Archive for 'Pet Parenting' Category
Pet Parenting: Does dog + guinea pig = bad idea?
Dear Denise, My daughter really wants a guinea pig, but we have an inside dog and I’m afraid he might want to eat the newest member of our family if we let her get one. Do you have any advice on how the two animals can get along peacefully or do you think it’s a [...]
Pet Parenting: Dog barks at doorbells
Dear Denise, Our dog is taking his “protect the house” duties a tad too seriously. He barks LOUDLY anytime there is a knock on the door or a doorbell. It’s a problem because we also have a newborn in the house who wakes up from a much-needed nap anytime the dog starts barking. We have [...]
Dog cologne: “Strong enough for a man, made for a Chihauhua”
I was at the Faithful Friends Animal Clinic in Rogers a couple of weeks ago to pick up a bag of prescription cat food that our high-maintenance cat Percy has to eat. While I was there, this little sign on the counter caught my eye: “Strong enough for a man, made for a Chihuahua.” With [...]
Pet Parenting: What is “clicker training”?
Dear Denise, We just adopted a new puppy and I’ve been reading a little about “clicker training”. How does clicker training work and do you think it’s effective? Can a dog of any age respond to clicker training? Dear Mama, Clicker training is AWESOME! I can’t say enough good things about it. It’s how I [...]
Pet Parenting: How to socialize a skittish puppy
Dear Denise, What’s the best way to socialize a puppy? Our new puppy seems so intimidated by other people and dogs, but we don’t want her to be skittish as an adult. The poor little things tucks her tail between her legs when anyone but us tries to pet her. What do you think we [...]
Pet Parenting: My dog chews everything!
Dear Denise, My dog is not a puppy anymore, but she chews like she is! What can I do to keep her from destroying shoes, electric cords and even my brand new throw pillow! I give her things to keep her mouth busy, but I’m obviously doing something wrong. Please advise. Thank you. Dear Mama: [...]
Pet Parenting: An itchy scratchy dog
Dear Denise, My dog is really itchy and I know it’s not fleas or ticks. She keeps leaving little presents of hair all over the house from when she scratches like crazy. Can dogs be allergic like people? Dear Mama: It does sound like your dog could have allergies, but it could also be a [...]
Pet Parenting: X marks the (potty) spot
Dear Denise, My inside dog has been housebroken for several years, but has started urinating in several particular spots lately (like my daughter’s bedroom floor — I’m going to have to pull up the carpet!). Why would she start doing this and how can I get her to stop? Dear Mama: Anytime there is a [...]
Pet Parenting: Depression in dogs?
Denise, Can dogs get depressed? My dog seems really lethargic and sad lately. Thanks. Dear Mama: Some people don’t believe dogs have feelings, but I’m not one of them. So, to answer your question, yes, dogs can get depressed. If there aren’t any discernable reasons for the depression (death/illness in the family- human or animal, [...]
Pet Parenting: Fur, fur everywhere!
Dear Denise, My dog is shedding like crazy. I could make a whole new dog out of the hair he’s leaving behind on my chairs, carpet, BED. Is there anything I can do to cut down on the shedding? Also, do you have any good ideas for getting the hair off everything in my house [...]
Pet Parenting: Best way to keep bugs off my pet?
Denise, It’s time to start putting gunk on my dog to keep the fleas and ticks away. Do you think it’s important to use the expensive stuff or can I get by with a store brand? Dear Mama: This is really a discussion you should have with your vet (what’s best for your pet in [...]
Pet Parenting: Best dog for a little boy?
Hello Denise, I would like your recommendation(s) for a pet for our family. Specifically, we would like to get our 6-year-old son a puppy; he is an only child. We want this to be our son’s dog and feel he is ready for the responsibility with some help from mom and dad. A couple of [...]
Pet Parenting: Child is scared of dogs
Dear Denise, My 6-year-old was bitten by a dog on the leg when she was younger. Now she’s really scared of dogs. It’s hard to convince her that not all dogs bite. What can I do? Dear Mama: This is really a ‘human behavior’ question not a dog one, but I’ll do my best. I’d [...]
Pet Parenting: Out in the cold
Dear Denise, We have outdoor dogs, but I worry about them when it starts to get cold. When should we bring them onto the sun porch for protection or do you have ideas for what we can do in their dog houses? Dear Mama: What and how you should handle cold weather depends on the [...]
Pet Parenting: Tips for traveling with tail-waggers
Dear Denise, This time of year we travel a lot and we like to bring our dogs along. The problem is one of them always throws up on long car trips and the other one gets really hyper. Do you have any ideas for calming them both? Dear Mama: Lots of people want to travel [...]
Pet Parenting: Helping dogs handle Halloween
Note from the Mamas: Denise, our faithful Pet Parenting expert, is in the running for a Pepsi Refresh grant that will allow her to offer professional pet training services to newly adopted animals. Her goal is to help ensure that the adoptions are successful and permanent. CLICK HERE to vote for Denise. You can vote [...]
Cute pet costumes!
If your dog likes to get in on the trick-or-treating action, we found a few hilarious dog costumes online. Click on the photos to get more info on how to order it.
Pet Parenting: Ankle biter
Dear Denise, Our newly adopted cat has started biting my kids on the ankles. She’ll rub up against them, then take a little bite. It’s not very hard, but it scares them. How can I teach her that’s not OK? Dear Mama: Ankle biting and ambushing is a pretty normal activity for a young [...]
Pet Parenting: New ‘Haute Dog’ Shop!
Molly Meredith is the owner of a brand new website just for canines: Haute Dog Inc. We asked her a few questions about how the business came to be and how the new online store is “giving back” to doggies who need it most. How long have you had the Haute Dog shop? a: Haute [...]
Pet Parenting: Pet Picassos
Gwen saw some info about the online business Pet Picassos at her vet the other day and shared it with her animal lovin’ biz partner. I clicked over to the website immediately and started nosing around, looking at all the pet portraits. Really, I’ve been wanting to order one of these portraits for my daughter [...]