EVERYDAY DOGCARE

The crabgrass and dandelions just won’t quit, marring an otherwise lovely lawn. You’d like to use weed killer but hesitate because you’ve heard — and observed on lawn sign warnings — that the pesticides and herbicides applied to grass are not safe for dogs. For traditional commercial weed killers, it’s often true. Some products have […]

When the temperatures soar, boys get buzz cuts to keep cool, and girls pull their hair into ponytails. With their dogs’ comfort in mind, many people have their pets’ locks shorn for summer, too. But while it makes sense intuitively, it’s a bad idea. A dog’s hair actually insulates the animal from the heat. The […]

Knowing it’s not safe to let your dog wander around the car during road trips, you buckle her into a harness before taking off. Or secure her in a travel crate in the back of the SUV. Or, if she’s on the small side, in a carrier that fits on the back seat. You’re all […]

You’ve been running with your dog for 3 years, and she has always loved it — couldn’t wait to get out there. But lately, she doesn’t seem to want to go. And when she does, she wants to stop often, ruining your workout session. Why isn’t she enjoying it anymore? It could be that while […]

“In the pink” isn’t just a figure of speech when it comes to your dog’s good health. Check his tongue and gums. Just about all dogs have pink tongues, or at least some pink. If it appears to fade somewhat, take your pet to the veterinarian. It could be a sign of anemia. And if […]

We recently ran across this post on social media: “We’re thinking of getting a bichon frise, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, or a miniature poodle and need recommendations on how hypoallergenic each kind is. Our family is very allergic to almost all breeds of dogs.” In fact, there’s no way to rate how likely any […]

Q. In your article about dogs and music in the March 2020 issue, you said that while our pets seem to prefer certain musical genres, they don’t perceive music in the same way people do and don’t really get that there’s a rhythm to song. But people and their dogs can take dance classes in […]

Dogs in combat zones can suffer hearing loss from explosions, gunfire, even helicopter engines. The hero dog Conan who was brought to the White House several months ago was no doubt subjected to a serious ear-pounding (as well as an injury) when he cornered the leader of ISIS in a tunnel and the man detonated a suicide vest. Hearing protection for military dogs exists, but how well it protects dogs ears is not clear. Furthermore, it is rigid, cumbersome, and hard to put on.

Dogs put up with a lot to accommodate themselves to our world. Yet in many ways we dont consider a world in which theyd feel more comfortable. Its not because we dont care. Its because we dont automatically consider how their senses influence their experiences. With our dogs senses in mind, here are three ways to make living with us better.

Most shelters are happy to have volunteers come and give resident dogs attention by playing with them and grooming them. Dogs warehoused in shelters need extra attention and socializing so that they will look good to potential adopters and also will adapt better to life with people once they make it to a loving home. But theres more to helping shelter dogs than interacting with them directly, and you may have just the talent required. Consider asking a local shelter if it needs help in any of these areas.

If late-night and perhaps pre-dawn walks with your dog are part of your routine, you might consider using LED collars, leashes, and toys to brighten things up. Colorfully lit dog-walking gear will make you and your pet more visible to passing motorists and to each other. At the same time, theyll help illuminate your path as well as make waste clean-up easier in the dark.

In the present climate of divided party politics, one thing agreed upon by every single member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives is that animal cruelty is unacceptable. A unanimous vote by both legislative bodies has passed a bill called the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT. Violators convicted of an animal cruelty felony will face up to 7 years in prison.