You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

Frantic Frenetic Fido Can a Dog be too Friendly

christin On August 3, 2021 / Adopting a Dog, You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

Frantic, Frenetic Fido (Can a dog be too friendly?) By Fran Menley The highly reactive dog that is overly friendly, scared, or angry dog all share a common problem: The uncontrollable, friendly dog that is barking, whining, jumping, and/or mouthing when greeting people or dogs, and the dog that is growling, barking, lunging, and even biting at others, have similar traits. The overly excited dog, the fearful dog, and the angry dog can all be dangerous to others. At times, the overly excited dog can be more dangerous since the person with that dog will often allow their dog to jump on, claw, scratch, and yes, even nip and bite, because they are doing it out of “friendliness” perspective. “Oh, Fido is just so friendly!” Pet handlers with frightened dogs or angry dogs usually will avoid people and are not going to allow that interaction in most cases. What is

Ditch Your Retractable Leash

christin On April 10, 2020 / Adopting a Dog, You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

Ditch Your Retractable Leash Ditch Your Retractable Leash! Here’s Why. You see them everywhere, retractable leashes for dogs. But just because they are popular with many dog owners, should you use one with your dog? Retractable Leashes: The Beginning According to Slate.com, the first patent for an adjustable leash (called a “leading device”) was granted in 1908 to Manhattan inventor, Mary A Delaney. Interestingly, the patent reveals, “the invention is particularly designed for ladies … to take the place of the present inconvenient leading device or leash.” But it wasn’t until the 1970s where the idea began to gain traction with dog owners wanting to give their dogs greater freedom while still complying with leash laws. Retractable leashes (or “flexi leashes”) originally became popular with tracking or recall training in isolated areas where the chance of coming across another person, dog or distraction was very low while they still allowingRead more →

National Train Your Dog Month!

christin On February 4, 2020 / Adopting a Dog, You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

Welcome to National Train Your Dog Month! Image by Couleur from Pixabay Canines who are well-behaved with great social skills are a joy to include in our daily lives. Engaging in regular training with your dog allows access to a variety of day-to-day opportunities! In a nod to National Dog Training Month, (which we feel is EVERY month!) Fran Menley explains why on-going training with your dog is so good for your dog (and you!). Image by WilleeCole Photography from Shutterstock As mentioned in our last blog post, continuing your canine’s training is crucial to nurturing and reinforcing your bond with your dog, regardless if he’s a puppy or older dog. Dog Training is Never One and Done Dogs need more than just physical activity for their overall well-being. Dogs also need and enjoy the mental stimulation that comes from regular and consistent training; especially if you make it fun (wouldn’t you ratherRead more →

Does My Dog Really Feel Guilty?

christin On April 29, 2019 / Adopting a Dog, You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

Does My Dog Really Feel Guilty? Image by damita118 from Pixabay It’s got a really fancy term (anthropomorphism), but it simply means projecting human characteristics onto a non-human entity (i.e., your dog). Let’s be honest, we all do it, but is it really in the best interest of our canines? Image by Denis Doukhan from Pixabay Psychology Today defines anthropomorphism as attributing “human behavior to animals.” But, do our dogs really experience life in the same way humans do? Or is it merely a natural attempt to better understand, relate and bond with our K9s using our own perspective of intent, motivations and emotions? Does your dog really feel guilt or shame over getting into the garbage, eating your couch or favorite pair of shoes? Is your dog really angry with you and ignoring you as “payback?” Or are they simply taking their cues from us and naturally reacting?Read more →

How Dog DNA Tests Can Improve the Lives of Our Pets

christin On April 24, 2019 / Adopting a Dog, You May Be Wrong but You May Be Right! Myths and other stuff.

How Dog DNA Tests Can Improve the Lives of Our Pets Muttly Mysteries: How Dog DNA Tests Can Improve the Lives of Our Pets If you own a mixed breed pup, you know that small talk at the dog park inevitably leads to breed speculation-- everyone offering their two cents. Maybe you’re the type to stick to your best, well-researched theory-- “we’re convinced she’s a swedish vallhund-polish lowland sheepdog mix…” or maybe you are content to shrug your shoulders because “who knows, he’s just a lovable mutt!” April 25th is National DNA Day-- honoring the discovery of the double helix in 1953-- so we’re celebrating by taking a closer look at canine genetics and how they may help us improve the lives of our pets. Deciphering your pup’s origin story is a fun and interesting way to understand their behavior, their needs, and their health. Even if your dog looksRead more →