Sherlock is a plump, affectionate tabby, the constant companion of a busy home-based professional. They share a big 3-story house with feline amenities that include lots of tall windows, bookshelves to climb, a litter box on every floor, two daily servings of wet food, and access to a walled garden his owner transformed into an […]
Winter’s short days and biting windchills tend to shrink a dog’s daily routine. Small and thin-haired breeds and senior dogs may be reluctant to go outside because of the cold. As for the rest, fewer walks, less outdoor play, and less time in the sun can lead to canine frustration, boredom, and a whole lot
Activities to Brighten Your Pet’s Winter Read More »
When Mattie was adopted, a veterinarian guesstimated her age at 6 months, predicting the rescued pup would weigh around 50 pounds as an adult. By the time we met, Mattie was 2 years old and 80 pounds of meltingly affectionate dog. I was hired to walk Mattie when the owner worked away from home because
Mrs. Murphy and Lopito lived in a 3-story house with so many windows and soft furnishings to choose from, they were seldom seen together on the same floor. The two black cats shared upholstered seating, windowsills, litter boxes, daily bowls of kibble, and a single female owner on separate timetables, but dining together in the
The Bumptious Binge Eater Read More »
Lily Grace heralded the unexpected arrival of her new pet sitter with all the big-dog attitude a five pound chihuahua could muster. She was deeply unsettled by the intrusion, stringing together dozens of ear piercing barks in the hope I would go away. Instead I stood near the door pretending to be deaf. The tiny
Pocket-Sized and Plucky Read More »
Is it safe to share the Thanksgiving feast with your pet? Nobody likes a holiday buzzkill. But our national food culture has changed — from viral food fads to the decline in cooking at home. More money is now spent at restaurants and bars than grocery stores while food marketers have aided and abetted America’s
Tips for a Food Safe Holiday With Your Pets Read More »
How to keep old toys ‘new’ and protect your cellphone. Your dog is running around the living room squeaking one of his favorite toys when you present him with a new one delivered to your door. It’s no contest. The new toy is now his favorite. Researchers the world over have taken an in-depth look
Why Do Dogs Get Bored With Their Toys? Read More »
In addition to modeling their mother’s behavior and incorporating her attitude, kittens also learn social manners and boundaries through interactions and playtime with siblings. But it is the father’s genetics that provide the blueprint for a kitten’s personality development. All of these inputs, along with early exploration, help kittens build self-confidence, including those produced by
What Shapes Kitten Personality? Read More »
Do dogs sweat? How do they sweat? What’s the point of panting? Does fur make dogs hot? By understanding how dogs control their body temperature, you can help your bestie stay cool and healthy. How dogs cool themselves Tips for keeping your dog cool
Hot Dogs: Tips for Cooling Canines Read More »
Peanut squirmed in her owner’s arms as she was carried from hiding to meet the new pet sitter. She was super shy with outsiders, always streaking into hiding when the door buzzer sounded. Yet her owner believed meeting new people would help Peanut become less afraid and what better way to get acquainted than from
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Dogs rely heavily on body language to communicate what they want, what they do not want, what their intentions are, and even their mood. It is also true our ability to read their body language is rather poor, in part, due to the dizzying diversity in canine form and structure. The kind of head shake
Dog Body Language: Head Shakes Read More »
This image was captured moments after Sam spun away from the hummingbirds on TV to zero in on a bird visiting a feeder his loving owner had mounted on the outside of a window. I thought Sam was merely distracted but it may have had more to do with what he perceived. I wondered what
How Does Home Technology Affect Your Pet? Read More »
