Before I get started, finish this sentence. Touch is_______________________________________.

Our species, humans, answer this question with lots of descriptive terms.

Touch is; comforting, tender, intimate, connecting, healing, gentle, important.

 Why then, do humans expect touch to be different for other species?

Why is pushing, pulling, jerking, popping, smacking,choking, hitting, kicking, forcefull, painfull, scary- not associated with our understanding of the term  touch, but still perfectly acceptable in animal training?

It's that time of year when block parties and street festivals are happening almost every weekend. Dog lovers are out and about enjoying all the fun summer activities with their canine companions. Here are some things that need to be considered BEFORE heading out with Fido.

Is the event pet friendly?

 Yes, people bring dogs with them to places that don't allow dogs. Know before you go!

2011 Barktoberfest, our first ever costume party and fund raiser event did not go as planned. Who knew that we would get a blizzard and several inches of snow on a Saturday in October?!

Still, some AMAZING people showed up with their Amazing dogs!

Together, we've collected more than $100.00 and two bins of food, both human and pet food items.

This all came from 7 people!

Checks are still arriving in the mail and the support from my clients, friends and the community at large has been overwhelming.

 I understand why folks are reluctant to do any crate training with their dogs. Dogs are not birds and keeping them in a cage might seem cruel. So, Why do I recommend crate training? I am after all a positive trainer, right? Aren't crates a place to put the dog in jail?

Lets take a minute to look at all the situations where a dog might need to be "crated" or otherwise confined.

The dog that goes to the groomer. Yes, they have drying cages!

Have you ever been to the zoo and watched a Polar Bear playing with a ball in his pool? Have you ever seen a Tiger cub ripping up a pumpkin? That's enrichment!

With thunderstorm season upon us, I have been reading many articles about noise phobia in dogs,. It seems everyone has an opinion about how to deal with a thunder phobic dog.

Some folks will recommend flooding techniques, playing a tape of thunderstorms while simultaniously feeding or playing with your dog, gradually increasing the volume, so that the dog will  supposedly, learn to associate the sound with something positive.

So you are having or just had a baby? Great! Congratulations!

You think it's a good time to get a puppy, so they can grow up together?

You have a  2,3,4,5 year old child? How nice!

You want him/her to grow up with dogs and not be afraid of them

Thinking about getting a puppy as a gift for your child, because

he/she REALLY wants one this year? There is the cutest puppy at the pet store/breeder/online.

 The pet food industry is a multi million dollars business and we all know how many choices are out there of things to feed our furry family members. Lately there have been so many recalls, 3 so far from Proctor & Gamble this year! A recent study showed that children are more likely to pick up Salmonella from touching pet food dishes, then from actually eating contaminated foods.

Working at the Animal Hospital, we get the latest news about these things directly from the FDA and it's terrifying!