by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine Any animal that lives within a tightly knit social group of its own kind has a “language.” Given that dogs are by nature pack animals, they have a rather extensive language that they use to communicate among themselves. Their language contains both physical and verbal components which […]

Seven years ago, Jane Broido’s son-in-law presented a fuzzy little puppy to Jane’s daughter as a surprise gift. “However, both found their work schedules didn’t allow the proper time to care for a puppy no matter how cute,” said Broido, a resident of Sands Point, NY. “They asked me to take her and although I was […]

Opinions differ over the necessity of some dog vaccinations and the timeframe for vaccinating your dog. Consult your vet about your dog’s vaccinations. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) made headlines in 2003 when it published its vaccination recommendations. It suggested that a few vaccines are absolutely necessary, but some are only required in unique […]

AKC Utility Dog (UD), Wonderful Wilbur UD and Sheila O’Brien of Richfield, MN Long-time obedience competitor Sheila O’Brien was looking for a German Shepherd Dog when she spotted a photo of a terrier-mix puppy on PetFinder.com. “He and his brother were from a kill shelter in Missouri. I wasn’t looking for a little dog but […]

Clean Eyes and Ears are Essential to Your Dog’s Health Your dog’s coat is only one part of good grooming hygiene. Eyes and ears require every bit as much attention. It’s a good habit to clean your dog’s eyes with every bath, but you shouldn’t neglect to clean any noticeable discharge from the eyes. Check […]

Medically Treat Any Burn on Your Dog to Avoid Infection Due to the potential for secondary infection and other harmful complications, all burns should be taken seriously. Burns from fire, smoldering materials, hot water, grease, tar, and smoke are among the most painful of injuries. (Burns can also stem from electrical sources—as in when a […]

Your Dog’s Hair Loss Could be a Sign of Demodex Most dogs can tolerate a small number of mites. However, a mite infestation can pose serious health problems for puppies. Demodex mites live in the hair follicles of most dogs. Most dogs have a small number of mites. Usually, the mites are harmless and are […]

A collapsed trachea in your dog is a serious condition, but it something that they can live with. Here's how to best support your dog with this condition.

Canine Flu: the nasty but treatable virusCanine influenza, or “canine flu,” is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs. Like a human head cold, there is no cure, but a vaccine has been developed that can lessen the severity of the flu symptoms. The canine flu virus can be in aerosol form, inhaled by a […]

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 […]