To what extent would you go to so your dog could see people walking by in the park?
Instead of installing a different fence so his dog could see people and dogs in the park, my neighbor built a tower for his dog Jake.
Jake’s Tower
Beware of Spring Fever
The first nice days of spring have finally arrived after weeks of cold and rain. But this time of year always makes me wary for pets, especially dogs. Back when I was a young teen, on one of the first warm days in early May, my dad took our 7-month-old mixed breed puppy Rexy for a long walk. He had let him run lose to get some exercise, but the skittish dog saw some people and ran into a busy street—getting run over by a car.
Is your Dog a Ball Dog?
About half of my dogs have loved chasing tennis balls. I love to hit the ball with a baseball bat to make the ball go faster and to test my skill at hitting it with one arm. This post is dedicated to some of the ball dogs in my life, both living and not (including my mom).
Am I Overpaying my Dog Sitter?
I’ve been paying 2010 prices and hiring friends or relatives. The pet-sitting market has changed dramatically since then—prices have decreased and services have increased.
But what do you really want in a dog sitter?
Chipper’s External Brain
When Chipper was a young puppy he developed double pneumonia. My mom nursed him back to health, but he always seemed mentally slow, probably because his body fought off the sickness instead of developing. He needs his little sister, Buffy, to tell him what to do. Although Cocker Spaniels are not known to be smart dogs, Chipper seems especially dumb, even for a Cocker. But he makes me laugh – a lot!
Thunder Dog – The True Story of a Blind Man, his Guide Dog & the Triumph of Trust – A Book Review
Few of us know what it’s like to be blind or even know a blind person. Just imagine being blind in today’s world, the challenges, but also the advantages provided by technology, and more acceptance of guide dogs by the public.
Blind people today can do almost anything if they are willing to try, and Michael Hingson tried everything.
The Dog Year—A Book Review
I met Ann Garvin when she gave an enthusiastic and funny keynote address at the UW Madison Writer’s Institute in 2015. As an exercise physiology nurse turned novelist, her stories intrigued me with her sense of humor. Her book, The Dog Year, grabbed my heart and eyes with a photo of a dog on the cover. I met Ann again a year later at the Chicago Writer’s Conference, where she gave me pointers on how to pitch an agent for the book I am currently writing.
The Dog Year is not directly about dogs but uses them as ancillary characters to help Dr. Lucy Peterman and her friends heal from various emotional traumas. Dogs are great therapists, which Lucy discovered after she decided to keep an abandoned d
Celebrating Snow – or Not
Does your dog love snow? Or hate it? Up in northeastern Illinois, we received about a foot of snow last night, after two months of not having any. My cockers hate it, and Buffy wouldn’t go out this morning until I shoveled. She tends to pee right outside the door unless I shovel a path in the yard.
Would You Buy a GPS Tracker for Your Dog?
I definitely would if I had a young dog. Currently my two older cockers barely leave my side. They’re Velcro dogs. A young dog is more likely to wander. But even with an older dog, who knows what goes through their heads when they see, or smell an opportunity?
