When the Pica Gets Out of Hand
Thin rubber gloves, the plastic bag the newspaper is delivered in, a piece of fabric, the rubber gasket on a Yeti drink holder…. These...
Words Can Harm Your Dog
You know the jingle, “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words can never harm me.” It doesn’t apply when it comes to...
Dear Doctor: A look that can’t be denied
Q. My dog has a way of looking at me ever so sweetly — kind of intensely and warmly, and perhaps slightly pleadingly —...
Won’t Perform For Food
If you have a Labrador retriever you can skip this article. There is nothing a Lab won’t do for a morsel of food. That’s...
When the Licking Won’t Stop
You can’t get your dog to stop licking herself. Or perhaps she can’t stop licking you, or inanimate surfaces such as the floor or...
Why Chewing Sticks Is a Bad Idea
We’ve all seen dogs who are perennial stick chewers. No sooner do they get outside than they pick up a stick and start chomping...
Dear Doctor: Shake-Out
Q. My dog does a full-body shake-out several times throughout the day. Could it be a sign of a neurological problem?
Maye Oliver
Los Gatos, California
A....
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
For some dogs it’s tail chasing to the point of exhaustion. For others, it’s continuous licking of the lower legs and feet — so...
Stopping an Undesirable Behavior
Has your dog ever gone faster than you wanted, tugging vigorously enough on the leash that it’s annoying — or even a bit dangerous?...
Help Wanted: Whale Poop Sniffers (Will Train)
You already know that dogs have an amazing ability to sniff out everything from explosives to an oncoming seizure in a human companion. But...
Dear Doctor: Lip Licking
Q. I’ve noticed my dog licks his lips whenever a stranger walks nearby. Is there a connection, or is it just a coincidence?
Bunky Le...
Fear of Inanimate Things
We have good news for you. If your dog is afraid of something — the vacuum cleaner, slippery floors, car rides — you do...
