Pet Ful

Your dog’s stocking is probably piled high with treats and toys, but what to get the dog lovers in your life? Well, it depends — have they been on your naughty or nice list this year? Do your friends deserve delicious sparkling “dog bark” or a pile of “poop”?! Luckily, this gift can easily be made both ways, so you can always leave the choice up to Santa’s final say. Ingredients: Chocolate: Use your favorite variety. For the bark, use colored chocolate to give it an extra holiday flair. For the poop, dark or milk is the way to go. Mix-ins: Nuts, dried fruit, sprinkles, cookies, pretzels, cereal, etc.— get creative! Directions:…

While we have a good understanding of COVID-19 in dogs, there’s still much to learn. Let’s examine some common canine COVID-19 questions and offer solid advice on how to keep your dog safe. What we know now about COVID-19 and dogs In early 2020, a smattering of reports emerged from Asia and Europe citing a few dogs apparently had contracted COVID-19. Chinese researchers quickly proved that dogs, cats and ferrets could become experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2. A handful of canine COVID-19 cases were verified in the United States a few months later. The undisputed fact is that dogs, cats, ferrets and hamsters can become infected with the novel coronavirus. Most…

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Like many young Jack Russell Terriers, Loki has a lot of energy. Pet parent Anke Taylor has embraced technology not only to reinforce positive behavior but also to exercise his body and mind. The device she uses the most: the Pet Tutor Smart Training Feeder. A wireless training and game system, it operates via Smart Clicker or Pet Tutor app, for both manual and programmable dispensing. PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, 2nd Generation; store.petsafe.net. $169.95 “We’ve used it mainly for crate training and to help him settle when he gets overly excited,” Anke says,…

Dogs can make the perfect co-pilots for road trips and when you go over the river and through the woods to grandma’s for Thanksgiving. Whether they make the perfect house guests is, in large part, up to you. Dogs are at the same emotional level as a two year old,” says Jen Jones of yourdogadviser.com. “You wouldn’t take your two-year-old to a friend’s house and say, ‘You have to behave now.’ You have to have the same rules everywhere you go so whether you are at your house or someone else’s house, your dog will behave in the same way anywhere.” Jen shared appropriate doggie etiquette and tips to making…

Since dogs cannot talk, they cannot make their needs or desires plain to us in any simple or intelligible way. It’s easy to get frustrated when our dogs engage in behaviors that are repetitive, troubling or destructive. We all take some degree of pleasure, on the other hand, when we see a dog chasing her tail. When an occasional canine tail chase turns into a habit, though, and when that habit ends in tail biting or tail chewing, it can signal a range of potential issues. What’s even more troubling is the sheer volume of people who not only ask, “Why does my dog keep biting her tail and whining?” but also end…

When voters went to the polls this November, dog lovers in Denver overwhelmingly passed  Ballot Measure 2J which overturns key parts of the more than  30-year ban in the city on Pit Bulls. The fight against Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) in Denver is long and complicated. This past February, the Denver City Council voted 7 to 4 to repeal the ban with a probation style ordinance that will restrict but allow Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes to live in the city. However, the Mayor of Denver vetoed the ordinance saying the dogs still posed a risk to residents. After the Mayor’s veto, the legislation was put before voters and this November the…

Some puppies are easy to potty train. Others can pose a bit of a challenge. No matter what your dog’s personality, the key to successful potty training is knowledge and consistency. Related: A Solid Feeding Schedule Will Help With Potty Training Canines of all species are naturally inclined to avoid going to the bathroom in their “den.” In the case of domestic dogs, they can learn to see your entire house as that den. It’s not hard to help a puppy make that connection if you are diligent and persistent. The trick is to create a habit where the only place your puppy eliminates is outdoors. Here is a step-by-step…

Dan’s Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, an industry-leading dog walking and animal care company has taken on a new project: the Let’s Talk About Cool Animals podcast. Hosts Daniel Reitman and Mauro Carignano tell extraordinary stories about cool, heroic and amazing animals throughout history The first episode was released back in May, and stories have included: Romeo, a wild wolf who befriended a number of dogs and their people in Alaska — which included a guest appearance by Nick Jans who wrote the New York Times bestseller A Wolf Called Romeo; Balto and his lesser-known counterpart Togo — two sled dogs who helped save thousands of lives during a diphtheria…

Senior dogs find themselves homeless for numerous reasons — most of which have nothing to do with their capacity for loving. Chicagoland-based Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions is a 501(c)(3) organization making sure these loyal companions enjoy golden years filled with TLC. Photo: Young at Heart Related: Activities for Senior Dogs Young at Heart currently works with shelters across multiple states to help rescue homeless older canines. Founder and Executive Director Dawn Kemper says her team is focused on highlighting “how special each senior pet is — helping people get to know them and see beyond their age.” The organization spearheads nurturing programs like Furever Loved, which gives aging…

Many of us think of sticks as natural dog toys that are fun to play with when we are out on a walk, but are they dangerous for our dogs? Turns out depending on what your dog likes to do with sticks, they might not be as safe for our pups as we thought! Why do dogs like sticks?  Many dogs seem to be magnetically drawn to sticks, playing with them, fetching them, even carrying them around. “Some dogs love sticks while others are uninterested. Just like with any type of toy, our dogs have personal preferences,” says Tory Waxman, DVM, a small-animal veterinarian and co-founder of human-grade dog food…