Dog handlers fail to correct their dogs with the right timing and intensity. They say “No!” with the wrong tone of voice (not seriously enough, or too aggressively). People yank on choke collars, grasp tight leashes and scream out reprimands as the dog tunes them out. I walked by one woman who had a leash-aggressive …
CATS
Why does my dog always scratch his collar? Dogs will purposely scratch themselves around the collar area in order to avoid doing something else. At first I thought this was something annoying my dog did, but lately I’ve noticed the behavior when observing other people and their dogs. This scratching behavior happens a lot during …
I was about to head out when my cat Scout ran across the room, dragged his butt across the carpet and left a streak mark. Not only that but he also left a turd on the floor at the end of the streak mark. My mutt Ace did not waste any time to run over …
I am nowhere near an expert on cats. I have no idea how to train them. I don’t think anyone does. But I love cats, and my two challenge me in ways my mutt Ace doesn’t. Cats are just so darn smart. Although I don’t believe all cats are smarter than all dogs, my two …
How to help dogs and cats get along Whether or not dogs and cats can get along depends entirely on the human. The human needs to be in control of the situation, and that means in control of the cat, too. Although some dog-cat combos will need supervision at all times, most dogs and cats …
We have to remember dogs are dogs, and we love them because they are dogs. Don’t mistake your dog’s thoughts and emotions for human experiences. Dogs and cats are very simple minded. We give our dogs way too much credit as far as intelligence. That goes right along with how we humanize our pets, thinking …
I don’t treat my pets the same. I live with three animals: my mutt Ace, my gray tabby cat Scout and Josh’s orange tabby Beamer. Josh and I have not reached the point in our relationship where the pets are “ours.” Instead, it’s my dog, my cat and his cat. We take advantage of this, …
For someone who always tells people not to let their dogs rule the house, I have to admit something. My cats totally rule mine. Or at least they think they do. When my gray tabby, Scout, wants something, he scratches my couch or slams my kitchen cupboards. Out of nowhere he casually lets his claws …
Today was my cat Scout’s third birthday. I spend so much time and energy worrying about Ace that Scout doesn’t always get the attention he needs.