DOG OWNERSHIP

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…

If your dog is afraid to get in the car, its easy to leave her home when you go grocery shopping or drive to the post office. But what about, say, an hour-long ride to a friends house where youll be staying all day if you dont want to leave your dog home alone for so many hours? Or an overnight several hours away? …

While you can easily take your small dog on a flight (for a fee), larger pets must be crated and tucked away far from you in an unpleasant space with other crated animals. Is it advised?

News tends to come in cycles, and this past winter was no exception when Brian Williams reported on NBC Nightly News that black dogs are euthanized at a much higher rate than other dogs because they are less likely to be adopted due to their color. Its not the first time the terrible plight of black dogs hit major media. The thing is, is it true? Are black dogs more likely to languish in…

Its commonly said that black dogs are the ones left behind in shelters, the ones overwhelmingly euthanized. Theres even a name for it: Black Dog Syndrome. But are the anecdotal reports born out by the scientific evidence?

Youve got a last-minute business trip, and your usual dog sitter isnt available. Or youve been using the same boarding facility for a while now but havent been completely satisfied and want to check out new options - yet dont know where to begin. Or youll be traveling with your pet and want to book from a choice of dog-friendly hotels in the city youre visiting. Now you can find all of that and…

We were going on a trip over the holidays, says Nicole Uhlenkott, and my brother-in-law was supposed to watch our dog but unfortunately got ill and had to cancel. It was then that the Uhlenkotts decided to board their 2-year-old yellow Lab, Lucca. We live in San Diego, but my whole familys in the Bay area around San Francisco, Mrs. Uhlenkott explains. The Uhlenkotts did not want to put Lucca through the long car ride.…

Its early in the morning of New Years Day, but Jacky Eckard, president of Safe Harbor Lab Rescue in Golden, Colorado, is already at work. We have a dog that was surrendered the day before yesterday, she says, and was brought in to be spayed, so Ill be picking her up and taking her out to her foster home where shell remain until she gets adopted. Ill also be working with some of our…

Unplanned litters are the main source of pet overpopulation, according to PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin Program (petsmartcharities.org/rescue-waggin). Imagine if every person living in New York City was actually a dog or cat, says the organization, which partners with literally thousands of adoption groups across the country to help homeless animals get adopted. Thats about the number of pets that will end up in shelters in North America this year. Of those 8 million pets, half…