Your Dog is Not Your Adversary

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I recently spent several months deciding whether to switch from a PC to Apple’s new Macbook Pro. It wasn’t just the expense; after all, hadn’t I been using a PC for 20 years and always managed to get the job done? True, but there were EPIC battles along the way (those of you with Windows Vista can surely relate).  If I didn’t know better I would have sworn the machine was out to get me. Yes the job eventually got done but it… Read More

Learning from the Denver Anchor Dog Bite Incident

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Last week a Denver news anchor was bitten in the face by a dog during a live interview with a firefighter who had recently rescued the dog from icy waters. The injury required reconstructive surgery and our hearts go out to her as we wish her a smooth and speedy recovery. Watching the news clip I was reminded of a similar incident last year in which a reporter was also bitten in the face during an interview with a police officer and his… Read More

Teaching your puppy to share – preventing possession issues

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I was commiserating with a client last week over the number of ball-thieving dogs out there whose owners are unable to get the ball back. I admit, it’s mildly amusing to watch them chase their dog around in vain before shrugging helplessly, but mostly it’s annoying for those of us who rely on retrieving activity to tire our dogs out. Even more importantly, I have to wonder what dangerous items these dogs might pick up that no one is able to retrieve from them…. Read More

Is your dog smarter than a chimpanzee?

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Anyone who has ever taken a Raising Rover class or private lesson has heard me talk about how dogs are masterful readers of body language. Recent studies reveal their ability to observe and interpret even our most subtle gestures surpasses that of our closest (and presumably highly intelligent) relative, the chimpanzee. The following is a clip from the Max Planck Institute for Evulotionary Anthropology showing just how good dogs are at reading their humans. You may never underestimate Rover again!

Kids & Dogs: Living Safely Ever After

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   Kids + dogs = great combo, right?   Absolutely, but not without a little education and effort. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, out of nearly 1 million dog bites reported in the US each year, 60-70% are to children, and almost 80% of dogs involved were familiar (either the family dog or a friend’s or neighbour’s dog).   These incidents are hugely distressing for owners who feel their beloved pet has ‘turned’ and bitten out of the blue…. Read More

No Stress Nail Trimming

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Judging by how many panic stricken stares I’ve seen at the mere mention of nail trimming, it seems there are quite a few of you out there who are terrified of traumatizing or even mutilating Rover in an attempt to trim his nails. But with the right approach the whole process can be a stress-free activity for both of you. There are plenty of tips on the internet, many just plain useless (not naming any names) and some downright cruel. Since a picture is worth… Read More