Johnjay Van Es’ wife Blake got a phone call about a Chihuahua found in an alley. Consequently, he posted the dog to his Instagram to see if anyone recognized her or wanted to adopt. Since Van Es is, along with Rich Berra, part of a nationally syndicated radio team with a […]
Another Step Toward A No-Kill City
Last week, the city of Los Angeles moved one step closer to becoming another no-kill city in the United States, joining the ranks of Austin, and sharing aspirations with places like Chicago. Although the proposal is merely a resolution and not law, it does take a big step toward hitting the stated goal of “saving […]
5 Useful Apps For Dog Lovers (And One Silly One)
In the last few years, our smart phones have become as much our constant companions as our dogs, but did you know that there are some very useful apps available to make your life as a pet owner easier and more convenient? Here are our recommendations for five very useful apps available for both Android […]
It’s Be Kind To Animals Week
May 7 to 12 is the 102nd annual Be Kind to Animals Week, a reminder that we should always treat our animal companions with compassion and empathy, in return for their trust and loyalty. This is a particularly good time to teach our children respect for all living creatures, and to renew our commitment to […]
Who’s The Boss?
I often say that dogs can be our greatest teachers, with so many lessons for us, but only once we learn how to listen to what they’re telling us. They can teach us how to respect each other, how to accept and forgive, how to bounce back from adversity, and much more. But the most […]