Bathing Your Dog Needn’t Be a Chore It was once believed that dogs should be bathed only when dirty. But that attitude has changed with the advent of shampoos formulated specifically for dogs. If a gentle shampoo is used, a dog can usually be bathed weekly without drying out his coat. Though your typical puppy […]

Dog skin allergies can cause your dog to scratch nonstop. Here are potential causes and types of skin allergies in dogs, as well as ways your vet may treat these issues.

Large Dogs Seem to Age at a Fast Pace Research has yet to explain the relationship between body mass and a dog’s lifespan. Generally speaking, large mammals, like elephants and whales, tend to live longer than small ones, like mice. So, why, then, do small dogs have a longer average life span than large breeds? […]

Fecal Exams Can Detect Problems Before They Become Tragedies Studies show exposure to parasites is a greater than ever and an annual fecal exam is important. A fresh fecal examination is part of a sound yearly physical. Bring your dog’s clinician a fresh specimen, 4 to 6 hours old, not a desiccated “moon rock” or […]

They May Seem Rough and Tumble, But Puppies Need Extra Care Puppies differ from adult dogs in a number of interesting ways. They are particularly vulnerable to health problems. Novice dog owners should be particularly mindful of a puppy’s delicate health. For example, normal physiologic functions and defenses become impaired if a pup becomes chilled. […]

Effective socialization includes ensuring that your puppy experiences early in life some of the things you know he will encounter later on. Technology requires that hardware devices—computers, smart phones, and so on—have software operating systems that enable them to perform the tasks we want and need. Dog personalities are not unlike technology. Temperament is hard-wired […]

We can only make informed decisions if we glean information from our experiences as breeders—including some that are heartbreaking. The most important dog you own is not the one who won the most ribbons, produced the most champions, or sleeps in your bed. It’s the one who just died of something other than old age, […]

Strategies for socializing the litter help ensure each puppy a bright future — whether as a show dog, performance competitor, or pet. Whether home companion, show dog, or performance dog, early socialization and mental conditioning is a must for puppies. Socialization methods and advice abound in books and on the Internet. Many studies have shown […]

Here are some quick tips for the Canine Culinarian. Many dog owners swear by the benefits of preparing homemade meals for their pets. Holistic vets can provide advice on ensuring your meals provide a balance diet. Some dog owners who prepare meals for their pet favor the raw food diet; others prefer to cook their dog’s […]

Ensure That Your Dog Chews the Right Type of Bone. There was a time when people didn’t give much thought to what, or how, they fed their dogs. Almost any kind of bone was tossed Fido’s way. Now that we’ve learned a lot about canine nutrition and safety, our word of advice about bones is: caution. […]