Best Distraction Toys for Dogs Who Like to Dig
Dogs have a natural tendency to dig. When he digs, your dog may want to reach what’s under the ground or even to make a comfortable spot to relax. But, of course, you want to stop him from digging up your garden, carpet or couch. Redirecting him to another activity, such as distraction toys, can help. Here are the 5 best distraction toys for dogs who like to dig: Squishy Face Studio Flirt Pole V2 A great way to have fun with your canine best friend is to interact with him using a flirt pole. Flirt poles consist of a PVC pole with a cord...
DIY Easter Egg Dogs
Linda Facci Linda Facci is a graphic designer, fiber artist and all-around crafter. Her work can be found on Etsy.com, faccidesigns.com and on Instagram @faccidesigns. She lives in Woodstock, New York, with her husband and rescue dog, Cocoa. Source:...
3 Easy Dog Enrichment Ideas
Enrichment means meeting an animal’s needs. It’s less about keeping a dog busy or tiring him out and more about encouraging, enabling and empowering him to engage in species-specific behaviors. It keeps dogs emotionally, mentally and physically healthy and helps alleviate and prevent behavior issues. Truly enriching activities effect positive, observable and measurable behavior change. Let’s say your dog goes bonkers over deliveries. But on days he’s had a sniffari beforehand he only barks for one minute instead of...
How to Introduce Dogs
Contrary to popular belief, most dogs are dog-selective or dog-tolerant and not dog-social. And that’s OK! Dogs shouldn’t be expected to like every dog they meet: Most humans don’t like every human, either. Well-planned intros keep everyone safe and happy. Always avoid impromptu on-leash greetings, especially allowing dogs to make a beeline for each other. This can be scary for many dogs, and they can become overwhelmed quickly and become defensively aggressive, especially when unable to escape the confines of the leash...
What’s in a Dog First-Aid Kit?
As any pet parent knows, the unexpected can happen anytime. Whether at home or on an adventure together, having a well-stocked dog first-aid kit tailored to your dog’s age, health and lifestyle is essential and can make a difference in an emergency. Working dogs and dogs who accompany hikers, campers, and hunters will especially need more targeted first-aid kits as it may not be easy to access a veterinarian. A basic canine first-aid kit includes: Documentation: Your dog’s medical information, your vet’s phone number and...
Why Do Dogs Hide Their Treats?
Some dogs like to hide things. They might hide treats in couch cushions or food in holes in the yard — or some other curious combination. While the behavior may seem strange through human eyes, it likely makes perfect sense to our pups. Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer Angela Logsdon-Hoover, of VCA Animal Hospitals, says there are actually many reasons why dogs hide or bury their treats or food — including: instinctive behavior breed-specific behavior resource guarding behavior attention seeking boredom nausea Why do...
What Does Dog Teeth Chattering Mean?
Have you ever wondered, why is my dog chattering his teeth? While your furry friend’s jumpy jaw might be nothing, there are some underlying causes that could raise concern (think: an undiagnosed medical issue). Below we’ll explore the possible causes of dog teeth chattering, and what to do about it. Dogs’ teeth chatter when emotions run high. Just like humans, dogs can get in their feelings, too. Dog teeth chattering can occur when dogs are excited, nervous, anxious or experiencing other complex emotions. “It’s...
What is a Foster Fail?
Stacy Nordstrom Stacy Nordstrom is an award-winning freelance writer and technical editor who specializes in pet, music, and technology topics. Her articles have appeared in Catster, CAT FANCY, and Cats USA, among other publications. Stacy lives in Southern California with a sweet 12-year-old Cocker Spaniel/Labrador mix named Maggie and a 17-year-old gray shorthair cat named Mollie. You can find Stacy on Instagram at @stacy_m_nordstrom, where she posts pictures of her garden, sunsets, sailing adventures, and her pets being cute. Source:...
7 Dog Hair Remover Products
With furry friends, hair has its way of finding its way … well … everywhere! The good news: There’s a dog hair removal tool for that. Lots of them, actually. So, if your pup is covering your life in more than kisses, try these products to win the hairy battle. ChomChom Pet Hair Remover For a reusable option, check out the ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover. This nylon roller goes back-and-forth like a handheld vacuum, gathering up pet hair. To clean it, simply release the button to empty the receptacle. $28.44 ChomChom...
Is My Dog Happy?
Everyone wants a happy, content furry family member. Happy dogs. Happy times together. How do we know if our dog is happy, and what is happiness for them? Veterinarian behaviorist and researcher, Dr. Niwako Ogata, at Purdue University, defines happiness as overall “wellbeing.” Three major components of wellbeing — emotional, cognitive and physical wellness — must be considered, she says, to answer, ‘Is my dog happy?’ Signs that a dog is happy Emotional and cognitive components often do a better...
