Everything Dog

(post updated August 4, 2013) Allison Benedikt sent ripples of outrage through online pet lover communities when she admitted in an article at Slate.com that having children caused her to stop loving her dog. As you’d expect, animal lovers commented that she should burn in hell and worse. Luckily, we have several thoughtful and eloquent …

We’re in the middle of the Dog Days here in the Northern Hemisphere. It feels fitting to share some thoughts about people who leave dogs in hot cars in the summer.     What You Should Know About People Who Leave Dogs in Hot Cars Let’s start with the good news. 1. There are not …

“Why protect animals when people are hungry or suffering?” “It’s a free country. People have the right to make money however they want.” “What do I care if people are selling defective puppies? I don’t even want a dog.” If every informed animal lover in the country advocated and voted to ban puppy mills, it …

If I see one more online argument about Flexi-Leashes, I’m going to scream.     I understand the problem with extendable leashes. They can injure people when the cord wraps around a finger or leg frighten a dog if dropped allow a dog to get into trouble before their person knows it. But the argument …

I’m feeling very blessed this morning. Absolutely no one in our household is frightened of fireworks. Unfortunately, many of our friends can’t say the same. I’m left with lots of questions. And some ill-informed speculations. Wanna hear them?  My Questions (and Answers?) About Dogs and Fireworks Why isn’t Honey afraid of fireworks? Pick any or all …

Ever since Honey was a puppy, I hoped she would swim. But she just wasn’t interested. Finally, this weekend, she paddled a short distance and I was overjoyed. Why is it so important that my dog know how to swim? 1. I want company. I love to swim. My husband sinks like a rock. Is …

This won’t make me very popular. But I believe dogs should sleep outdoors. And so should their people. Dogs are less likely to suffer from what writer Richard Louv called nature deficit disorder. But it’s not for our lack of trying. We skip walks when it’s cold, rainy, or snowy. Or worse, we skip walks …

As K9 Kamp Komes to a Klose (I am not going to miss all the K’s; there is a reason they’re worth 5 points in Scrabble) I find myself wondering what fitness really means. If you read through the posts of my fellow kampers, and even my own, you’ll find a heavy emphasis on aerobic …

Thanks to the internet, you can: learn how to castrate your dog (don’t; it’s terribly cruel) diagnose animal illnesses buy home vaccinations “prevent” and “cure” disease and regulate your pet’s diet. So why does anyone bother going to the vet? Here are the 5 reasons I take my dog Honey to the vet for her …

It’s the eternal question: If your fitness plans go wrong, do you curl up on the couch with a bag of chips or pick yourself up and make a new plan? Because my plans for K9 Kamp went wrong this week and could have caused a big fitness fail. Let me refresh your memory. K9 …