Short Takes

In It For the Long Game

You probably already know that the smaller the dog, the longer it lives, on average. Chihuahuas and Chinese cresteds can live up to 17...

The Impact of Stress on Working Dogs

We praise the ability of dogs to work side by side with us as guide dogs, K-9 dogs, military dogs, and TSA assistants at...

Unsafe Chewing

Last month we explained that dental chews known to reduce plaque or tartar on a dog’s teeth will contain a seal from the Veterinary...

Save Money on “New” Toys

It’s understandable that the toys in your dog’s toy basket or bucket would lose their allure after a while. But do you throw them...

Why Dogs Sniff Our Groins — and How to Stop It

One reason dogs sniff our groins is that the area is right in front of them at nose level. They don’t have to jump...

Hair Dryers for Dogs

After a bath, a dog gets as much as 70 percent of the way to dry by herself as she shakes off the water...

What’s In a Name? (A Lot, Actually)

Duchess, Lassie, Champ, and Spot are out. Lucy, Maggie, Max, and Charlie are in. Why the shift in the names we give our dogs?...

Reduced-Calorie May Not Mean What You Think

If your pet is overweight and you are trying to manage his calorie consumption, don’t automatically assume a dog food labeled “reduced-calorie” is low...

Authoritative Versus Authoritarian

Many of us have high expectations of our dogs, but how we respond to them when they follow through successfully makes all the difference...

Detecting Flea Bites

It’s easy to see flea bites on ourselves because we’re not covered head to toe in dense hair. The telltale raised red dots...

Dogs Can Get Monkeypox

Cases of monkeypox have fallen substantially — a good thing. But the painful disease is still out there, and dogs can and do...

Don’t Try to Remove the Porcupine 
Quills Yourself!

Porcupines don’t live in the south (except for the mountains of Virginia) but do reside in the rest of the country. And where they...