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.
Living with a big dog often requires a few adjustments.
Photo by By Calicodaisy – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dogs adapt well to unlikely situations—one reason they’ve put up with us for so long. But all dogs, big and small, can present different challenges at home. Living with a big dog in a small space, while it can be difficult, is not only possible but also potentially rewarding for a dog and his humans. Here are nine tips to make…
Read MoreFor the next post in our series, we will discuss one of my favorite ways to give Romi some mental and physical exercise. I find that working your dog’s mind and body every day (preferably in the morning) will help your dog . . .
Read MoreAs we found out in the previous post, “heel” is a great tool not only for establishing and maintaining control, but also to get some necessary exercise each day with your dog (ideally outside). Right now, we are all inside with our dogs more than usual, and . . .
Read MoreIn the last post, we discussed reading your dog’s behavior to help make life more productive for both of you. I know that Romi and I also seem to be a lot happier, and more productive, when we have gotten some fresh air and exercise outside. The challenge . . .
Read More
Dog breeds that can be left alone include Labrador Retrievers, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, and Corgis (Welsh and Pembroke varieties). These breeds tolerate being alone because their temperaments lean towards the laid-back side, provided they receive abundant exercise, play, and attention from their people during together time.
Read MoreThe best dog people are amazing at “reading” their dogs. They are tuned into their dogs’ behaviors and responses, the way their dogs react to direction, as well as to different situations. They are good at picking up on the cues that indicate their dog has . . .
Read More
Yes. Weather—including rain and snow, temperature fluctuations, and changes in barometric pressure—can affect dog behavior. It’s similar to the effect weather can have on your own mood and energy. You’re likely peppier on sunny spring days, while on a cold, grey, rainy day you may feel more interested in a movie marathon on the couch. Read on to learn how changing weather conditions change your best friend.
Read MorePlace training is simply teaching your dog to stay in a dedicated spot without being restrained in any way for an indefinite amount of time. The beauty of place training is that it builds right on top of the foundation laid with crate training. It also creates a . . .
Read More
We sat down with Emily Fromm, Chief Development Officer of The Petfinder Foundation, to ask her a question that’s simple enough at first glance but more complex once prospective . . .
Read More
Each year millions of companion animals enter shelters. Hundreds of thousands are currently in need of homes. Here’s the good news: pet overpopulation has slowed dramatically since the 1970s, when it’s estimated American animal shelters euthanized between 12 and 20 million cats and dogs every year. Compare that to today, when only three to four million animals must be euthanized annually. And here’s another telling fact: in the 1970s there were 67 million pets in American homes, and today there are more than 135 million. In other words, we invite far more animals into our families these days and euthanize far fewer, perhaps suggesting a paradigm shift in how we think about animal stewardship.
Read More
