It started with Lassie, the Collie. Or maybe it was Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd. Or that dog Petey from The Little Rascals, an American Staffordshire Terrier. Asta, the Jack Russell Terrier, from The Thin Man series. Fala, the Scottish Terrier, FDR’s companion. Beethoven, the St. Bernard. 101 Dalmations. Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Bo, the Portugese Water Dog. Dogs made famous by movies and their celebrity owners have inspired many people to get that particular breed. Once

I don’t mean to offend anyone by saying this, because nearly every hybrid dog I have met has been a love and are darn cute and make wonderful companions. Some of the really popular hybrids will eventually become honest-to-goodness breeds, recognized by the AKC and everything. The main impetus initially behind the current prevalence of hybrids was to introduce the characteristic of “hypo-allergenic” into the mix so that people who had allergies could still have a dog. The idea

Chickie is a Spaniel mix, sweet-faced and sweet-natured. Her human companions had driven 3 hours in the pouring rain to pick her up. Yes,...

Households with two or more dogs are more common than you think. Here’s the scenario I hear over and over: “We went to the breeder and there were only two puppies left. We had only planned to get one, and we picked out the one we wanted, but then the other one looked so sad to be left behind, so we took that one, too.” Uh-oh… This occurs so often that I’m beginning to wonder if breeders put two puppies in the pen and remove the other littermates to some other place while ther

There are two kinds of retiring dog owner. The first kind has an older dog that they adore. But they know that, when he passes, they have...

8 year old Murray is a well-behaved Bichon Frise. He lives with a retired couple who adore him and give him a very cushy life, with the...

Two year old West Highland Terrier Stella takes her job as protector of the house and its contents very seriously. So much so that she...

In all of my years of dog training, I have encountered just about every breed and nearly every behavioral problem possible in the canine...

I confess that sometimes I judge people. For example, when someone says they paid $3,000 for their purebred puppy, I imagine a well-to-do...

I remember thinking when my kids were little how life was full of incredible joy and equally incredible frustration. My clients’ dogs...

Embry is a four year old Black Lab mix whose life revolves around mealtimes. In the evening, at about an hour or so before his owner...

Maisie is a 4 year old Golden Retriever that never learned to sit. There is nothing wrong with her physically to prevent her from...

Yes, I know. My motto, theme song, tag line, reason for living, is “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” The rest end up in shelters or euthanized. That...

So you get this dog from the shelter. The tag on the cage said “Lab Shepherd mix.” You bring the dog home. What can you expect? Will he...

Just like the shy little kid who hides behind her mother’s legs rather than talk to anyone, Aristotle is wary and skittish around people....

Most people who want to buy a house get a real estate agent. The agent interviews them to find out what type of home they want, where it...

Owning a tall dog – think Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Greyhound, Bull Mastiff – has some unique challenges. For example: 2. Visitors get...

Boston Terrier Ernest loves loves loves to play fetch. The trouble is, he is unclear on the concept. Here is how Ernest plays the game:...

Every chain dog owner (those of us who are never without a dog, as in, we get a new one pretty much immediately after the old one passes)...

In consideration of International Homeless Animals Day on August 18, 2012 , I am going to use the F word. Foster. Wait! Don’t stop...