Pets Articles

Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-04-2024

Doodles are very popular dogs, which means there are reputable breeders, committed to producing the healthiest dogs possible, and then there are breeders looking to make a quick buck. You need to know how to spot the difference so you can find the right dog for you. When faced with a lapful of adorable puppies, you may want to take all of them home with you, but doing a simple temperament test will help you find a dog who’ll settle in to your family with ease. Finally, you need to stock up on supplies before you bring home a new dog — knowing what to buy and where to shop will allow you to focus on your puppy, not all the stuff you forgot to buy. Photo by April Walker on Unsplash

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-16-2024

If your dog suffers from anxiety, you’re not alone. Many factors contribute to your dog’s distress. For decades, dog anxiety was attributed to isolation distress, AKA separation anxiety, while reactions to people, dogs, noises, and other stimuli were dismissed as mere character flaws. Now, canine anxiety is studied, diagnosed, and treated compassionately to address a range of behaviors once considered maladaptive, such as destructiveness, leash reactivity, accidents, excessive barking, and aggression. Dog anxiety has always existed. However, before leash laws and modern domestication, dogs would simply disappear when faced with a stressful event. Nowadays, people delight in pampering their dogs like children. Confined to homes, yards, and leashes, dogs' ability to retreat, explore, greet others, and self-soothe has been significantly compromised. When considering how your dog’s anxiety affects their everyday life, it’s helpful to note that dogs, like people and other animals, are driven by routine impulses and emotions. See if you can relate to any of these actions: Seeking: To fulfill the certainties of everyday life, such as locating food, water, and shelter. Curiosity: The instinct to discover, explore, and identify unknown sensory experiences. Play: To engage in spontaneous, joyful, and non-serious activities. Fear: To respond to a perceived threat or danger. Frustration: The feeling of impatience or annoyance when needs or desires are unmet. The emotions that drive your dog’s anxious reactions are fear and frustration. When a dog feels trapped or cannot escape a frightening event, fear can evolve into panic. When frustration has no outlet, it can morph into rage. While isolated incidents of frustration — such as barking when a ball rolls out of reach — may not reflect emotional dysregulation, chronic fear and frustration from certain sensory experiences, prolonged isolation or containment, and forced interactions with people and other dogs can result in deep-seated anxiety.

Article / Updated 09-15-2023

Many beagles are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Adopting a beagle from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion if you don't mind getting an adult dog. Many of these dogs are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go. Beagle breed rescue is a multifaceted enterprise that aims to place homeless beagles into permanent adoptive homes. Beagle rescuers — all of whom are volunteers — look for beagles who need help at shelters and from individuals who can no longer keep them. And all too often, Beagle rescuers take in dogs that have been cruelly treated or otherwise neglected. After the beagle enters rescue, the group assigns the dog to a temporary home, or what rescuers call a foster home. While there, the dog receives any necessary medical care and is observed, so that any deficiencies or behavioral problems can be identified. The rescue group then takes steps to deal with those issues. As the beagle's rehabilitation progresses, the foster-care provider — with the help of other volunteers — begins to look for a permanent home for the dog. The group's aim is to find a happy ending for each rescued Beagle: placement in a loving forever home. If you're interested in adopting an older beagle, consider contacting one of the following organizations: National Beagle Club of America: The club's Web site includes a page of links to beagle rescue groups from all over the United States. American Beagle Relief Network: This organization raises funds to help other nonprofit organizations that are engaged in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming beagles. Petfinder: This national online database of pets that need homes lists beagle and other breed rescue groups from coast to coast. The Petfinder site also allows you to search directly for a beagle by zip code — although most of the hits you'll get will be beagle mixes. Like adopting through a shelter, expect to fill out a detailed application and answer a lot of personal questions. Remember rescue workers want to ensure that the dogs are going to be going to a great home. They may even want to come to your home to make sure that is suitable for a beagle. No rescue beagles nearby? Not to worry. Some rescue groups can help you find a dog that lives outside your local area and arrange to have the animal transported to you. If you're interested in this possibility, ask the rescue coordinator about whether the group operates a "Canine Underground Railroad," or whether she can help you find out more about rescue dogs who live beyond your local area.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 07-07-2023

Reptiles and amphibians make unique pets. They have few emotional demands, but they do have precise physical needs. And because pet reptiles and amphibians are in cages and can't seek food on their own, they depend on you for the right nourishment. Some reptiles and amphibians have considerably long lives, so be prepared for that. (Reptiles and amphibians are also known as herps, from herpetology — the study of reptiles and amphibians.)

Article / Updated 06-06-2023

Adopting a Labrador Retriever from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion. Many Labrador Retrievers are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Many of these dogs are adult dogs who are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go. An older Lab can be the ideal dog. Older Labs generally require far less work than puppies and are likely already trained in good behavior. Sure, an older Lab may not have the lifespan ahead of her that a puppy would, but the years she does have left can be filled with joy for both of you. Please consider adopting an older Lab who has lost her home. Labrador Retriever rescuers — all of whom are volunteers — love the breed and are committed to finding appropriate homes for Labs found at shelters or abandoned by individuals who can no longer keep them. And all too often, Labrador Retriever rescuers take in dogs that have been cruelly treated or otherwise neglected. If you're interested in adopting an older Labrador Retriever, consider contacting one of the following organizations: Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.: The club's Web site includes a page of links to Labrador Retriever rescue groups from all over the United States. Petfinder: This national online database of pets that need homes lists Labrador Retriever and other breed rescue groups from coast to coast. The Petfinder Web site also allows you to search directly for a Labrador Retriever by zip code — although most of the hits you'll get will be Labrador Retriever mixes. Internet Search: Try doing an Internet search under the keywords Labrador Retriever rescue. Like adopting through a shelter, expect to fill out a detailed application and answer a lot of personal questions. Remember rescue workers want to ensure that the dogs are going to be going to a great home. They may even want to come to your home to make sure that is suitable for a Labrador Retriever. After the Labrador Retriever enters rescue, the group assigns the dog to a temporary home — or what rescuers call a foster home. While there, the dog receives any necessary medical care and is observed, so that any deficiencies or behavioral problems can be identified. The rescue group then takes steps to deal with those issues. Before you take on a rescued Lab, spend some serious time getting to know the dog. Work with the rescue group to determine whether you and your potential pet are a good match. If the dog seems to have serious problems, enlist the help of a good canine behavior consultant. Be persistent. A good rapport can be an important step in overcoming problems.

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

Your Lab loves to eat! As a responsible dog owner, your job is keep your Lab at a healthy weight. This list is a group of healthy additions you can add to your Lab’s high-quality dog food. Limit the eggs and oil to no more than once a week — and only for active Labs who aren’t overweight.) Small pieces of raw or cooked carrots Small pieces of raw apples One or two tablespoons of plain, nonfat yogurt Half of a cooked egg One teaspoon of canola oil

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

If you’re considering hiring a dog trainer because your Labrador Retriever just isn’t behaving the way you expect, use these guidelines to find a good trainer who uses positive methods and can help you establish effective communication with your Lab: Ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors, and relatives who have friendly, well-behaved dogs. Ask the opinion of pet professionals, such as veterinarians, vet techs, groomers, boarding kennel managers, humane societies, and rescue groups. Call the Association of Pet Dog Trainers at 1-800-PET-DOGS to ask for the names of dog trainers and canine behavior consultants who use positive training methods, such as lure-and-reward and clicker training. Expect a good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant to understand how dogs learn and to communicate with you — in terms you understand — about how to manage and train your Lab. Ask about experience and ask for references. And check them! A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant will have extensive experience educating owners and their pets. Ask about correction styles. A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant doesn’t advocate or use physical punishment (shock collars, choke chains, prong collars, leash jerks, or hitting). Expect fun! A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant gives you the feeling that training will be fun for you and your Labrador!

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

Understanding the anatomy of a Labrador Retriever will help you know your dog better and talk more specifically with your veterinarian. This figure gives a complete outline of your Lab’s body parts:

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-31-2023

If you’re looking for a qualified dog trainer to help out with your Labrador Retriever’s behavior, follow some recommendations to find the right fit for you and your Lab. To keep your dog in good shape, try adding some healthy food alternatives to your Lab’s high-grade dog food. Get to know your dog better by studying the body makeup of a Labrador Retriever; your knowledge will also help when you’re talking to your veterinarian.

Article / Updated 05-24-2023

If a natural disaster strikes, you should have an emergency kit and a plan for your pets. You're also wise to consider what would happen to your pets if you were in an accident or became ill suddenly and landed in a hospital with no time to prepare. Here are some important tips to help your pets survive a disaster: Make sure your pet always wears an ID tag. Permanent identification, such as a tattoo or imbedded microchip, is a good idea, too. Make sure the best contact information to reach you is on the ID tag. Prepare a file with current medical and vaccination records, your pet's microchip or tattoo number, your veterinarian’s phone number and address, feeding and medication instructions, and recent pictures of your animal(s). Invest in shipping crates. Sturdy crates keep pets safe and give rescuers more options in housing pets. They give you more options, too, in the homes of friends or relatives, or in shelters outside of the area. Also, depending on weather conditions, you can safely leave a crated pet overnight in a vehicle. Keep several days’ worth of food and safe drinking water, as well as any necessary medicines, packed and ready to go in the event of a disaster. Rotate your supplies so they do not get stale. If your pet eats canned food, be sure to keep an extra can opener and spoon tucked in among the emergency supplies. Pack plastic bags — the kind you usually use for picking up poop and bags that seal to put the poop into. Your veterinary hospital may become damaged in a disaster, which is why having some backup plans for boarding and care is a good idea. Know where to find other veterinary hospitals in your area, as well as animal shelters and animal-control facilities. Boarding facilities should also be noted, as well as groomers — all of these places may be able to help out in a pinch. Compile and print a list of these places on your home computer — and tuck the pages in with your emergency supplies. You may be lucky and survive a disaster nearly untouched, but others in your community won’t be so fortunate. Contact your local humane society and veterinary organization now to train as a volunteer so you can help out in a pinch. Disaster-relief workers do everything from distributing food to stranded animals to helping reunite pets with their families — and helping find new homes for those who need them.