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70 ways to show your dog you love them
Happy dogs are easy to spot! Whether it’s eagerly wagging their tail or jumping up and down, a dog’s happiness becomes obvious right away. This is why it’s important to value spending time with your dog and understanding their needs. Here are 70 easy ways to show affection to your dog and fill their life with even more happiness. Give your dog a hug when you see them. Brush your dog’s fur using a good dog brush. Buy a new dog toy. Let them snuggle beside you while watching TV or using the computer. Make a special doggy treat that will make them drool in excitement! Take your dog out…
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13 reasons to get a dog in your early twenties
Everyone knows that dogs are man’s best friends, and it goes without saying that they’re cute little nuggets. But despite loving dogs, a lot of people in their twenties forgo dog-owning because it can be a drain on time, money, and energy. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re too busy or too young to take on the responsibility. And while it’s important to consider this and make sure you’d give a dog a good home, more twentysomethings need to consider becoming dog parents. Here’s why being a dog owner the best move at this stage in life: 1. It makes you less self-centered. When a cute and fuzzy thing…
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With dog theft on the rise, here’s how to discourage the dognappers
Prosecutions of dog thieves have fallen by 70% over the last 20 years, while the number of dog thefts has risen to 1,849 in the UK alone. Dognapping is described as a “low-risk, high reward” crime, and it’s an unfortunate reality dog owners should be aware of. That is why Oakpark, a home security specialist, has written this guide on dog theft to coincide with Pet Theft Awareness Day on the 14th of February. The aim is to raise awareness of the risk of dog theft and help dog owners protect against it. Why are dogs being stolen? Dog thieves are mainly motivated by monetary gain. Certain breeds, often known…
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7 great dog breeds for homes with children
Dogs are ideal playmates for your kids. They not only provide comfort and entertainment but also teach your children a sense of accountability, the value of teamwork, and many other lessons that will serve their development well. Dogs can also help in the reduction of stress levels, encourage them to engage in physical activities, and even contribute to kids’ cognitive abilities. But not all dog breeds are appropriate as pets in family situations. Some breeds find it stressful to live in a family with children, and others have a nature that is not safe for children at all. Children get rowdy and aloof dog breeds don’t always have a tolerance…
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Study: dogs love music—and their favorite genre is classical
There’s no doubt that dogs are putting their paws in the music world. Laurie Anderson famously held a concert specifically for dogs in Times Square, and hundreds of music videos contain dogs. (I personally think every music video should have doggos in, but we’ll save that debate for another day.) You might’ve heard the urban legend that classical music helps dogs to relax. But is it really true? Do dogs like listening to music–and more importantly, can it help stressed pups to calm down? Does classical music really calm dogs? The short answer: Yes! A 2012 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior monitored how a kenneled dogs react…
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Science agrees: train your pooch with love, not punishment
Researchers from the University of Porto have found that negative dog training — methods like shouting, pushing, or pulling the dog — can lead to long-term adverse effects on your dog’s mental health. They followed ninety-two companion dogs being trained with two very different kinds of schools of dog training: aversive (negative reinforcement) and reward-based. Dogs being exposed to the aversive training methods were observed to have more stress-related behaviors and also showed increased levels of cortisol than those in the reward-based group. Being a proud parent of two Labrador Retrievers, I know that living with pets is not always all fun and games. No matter how cute they are,…
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How to get your puppy housebroken in no time
Waiting for the moment when you’ll be able to take your puppy home? While this is an event full of excitement, there are some parts you may worry about. Yes, we are talking about potty time and the risk of having your belongings chewed on. Puppies are adorable, but they are also like children that get into mischief. But, don’t worry, as this period will soon be over and, with a bit of patience and effort, you’ll have a perfectly behaved companion. Because there are so many things that can be said, this time we’ll stick to writing about how to get your puppy potty trained. Most certainly this is…
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Is your dog developing arthritis? Here are the warning signs
Arthritis, meaning inflammation in the joints, affects one in five dogs. For dogs over the age of seven, it’s more than one in two — a full 65% chance of them are diagnosed with arthritis. And for large breeds, that percentage goes even higher. According to Dr. Karen Becker: 20 percent of dogs over a year of age, or 1 in 5 canine companions, will develop degenerative joint disease. And certain large breeds — including Golden and Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands and St. Bernards — have a 70 to 80 percent chance of developing the disease. That’s 4 out of every 5 dogs of those breeds. But don’t despair!…
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How to teach your dog to fetch
It seems as though what dogs really want to play is “Tag, I’m it!” and have you chase them around the yard. They want to get the toy in their mouth and have you to run after them while they chant some doggy equivalent of “Na ne na ne boo boo! I’ve got the ba-a-all!” Dogs are masters at training us, and we all can learn from their example. Here are some ideas to try to turn the tables on them! Let’s say you’re teaching your dog to bring back the ball. Start by waving a ball about two feet in front of the dog’s face (not too close or…
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How to switch doggo to a raw food diet—and should you?
Feeding a raw dog food diet to your pooch has to be seen as a balancing act between traditional feeding and the new type of cereal diets, which are claimed to be scientifically balanced as far as the dog’s nutritional needs are concerned. As this type of diet is going against what we class as normal, a raw dog food diet is often frowned upon by traditional dog owners and also many vets. The problem is that many of them do not know the benefits if done properly. So first of all, what are some potential issues with a raw dog food diet? The storing of raw food to keep…
