Your beloved pet knows that you are his family. He will love you forever, but that does not mean that you do not occasionally get on his nerves. Like any other relationship, most of the time he thinks the world of you, but you have a few bad habits that drive him crazy. One of your dog’s biggest pet peeves is the way you speak to him.  Normally, using your words is a good thing. However, complex sentences leave your dog mystified, confused, and annoyed that he does not understand. When talking to your dog, make sure to add some...

Through the ages, man has seen that dogs are particularly adapted to humans and have developed a unique way to express their love for people. While some people may be quick to dismiss a dog’s devotion as simply a relationship based on need that is really not true. It seems that dogs have developed the strongest ability of all animals on Earth to form affectionate bonds with humans. They do not just love us, they need us, but not just for food and physical care. They need us emotionally. The bond a dog feels for his human is one of...

When was the last time your dog greeted you with a million licks? This morning? Last night? A few minutes ago? Is he just saying hello, or giving you his version of a kiss on the cheek? Although he may never tell us, it helps to understand the psychology of the lick. Dogs lick often and for many reasons. A mother may lick her puppies to clean them or to stimulate elimination. Once her puppies reach about six weeks old, they often lick their mom's face and lips when they want her to regurgitate food for them much like their...

From the most common to some of the more unusual, your pet’s allergies can typically be treated using natural cures, such as acidophilus, evening primrose oil, and omega-3 fats. Like people, dogs can suffer from allergies. Allergies in dogs most often manifest through the skin, causing itching, scratching, or paw licking. From a holistic perspective, allergies usually indicate some sort of internal imbalance. Allergies of any type are an overreaction of the immune system. When the body’s immune system identifies an allergen, it goes on the defensive and treats the supposed allergen as a foreign substance that must be eliminated. As...

Do you love dressing your fur friend in the latest fashion? Does your dog or cat enjoy it as much? Belonging to the species Canis familiaris, the latter part of the name indicates your dog and his ancestors' familiarity with their extended family, the human. Thoroughly domesticated for over fourteen thousand years, your dog may seem to tolerate dressing up gladly. By submitting to your fashion sense,your dog gains something valuable - your attention, and maybe an extra serving of real meat zombie apocalypse beef; a beef oatmeal and molasses cookie treat.  On the other hand, dressing up your dog is...

Like people, your pet needs to keep his brain stimulated and challenged. He needs both physical and mental exercise daily. If not given the opportunity to exercise and release energy, dogs of any size can become anxious, frustrated or destructive. You may send him out to play in the yard, or take him for a long walk, but his brain needs a work out as well. Did you know that wild dogs would spend about 80% of their waking hours hunting and scavenging for food? While domestic dogs have been beside us for thousands of years, and are bred for...