Clik here to view.
Are pitbull memes doing more harm than good?
In my post on 8 ways to advocate for pitbulls, I made a point that we need to stop sharing messages that compare pitbulls to violent or deadly things. You know, those messages that say things like “You...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do you play fight with your dog?
One of the ways I play with my Lab mix is to “wrestle” or “roughhouse” with him. I get down on my hands and knees and growl at Ace, often grabbing at his legs or shoving him away. He comes charging...
View ArticleClik here to view.
NYTimes essay –‘The Wrong Dog’
I’m not sure if any of you caught the essay “The Wrong Dog” in The New York Times by Erica-Lynn Huberty. If not, it’s something you should read. It’s the story of a family adopting a young black Lab...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Do Vets Recommend Science Diet? And 5 More Questions to Ask
I’m obviously grateful for veterinarians. They’ve saved my dog’s life. However, I also know vets tend to push certain brands and push certain vaccinations/procedures for all dogs without presenting the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do You Leave Your Dog Alone in the Car for 10 Minutes? I Do
I do leave my black Lab mix Ace alone in my parked car. This is just not a big deal to me. If I leave him, it’s usually for 10 minutes while I run into the grocery store to get 1 or 2 items. I don’t...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Teaching Kids About Approaching Strange Dogs
What do you say when a kid asks, Can I pet your dog? I love when kids ask if they can pet my dog Ace, because he’s great with them and he seems to enjoy the attention. He also doesn’t jump on them. He...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Do You Tell Your Friend Her Dog Is Fat?
I have a friend who loves her dog very much, but her dog is at least 20 pounds overweight. He’s a middle-aged, large-breed dog, and we all know larger dogs generally don’t live as long as smaller dogs....
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Would You Think If Shelters Did Not Identify Dogs By Breed?
I read a couple of blog posts recently about an animal shelter that said it removed all breed labels from its dogs’ kennel cards and Facebook posts. When adopters look at the dogs available at the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Would You Break A Car Window to Save A Dog?
I know the answer to this question is YES for most of us. If a dog was truly in danger, most dog lovers would consider breaking a window to rescue the dog. However, most of the time, a dog left in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why are so many dogs overweight?
I have to wonder why so many dogs in the United States are overweight, and one reason is the owners just can’t see it. They see their fat dogs every day, so they see their fat dogs as “normal.” Plus, a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
PETA says some foster homes are no better than puppy mills
No one really takes PETA seriously. Remind me to tell you about my job interview with PETA sometime. That was something! I tend to ignore PETA on this blog, but recently I read about a PETA...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Breed-Specific Legislation is Bullshit!
I’m torn on what to share and what not to share about pitbulls. Sometimes when we share certain messages, we end up reinforcing the exact stereotypes we’re trying to avoid. See my post, pitbull memes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should Children Be Allowed in Dog Parks?
You’ve probably seen it. A parent pushes a stroller ahead of her through the gate of the dog park as several big dogs charge the newcomer face to face. Yikes. Or an adult carries a toddler through the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Do You Stop A Puppy From Doing Unwanted Behavior?
All it takes is a simple dog-training question to bring out The Crazies. Recently, the author Tim Ferriss posted this question on his Facebook page: I’m all for positive-reinforcement dog training, but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hindsight is 20/20 – How I Could’ve Saved $2,000 With Pet Insurance
When you’re trying to select the best pet insurance company, it’s not so much about finding a particular benefit you love or the best rate. Instead, you need to find a company that will keep up with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why We Can’t Save Them All – Euthanasia and Aggressive Dogs
One of the most challenging decisions a dog owner could face is whether or not to euthanize an aggressive dog. I’m talking about killing a dog in order to prevent harm to others – pets, children,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I Love Seeing Dogs In Cars
Last weekend it was 85 degrees in Solana Beach. I went to the store to buy Benadryl for my dog because he has hot spots and this gives him some relief. There’s a Petco next door, and I decided to bring...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Do Good Breeders And Good Rescues Have in Common?
Note: Thank you to one of my readers, “KL,” for contributing this essay. When adding a dog to the family, the question of source may be fraught with peril. Family and friends will weigh in, often...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do You Own A Type of Dog People Tend to Be Afraid Of? (Guest Essay)
Note: Thank you to one of my readers, “KL,” for contributing this essay. “I’m really nervous about the German Shepherd.” I was walking with my dog at our favorite off-leash hiking area, and from about...
View ArticleShould You License Your Dog? Two Views
Should you license your dog? Here are two views on the question. There are pros and cons to licensing your dog and every area has different laws. The post Should You License Your Dog? Two Views...
View Article
