DOG OWNERSHIP

If You Die Before Your Dog

Because dogs live an average of 10 to 15 years, and our lifespan averages closer to 80, we don’t generally expect to go first....

Dear Doctor: September 2022

But why was the older dog left at the shelter? Q: My wife and I like the idea of adopting an older dog who might...

Dear Doctor: August 2022

But which raw diet? Q: I have several dogs and usually feed them dry kibble in the morning and a brand of dehydrated food cooked...

Big dogs, big dreams

There’s a correlation between the size of a dog and his sleep, says psychologist and dog researcher Stanley Coren, PhD. The bigger the dog,...
A dog left alone in a foreclosed home can become aggressive when finally approached.

Dogs Left in Foreclosed Homes

When people can no longer pay their mortgage and lose their home as a result, they sometimes cannot take their dog with them and...

Does a Dog in the Bed Enhance or Diminish Sleep Quality?

Science would tell you that having a dog in the bed with you will interfere with a solid night’s sleep. Research on two dozen...

Rx For Pain Reduction in Hospital Emergency Rooms: Dogs

Pain is the reason for 80 percent of all visits to hospital emergency rooms, yet conditions in emergency room departments can actually contribute to...

Rx for Disaster: A Small Dog in the Backyard — Without You There to...

More than half of all pet dogs in the United States weigh fewer than 25 pounds, and the trend appears to be edging downward,...

Norway Bans the Breeding of Two Popular Dog Breeds, Citing Severe Health Problems

Norway has banned the breeding of English bulldogs and cavalier King Charles spaniels, both among the most popular dog breeds. The ban came in...

What Not to Say to Someone 
Who Has Lost a Dog

Which of the following things should you not say to someone whose beloved dog has died? A) He’s not suffering anymore. B) At least you got...

Online Dog Videos Not So Funny

Some online videos involving dogs are so obviously and gratuitously cruel that a lawsuit has even been filed against one social media video giant...
Kim Charlson and her guide dog, Idabelle.

Dear Doctor: How guide dogs do their work

Q.  You said in a recent issue that guide dogs help blind people by remembering that a green light means go and a red...