Dogs

Yorkshire Terriers are well known for their small size and they’re pretty popular, too. The American Kennel Club (AKC) says they’re the seventh most popular dog breed. Yorkshire Terrier owners should be prepared for a dog with a medium amount of energy who needs daily grooming, according to the AKC. “This brave and determined little breed packs a big personality into a small package,” says Gina DiNardo, AKC vice president.,With their playful nature, silly expressions, and general way of figuring out the world, puppies are adorable and charming. It always happens, though, after a few months—even the cutest, smallest pup grows up. Of course, there’s always a new adventure to look forward to no matter how old your pup is, but if you’re looking for a new companion who will always look puppy-like, here are some breeds you can consider.

You might be tempted to go room-by-room or start in a specific location with the most considerable mess, but Kondo recommends gathering your pet’s supplies and sorting them by category or type. Categories can include food, toys, and accessories. Sorting by type—not location—helps you grasp what you have, how much of it you have, and whether you have multiples in various spots of the home. When you see everything laid out in front of you, it helps you make informed decisions about keeping or letting go of items. Gathering all your pet’s stuff in one place can also help you see the bigger picture of what you buy—and how often you buy them. So, now is also an excellent time to create a list of the essentials or recurring purchases, says Jen Robin, founder, and CEO of Life in Jeneral. “Keep a running list of all of your pet’s supplies and update it as needed,” says Robin. “This will help you keep track of what you have and what you need to restock.”,If you’re anything like us, treating your pet to a new leash, fun bandana, a chew toy that screams [enter your dog’s name], or a restock of their absolute favorite snacks is just another typical Tuesday occurrence. As much as you may love to spoil your pet, all these items can quickly pile up—especially if you live in a small space. Before you panic-toss everything in a closet or ditch things on a whim, there are simple ways—aka no Martha Stewart-level skills required—to organize your pet’s belongings. We spoke with Marie Kondo, tidying expert and founder of KonMari by Marie Kondo, and other organizational experts to find out their top pet organizing tips.

If you didn’t expect your dog to have a belly button, you’re not alone. But like all mammals—including humans—puppies in the womb receive oxygen and nutrients from the mother by means of an umbilical cord.    “After birth, the mother chews off the cord, or it’s cut by a person assisting. The remaining stump dries up and falls off, leaving behind a scar—this becomes the belly button,” says Sarah Cortright, DVM, chief medical director of the Underdog Community Project in Los Angeles.    By the time a puppy is old enough to leave their mother, the scar is typically healed and easily goes unnoticed.   ,It’s no secret that most dogs love belly rubs, but as you give your furry friend a tummy pat, you might have wondered whether there’s a belly button beneath that thin layer of fur. Canine belly buttons can be hard to detect, but dogs do have them.    Here’s the full scoop on your dog’s belly button and how you can find it, along with veterinarian advice on how to spot health issues with your dog’s navel.  

Here’s an equation no pet parent wants to calculate: Mud-caked paws plus an energetic dog equals a major mess on your kitchen or living room floors. Fortunately, in this age home renovation television shows and do-it-yourselfers, there is a hot trend that caters to canines: mudrooms. Find out how mudrooms can benefit dog parents, and discover several ways you can create your own personalized mudroom for your pup.

Just like in humans, when a dog tears a cranial cruciate ligament, surgery is needed to repair the injury. For dogs that weigh more than 40 pounds, the recommended treatment for a torn cranial cruciate ligament is a surgical procedure called a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, commonly referred to as a TPLO. TPLO surgery involves removing the torn ligament, removing torn parts of the meniscus, and then cutting the lower leg bone (tibia) to rotate the surface of the bone that is involved in the knee joint. If you are wondering why the surgeon would have to cut a bone to repair a ligament, then you are not alone. A TPLO procedure uses the principles of basic physics to stabilize the knee. The dog knee joint is sloped, and the major force holding the joint in place is the cranial cruciate ligament. When the cranial cruciate ligament tears, a combination of the slope of the knee and muscles acting on the knee, including the quads and the calf muscles, causes the femur bone to slide forward when the dog bears weight on the leg. Each time this happens, it not only hurts, but it abnormally wears down the cartilage, resulting in the development of osteoarthritis. It can also tear the meniscus that cushions the dog knee joint. When the tibial bone is cut and rotated in a TPLO surgery, it levels out the knee joint and stabilizes the joint. This eliminates the sliding action that causes pain and arthritis. Of course, if a surgeon cuts a bone, then it must be repaired. After the bone is rotated, the surgeon installs a stainless steel bone plate with screws on the tibia to hold the two pieces in place.,Understanding the Canine Cruciate Ligament and TPLO Surgery

If your pup is putting on the pounds, a lack of exercise may be to blame.   “If a dog takes in more calories than they burn through physical activity, the excess is stored as fat, which contributes to weight gain,” says Dr. Modes.   Overfeeding your dog, plus too little exercise, is a sure path toward canine obesity, which can lead to joint problems, heart trouble, and diabetes, among other health issues.  Another common cause of weight gain is too many dog treats.   “It’s also common for pet parents who don’t exercise their dogs to be giving them more snacks and treats to ‘entertain them’ because they are bored, which causes them to gain even more weight,” says Shir Limazati, a certified dog trainer and owner of Another Chance Training in Chicago.  Rather than doling out treats to occupy your dog, engage them with a game of fetch or grab the leash and go for a walk. ,Along with a good diet, routine veterinary care, and plenty of cuddles, regular exercise is an important part of caring for your dog.   “Exercise helps promote and maintain a healthy weight, optimizes physical health, and can provide an energy outlet while promoting natural canine behaviors,” says Amanda Modes, DVM, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists resident and veterinarian at VetMind.   But just like people, the amount of exercise a dog needs can vary. So how can you tell if your dog is turning into a couch potato? Here are seven signs that your dog isn’t getting enough exercise. 

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds, and it’s easy to see why. Their friendly, brainy, and eager-to-please personality make Goldens one of the best family dogs. But as an active dog with a predisposition to certain health issues, what you feed your Golden Retriever can make a big difference in their overall well-being. Fresh dog food offers a convenient and nutritious way to meet your Golden Retriever’s dietary needs—and it might be the upgrade you’ve been looking for.

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Shake Shack is not only fantastic for the humans—I mean the ooey-gooey cheese fries and buttermilk fried chicken sandwich are what dreams are made of—but they also provide satisfying options for pups. For Knox, Bear and Harper, Shake Shack means lots of wagging tails and excitement over the Pooch-ini. It’s their weakness. The Pooch-ini is a scoop of vanilla custard on top of real peanut butter and topped off with a big ol’ bone-shaped cookie. Many Shake Shacks throughout the country have dog-friendly patios and host dog-friendly events, so if you haven’t brought your pups yet, put it on your warm weather to-do list!,Contributed by Jenna Donleavy, traveler and pet parent of three rescue dogs: Knox, Bear & Harper My pack and I have a lot in common; we love weekend getaways and the great outdoors, but we also love all the amenities city living has to offer (we especially enjoy a good meal!). A delicious dining experience is even better when we can all eat together at pet-friendly restaurants. Since we live right in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, we are super lucky to have a number of dog-friendly restaurants we can dine at during patio season (mostly April–October). As we inch our way out of winter and into spring, I have started to daydream about al fresco dining. Let’s explore some of our favorite dog-friendly restaurants options from around the country.

Image via iStock.com/Groomee By Kate Hughes Dog training is a critical component of responsible dog ownership. Beyond simple cues like sit, stay and roll over, a well-trained dog knows how to behave around unfamiliar people, pets and environments. Positive reinforcement is key during the dog training process, and many pet owners use dog treats to reinforce desired behaviors and responses in their pups. But with a seemingly endless variety of dog treats available, how can you narrow down your options to find the best dog training treats for your dog? How Do Treats Impact Training? In the most basic terms, in positive reinforcement training, dog treats act as the reward for good behavior. “When training a dog, this reward can be anything that the learner deems valuable. We trainers like food because most dogs find food extremely valuable, and it fits right in our pockets,” says Molly Sumridge, a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. Sumridge owns Kindred Companions LLC, a dog training company in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Some dogs are highly food-motivated and will respond to basic dog food kibble, but as behaviors become more complex and training becomes more demanding, it may be necessary to up the quality of the dog training treat. Dr. Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, MS, a clinical assistant professor of behavior medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, says that as a dog’s environment become more stimulating, the value of the dog training treats must increase to maintain his or her attention. “As a general rule, the more hectic the environment, the better the value of the treat has to be. You need a treat that will hold the dog’s attention and keep him focused on the training exercise,” Dr. Siracusa explains. So, dog treats seem to be a must for positive dog training, but how do you find the best ones?