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A woman reads the paper while her dog sneaks food from her plate.
All About Dogs

Common Mistakes Of First-Time Dog Owners

When you think about getting a dog, you most likely imagine the fun and excitement of it. You’ll have a furry companion to snuggle with, a living alarm system to ward off would-be burglars, a playmate — or all three. But there’s a lot that goes into being a good Pack Leader. A dog is a big responsibility, and ownership means being able to commit a significant amount of time and money. Often it can even require a lifestyle change. First-time owners who don’t spend enough time learning about what they’re getting into can find themselves in over their heads

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Adoption Tips

‘What’s Up Dawg!’ Episode 3

In the third installment of Andre Millan’s web series “What’s Up Dawg!” he takes to the air with Wings of Rescue  as they save the lives of over a hundred dogs — and a few cats — by airlifting them from California to Washington. Wings of Rescue is an all-volunteer organization that moves animals around the country, taking them from overcrowded shelters and relocating them to places that are ready and able to take on and rehome the rescues. Completely donor funded, the group also provides air transport to animals with medical needs that might be made worse by a

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A dog in a shelter waits to be adopted by a new family.
Dog Care

How to Start a Dog Rescue: Making Your Own Shelter

Ready to make a greater difference for dogs in need? Maybe you’re dissatisfied with the shelters currently in your community. Or you’re looking to turn your passion for dogs into a profession. Perhaps you’d just like to do your part and raise awareness for animal advocacy. Whatever the reason, starting a rescue is an honorable endeavor, and the emotional satisfaction will certainly be worth the effort. Like all business endeavors, however, it is important to temper enthusiasm and passion with careful planning and realism. This guide will help prospective rescue owners know what to expect and where to begin. 5

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Adopt

If You Can’t Adopt…

There are hundreds of millions of homeless dogs in the world — some estimates say as many as six hundred million, and almost all of them wound up that way because of the failure of humans to do their part. Either people did not give strong Pack Leadership and gave up the dogs because of behavioral issues, or they didn’t provide proper protection, so the dogs ran away. There are also people doing their part to try to reverse the trend, either by providing no-kill shelters, operating rescues that place dogs in homes, or promoting spay and neuter. They’re doing

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Get Involved

The Puppy Selling Ban Debate

“How much is that doggy in the window?” used to be a common phrase across America. For most people, getting a puppy meant going to the locally owned pet store to pick one out. No one ever thought about where the puppies came from and the condition of that place, or about dogs sitting in shelters. Today, a war is raging on whether or not pet stores should be legally allowed to sell puppies. According to the Best Friends Society, twenty states have passed some type of legislation that either bans puppy selling altogether or creates standards for selling puppies,

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dog in cage at shelter
Dog Care

No Surrender: Keeping Dogs Where They Belong

The last thing Josephine Chalfino wanted to do was surrender her dog to a shelter. After all, Lucy, a chow, had been her best friend for ten years. But when her landlord suddenly demanded a $200 pet deposit Josephine, a senior on a low fixed income living in Los Angeles, felt she had no choice. “It was horrible. I’ve had her such a long time, and she’s a good dog,” Chalfino says. “I was crying, and when I was giving her up, I felt like Lucy was crying too.” North Central Shelter’s Intervention Program Luckily for Josephine and Lucy, it

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A woman runs with her dog on a fall day.
Adopt

7 Tips For Establishing Leadership With Your Dog

One of the first things you should do to create a strong bond and balanced relationship with your new dog is to be the Pack Leader from day one. Knowing your pack takes time, patience, and acceptance. Then formulating a plan, setting an intention, and following through is what creates even more strength in your relationship, bond, and its depth. Here Are Some Important Points to Remember in Your Role as Pack Leader for Your New Dog or Puppy: Create a schedule that includes a daily 30 to 45-minute power-walk in the morning. This is critical for your dog’s health,

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All About Dogs

Callie Thorne: Putting The “Rescue” In “Rescue Me”

In psychology there are two roles: that of patient and therapist. As an actress, Callie Thorne has gotten to explore both sides, as was there ever a character more in need of therapy than Sheila Keefe on the FX hit “Rescue Me?” In her current role on USA Network’s “Necessary Roughness,” Callie portrays Dr. Dani Santino, a therapist for professional athletes, helping them deal with life issues and crises. Having been on both sides of the couch, does Callie believe in dog therapy? “I do believe in pet therapy. Much like good trainers, I think good pet therapists can pick

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Dogs cute faces
All About Dogs

Who Would You Take Home?

Which dog is coming home with you? When you look at the faces in the image on this page, were you drawn more to some than others? According to new research, you are more likely to go for dogs that have raised inner brows, which results in widened eyes. The University of Portsmouth and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition conducted a lengthy experiment to determine which dogs were more likely to be rehomed from a shelter. And what they discovered was that those that make “puppy dog eyes” are much more likely to be adopted. Dr. Bridget Waller and

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a woman plays a game of fetch with her dog in the park
All About Dogs

Cesar Millan On The Magic Of Fostering A Dog

By Cesar Millan Being fostered is a wonderful opportunity for a dog to prepare for his forever home. He will have more one-on-one time with humans, and he can experience more of the world around him instead of being limited to the confines of a shelter. It can significantly increase his chances of fitting in with his next family. And of course, his foster parents can make sure his new family is the right fit by helping them to understand his energy level, any issues that are being worked on, and any special needs the dog has. Fostering is Good

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