Gentle, intelligent, amiable, energetic, obedient, dependable, and easy going History and Origin of the Labrador Retriever Labrador retrievers did in fact come from Labrador, Canada, it is believed involving the breeding of the black St. Hubert’s hound of France, Portuguese working water dogs, Pointer-type breeds, and possibly indigenous dogs owned by the people of the…
Some people don’t like the idea of dog crates, but they serve many uses. You’ve probably heard that, in the wild, wolves and dogs dig dens and a crate mimics this environment. The crate provides a safe, secure place for the dog to withdraw and be by himself. Many dogs prefer to sleep in them….
People have been using flower essences to deal with their dogs’ emotional imbalances for decades. Flower essences were originally discovered by Dr. Edward Bach who has given his name to a line of flower essences. Dr. Bach identified some 38 healing plants which he believed could help heal negative states of mind. These flower essences…
There are few substances that can create an effect on an animal similar to what catnip does to cats. When a cat comes in contact with these green, feather-light flakes, it is an interesting sight to behold. What is Catnip Exactly? If you’ve ever been browsing through your local pet shop in the cat section,…
You’ve probably heard the term “teacup” Poodle. But what is it? Is it a real kind of dog or just a runt? Poodles come in several sizes according to the various kennel clubs, but what is a teacup Poodle? Here’s the scoop. Poodles The Poodle has been around for at least 400 years and comes…
Courageous, protective, versatile, intelligent… the German Shepherd Dog is not the best at any one thing, they are the best at everything. History and Origin of the German Shepherd Dog It is said that German Shepherds are not the master of any one thing but the master of everything. This versatile and unique breed was…
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912 From the…
Temperament is a common term in the dog world but few of us actually know the definition of the word. Temperament refers to the aspects and traits of a person, or dog’s, personality that they were born with; the innate versus learned traits. In child psychology, the ‘nine temperament characteristics of Thomas and Chess’ include:…
The thunder booms and the dog dives under the bed. It booms again and the dog runs from under the bed into the bathroom. Another shaker blasts and the dog runs back under the bed from the bathroom. Panting, eyes glazed and staring, the poor dog is beside himself with fear over what we consider…
Most dogs pick up an occasional flea. In some cases, a flea can lead to a serious flea infestation that drives your dog crazy. Left untreated, fleas can bite your dog and cause him great distress. They can even take over your home. A female flea can lay 50 eggs per day, and thousands of…
Obesity is not just a human epidemic. In North America, obesity has swept through our pets as well with more and more animals developing weight-related diseases that were almost unheard of twenty years ago. Diabetes, osteoarthritis, tears to the anterior cruciate ligaments, heart and respiratory disease, and pancreatitis are all on the rise among our…
Spaying (for girls) and neutering (for boys) are usually done when a dog is around six months old. This is a good age for a number of reasons. First, most puppies have received all of their vaccines by this time and are therefore protected against some of the germs that may be present in the…