Can't decide? Wear two.
Small Dog Collars
May 29th, 2009Is it Time to Put My Dog to Sleep?
May 23rd, 2009
Is it time? (photo courtesy of John Hurn@flickr.com*)
Talk and Point, Point and Talk
May 17th, 2009
Use the signs.
“Disculpe me. ¿Donde esta la puerta E-cinquinta de San Salvadore?” (Pardon me. Where is gate E-15 for San Salvadore?)
“I don’t speak Spanish. I don’t know what you want,” says the person whose help is being sought.
“¿Que?” (What?)
The person speaks to the visitor in a louder voice, almost shouting. “YOU SHOULD TRY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS SPANISH BECAUSE I CANNOT HELP YOU!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”
“¿Que?” (What?)
Why am I talking about this situation in a website about small dog care? The airport situation I have just described is metaphor for how some of us try to communicate with our dogs. Read the rest of this entry »
Punishing Your Dog Is A Waste of Time*
May 13th, 2009*and it carries a lot of risk.
Punished pup.
(photo courtesy of ~ggvic~ at Flickr.com)
How to Ruin a Good Dog in One Step
May 8th, 2009
What?!.
(photo courtesy of Fotodawg@flickr.com)
A Dog’s Sense of Time
May 5th, 2009
It's chow time!
Now I Lay Me Down . . .
April 26th, 2009
Kelsey. Down. Good girl!
Scared of Thunderstorms
April 18th, 2009Dear Reader: Can you believe I originally published this article on fear of thunderstorms last November just before the first snow fell? How’s that for bad timing? Here is a reprint of that article, with updated information, at a time when you are more likely to need it. Jeff
When thunderstorms are in the area, some dogs really suffer.
“The Boogie Man is going to get you tonight. Watch out for the Boogie Man,” my uncle would tell me when I was very young. “He’ll come out at night and bite off a hand or a foot if you let them dangle over the edge of the bed.” Later, as I matured, I could use my power of rationalization to ignore my uncle’s warnings. Unfortunately, dogs do not possess this important power. Once a dog learns to fear something, that fear will stick around, in full force, for the rest of the dog’s life, unless its owner intervenes. Now, during thunderstorms season, we are reminded how powerful learned fear can be. Read the rest of this entry »
Leash Aggression
April 12th, 2009
Small dogs have a higher tendency towards leash aggression because their small stature makes everything seem large and threatening. This is Royce.
Tamara J. a reader of this column commented:
“Love your articles on small dog syndrome. How about some information and helpful tips on handling leash aggression. I believe this is part of my boy’s small dog issues.”
Have I got a story for you. Back when we first opened Kelsey’s Dog House, and I thought I knew everything there is to know about dog behavior, I learned the hard way there is always something new to learn.
It was the end of our first week in business. Without blowing our own horn too loudly, apparently Kelsey’s Dog House was something people in our community had eagerly anticipated. Our daycare area was already very busy with happy dogs. Our boarding area had five dogs in residence. Our grooming schedule was full, which isn’t saying much when we only had one groomer–my wife. We had not anticipated this instant run-up in business, so it was just Dawn and I running the entire operation. Talk about looking like chickens with our heads cut off. We were running around like maniacs to keep up with the sudden and unanticipated demand. Read the rest of this entry »
A Small Dog in Quarantine
April 8th, 2009My Bonny crossed over the ocean.
My Bonny crossed over the sea.
My Bonny is quarantined for three months.
Oh bring back my Bonny to me.
Oh bring back my Bonny to me.
Hey, I’ve got a great idea! You know that trip we are taking to Hawaii in the fall? Let’s bring the dog! It’ll be great. She’ll love playing on the beach and running on trails in the backcountry. . . Not so fast Bucko. The Hawaiian government has one of the strictest entry requirements for dogs of any place on the planet. Before your dog is allowed to set a paw on Hawaiian shores, she must be micro-chipped, certified rabies-free in a 6-month long process, tested, and documented by a State of Hawaii-approved veterinarian. Even after you and your dog have jumped through all these hoops, your dog will still be quarantined after arrival in Hawaii for anywhere from a few days to 6 months. Still want to take your dog on a short visit to the Aloha State? Read the rest of this entry »