Back in 2015, when my springer spaniel, Cassie, was tripping frequently, my veterinarian recommended that I have her step over poles to remind her to pick up her paws. Little did I know we were actually doing cavaletti. Cavaletti was borrowed from horse trainers in order to train dogs to learn to master body positioning. … Read more
Female dogs, especially spayed ones aren’t supposed to mount other dogs, are they? Well, some do. My first two females didn’t, and I enjoyed having a sexless dog that didn’t embarrass me by humping my leg, or a toy, or another dog. Then my third female, a springer named Cassie, liked to hump. What was … Read more
Buffy, my ten-year-old cocker spaniel hates rain more than anything else. I’ll open the door and she’ll stick her nose out and then back up. “No way,” she seems to be saying. “I can hold it. I don’t have to go potty.” Does your dog act like this? Does she act more lethargic and not … Read more
Does your dog prefer being outdoors, even when the weather is cold, or rainy, or even snowing? Do you have to insist that he come inside, and then watch him stand by the door, anxious to go out again? Your dog may not even be an outside breed, like a husky, but a cocker spaniel … Read more
Walk into any pet store and you’ll see aisle after aisle of dog food, most of it dry, some canned, some dehydrated, and maybe there is a freezer of raw food. Every package claims to be the best for your pet; low calorie, grain-free, high protein—it’s enough to make your head hurt and just grab … Read more
Do you have pet insurance? I haven’t had pet insurance for two decades—it seemed to bring me bad luck. My first dog was insured and she was killed by a snowmobile, and then my next dog jumped off a cliff the day her policy went into effect. That insurance paid for several surgeries, but then … Read more
Why do some dogs like to eat frozen poop? I’ll confess my cocker spaniels, Buffy and Chipper, used to eat poop, and not just the frozen kind—sometimes fresh out of the oven! I saw Chipper stand inches from Buffy’s butt while she stooped over, then he gobbled it up as soon as it hit the … Read more
