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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…
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3 ways to ease your dog’s anxiety
Dogs are people too. And like people, they feel happiness, sorrow, and pain. Another thing that they constantly feel is anxiety. Despite their bouncy and resilient characters, dogs can easily get anxious and stressed when faced with certain situations. There are telltale signs that your pet is distressed, such as trembling, whimpering, yawning, tucking in their tail, or trying to make themselves look small. Dogs can also display destructive behavior when they get antsy or bored. If your dog does any of the things mentioned, know that they’re not reacting that way for no reason. To help ease their anxiety, you must first determine the source of it and provide…
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5 dog walking tips you’ll wish you always knew
Dog walking is great exercise for both dogs and dog lovers, but for new owners it can be a challenge — particularly if the dog is of a larger breed. For smaller framed individuals with plus size pups, it can also be tough to maintain effective control in the event the dog sees something he or she desperately wants to check out. Here are a few tips to help walk your dog in a manner that is safe for you, your dog, and other people/animals you might pass along the way. Have any tips of your own? Add them in the comments! Obey, then we’ll go Ask your dog to…
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The big list of healthy treats your dog will go nuts over!
Dogs love treats, and we humans love making dogs happy. While everyone is aware that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, few consider the health benefits of giving our dogs varied and healthy treats in place of the same old bag full of preservatives and artificial flavors. Here is our list of healthy dog treats that your dog will go nuts over! Fruits and vegetables “[Vegetables] have virtually no calories, and dogs don’t care if you’re not giving them something meaty and fatty. They just want you to give them something.” — Tami Pierce, clinical veterinarian at the University of California, Davis. Apples One…
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How to stop doggo from digging up your backyard
While based on doggy instincts, boredom and an excess of unused energy are some of the main causes of dogs deciding to scratch a hole big enough to start your own fish pond. Here are some tips on how to mitigate issues with this behavior. Provide a fenced area (like a sand-box) in your garden or backyard where your dog can dig to his heart’s content. You could even bury interesting things (they can be special treats and toys) for your dog to discover and make a little game out of it. Release your dog from its boredom by giving it things to occupy its mind like special toys they…
