DOG OWNERSHIP

I cant tell you how many people come in with shock collars and prong collars and dont feel good about themselves, says Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, who helps owners and their dogs with comportment issues at the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic. They know theyre creating fear, she says, not respect and love. It hurts at both ends of the leash. You get a dog for a strong bond, but shocking or digging prongs of metal into your pet is not compatible with creating a strong bond. Choke and prong collars can actually do tissue damage, she adds.

White boxers and certain other completely white dogs suffer increased rates of deafness. The two go hand in hand. It has to do with the lack of migration of pigment cells during a particular time in fetal development. People with a condition called Waardenburg syndrome have the same problem. Scientists find the genes responsible for diseases like Waardenburg syndrome by looking for genetic differences between healthy and sick individuals. Its much easier to locate the errant genes in dogs than in people because dogs from a single breed, like Boxers, are so much more closely related genetically than a group of people.

Who determines the top eight dog-friendly places to take your pet when the family needs some R&R? You do, along with thousands of other followers of GoPetFriendly.com, a terrific website for people who want to travel with their dogs and are looking for the skinny on hotels, dog-friendly restaurants, parks, beaches, and other recreational areas as they make their plans.

The eight top dog-friendly travel destinations of the year, according to the users of GoPetFriendly.com.

When my son, John, was eight, he started lobbying for a shiba inu. Why he had set his sights on that off-the-beaten-path breed my wife and I couldnt understand. No matter. We already had a dog, Franklin the border collie, which by anyones account was like having two dogs.

Some dogs love the water, and few things look as adorable as a happy pet doing the doggie paddle in the backyard pool while the kids careen down the slide. But, contrary to popular belief, not all dogs are competent swimmers.

Dr. Dodman isnt the only one who has noticed the dog/owner resemblance thing. Sociologist Gini Graham Scott, PhD, even wrote a book about it, called, aptly enough, Do You Look Like Your Dog? She originally got the idea for it when she was at a dog show and observed dogs and their owners sitting next to each other.

Back in February we told you about Gracie, the Bassett hound who moved in with Florida residents Beth and Mike Phillips after a very rough six years in a breeding mill, where she was at turns neglected and abused. As you may recall, Gracie bonded with Beth Phillips immediately but was scared to death of her husband, a gentle giant of six feet four inches who tried everything - ignoring Gracie so she wouldnt…

A lot of dog owners dont like to consider anti-anxiety medication for a dog whos so stressed she cant calm down enough to bond. They envision some kind of canine Valley of the Dolls, perhaps. But sometimes, when all else fails, medication might allow for a breakthrough. Remember, we cant talk to dogs. We cant go with them to family therapy where they explain their fears and we then reassure them that we didnt mean…

Heated towels scented with soothing aromas. Calming music piped in through speakers. Tender handling. Carefully kept records of likes and dislikes, the way a bartender might remember a patrons favorite drink. No, its not a spa. Its the new trend in veterinary offices. Childrens hospitals now have huge aquariums in the lobby, walls covered with colorful murals, soft chairs, and televisions with all the best and latest DVDs for kids, making those facilities a lot…

There were two types of dog I wanted desperately as a kid. One was a rough collie (just try telling me that Timmy Olson wasnt the luckiest boy in the world) and one was a cocker spaniel. My apartment complex in New York City didnt allow dogs, but my Aunt Susan and Uncle Morey lived in an elegant, canopied building with a doorman on Manhattans upper east side. There, apparently anyone could have any…

Whether youre looking for a playgroup, rubber booties, or an interactive game for your dog, or perhaps even looking for your dog himself, theres a mobile app for that - and so much more. Even better is that many of the apps that make life better for your canine companion can be downloaded to your iphone or Android phone for free or, at most, a few bucks. Below is a sampling of some of…