Dogs

Sharing doesn’t always come easily to dogs, but it’s an important skill for them to master in order to maintain household harmony. Whether it’s ensuring that your dog will gladly drop that stolen shoe when you ask, or keeping the peace in a “two dogs, one bed” scenario, learning to share ensures a safe and happy home. Keep in mind that a little resource possessiveness between appropriate dogs (meaning, both parties understand dog-speak) is usually okay. For example, if one dog has a bone and another approaches it with intent to steal, it’s fine for the dog with the bone to signal with a freeze or hard stare that he intends to keep it. An equally-appropriate dog will heed the warning and back off. Escalation is unnecessary, and everyone is safe. The following sharing tips are a great start for dogs who aren’t already guarding from other dogs in an over-the-top fashion or guarding from people. If your dog already exhibits guarding behaviors, like freezing over the resource, increasing the rate of consumption of it, growling, snapping or chasing others away when they get too close, seek help from a qualified positive reinforcement trainer.

Miami and the greater South Florida areas are home to some of the best beaches in the United States—including several where dog parents can enjoy a breezy beach day with their pups. Read on to discover the best dog beaches in Miami. 

5. They Simply Want Attention Context means so much when you’re trying to discern why your dog is barking, but Spaulding says it can sometimes be entirely unclear to you what your dog wants, assuming they want anything at all. “Often, a dog’s bark means they’re bored or frustrated, and they want us to fix it,” she says. “In situations where you’re not sure what the cause of the barking is, it’s fair to assume your dog would like to interact with you.”,How To Correct Barking Behavior To stop a dog from barking excessively, try one of two approaches. Train a Replacement Behavior Teach your dog a behavior to replace barking, such as running to a mat and lying down. This works best for demand-style barking. Note when your dog is likely to bark at you and what kind of attention they’re looking for (for example: access to the backyard, a game of tug, or dinner). About 10 to 15 minutes before you expect them to start barking, ask them to go to their mat and lie down. Once there, deliver the item or event your dog wants. Train Your Dog to Bark a Little  The second method is to train your dog to bark a specific number of times. This is a good approach to alarm barking. Once the dog reaches the target number of barks, mark it with a word or a clicker and feed them a treat. If your dog begins to bark again, repeat this process. Once they bark the target number of times and look at you, start to move farther away from them so they must leave the window or door they’re barking at to collect their cookie.,All dogs bark, and they bark for many different reasons. But what if your dog just won’t stop barking? They’re likely trying to tell you something, and it’s up to you to figure out what that is. “Barking is driven by a whole bunch of things,” says Dr. Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB. “And while some dogs don’t bark much, they’ll sometimes find other ways to show their emotions or signal that they want something—like pawing at you, jumping, mouthing, stealing things, or finding other ways to get into trouble.” If your dog is being overly vocal or barking excessively, here are some of the common reasons for the behavior.

Our canine companions use their sense of taste in combination with their other senses to explore the world around them. Sometimes it seems like dogs will eat anything, from garbage and fecal matter to undigestible items like toys and fabric. And other times dogs may be very picky about their food. So how do they determine what tastes good to them? Do dogs have taste buds like we do? Why do dogs want to eat things that we would never eat? Do Dogs Have Taste Buds? Yes, dogs have taste buds that give them the ability to taste things. Taste buds are found on papillae—small, visible bumps on the tongue. Dogs have about 1700 taste buds, while human mouths have approximately 9000. Puppies develop their ability to taste after a few weeks of life. This is one of the earlier senses that develops, even before hearing and vision. As dogs mature in age, their number of taste buds decreases, along with a decreased sense of smell, which may play a role in picky eating or decreased appetite. Each taste bud has an ability to sense all tastes if the flavor is strong enough. Taste buds in different areas on the tongue are slightly more sensitive to certain flavors in comparison to others. Bitter and sour taste buds are located toward the back of the tongue. Salty and sweet taste buds are found toward the front of the tongue.       Dogs have specific taste receptors that are fine-tuned to meats, fats, and meat-related chemicals due to their ancestral diet being primarily comprised of meat. The reduced number of taste buds in dogs as compared to humans may explain their decreased ability to distinguish between subtle flavors, like the differences between types of meat (chicken, pork, or beef) or different berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries). Dogs also have taste buds that are fine-tuned to water. This ability is also seen in cats and other carnivores, but not in humans. Special taste buds on the tip of a dog’s tongue react to water as they drink and become more sensitive when thirsty or after eating a meal, which encourages them to drink more water.

Let’s start with the basics. If your dog looks or smells like they need a bath, it’s probably time to give them a bath. Just like with a person, hygiene is important for your dog, says Katie Billmaier, DVM, a shelter veterinarian at Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in Jupiter, Florida. Not only do regular baths for dogs get rid of dirt in a dog’s coat and make them smell great, but washing them with a mild dog shampoo also helps keep their skin healthy.,Jump to section Why Regular Baths Are Important for Your Dog’s Health How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog? Can You Bathe a Dog Too Much? Brush Your Dog’s Coat in Between Baths FAQs

WRITTEN BYTiffany Tupler, DVM, CBCC-KA Veterinarian Dr. Tiffany Tupler is a graduate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine with a certificate in shelter medicine and…,Regardless of their dog’s size, every pet parent should understand the importance of behavioral well-being, yearly vet exams, and preventative medicine to ensure their dog’s quality of life. In addition, giant dog breeds have some specific health risks that you should know about and certain needs when it comes to nutrition and care. This article outlines some of these differences and how you can make sure that your giant dog stays healthy. Jump to Section: List of Giant Dog Breeds and Weight Range Health Issues in Giant Dog Breeds Life Span of Giant Dog Breeds Puppy: 0-18 Months Adult: 18 Months – 7 Years Senior: 7-16 Years What’s the Weight Range for Giant Dog Breeds? On average, giant dog breeds can range in weight from 80 to 200 pounds! Here are some common giant-breed dogs: Anatolian Shepherd Dog Bullmastiff Giant Schnauzer Great Dane Great Pyrenees Irish Wolfhound Mastiff Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland Saint Bernard

With a fresh breeze and so many delightful smells, the backyard might just be your dog’s favorite place—outside of your lap, of course. To make sure your yard is beautiful and dog-friendly, you’ll need to choose safe outdoor plants. 

By Hanie Elfenbein, DVM Most urban and suburban pet parents are very familiar with the details of their pets’ feces because they have to scoop it daily on walks. A dog’s urine, however, is often harder to keep track of because it quickly disappears into the grass or dirt. But sometimes you may notice changes in the color or odor of your dog’s urine. For cats, of course, monitoring the cat litter box is key to noticing any changes. The most important thing to remember is that in order to notice a change, you should first make yourself familiar with the characteristics of your pet’s urine while he or she is healthy. A change from whatever is normal for your pet may indicate a change in his or her health. If you do notice a change, try to catch a sample from your dog in a clean disposable container and bring it to your veterinarian’s office. Even if you can’t schedule an appointment for a few days, you can start to diagnose the problem and hopefully resolve it. Cats must usually be brought into the clinic where a sample can be collected, although there are some non-absorbent litters that are designed for collecting urine samples at home. Ideally, urine should be delivered fresh to your veterinary clinic within one hour or refrigerated. Characteristics of Your Pet’s Urine Color Clear: This either means that your pet is well hydrated or it’s a sign that he or she is unable to concentrate urine. There are many reasons that pets cannot concentrate their urine. If you are concerned that your pet’s urine may not be concentrated, the best sample to bring to your veterinarian is their first-morning urine. It tends to be the most concentrated sample of the day. Yellow: This may indicate concentrated urine, in which case your dog or cat should be encouraged to drink more water. Cat or dog water fountains may increase water intake. Some pets prefer to drink out of cups rather than bowls and others prefer glass to metal. *Note: Clear urine is not necessarily dilute nor is yellow urine necessarily concentrated. But it is a good first guideline. Red, Brown, or Orange: This may indicate blood in the urine. Some medications may also give urine an orange or red tint. In dogs, blood in urine is most likely due to an infection or bladder stones. Cats may also develop bloody urine in response to stress. Animals prone to developing bloody urine may have an underlying disease that can be addressed with something as simple as a change in diet. This is definitely one urine change worth talking to your veterinarian about. Odor Any change in odor should be a reason to have your pet’s urine analyzed by a veterinarian. Foul smelling urine is often an indicator of infection. Concentrated urine will have a stronger smell. Clarity Cloudy urine can indicate an infection, bladder crystals, or stones. It could also indicate protein in the urine. Quantity If your pet starts urinating a much larger quantity (or the same quantity more frequently), that may indicate the kidneys are not doing their job to concentrate urine. This could be due to kidney disease or a hormonal influence on the kidneys. Either way, your veterinarian can help you manage or resolve the problem. Frequency Changes in frequency, stream, posturing without urinating, increased licking after urinating, or staining around the vulva or prepuce can all indicate a problem. See your veterinarian as soon as possible. For cats, visiting the litter box more frequently could be the most clear sign that something is wrong. No Urine If your pet does not urinate for 24 hours, it’s a medical emergency. There may be a blockage preventing urine from flowing into or out of the bladder. This is more common in cats than dogs, especially male cats. If you think your cat may be unable to urinate, rush to your veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic. Multi-Cat Households If you have more than one cat using the same litter box, it can be hard to determine which one is having an issue. If one cat shows other signs, such as more time at the water bowl or less interest in cat food, that can help narrow it down. There are some litters that claim to change color in response to changes in your cat’s urine. While these are great in theory, they are not always reliable.

With all of the family-friendly activities in Orlando, Florida, including plenty for your four-legged family members to join in on, it’s a no-brainer that Orlando is go-to spot for spring break family vacations. “Our destination recognizes that pets are part of the family, not just at home but on vacation too,” says Becca Bides, vice president of global communications at Visit Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Many families head to Orlando to check out all of the theme parks, like Disney and Universal. And although your dog cannot join you in those family activities, there are many places he can go to with your family. “Orlando is the top U.S. vacation destination for families, and that includes those who travel with their four-legged family members,” Bides says. “With the most dog-friendly restaurants per capita in the nation, an abundance of hotels and attractions that welcome pets, and plenty of city parks and trials for exploring, Orlando is a great place for visitors and their pups to stay and play together.”

Good things come in small packages, and that’s undoubtedly true for our pups. Big dogs have their place, but small dog breeds are popular pets, especially for apartment dwellers or anyone short on space (or budget for kibble).  Of course, all dogs require daily care and sufficient exercise, so do your homework and don’t fall in love with a pup just because they’re cute and tiny. Some little dog breeds love to go, go, go, while others enjoy snoozing on the sofa most of the day.  Here are some of the most popular tiny dog breeds to consider.