Occasionally we encounter someone being assisted by a guide dog. Is it okay to pet the dog? Should we just ignore it? How should we treat a guide dog? It’s important to remember the function of a guide dog. Its purpose is to lead blind or visually impaired people around obstacles. Together with the handler, the dog forms a team. The handler must know how to get from place to place, and the dog knows how to avoid obstructions. Guide dogs cannot interpret traffic lights or signs. They rely on the handler to know where and when a street can be safely crossed. Handlers go through significant ins... [continue reading]

Is your doggie the first one to the kitchen in the morning? Chances are good that he’s been dreaming of chasing rabbits all night and is hungry for something good. Here are three scrumptious scrambles that your dog will appreciate: Bow Wow Omelet While you’re making breakfast for the family go ahead and scramble an extra egg or two and cook up an extra 3-4 pieces of bacon. Lay a piece of toast in doggie’s bowl, pile on the eggs and crumble the bacon over the whole deal. It will make your dog so happy he’s likely to do the yummy dance as you’re putting it all toget... [continue reading]

If you have a large breed dog, at some point in his life, you may want to consider a dog ramp. As larger breeds age, their hips deteriorate and their ability to jump into cars goes away. Taking the dog for a ride used to be a simple task but when he can no longer get in the car on his own, the task becomes a burden to you. Lifting a 100 pound Akita into an SUV isn’t easy. As a result, you may begin limiting his outings to essential trips such as to the vet’s office. No more trips to the beach for your best friend, just the dreaded vet’s. If you want to keep enjoying trips to the park ... [continue reading]

Around seven to eight weeks old a Border Collie puppy needs to start getting attached to humans. Not just one human but to as many as possible. Border Collies are great with children if they are nurtures to be. A Border Collies nature is very friendly but just because a pup is raised around children doesn’t necessarily mean they will grow up being that way. You have to teach the puppy and the children how to behave around each other. Border Collies are herders by nature and they will herd children. Although they do not intend to hurt the children this may accidentally happen. You n... [continue reading]

Junie and Sam were inseparable. Just seeing the way they looked into one another’s eyes, you could tell – it was true love! They met at their favorite eating establishment. Junie could tell right away that Sam was a gentleman. He stepped back and let her approach the buffet first. It was obvious to Sam that Junie was a lady, because she politely refused. Junie reached into the back of the buffet, because she was taller. She chose a tasty morsel, and she immediately shared it with Sam. He looked into Junie’s bright blue eyes, and he knew he was hers forever. There was no doubt th... [continue reading]

Ah, sleep! Adult dogs spend 12 hours a day sleeping, so shouldn’t they have their own comfy bed? Getting your dog his own bed may keep him out of your bed and off the floor, but there are so many styles to choose from, how do you know which is best for your dog? Dogs, like humans, have variety of sleeping preferences. Some dogs like to stretch out, some curl up, some even like to sleep on their backs. Notice your dog’s preferred sleeping position before you go out to choose his bed. If you come home to find him in curled up in your favorite easy chair, your dog may enjoy a ball or has... [continue reading]

The air is getting crisp. The leaves are turning and dropping away. “Jingle Bells” is playing in all the stores. We all know what that means. Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Of course, after Thanksgiving, we will all fly into a panic thinking that we are far behind in our Christmas shopping. It’s time to make our list and check it twice. Is there one name you’ve forgotten? Did you add Fluffy to your list? Have you put any thought into what you could get your quiet little companion? Believe it or not, there are a lot of options in Christmas purchases for cats. There a... [continue reading]

The shorthair group of cats is very easily recognized since their hair is shorter than the hair on longhair and semi-longhair cats.  Today’s shorthair cats are descended from their more wild ancestors who also had short hair. The group of shorthaired cats can be divided into two main categories.  These include the American, British, and European cats with their sturdy round faces and the Asia cats with their long limbs and extremely lean features. The typical coat of a shorthair cat requires very little grooming by the owners of the cat no matter what particular breed of shorthair cat it i... [continue reading]

Here’s a wonderful reward for your show-ring champion or your couch companion. It’s easy to make, but it will earn you rave reviews from your favorite dog. Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef/chuck 1 cup flour 1 cup corn meal 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend well with an electric hand-mixer. Grease a flat baking pan. (A jelly-roll pan works well.) Spread mixture out in pan until flat. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool well before cutting. (A sturdy pizza wheel does a nice job of cutting treat-sized squares.) For a lon... [continue reading]

Beagles are classified as hounds by the AKA and are originally from medieval England. Beagles are very smart dogs, and usually require very little day-to-day maintenance from their owners. Beagles typically get a long well with children, as well as other friends and family so you could easily bring your dog to social functions without the worry that he won’t get along with other people or other dogs. Beagles gets very attached to their families, and other pets in the home and will often get upset when left along for long periods of time. Beagles need physical exercise, and due to their size ... [continue reading]