Friday, June 19, 2026
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Guard Dogs – a Necessity or a Danger?

By
Richard Christian
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4
guard dogs

Last week, a Massachusetts 14-year-old was nearly killed by two Rottweilers after jumping a fence at a Boston-area construction yard to play with the two dogs. The boy (and his 12-year-old friend) had been known to hang out with the dogs in the past, but always with a fence separating them. Never before had the dogs shown any hint of malice toward the boys. However, that all changed the moment the 14-year-old jumped the fence. Friendly Rotties turned into guard dogs that mauled the boy while his friend frantically called 911. The first cop on the scene began to fire his gun at the dogs to make them stop. He hit one, but the other dog continued his pursuit. It took firefighters spraying the dog with hoses to keep him away long enough for rescuers to carry the boy out of the yard. The owner of the dogs voluntarily chose to have the ...

The Hybrid Wolf Allure: What Fascinates Us About the Wolfdog?

By
Richard Christian
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2
wolfdog

You probably thought that vampires were the new fad after the Twilight books and films, right? But since vampires are hard to come by (we think), the non-human creature that has garnered much popularity in recent years is the wolf. Of course, the idea of domesticating a wolf sounds rather unfeasible, which is why the hybrid wolf, known as the wolfdog, has become so popular. But is the wolfdog a good pet, or it is just a wild animal in sheep’s clothing? What is a wolfdog, or hybrid wolf? Firstly, it’s important to understand the misconceptions of the term ‘hybrid.’ A hybrid, technically speaking, in the crossbreed of two or more different recognized breeds of dogs, like Pit Bull and Boxer. So when we talk about a wolfdog, we’re talking about something different. While Pit Bulls, French Bulldogs, Dachshunds and Dalmatians are all different breeds, they are all Canis lupus familiaris. When you ...

Top Tips for Choosing the Right Pet Sitter

By
Christina Drury
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1
pet sitting

With many people looking for more ways to make money, it seems that they are turning to pet sitting as an option. Pet sitters are those who either go to the client’s house when they are not home to care for their pets, or watch the pets in their own home. They may specialize in a single type of pet – cats, or dogs for instance – or they may branch out into special niches such as farm animals, exotic animals and so on. When you are searching for someone to take care of your beloved pet - whether it is a walk on lunchtime when you are held up in the office, or full overnight service when you are out of town – there are important factors that you must keep in mind. Experience is Golden (not the Retriever!) Many times, pet sitters will tell you “Oh I’ve had years of ...

How to Manage Skin Problems in Cats

By
Quentin Coleman
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0
skin problems

Skin problems are one of the perks of cat ownership. Whether your kitty adventures into the great outdoors or not, there’s a good chance he’ll suffer from skin problems caused by parasites, infection or allergies at some point in his life. What starts with the occasional scratch and a little bit of shedding can turn into a real mess in no time at all. While most skin disorders don’t put your cat’s life in danger, they are very irritating and can leave his body vulnerable to other health problems. Keep your eyes out for excessive shedding and scratching. Bald pots and dry, scaly skin are signs that not all is well with your furry friend’s coat. Common skin problems Bacteria and other organisms, like the ringworm fungus, are a common source of skin irritation. Your kitty’s skin protects him from infection most of the time, but tiny injuries or another disease can weaken ...

Negative Reinforcement: A Necessary Evil in Dog Training?

By
Heather Brennan
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1
dog training

Training your dog can be one of the biggest challenges you will face as a dog owner. A well trained dog can be a wonderful companion. There are many different schools of thought on how to train your pet. They embrace a variety of philosophies and you need to decide what works best for you before you actually begin training. Since you should start the latter as soon as your dog arrives, you need to be making these decisions before then. In some ways, it is a bit like parenting. Will you or won’t you spank your child? Positive training methods are newer and more popular with most training schools. They rely on rewarding positive behavior and using your dog’s natural desire to please you to teach him what pleases you. Negative training methods encompass the more traditional approaches to dog training. They include the use of choke collars, force, and ...

Tips for Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Dogs

By
Quentin Coleman
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0
separation anxiety in dogs

There’s nothing like coming home after a long day at work to find furniture destroyed, semi-fresh spots of urine on the carpet and shreds of something papery all over the place. Your dog never behaves like this when you are around, so what gives? While your pet could simply be waiting for an unsupervised opportunity to engage in mischief, he may be one of may be one of the many dogs out there that really hates goodbyes. Canine separation anxiety can be a real problem for dog and owner alike. After all, dogs don’t always deal with their stress in constructive ways. Canines suffering from separation anxiety tend to follow their owners from room to room at home and greet them frantically when they get home, even if they were only gone for a few minutes. Watch your pup in the morning. If he paces nervously as you get ready to go ...

Your Pet Shares More Than Love With You – He Shares Diseases

By
Richard Christian
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0
dogs and diseases

We love our pets like they’re a member of our family, because they are. We hug them. Some of us kiss them. Some of us let them sleep in our beds. And while there are countless studies about the benefits of the human-pet relationship, there are also dangers. Our cats, dogs, rabbits, parrots, horses and other pets can share more than just love with us - they can share diseases. Here are a list of some diseases your pets can expose you to. Lyme disease - Okay, let’s start off with the truth. You can’t actually catch lyme disease from your pet, but you can get a tick passed onto you. Hugging your pet, letting him sit on your couch, or sleep on your bed - these all increase the chances of one of your outdoor pets could pass a tick onto you. Parrot fever (psittacosis) - This is found in the ...

Is It Healthy For Dogs to be Vegetarian?

By
Richard Christian
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2
vegetarian

Everyone has a say in what they feel is the best diet for his or her dogs – dry food vs. wet food, human food or not.  At either end of the food-debate spectrum are the all-meat proponents and no-meat proponents. Both factions have their fair share of reasons why their diets are best for dogs. But both arguments have their fare share of naysayers as well. So which is the best diet for a dog: the all-meat diet, or a no-meat diet? All-meat proponents are typically grouped with the raw-food movement. The raw food movement isn’t anything new. Racing greyhounds and sled dogs are often given raw foods to help maintain astounding levels of energy.  But there was a push for raw foods more commercially in 1993, when Australian veterinarian Ian Billingshurst introduced BARF – Bones and Raw Food diet, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. Billingshurst suggested that adult dogs ...

French Bulldogs: More Than Just a Cute Face

By
Heather Brennan
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0
french bulldog

With those big bat ears and that endearing flat face full of character, it is not surprising that the popularity of French bulldogs, often referred to simply as frenchies, continues to grow. They’ve gone from being #71 in popularity fifteen years ago to being #14 last year according to the American Kennel Club. A lively breed that does not need a lot of exercise, frenchies can do well in apartments. Their short coat needs little grooming and their compact size (22-28 pounds) make them very attractive as a family pet. Historically, they have been fancied by famous people like King Edward VII, Tsar Nicholas Romanov, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Colette. More recently they’ve been spotted with celebrities like the Beckhams, Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, John Legend, Hugh Jackman, Nathan Lane, and Martha Stewart. Those comic faces were made for the big screen. They appear in movies such as Titanic (in reality a French ...

Can You Catch a Cold From Your Cat?

By
Quentin Coleman
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0
cat

Cats may be clean animals, but they certainly aren’t germ-free. While most of your pet’s pathogens pose no risk to people, there’s a good chance your kitty is harboring at least one disease that can spread to humans. Zoonotic diseases are actually pretty common, but most aren’t serious health risks for healthy individuals. “Those with immature or weakened immune systems, such as infants, individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the elderly, and people undergoing cancer therapy, are more susceptible to zoonotic infections than others,” according to a brochure prepared by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Common feline zoonotic diseases Cat scratch disease (CSD) is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella henselae. About 90 percent of CSD patients have had contact with cats prior to infection, and roughly 40 percent of all domestic cats carry the bacteria during their life time, according to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) website.  Headache, fever and ...

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