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DOG OWNERSHIP

Humans, Not Dogs, Are the Fast Talkers

No matter what the language, people speak at a rate of about four syllables per second. Dogs, on the other hand, bark and woof...
He may or may not remember the moment, just like a person. But he’ll remember the love.

A genetic component to 
loving dogs?

Q: My sister and I grew up with dogs, and I absolutely adore them, but she does not. Our  parents love animals, especially dogs, and showed us by example how much you can get out of a great relationship with a dog. I should point out that my sister never had a scary experience with an aggressive dog. So why that difference?
Summer Westervelt
Pacific Palisades, California

You Want to Rent the Apartment, But the Lease Says ‘No Pets Allowed’

You’ve found a wonderful place to live, and though the lease says “No pets allowed,” you’ve been back to the apartment building a few times and have seen another renter walking their dog on the grounds. You’ve even seen a dog in a window, so you figure it won’t be a problem—kind of like the dog owner’s equivalent of jaywalking. But it very well could.

Can You Take Your Dog on a Cruise?

Love going on vacation but hate leaving your dog at home? What about taking your pet on a cruise?

Ever Thought of Getting a Second Dog?

Most people prefer to have just one dog. Of the 65 million American households dogs live in, 87 percent of them live without other canines. And that’s absolutely fine. Those “singletons” generally have good lives, loved by their human family members and well taken care of. But if you’ve ever thought about getting a second dog for your pet, you may just want to take the leap—if you can afford it and have the energy to care for two canines.

On Politics and Pet Care

This year in particular, it seems, emotions are running high about political events here in the U.S. as well as about conflicts in other regions of the globe. And sometimes those emotions spill over into discourse that might not be relevant or appropriate to a partic-
ular setting.

Dogs: The Ultimate Diplomats

Your dog won’t “come” fast enough. In fact, the louder you yell, the more slowly he walks toward you. Why is he being so...

Telemedicine for Fido, or In-Person Care?

The COVID pandemic led to more Zooming and FaceTiming, including for veterinary care. And it may be easy to assume that most people have...

But Wasn’t the Dog Dumped Because He Didn’t Make a Good Pet?

People often think that if a dog has wound up at a shelter after living in someone else’s home, it’s because he didn’t make...

How You, Personally, Can Get More Shelter Dogs Adopted

Taking a shelter dog for an outing of just a few hours or fostering the animal for a night or two significantly increases the...

Dear Doctor February 2024

Walk the dog before or after meals? Q: At my local animal shelter, there has been some back-and-forth as far as whether to feed the...

Talking to a child about a pet’s death

Q: We are going to have to put down our dog very soon. We have two children, ages four and six. How do we...