Q: What information do dogs get when they sniff each other’s bums? It’s quite disgusting! A: Sniffing butts is a meet-and-greet on a whole new chemical level. It might be an odd behaviour for us and your friends might not appreciate it when you do this, but it is very natural for dogs, and even
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Scattered cushions Dear Patches, The other day, I got bored and jumped onto the couch. I swear I smelt some treats in the cushions and I started to dig, but I couldn’t find them. I was certain Mom had hidden them from me, so I flung the first cushion through the air. Then I attacked
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Q: Our four-year-old Dachshund, Alice, has started to poo in the lounge in the middle of the night. She goes out into the garden before bedtime, so we can’t understand this new behaviour. A: As this is a new behaviour at four years of age, the first thing you need to do is make an
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Q: How can I keep my dog’s attention during training? A: First, we need to establish why your dog is unable to sustain longer periods of concentration, and change the contextual training details, so that he can. Here are some tips to consider: Are your criteria for what constitutes a short or long concentration span
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Q: Sometimes my dog buries his treats. Is this normal? A: This is called hoarding and is an instinctive, survival behaviour that originates from a dog’s ancestors. These dogs did not have access to regular food and would bury some of it for times when food was in short supply. Dogs in the wild would
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Q: Does my dog miss me when I’m at work and what can I do about it? A: This depends on the individual dog, the relationship you have, the circumstances, whether there are other people or other dogs at home when you are at work, whether there is activity in the home during the day,
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Taking pictures of your puppy as he is growing up is nothing out of the ordinary for any pet owner. But do you also sometimes wish that you could have picture-perfect poses with your dog? It is possible to have pictures other than those of your sleeping pup or pictures that are out of focus.
6 tips for a picture-perfect pose Read More »
Q: Why do my dogs insist on following me into the bathroom? A: Having a dog means you never have to visit the bathroom alone again and, according to some dogs, it’s the perfect place for an intimate family meeting. But why would dogs want to share such a private place with you anyway? Humour
Q & A: No privacy allowed Read More »
Time flies by so fast and, before we know it, another month has passed, and then another year. With our lives filled with meetings, deadlines and challenges, we sometimes miss important dates and things we were supposed to do, but just didn’t get round to. Planning ahead and making actual notes somewhere, will help a
Pet planning: what to do and when Read More »
Dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than humans because they can only pant to cool off, where humans sweat. Pets can’t ask for water and they can’t say that they are too hot either. And because dogs are pleasers, they will continue to play in the heat – just to make you happy. What to
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Q: A stray cat adopted us, but what do we need to do before we can let him into our house? We have two other cats who seem to get along with him. A: Before adopting or allowing a stray cat into your house, it is important to ensure that it does not suffer from
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Q: Is there such a thing as doggy dementia, and is there a way that I can prevent it? A: ‘Doggy dementia’ is a recognised disease in dogs. Because it can occur in cats as well, it is referred to as cognitive dysfunction (CD). It is a neurodegenerative condition, similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans,
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