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
Have you really looked at your dog’s nose? A stupid question you might think. But I just read something that made me look back at old photos to check. I read this quote on Barkhow.com , “It is genetically impossible for a liver dog to have a black nose.” I’ve owned two liver and white … 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
Taffy, my sister’s 16-year-old cocker spaniel had several bumps around her mouth. Her vet said they were just warts and would go away on their own. But they didn’t. They got bigger and became bloody when she bumped them. Then Taffy would shake and blood spattered the walls, floor, and furniture. My sister didn’t want … 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
Has your dog’s personality changed over time? I’m not just meaning the usual old age grumpiness, or the middle-aged mellowing, but a drastic change in personality. My cocker spaniel, Buffy, used to be a real b…. She’d attack her brother, Chipper, anytime she felt slighted or frustrated. Buffy was so mean toward Chipper that she … Read more
Anyone who’s owned an older dog knows that feeling of panic when they pet their dog and find a lump. Is it cancer or just a fatty tumor? We try to feel if it’s isolated or connected, hard or soft. Every time we pet the dog we feel for it, trying to gauge if it’s … Read more
Some dogs just seem to have a dramatic effect on us, much more than any of our other dogs—a heart dog –one that bonds with you deeply. If you’ve ever had a heart dog, you know it – they bond to your soul. I’ve been very fortunate to have owned two heart dogs, both springer … Read more
