The Sport of Dog Agility

dog agility

Dogs can be athletes too. In dog agility competitions, dogs negotiate obstacles while following their handlers’ directions. Judges award points for speed and accuracy, and they hand out fault points for mistakes on the course. Dogs gain skills, confidence, and an increased fitness level while playing in a giant doggie playground. Dog agility is for […]

Do-it-Yourself Dog Grooming

Dog grooming

Should you take your dog to a professional dog groomer, or should you groom your dog yourself? Depending on your dog’s needs, the answer might be to do both. If you take your dog to a professional dog groomer, you can groom him yourself between appointments. And if your dog’s coat doesn’t require the care […]

Why Cats Scratch

Cat Scratching

Cats. They’re endlessly amusing, warm and cuddly, delightfully playful, independent and aloof, and… destructive. Our feline companions seem to have a knack for shredding upholstery, drapes, and rugs to ribbons, regardless of their owner’s feelings on the matter. Though some people believe their scratching is done out of spite or poor manners, this frustrating behavior […]

How to care for senior cats

Their gait slows down. Their weight goes down, or up. They can’t take care of themselves as well, and chances are that they’ll develop at least one health condition that senior cats are prone to. Senior cats require more care from us than they did when they were younger. We can do a lot to […]

Cats and Stress – How to deal with a stressed cat

Scared cat

She might become aggressive or withdrawn. Perhaps she is restless or more emotionally needy. Some cats under stress mark their territory more by scratching, spraying, or urinating or defecating in inappropriate places. They may become more vocal, hide, spend more time outdoors or indoors, lose interest in food, groom themselves excessively, or even mutilate themselves.

Dogs and Skunks

Skunk

You and your dog are out on your daily walk, or perhaps your dog is in your back yard. Suddenly, he dashes toward the bushes or the garbage cans, and just as suddenly, he yelps. You almost yelp too when you realize that your dog has been sprayed by a skulking skunk.

Now what?