Whether you live in the icy high latitudes or just love the snow the few times a year your region sees it, having a dog who thrives in the snow is a nice bonus. The best dog breeds for cold weather may not all look alike, and some may surprise you, but we looked at a variety of factors in order to narrow down a list. Some of these breeds are obvious snow dogs, while others you may not consider snow dogs but will enjoy winters just as much as…
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Not long after the winter season’s first frost, comes the dry, itchy skin—for people and their dogs. Although it is possible for your dog to get fleas and mange in the winter, there are a variety of more common reasons your dog is scratching more than usual from December through March. It’s most likely that your dog is itchy in the winter because their skin dries out in the drier, colder air (like our own skin). Though you can’t slather moisturizing lotion on a thick coat of fur, there are other ways to help. Read on to learn why your dog often…
Read MoreMost dog owners are pretty aware of how human foods can adversely affect dogs, but sometimes our resolve slips around the holidays. Add to this that our guests may want to give the dog a . . .
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Like people, dogs grow on their own schedules. Each dog’s schedule is determined by his genetics, health, and nutrition. A pup destined to be small might be done at 6 months, while a large dog might grow for two years. And some dog parts grow (or regrow) throughout…
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Depending on your point of view, one of the most endearing—or off-putting—features of a dog is his tongue. Everpresent, busy, and often intrusive, a dog’s tongue can also be one of his most defining characteristics. Most of us have either owned or have been acquainted with a dog who insists on greeting us by planting slobbery ‘kisses’ on our hands and faces, or licking us incessantly to get our attention. And while it is commonly accepted wisdom that dog mouths are cleaner than human mouths, does this mean they can lick us with abandon, and without any negative health…
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Owning a dog makes life a good measure happier—and messier. Constant fur to vacuum, muddy paws to manage, and full-body fur shakes after rainy walks. But the slimiest canine mess is the dreaded dog drool puddle. Your dog puts your devotion to the test when you sit on a drool-soaked couch cushion, or slide across the hardwood floor on a patch of slobber. The good news is, even if your best friend is a copious drooler, it’s possible…
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This is the time of year when my dog loves to run through the tall grass in the field next to our home…which means it’s high time for ticks. These tenacious little arachnids carry any number of diseases—from Lyme disease to ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever—and your dog is not the only one in danger. Dogs often bring ticks into the house, where they may find their way onto…
Read MoreIn case you missed our Facebook Live conversation last week, here’s a video of our talk with Dr. Bo Bergman–of West Mountain Animal Hospital in Bennington, Vermont–about summertime health issues for dogs. As . . .
Read MoreMeeting a stray dog brings you to a crossroads of sorts. The choices you make in the next few minutes, days, and weeks could be no less than life-changing—for you and the wayward furry fellow. In 2018, animal shelters, animal control agencies, and rescues in America took in 1.7 million stray animals, with a Return to Owner rate of only 37.1 percent…
Read MoreExercise recommendations for dogs range between 30 minutes and two hours of moderate to high-intensity activity daily. The time and intensity vary so widely because different dog breeds have distinct exercise needs. Some breeds are natural athletes with an abundance of energy to burn throughout the day. Others take life at a slower pace…
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