tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58413771663708663492011-04-21T22:01:12.945-04:00<center>ADVICE ON NATURAL NUTRITION, TRAINING, <br> AND CREATING A BALANCED HOME FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG</center></br>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.comBlogger501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-14897875778638272532008-11-04T13:45:00.004-05:002008-11-04T13:56:51.676-05:00

These little cuties - Basho and Suki, respectively - belong to my friend Melanie, who's been working doggedly (sorry) to get Barack Obama into the White House. While Mel has been dialing 'til her fingers turned blue to get the word out, Basho and Suki are clearly doing their part to spread the word: Whether you're for or against, young or old, human or... not so much, don't forget to vote!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-72935903623639329422008-10-29T11:40:00.004-04:002008-10-29T12:07:26.365-04:00

I know it's been many, many moons since my last post - life seemingly got in the way, and I've been carried away with it ever since! But I'm pleased to say that things seem to be getting more manageable and I'm gradually easing back into the Wonderful World of Dogs. Right now, the biggest part of that is taking my incredibly lengthy and long overdue final exam with Animal Behavior College. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-68124665325115910202008-07-03T10:12:00.004-04:002008-07-07T11:05:35.077-04:00

If you've spent any time at all around dogs, you know that feeding time is a Big Deal. And if you've spent time around multiple dogs, you know how easily that Big Deal can turn downright nasty without some order in the chaos. Everything is heightened when the food bowl comes out, so here are a few tips on how to make meal times safer and more pleasant for everyone involved.(1) Stay calm. Want a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-6195392365925599922008-07-02T08:51:00.004-04:002008-07-02T10:51:40.283-04:00

Workout Wednesday!Life with your dual pooches may be smooth sailing most of the time, but double dog walking duty can make for stormy seas, if you don't take the proper approach. Here are five tips to make walking your doublemint pups a pleasure, not a chore.(1) Start with one pup, and build from there. Walking puppies is simple enough, because they're... well, little. But if you have more than

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-83794661894651432542008-07-01T10:40:00.004-04:002008-07-01T10:58:10.145-04:00

The winner of The Dog-Ma's first monthly Petsmart gift card giveaway is Amie, who left a great - and very insightful - comment on the Workout Wednesday post, "Pit Bull Leash Training - How to Walk a Whirling Dervish." Though the winner of the raffle was chosen randomly, Amie did have some great points in her comment relating to my phrase, "...a tired pit bull is a well-behaved pit bull." Amie

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-41138771881064900372008-07-01T08:48:00.002-04:002008-07-01T10:17:05.692-04:00

So, you've decided to populate your home with not just Dog, but Dawgz. My life with one dog was amazing - Moonshadow was my boon companion, my best friend, and I was pretty much her universe. Now, three years after sweet old Moon left this mortal coil, I am the proud keeper of two pups - Killian and Adia - from the same litter. I am no longer the center of anyone's universe. They love me, of

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-62279239220021758852008-06-30T09:57:00.004-04:002008-06-30T11:07:31.753-04:00

When I was working (and living) at Clean Slate Animal Rescue, we had anywhere from ten to forty dogs living with us at any given time. Granted, those dogs weren't all in the same room at the same time, but I don't believe there were ever less than five dogs with us wherever we roamed. While I don't necessarily advise that everyone live with that many pups underfoot, my time at Clean Slate did

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-72328133035360720832008-06-11T08:46:00.005-04:002008-06-11T09:31:45.276-04:00

One sunny afternoon in Kentucky, I put Dave's handsome American Staffordshire mix, Lou, on leash and headed for the wide world. It was a gorgeous day, and I thought it high time that Lou get some one-on-one training time. Did I mention the leash I put on was extendible? And attached to nothing but a regular collar on Louie's big, tough, bully neck? If you know anything about bullies, alarm bells

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-61006742247370633212008-06-10T10:03:00.011-04:002008-06-11T08:45:57.063-04:00

If you've ever witnessed a dog fight, you know the feeling: the sense of helplessness and horror when fur flies and snarling bodies rocket toward one another. If you've witnessed a pit bull fight, that feeling is magnified a thousand times, as a dog aggressive pit bull is physically and mentally engineered to fight to the death. Regardless of how much you may love that bully face, as a pit bull

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-8848666066211594162008-06-09T10:07:00.003-04:002008-06-09T10:54:09.858-04:00

If you've ever had a puppy, you've probably learned one thing quite well: dogs chew. And if you've ever had a pit bull puppy, you've REALLY gotten that lesson down. There are three reasons why your pit bull will chew you out of house and home - they are high energy, have extremely strong teeth and jaws, and are very social, so prone to separation anxiety (which they cope with by chewing). Each

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-12296415842710842062008-06-08T13:10:00.004-04:002008-06-08T14:31:55.151-04:00

Summer is upon us, which means it's time to pack up the jalopy and head for the hills. And what vacation is complete without your favorite pooch alongside? Unfortunately, pit bull owners know firsthand that - thanks to bad press and public misconceptions - traveling far and wide with a bully in tow isn't always so easy. Here, then, are five tips for a safe and happy vacation with your favorite

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-67401737220304775622008-06-08T12:53:00.003-04:002008-06-08T13:03:57.723-04:00

This week's theme came as a result of a conversation I was having with my friend Jan recently, who was talking about her friend's new pit bull puppy, a silver pit named Element. Naturally, I'm always excited when I hear that a pit bull has gone to a responsible home, and I immediately started peppering poor Jan with questions: How old was the puppy? Did the new owners - who have two young sons -

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-30420103550988250102008-06-06T10:33:00.005-04:002008-06-06T11:22:52.217-04:00

The loaded crates in our Oregon living room, after the November 7 transportNovember 7, 20062:00 a.m. - Dave is on the phone with the volunteer rescue coordinator at the Merced County Shelter, California. Cheesecake, Spoon, and Tiger are passed out on the living room floor, and I am trying desperately to stay awake while Dave reads through the list one more time. The list is Merced's weekly PTS -

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-87775063884966669162008-06-05T08:20:00.006-04:002008-06-05T10:57:57.683-04:00

I talk a lot in this blog about proper canine nutrition, but there's definitely a flip side to that coin: the dog guardian who is fastidious about Fido's dinner, but who spends almost none on his own. When I was at Clean Slate, it was not uncommon for us to spend hours preparing dinner for all of the residents, and then throw together a peanut butter sandwich at ten p.m. for ourselves. Not

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-56558187022497429302008-06-04T08:38:00.004-04:002008-06-04T09:47:13.002-04:00

With obesity now considered epidemic in both U.S. people and pets, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a weight-loss program for dogs and their owners to do together. In this case, Marty Becker, D.V.M., and Robert Kushner, M.D., teamed up with Hill's Science Diet to create Fitness Unleashed! I was skeptical at first, primarily because the project is funded by a dog food

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-54767061123564480062008-06-03T08:50:00.003-04:002008-06-03T08:57:39.426-04:00

This month at The Dog-Ma, I'm pleased to announce that one lucky reader will win a $50 gift certificate to Petsmart on July 1st. Winners will be chosen in a random drawing; you can enter simply by commenting on any blog post in June. Readers will be entered once for every (appropriate) comment made... Which means, if you comment twenty times, you're entered twenty times. Naturally, comments

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-6931125468419348592008-06-03T08:02:00.006-04:002008-06-03T09:06:55.516-04:00

It's a scenario every dog guardian dreads: You're on one side of the road, your pup is on the other, bounding toward you. Between you? A long stretch of highway carrying an even longer line of moving vehicles. You hold your breath, knowing you are powerless to stop what's about to happen.Are you really powerless in that situation? Obviously, prevention is the most effective way to keep your dog

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-82220448259916063992008-06-02T22:55:00.000-04:002008-06-02T18:17:23.598-04:00

I love almost everything about my dogs: the way they greet me when I come home from a long day, Adie's sweet little head-tilt when she hears something funny, the way Killian paws my leg when he wants a belly rub. The one thing I don't love about my dogs? The smell. Most of the time, my pups aren't stinky creatures - that's one of the benefits of a good, homemade diet. However, the healthiest diet

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-38805033953897826712008-06-01T12:28:00.005-04:002008-06-01T22:54:48.366-04:00

Unless you're living in a profoundly dog-friendly city, you've likely come across plenty of places where pups are not allowed. And even if dogs are not actually banned, there are certainly some rules of etiquette to follow in public places to ensure that the welcome banner continues to fly for our four-legged friends. Here, then, are five rules to keep your pup in favor wherever you tread.(1) Are

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-60177254749712694402008-05-18T07:50:00.007-04:002008-05-20T08:24:14.280-04:00

Located just off Route One headed toward Camden, Maine, is a 66-acre, privately owned park known as the Merryspring Nature Center. Though I've grown up in this area, I had no idea of the existence of the Center until someone mentioned it in passing when I said I was looking for new places to take the pups. Barely a mile down a well-traveled side road just behind the Camden Hannaford shopping

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-67821736736024313622008-05-17T08:59:00.000-04:002008-05-18T09:00:39.925-04:00

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-31850054660135363672008-05-12T19:11:00.004-04:002008-05-15T10:02:33.939-04:00

In Dog Star Daily recently, there was a great article about how to properly dispose of your pooch's hazardous waste. And while EnvironMental Monday is typically about your home and immediate environs, it seems to me that there's nothing more pertinent to the world around us than the waste we put in it. There is no dog park where I live, however there is a fairly extensive cemetery where many of

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-76769607661752050612008-05-10T17:01:00.000-04:002008-05-11T17:02:44.078-04:00

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-88413358586579345482008-05-08T07:47:00.006-04:002008-05-15T09:17:04.711-04:00

If you've ever entertained the notion of making homemade meals for your pooch, you may have been dissuaded once you read a little bit on the subject. It can be overwhelming; in fact, there are still definitely times that I question my own sanity - particularly when I'm in the checkout line at the grocery store, with a few items for myself and a whole parcel for the pups. That feeling goes away

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-64351963216254057902008-05-06T17:31:00.003-04:002008-05-13T19:00:35.342-04:00

Recently, I've heard a few somewhat disturbing comments regarding the misconceptions of using food in dog training. Because I've been working with dogs for a while now, I think I just assumed that using food to reinforce good behavior was standard practice. No one really thinks it's "bribery" anymore, right? Or that you're somehow spoiling the dog by rewarding good behavior? Well... Sadly, that

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-54730398021811166882008-05-05T14:04:00.001-04:002008-05-11T17:31:12.870-04:00

For the past couple of weeks, coming home has been a little less of a pleasure than it once was. I find myself taking the pups and staying over at my mom's place far later than before; morning walks have gotten longer, and I tend to get to work just a little earlier than usual. The reason? It's shedding season, and my apartment is a scene of true carnage. I have hardwood floors, which technically

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-54589014735198090842008-05-04T13:41:00.003-04:002008-05-04T14:02:10.070-04:00

There was an article recently in one of the many dog-related magazines to which I subscribe, all about pet travel. Glossy, full-page photos of pet-friendly hotels were scattered throughout; hotel rooms came equipped with hand-crafted doggie dishes, and there were even menus from room service especially for your canine companion. Which all sounds great, but... Here's the thing: Spending the night

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-10625608366885888372008-05-04T09:10:00.002-04:002008-05-04T09:34:54.884-04:00

This is actually excerpted from an article I wrote back in 2005, when I was arts editor of the University of Southern Maine Free Press. I was in grad school for Creative Writing at the time, living in an apartment in a bad part of town with my sweet, now dearly departed old Moonshadow. Though my process is a little different with two pups, the sentiment remains the same, and it seems a fitting

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-32858352808911148472008-05-03T13:27:00.000-04:002008-05-04T13:40:34.009-04:00

Okay, so I'm slightly obsessed with this video. I've managed to avoid the whole dog dancing craze thus far because it seems, well... a little silly. But then I watched this, and now I'm all about trying to get Adie to do the cha cha. Ah, the power of YouTube.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-85478509554506244282008-05-02T08:30:00.000-04:002008-05-03T09:33:34.057-04:00

Recently, I was talking with a friend who's been navigating the rocky world of new puppyhood. Her latest addition is a Golden Retriever pup named Buddy, now thirteen weeks old. He's a doll, I must say, and my girl Adie is SMITTEN! Brother Killian, of course, is not the least impressed, but Adia can't get enough of the little guy. Buddy's new parents, Kristen and Dave, are already taking their

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-5847978403243551422008-05-01T09:34:00.000-04:002008-05-03T10:06:17.929-04:00

Yesterday, I talked a little about upping the exercise ante for your pudgy pooch. That is often easier said than done, however, particularly when you have a dog who has become used to the sedentary lifestyle. An overweight dog may find exercise uncomfortable, taxing, or downright painful. Your job as a responsible, loving caregiver, is to turn that around. The best way to do so is often by

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-82870226322292001402008-04-30T19:39:00.004-04:002008-05-04T07:57:48.498-04:00

By now, you've probably heard the statistics: 65-percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and those numbers are growing. And if you're reading this blog, you are probably aware that obesity in American pets is also becoming epidemic - an estimated 25-percent of American dogs are considered obese. Like humans, overweight dogs are more at risk for diabetes, joint problems, heart disease, and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-50277066986109208832008-04-29T08:42:00.009-04:002008-05-04T07:58:10.777-04:00

How can training be a fun experience for an under-exercised dog? That was the big question for me recently, and one I'll explore in this post. This past Sunday, the Knox County Humane Society - where I'm doing my obedience training practicum - was closed for cleaning, which meant I could work with as many dogs as I liked without running into volunteers or prospective adopters. The drawback? It

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-13019905724978687962008-04-28T18:15:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:41:24.680-04:00

While the economy continues to take a nosedive, the pet business just keeps booming, with the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association predicting sales topping 43 billion dollars in 2008. With all of this attention (and cash) spent on our four-legged friends, there are invariably a host of new businesses looking to cash in. One of these is the online university, specializing in (or at

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-30116447734397311802008-04-23T10:05:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:45:37.607-04:00

Imagine this:You've reached your 60th birthday - a little achy around the joints, that spring in your step perhaps a little less... sprung, but generally healthy and still in love with life. And suddenly, your family says to you: Now that you're old, we've got a special new food that you'll be living on until your final days, and - because you've gotten old and we don't want to tire you out -

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-77601300850426933732008-04-22T19:25:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:46:22.760-04:00

Now that you've spent the past week bonding with your pup, it's time to add some structure to your training sessions. If you have a dog who hasn't quite mastered sit, or is only a master when there are treats involved, this post will teach you how to make your pup a Sitting Fiend. Unlike dancing, twirling, or standing on his hind legs, sitting is a natural position for your pooch. For this reason

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-44155647078136750592008-04-21T08:28:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:00:12.688-04:00

As I've mentioned in previous EnvironMental Monday posts, the goal of my EDEN philosophy is to create a tranquil home in which you and your canine companion are balanced, healthy, and happy together. This week, we'll talk ab out one of the most challenging behavioral issues animal guardians face: separation anxiety. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety - a condition in which a dog separated

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-47871482142247326612008-04-20T15:41:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:48:37.389-04:00

Did you know that even vaccinated dogs can contract and spread Parvovirus, the deadly virus responsible for killing hundreds of puppies each year? While your grown pooch may never actually get sick because he's been vaccinated, he may be putting others at risk with each step he takes. That's why whenever I'm traveling with my own pups - whether it's just around the block or it's a full-on

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-64094210382329701932008-04-19T15:38:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:00:38.992-04:00

I chose this particular video because, unlike so many of the so-called "funny" dog videos out there, it's not contrived and it doesn't focus on unhealthy or hurtful tricks (toddlers being dragged around by a dog, over-rambunctious play ending in someone being hurt, etc.) Just two babies doing what they do best: playing.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-84221550652768687972008-04-18T08:04:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:01:04.696-04:00

Rocket Ranger (Ranger for short) launched herself into the world of Clean Slate Animal Rescue in no uncertain terms, one hot summer evening. While I was doing the dishes in the kitchen, I saw a shadowy furball bounce past the window - once, twice, and one more time. Naturally, I was unnerved - Clean Slate is out in the country, and I was new to the area. What kind of creature (Sasquatch? The

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-18068882609409327822008-04-17T09:32:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:01:47.931-04:00

If you've investigated or actually started feeding your dog a homemade diet, you know firsthand just how confusing the supplement issue can be. The bad news is that your pup's good health is dependent on a balanced diet and - if you're making your own food - that diet begins and ends with you. The good news, however, is very good: It's not actually as complicated as it might seem. And with the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-48333767016552336272008-04-16T22:38:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:02:16.499-04:00

We've all seen them - the Jack Russell who springs five feet in the air every twenty seconds or so, or the border collie yipping wildly while she tries to round up the neighborhood kids, or the pit bull pulling his owner down the street in a desperate attempt to get to the next great smell. You may even be the proud owner of just such a dog yourself. If you are, you have probably wondered at

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-60248614179628515752008-04-15T08:57:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:02:44.520-04:00

The role of leader - or "pack leader" as some dog professionals like to call it - is a tricky concept for many. There is a somewhat ill-conceived theory out there that, for dogs, might equals right - you have to win your dog's respect (and love) by dominating him. While this may work in the wild, the reality is that by following this line of reasoning in your own home, you are setting a very

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-7288169596869732282008-04-14T15:00:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:03:18.589-04:00

I got my first dog as an adult when I was twenty-three. Moonshadow, as I soon named her, was six months old at the time - already lean, lanky, and full of life. Over time, she became one of those dogs people remember for years afterward: sweet, mellow, and fun-loving. For the first six months of our time together, however, our relationship was hardly ideal. In fact, there were many days when I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-69091456337931838052008-04-13T11:47:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:03:55.081-04:00

In March of '07, my foster partner and I packed up all of our belongings and traveled nearly 2500 miles - from Estacada, Oregon, to Columbia, Kentucky - in an old transit bus we found on Craigslist. While this in and of itself wasn't all that extraordinary, the rest of the cargo was; in Oregon, I interned with an animal rescue that was host to cats, dogs, goats, chickens, and other assorted

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-66225319925298920522008-04-12T11:43:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:04:28.046-04:00

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-49580041977314586052008-04-10T10:32:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:05:21.287-04:00

Proper nutrition is the fourth, and arguably the most important, element necessary for a healthy home for you and your dog. It is also the element that requires the greatest investment from you - both in terms of time and of money. In a series of posts over the coming weeks, I'll do my best to provide simple, affordable tips for creating nourishing meals for your animal companion, but I would be

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-65255453747765093872008-04-09T14:43:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:05:43.167-04:00

If you've ever had any behavioral issues with your dog and consulted a professional trainer about them, you were probably asked one question first: How much exercise is he getting? Whether you're facing excessive chewing, barking, digging, jumping up, even aggression... the first, second, and last answer is often more exercise.Not so long ago, dogs were wild animals. They traveled for miles on

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-27501976159928924382008-04-08T13:26:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:06:09.334-04:00

The word "discipline" has gotten a bad rep in recent years, conjuring images of militant nuns or angry drill sergeants. However, discipline is also defined as an "activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill," and "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control." When I talk about discipline, I'm talking not about punishment, but about creating order in

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5841377166370866349.post-3781835991255940462008-04-07T12:25:00.001-04:002008-05-04T08:06:49.689-04:00

When you think about caring for your canine companion, the first things that likely come to mind are the basics: Food, water, the daily walk... But what about where you hang your hat? We all know that, as humans, we are sensitive to things like limited sunlight, cramped spaces, and clutter. But do the same things have an effect on our pets?The answer is a resounding yes, for a couple of reasons

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13497523401608401787noreply@blogger.com0