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arousal – the one word every dog parent should know!   what is arousal?   to take from this terrific article by adrienne janet farricelli:   arousal is a physiological and psychological state of being awake or reactive to...

i love martingale collars. for dogs that walk nicely they are easy to use, safe and comfortable. however, just like any other piece of equipment, safety precautions need to be taken when using them. here are my top three...

not only is this practice incredibly dangerous, but it’s illegal in california – and many other states. according to the humane society of the united states (hsus), when it’s 72°outside, the temperature inside a car can heat up to...

choosing your best friend is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. how you make this decision will have a great impact on your life, and an even bigger effect on the dog’s. it will determine the...

so your puppy just turned 5 months old, and all of a sudden, that sweet, obedient little one, who you have worked so hard to train is acting like he hasn’t learned a thing and even seems like he...

eleven and a half years ago, our little spencer was spotted in the back of a cage at the carson shelter, frightened, and completely shut down. he wasn’t “showing” well, as he was absolutely terrified and was hiding what...

by cooper montana mandell, guest author   it was a crisp december evening in san diego as i jumped out of my mom’s prius and on to the cold pavement. i was excited to finally be there after a...

at about midnight last night, locals started setting off illegal fireworks in our neighborhood (ugh, grr, arf). when rusty heard the snap, crackle and pop, he immediately jumped into my arms, terrified. he burrowed himself between me and my...

i’m working with an amazing, sweet, adorable yellow lab puppy of 16 weeks. she is the typical lab puppy – exuberant, friendly, bouncy. like most lab puppies, she jumps on friends/guests/loved ones, in order to get their attention.  ...

it makes sense that if one feels a dog is "dominating" them that they would respond with force, and fear tactics in handling them.  it's human nature.  if our survival is at stake, we fight (in general).  the problem...