July 17th, 2024.
Picking out the right collar, harness, and/or leash for your dog might seem as difficult as walking into your closet and picking the perfect pair of shoes. Deciding between using collars or harnesses for your pup can come down to a question of what you see people frequently use, access, suggestions from someone assisting you with your dog, or a medically related issue.
Adding to the confusion can be the numerous videos on youtube and tiktok, claiming to have the “Best” solution. Even when you determine between a collar or harness, there are countless choices. Although collars and harnesses generally have a similar function, they can affect the relationship you have with your fur baby in ways that may not be beneficial to developing a mutually respectful, loving relationship...
June 13th, 2024.
Choosing a companion may not be a lifetime commitment for you, however, it most certainly is for your 4-legged love bug. Any time we get into a long-term relationship with anyone, we take many factors into consideration including their set of values, effective communication, respect, level of awareness… just to name a few.
However, when we get into a long-term relationship with a dog, our major concern is what they look like. Which is quite limiting, considering every dog is as individual as every person and with that comes a variation of personality traits and behaviors.
When entering into a committed relationship with our dog, if their manners are less than pleasant, our first instinct is to figure out how to change them to be...
March 9th, 2024.
When we meet someone for the first time, we strive to make a great first impression through manners and mannerisms. We respect their space, pay attention to body language, speak thoughtfully, and go out of our way to create a comfortable environment.
However, when meeting a dog, our manners often take a backseat. We eagerly invade their personal space, issue commands like “sit”, “down”, or “stay” without regard for their comfort, and resort to gestures like pointing and wagging our fingers to assert dominance. Pretty stark differences, right?
February 1st, 2024.
The author Shauna Niequist once said, “feeding people is a way of loving them”, and this notion certainly applies to the furry friends in our lives. We tend to shower them with duck, lamb, and irresistible pumpkin flavored treats, celebrating every sit, stay, and rollover with tasty snacks. But what if, for most dogs, hand-feeding wasn’t an expression of love, but instead an unintended obstacle to deeper connections with your pet?
Dogs inherently crave connection and relationships, especially with their human family. Much like us, their understanding of human interaction begins with their primary bond - their human parents. When we are first introduced to a dog, hand-feeding treats is often recommended.
Similarly, many of us greet our dogs after an extended time away with hugs…and lots of treats. These practices, though well-intentioned, can lead dogs to...
