You've chosen a puppy, bought supplies, puppy-proofed your home, and established some household rules. Now it's time to bring your new puppy home. Of course you're excited and eager to start this new bond, but try to imagine what this is like for the puppy. He's just been taken from his mother, siblings, the only […]

Puppies grow rapidly. At times during their rapid growth and development from weaning until approximately 4 to 6 months of age, puppies, depending on the breed, require about twice as much energy, or calories, per pound of body weight as adult dogs of the same breed and a higher nutrient intake to support their growing […]

A vet visit is not typically high on any dog’s list of favorite things. For some, it can be so terrifying that it's almost impossible for veterinarians to provide important care. As a conscientious breeder, you are in the best position to set puppies up for success during the many vet visits that all dogs will make throughout their lives.  The things that you are already doing […]

It’s been about a year since we first heard the words Corona and COVID on the airwaves and reports. Today, with a vaccine looming, we still are still having massive outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the country and may still we have questions about the virus, the disease and ideal protocol.  But what we have gained […]

As an emergency veterinarian for over thirty years, one of the most common reasons dogs visited my hospital was because of a bite wound by another dog. The bite wound may have been caused by another family dog or by a fight with an unfamiliar dog. Biting is often part of aggressive play in puppies […]

Like Afghanistan, the Maine State Prison (the original facility was built in 1824) has a history. And mark my words, Craig Grossi and Fred have left colorful imprints on both. You may have met Fred in Grossi’s earlier absorbing book, “Craig & Fred,” in which the author, a Marine Corps intelligence collector, rescues a friendly […]

Though everyone has been talking watching and reading about the current health issues, COVID-19, this month, we have to remind ourselves that dogs and cats don’t read the headlines.  At this time while people are anxious, we may not be paying careful attention and our pets can still get into things that can be toxic. As […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Bearded Collies: Try something new with your dog in 2015 — there's a veritable feast of canine activities out there that he's likely to enjoy. I recently spent a pleasant afternoon cruising on Lake Ontario in a sailboat owned by friends who have two Bearded Collies of my breeding. The Beardies, […]

Celebrating the breed’s 40th-anniversary national specialty was something I never dreamed possible when I sat on the bench with my entry at the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America’s first national specialty on March 13, 1976, at the Harrisburg Kennel Club’s benched show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Building. The catalog cover boasted the event […]

AKC Gazette breed column, Wire Fox Terriers: There is no reason that an owner-handler cannot compete with professional handlers and do some winning. You have a lovely dog who should be shown. You are not sure you can afford a professional handler, and you wonder if you should show him yourself. There is no reason that […]