You celebrate your furry best friend 365 days a year, but on a few special canine-inspired holidays, dogs of all stripes (and spots and patches) get an extra dash of love and appreciation.
Read MoreDogs
The Orvis Dog Blog features informative posts on wide-ranging topics, including canine health, behavior and training, and the products your dog needs. Learn more about the Orvis-Morris Animal Foundation Canine Cancer Campaign, and our work supporting Petfinder Foundation’s dog rescue efforts.
Off-Leash Dog Training: A How-To Guide to Getting Started and Gearing Up
Off-leash dog training is a challenging undertaking and a serious responsibility. When your dog is off leash, you don’t have the same level of control as you do when she’s on leash. The risk of her running off is higher, and you can’t keep her close by your side when you encounter other people, dogs, or wild animals.
Read MoreHow to Exercise Your Dog Inside
It’s possible to exercise your dog inside—even in an apartment—if you remember you can work his body, brain, and nose.
All three types of exercise are useful: A good bout of physical exercise tires muscles and fires endorphins. Exercise the body whenever possible, and your dog will thank you. But if your dog is recovering from surgery, suffering from arthritis, or otherwise can’t get in his workout, don’t despair. Working his brain will also wear him out, and you can have plenty of fun doing it. Finally, nose work is often right in a dog’s area of expertise. If your dog’s hobbies include sniffing, let him stay busy doing what he loves.
Read MoreHow to Care for Your Dog’s Paws
Unlike human feet, dog paws are often exposed outdoors—they walk and run over rough concrete, cavort in the rain, and trot over snow and ice. Even though dog paws are tough, they require regular care and attention. Unfortunately, the task of protecting and caring for dog paws is often pushed down the canine to-do list along with dog dental care—another essential owner responsibility that frequently gets short shrift.
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Dog Safe Around Water
There are ways you can help your pup enjoy playing in the water without worry.
Photo by David, New York
On the river, by the ocean, at the lakehouse, or on the boat: Dogs love to join us everywhere we go. How can you ensure your dog’s safety while swimming or boating? Not every dog is a natural swimmer. And there are hazards for dogs who swim or spend time near the water. Protect your dog with these water safety tips.
Read MoreVideo Tips: How to Hike with Your Dog
If you have a dog who needs regular exercise, hiking is a great way to both experience the wonders of nature and let your pooch stretch his or her legs. Orvis’s Kyle Metarko and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Cooper, love to trek through the woods of . . .
Read MoreFashionable Dog Breeds: What Happens When Dogs Become Trendy?
When a certain dog breed takes center stage in popular culture, chances are you’ll notice more of that breed around your city or town. Unfortunately, there’s another place you’ll find large numbers of fashionable breeds—your local shelter.
Read MoreWhy Does a Wet Dog Smell Bad—And What Can I Do About It?
The secret to the wet-dog smell is the microorganisms (little yeast and bacteria) that live on your dog’s skin.
On a healthy dog, the microorganisms are nothing to worry about. All dogs have ’em. But as they go about their normal lives, these micro-critters produce, ahem, micro-excreta. Yep: teensy little yeast poops—molecules that scientists call volatile organic compounds.
Read More21 Rare Dog Breeds You’ve Never Heard Of
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a versatile hunting dog.
Photo via Wikipedia. Noveczki Katalin.
Where most dogs elicit smiles from passersby, rare dog breeds evoke wonder, curiosity, and many a “what kind of dog is that?” If you get one of these 21 awesome and unusual dog breeds, be forewarned—the questions and comments won’t end.
Read MoreWhen Is It Time to Surrender Your Dog?
Samson, the giant Great Dane-Newfoundland crossbreed said to be Britain’sbiggest dog, needs surgery on his injured foot, but his owners are on fixed
incomes. Does this make them unfit to keep Samson?photo via the Daily mail
You want only the best for your best friend—always. But what happens when the best thing for your dog is parting ways with you? The choice to surrender a dog isn’t an easy one and should never be taken lightly. Often it’s heart-wrenching. But in certain circumstances, it’s the right call.
Read More