First, let me come clean. I have never talked to Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. Never wrote to him either. I have read just about everything he has written and I have watched all of this shows and videos. In fact, we practice most of his techniques at Kelsey’s Dog House to very good effect. I am a huge fan and a devoted supporter. Even so, I have a bone to pick with the Dog Whisperer. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve Got a Bone to Pick with the Dog Whisperer
November 11th, 2008Dogs at Play
November 10th, 2008I want to take a moment to discuss one particular dog behavior that is very important to us—–play. I could write volumes about this, having watched it for years. I’ll keep this short, touching on the highlights. Read the rest of this entry »
I Want My Dog to Look Just Like J.R.
November 10th, 2008The other day a woman walked into our grooming shop with her dog and said “You know that cute little dog that won Westminster a few years ago—the one that waved his paws in victory? I want my dog to look just like him.” Read the rest of this entry »
A Small Dog
October 18th, 2008
Kelsey. The perfect small dog.
Do you own a small dog?
Do you want a small dog but do not know what kind to get?
Do you have problems with your small dog?
Do you want to brag about, learn more about, scream and cry about your small dog?
This is the place. The Eagle has landed. “X” marks the spot. Call off the search.
This website is everything you have ever wanted to know about dogs in general, and small dogs in particular.
Here is what’s in store:
- Where to get a small dog.
- Types of small dogs—not breeds, necessarily—but types. There is a difference!
- How to train a small dog gently and effectively.
- Small dog behavior. If you believe a dog is a dog is a dog, then I am about to convince you a small dog is different.
- Why a small dog can drive you nuts, if you let it. (The key is to not let it. I’ll show you how.)
- How to care for a small dog, including grooming, feeding, exercising and having fun with your small dog.
Ready? Set . . . wait, wait, hold on just a second.
Before you go spending precious time on this site, you might ask, “Who is this guy and should I believe anything he has to say?” Fair enough. You will find my credentials at this link.
What the Heck is a Small Dog?
October 17th, 2008What the heck is a small dog? The nickel answer is: “It depends on who you ask.” I know, I know, that’s a painfully cheap answer. A nickel does not buy much anymore. The truth is, if you limit the discussion to pure bred dogs, the American Kennel Club has the definitive answer. The problem is, pure breds make up less than half the world’s population of dogs. There are hundreds of varieties of mixed breed dogs that could be classified as “small” if there was some sort of official governing body for mixed breed dogs willing to create those classifications. Unfortunately there is not. But read on. I will try to whittle away at the question until you have a good answer.
This is, without question, a small dog.
Golly Mrs. Cleaver, Which Dog is Right for Me?
October 16th, 2008There are a lot of books on the shelves and quite a few websites that profess great knowledge about the differences between various dog breeds. These sources also believe you can find your ideal dog mate by cross-referencing such categories as “trainability,” “ease of care,” “need for exercise,” etc. After watching small dogs come and go with their owners at Kelsey’s Dog House for years, I have come to believe that it’s a shame dogs can’t read. Those books and websites should really be written for the dogs so they could determine “Which owner is right for me?” I know that sounds ridiculous, but it has a kernel of truth. Read the rest of this entry »
Tell Me What I Need to Know About Small Dogs by Breed
October 15th, 2008“This is the internet, darn it! Tell me what I need to know about the different breeds of small dogs or I’ll move on to the next website that does.”
Okay, okay, I’m with you. Here it comes. I am going to send you to another website to do this, because it presents the essential information pretty well. The site was created by a woman named Beverly Lee, who I believe is British. You will see reference to a few dogs that are available in Europe but rare in the U.S. Before I send you off, here are some points to keep in mind: Read the rest of this entry »
Buy Your Clothes, Not Your Dogs, from the Mall
October 14th, 2008Warning: The following article contains a graphic description of animal abuse. The passage is written in orange. Sensitive readers should skip the orange text.
“Let’s go to the mall, Simone.”
“You going for some reason?”
“Do I ever need a reason to crawl the mall? Actually, I want to pick up a few things. I need a new dress, some shoes, and a new dog.” Read the rest of this entry »