Frequently Asked Questions

A: This is a baking time a year for many, and holidays line up. It's tempting to give the pets some of our treats, but human foods and cookies aren't all that good for them. Better to make them something of their own. To make this recipe, you need: 2 cups wheat germ 3 jars of chicken baby food (check so it doesn't have onion) 1 tbsp water To make the cookies, you need to strain the baby food and mix it with wheat germ and water. Make balls of the dough, flatten the balls with a fork, and bake in 350 F in 20-25 minutes. Super easy, and dogs love them!  

A: There are many stories about dogs eating everything from stuffed toys to gravel. Some dogs never get into trouble, and others eat everything they can get a hold of. If your best friend falls into the latter category it's wise to dog-proof your home. If doggie can't get to something, he won't eat it. If your dog still manages to eat the remote control or something from the laundry pile, go see a vet. If your normal vet is closed, call the nearest emergency animal clinic and tell them what happened. Some objects will pass on their own, but others can create great damage. Many pet owners are tempted to wait and hope for the best - even if the dog ate something toxic - but it's not a wise course of action. Call a veterinarian. The more time that passes, the costlier it will be to fix the problem - and the more dangerous to your pet. Common signs that your dog ate something he shouldn't have include vomiting, gagging, stomach pain, lethargy, loss of appetite, changes in bowels, and changes in behavior.  

A: In yesterday's post, we mentioned five dog training tips. Here are five more that will hopefully make training and everyday life easier. 1. Have realistic expectations Changing a behavior takes time, especially if it's a deeply rooted habit that has been going on for a long time. Re-training an adult dog takes longer than teaching a puppy the first time. It is never too late to change a behavior, but some things will take longer than others. For example, if you've allowed your dog to jump up to greet people for five years,  but decide that the behavior isn't okay anymore, it will take a while to learn a new way of greeting. 2. Some behaviors are harder to change Barking, digging, and jumping are "normal" behavior for a dog, and these things will take longer to change even with diligent training than re-learning a trained behavior. Be patient and consistent. Barking, digging, and jumping are often considered problem behaviors. In order to teach a dog not to bark, it can be useful to teach him or her to bark on command first. If your dog loves to dig, it can help to give an allowed digging spot, like a doggy sandbox. If your dog jumps on people, try teaching a good "sit" and give the command "sit" before he actually jumps. 3. Watch what you reinforce The philosophy, "do as I say, not as I do" will not work on a dog. If you accidentally encourage an unwanted behavior, it will take a long time to "un-train" it. For example, your dog jumps on the door to make you open it. If you give in, the dog will know that jumping on the door makes it come open. Instead, make your dog sit before you open. It might not work at once, but dogs are smart and good at making connections. Another example is if your dog brings you a tennis ball and barks to make you throw it. If you throw the ball, the dog learns that barking makes you play. The next time he comes with the ball and barks you say no, but he keeps barking. If you throw the ball now, your clever pooch will know that persistence pays off. Ignore the barking and tell your dog to sit before you throw it. It is much easier to handle a dog who thinks sitting brings good things than one who knows that barking or jumping brings good things. 4. Rewards are good Many dog owners feel that using treats to train their dog is the same as bribing the dog. You don't have to use treats for training, but there's no harm in it if it helps you keep your dog's attention. Other good rewards are a toy, praise, and play. As long as the behavior you want produces the reward you're good. 5. Give new dogs and puppies limited freedom Limiting freedom to the house can sound harsh, but when you bring home a new puppy or a dog from a shelter, both your life and the dog's will be easier if you start with a small area and gradually open up your home. Let your new furry friend get used to the new place, the family, and your rules.

A: Sometimes nature calls and you can't do anything about it; if you gotta go, you gotta go. This was the dilemma faced by a service dog accompanying its handler on a plane from Los Angeles to Philadelphia last week. On a plane, humans can use the restroom, even if its small. Dogs don't have that luxury, and there's no outside to be had, so the dog did what it had to do in the middle of the aisle. The crew did the best they could to clean up the mess, but there is a limited amount of fresh air on planes. Passengers were soon turning to social media to complain about the stench. Then, just as everything seemed to settle down, the dog had to go again. By now the smell was so bad that sensitive passengers were throwing up, and the crew ran out of paper towels for cleaning up. The pilot made an executive decision and decided to land at the Kansas City International Airport. A cleaning crew went through the cabin, and the dog was finally able to take care of its needs outside.

A: Light is made up by a wide spectrum of colors. The spectrum humans can see goes from red to violet, like a rainbow. Other animals can see other wavelengths, and we know that bees, birds, fish, some reptiles, mice, and bats can see ultraviolet light. Going back to the rainbow, that would be light below the inner purple band where the human eye not perceives nothing. What we can see differs between species because of our different needs. A bee, for example, can pick up much more of the short wavelengths than humans, and they need this to see colors or patterns on plants that can lead them to nectar. Reindeer also see ultraviolet, and are believed to have developed this ability to discern polar bears and other threats that would otherwise blend in with the white snow. Our eyes block out the short-wave light to improve visual acuity. It's a trade-off where we sacrifice this part of the spectrum for higher resolution vision. We can see details better. The downside with that trade is that we see poorly in low-light situations. Recently, a group of researchers at City University of London compared sights of a large number of mammals and found that hedgehogs, dogs, cats, and ferrets all see a wider spectrum of ultraviolet wavelengths than we do. Now the question is; when a cat or dog goes crazy over nothing, do they see something we don't?

A: A dog's brain is a lot like a human's, and unfortunately this means that the same problems that affect the human brain can affect dogs. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is the canine equivalent of Alzheimer's, and around half of all dogs over the age of ten will exhibit symptoms. Don't panic - not all aging dogs will get the disease, and those who do get different symptoms than humans. You can also help decrease the risk through providing a healthy diet, mental stimulation, physical exercise, and plenty of human contact. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome may appeared disoriented in everyday situations. They may appear lost in the house or the yard, get stuck behind furniture, or have difficulty finding the door. These problems can also be caused by hearing loss or loss of vision. Other symptoms include sleeping more overall but less at night, and an increase in pacing back and forth. Some dogs become clingy and want human contact around the clock, while other leek less attention and walk away from their humans.  These behaviors can also be attributed to physical changes, so if your dog displays them, see a vet to get a proper diagnosis. If your dog gets the diagnosis, there is a drug used to battle Parkinson's disease in humans that can improve symptoms and give the dog a better quality of life.

A: Humans mirror other's behavior, usually without being aware of it. If we talk to someone and agree with what they're saying, we tend to mirror their stance. That is, if one person crosses their legs, the other is bound to follow. If one person rests their chin in their palm or crosses their arms, the other person will probably do the same. This is why yawns spread too. If one person in a group yawn, the urge to do the same thing is almost impossible to overcome. Dogs do this too. A 2013 study shows that dogs are likely to "catch" their owner's yawns. They're more likely to do it if it's a real yawn - they don't care as much about fake yawns, or about strangers doing it. People who score high on empathy tests are more likely to mirror others' behavior - and mirror  yawns - than people who aren't as empathetic. Scientists now think dogs' mirroring our behavior might prove their ability to empathize with us. Any dog lover might agree on their furry friend's ability to share our emotions, but society as a whole might soon have evidence.

A: Few things enrages animal lovers as much as dog fights and the events around them. Authorities agree with the public opinion - animal fighting should be stopped - but it has been difficult to do anything about it. It happens that arrangers of dog fighting have been caught and convicted, but up until now this has been an exception. It has been illegal to host dog fights, cock fights, or any other cruel pitting of beast against beast in the USA. Problem was that the arrangers would slip into the crowd and disappear at first sign of a raid. Is is now illegal to even attend an event like this. The new law is a part of the Farm Bill, recently signed by President Obama. It is now a federal crime to attend and/or bring a child to any animal fighting event. Spectator admission fees and gambling dollars have financed these spectacles of unnecessary violence, but if the profit disappears the incentive to host fighting events will disappear as well. Hopefully, this will lead to a decrease in dog and cock fighting events as well as a decrease of pets being stolen for use as bait dogs.

A: Cats are curious and sometimes act in ways that can drive humans crazy. They don't do it on purpose; being naughty just sort of happens. Here are answers to five frequently asked questions about cats. Q: Why does my cat push things down from my shelves? A: Cats are curious, and easily bored. Your cat probably wants something to do. Even if there's a plethora of cat toys around the house, they might have grown old and boring, and your kitty might want something new. Take time to play with your cat, and invest in some fresh toys. Q: Do cats wag their tails when they're happy? A: Cats aren't like dogs, and they normally don't wag their tails because they're happy. On the contrary, a cat swishing their tail indicates agitation. They wag their tails if they're annoyed or see something that doesn't please them. Not the best time to pet the cat! Q: If a cat sleeps on a person's lap, does that mean they like the person? A: Yes. Sleeping makes a cat vulnerable, and sleeping on your lap means that you are trusted. As a bonus, your lap is probably warm and comfortable. Q: Do cats really have a great sense of direction? A: Some cats do, and can find their way across amazing distances. Don't rely on it. Keep a collar on your cat with a tag, and microchip your feline friend. The outdoors can be intriguing and overwhelming for indoor kitties getting out, and even the most experience outdoor cat can get into trouble. Q: Why does my cat bite me? A: Cats bite for a lot of reasons. It might be because of play aggression or over stimulation, but also a way of saying, "Stop that." Think about what you're doing when your cat bites you.

A: As a dog owner, training is both fun, necessary, and a responsibility and here in dog training tips 1 we will explore some of the basics. Dogs generally want to please their humans, but they aren't born with general knowledge of how to behave, so we have to teach them.  Whether you want to teach your dog basic obedience, to do tricks, or to use a dog door, the training process will be easier if you know the basics. We've collected some training tips, and here are one through five. Come back tomorrow for five more! 1. Learn to listen to your dog This might sound like a strange tip - the article is supposed to be about dog training and not human training - but learning to listen and understand the dog sets the foundation for everything else. Paying attention to dogs helps us learn their body language, and you will soon know exactly what your dog wants or feels. 2. Be generous with affection We're usually pretty quick to say no, or scold the dog when something goes wrong, and less prone to give praise when things are right. Give your dog lots of affection and attention when he or she does the right thing. It's okay to be over the top - it makes your dog feel that sitting, staying, coming, whatever it might be was a really good thing that's worth the effort of doing again. 3. Figure out what your dog likes When you're training your dog it helps to have a reward they really like. This is often a treat, but can also be a toy, or your affection. When it comes to treats, most dogs prefer soft, chewy, and smelly treats over hard and crunchy treats. If you find something your dog really loves, training will be a breeze. 4. Be clear about what you want Humans generalize well, but dogs don't. This often leads to a clash when we say "no" and think it's perfectly clear that no means "stop jumping," or "get off the sofa." A dog can draw the conclusion that no means "jump higher" or "lie down instead of sitting." You will get better results if you tell the dog what you want him to do instead. For example, if the dog is jumping, making him sit will work better than just saying no. 5. Be consistent Your dog is learning how to handle the world, and being consistent helps. Some dogs are quite able to learn that "release" and "drop" mean the same thing, but it will be much easier for your dog to learn if everyone in the family uses the same command. Agree on family rules. Is the dog allowed in all rooms? Is the dog allowed on the furniture?