Service dogs are invaluable not only for helping disabled owners live independently, but also intervening during an emergency. This week marks the second time Yolanda, a service dog, saved her vision-impaired owner’s life. When a fire broke out in the owner’s Philadelphia home, Yolanda used a specialized device to call 9-1-1 and pulled her owner […]

Sassy's Story - click to read  Question: What do these dog owners have in common?  Owners who hike and camp with their dogs Owners in residential developments with architectural and fencing restrictions Disabled and blind owners Owners of working, herding, hunting, field trial and sled dogs Owners of escape-artist dogs Answer: These and other good dog owners […]

Your dog looks at you but does he really see you? Scientists think so. A new study performed by researchers at Emory University’s Department of Psychology suggests that dogs recognize faces as humans and primates do. "Dogs are obviously highly social animals," Gregory Berns, senior author and neuroscientist, says, "so it makes sense that they […]

Does your dog know how to stay? Does he have a release word? If not, he should! A release word is a word that tells your dog he is allowed to move, following the "stay" command. "Stay" needs to have a defined beginning and end, otherwise your dog will learn he can move anytime he […]

Is your dog pushy? If he wants something, will he stop at nothing to get it? Then you may want to try the Nothing in Life Is Free (NILIF) protocol with your dog. This is a very simple protocol that essentially means your dog needs to work for things of value in his life. Through […]

Jake, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and Cobber, a mixed-breed dog, loved camping out in Mohican State Park with Kirsten Stewart of Columbus, OH. Summer is a great time to go camping, and sleeping out in a tent is a wonderful way to get close to nature. Dogs love to go with their owners and including […]

  This year’s national specialty for the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America (WSSCA) was held in late April during the Cherry Blossom Cluster in Maryland. We enjoyed four days of competition and camaraderie, and it only rained once! (In 2011 we held our national specialty in Pennsylvania during “The Great Harrisburg Flood.”) Welsh Springer […]

Many dogs were developed to pull heavy loads to assist their owners. Today, many dogs enjoy the sport of weight pull, which enables dogs to put on a special harness and pull a cart that is loaded with weight, often bags of dog food. Chase, a mixed-breed dog, loves the sport and shows his good […]

A recent increase nationwide in cases of a serious bacterial disease has caused concern among U.S. dog owners, but thankfully a new test is available that may speed diagnosis and allow quicker treatment. This week the veterinary diagnostics company IDEXX Laboratories announced the release of the SNAP® Lepto Test that detects antibodies for leptospirosis, a sometimes […]

One woman in Arizona is working to help the area’s four-legged homeless citizens. Cheryl King Wade runs Helping Hands for Homeless Hounds, a nonprofit dedicated to providing the pets of homeless individuals with veterinary care, including vaccinations, spay/neuter, and microchipping, as well as getting them licensed. The organization also provides donations like food and supplies to […]