Of the 70 million US households owning dogs or cats as pets around 10% of the population are allergic to them. That is, approximately 7 million pet lovers who suffer from allergies at the paws of their canine companions and feline friends.

Pet allergies are an immune system reaction to animal proteins that trigger inflammation in the lining of the nasal passages. These allergies cause sneezing, runny nose and a stuffy head for some sufferers; however, others experience more serious symptoms including contraction of the airways resulting in hives, wheezing, shortness of breath and other breathing problems. Read the rest »

When a couple moves in together or gets married they are busy combining two households into one, picking out new dishes or arguing over what color to paint the living room. Chances are the last thing on their mind is outlining an ownership agreement of their dog; however, it can be very important to outline who’s dog the dog will be in the event of a split. Read the rest »

The reality of the situation is this; puppies are going to make messes and chew on stuff. They are going to get into things they shouldn’t and explore areas they have no business in. This is what puppies do until they are taught right from wrong. While puppies can not rationalize as humans can, they can recognize what is acceptable and non-acceptable behavior from your responses. Puppies will be conditioned to stay off the furniture, chew on the correct objects and go to the bathroom in the same spot when consistently praised for doing so. It is up to you to shape your puppies behavior over time. Here are 10 tips for puppy proofing your home to set your dog up for success:

1. Put up your shoes. Puppies need to chew to ease teething pain as well as maintain their dental health over their lifetime. Proper chew toys are essential for any dog owner. Until your puppy has learned that shoes are not appropriate chew toys you should always keep them put away. While this might sound obvious, many people leave them lying about the house and are surprised and angry when their pup destroys their favorite pair of kicks. Thankfully, closets have doors that will keep your curious puppy at paws length from this seasons’ must have peep toe pumps. Read the rest »

Most of us can relate to the warm fuzzy feelings associated with the relationship between children and dogs. Movies and television have shown classic relationships of this sort for decades because of the popularity of dogs among children. Every time a dog walks by most toddlers and young children point and exclaim, “Look Mommy, puppies”! Read the rest »

A friend of mine called me a few months ago on the verge of tears. She called to ask if I could help her find a home for her two miniature poodles. My friend had had these dogs for over 7 years and was in a desperate position. While she loved them very much, she simply could not manage their behavior towards her 18 month old baby any longer. She had tried everything since she realized that her dogs did not like her daughter, but nothing seemed to work.

This is a difficult position to be in. On one hand, you love your pet and made a commitment to care for her. On the other hand you have a child whom you must protect and care for as well. You are exhausted, overwhelmed and have little time to deal with any additional stressors. This is not the time to start introducing your newest addition to your best friend. While there are no guarantees, with proper preparations this could be the start of a beautiful relationship between your human child and your furry one. Read the rest »

Every parent knows that it is just a matter of time before their child comes home with a stray dog asking, “Can we keep him Mom, huh, can we?” If it isn’t a stray then we will inevitably come across a box of puppies somewhere with the words, “Free to a Good Home” plastered across it in big bold letters. Let’s face it, children love dogs and America has gone to the dogs. According to the United States Humane society 40% of all households in the US own a dog. So in a country where dogs are more popular than ever, how can we be sure that we are selecting the right dog for our family? Read the rest »

If you have children, than you are fully aware of the spell-bound gaze fixed to the television and permanent couch imprints left by our kids day in and day out. With the 500 channels on television, interactive online video gaming and the cold outdoor air – it’s no wonder our kids aren’t motivated to go outside. Most of the time we find them indoors and it feels as though they aren’t even there. As a parent, this is another one of your many jobs. You can motivate them to get out, ’see the world’ (as our parents used to tell us) and enjoy time outdoors. The summer months are slowly approaching, winter holidays coming to an end and spring breaks just around the corner – you have the perfect opportunity to arrange some quality family time. That is, until you try to un-glue your kid from couch and hit the kill-switch on the tube. Their complaints of boredom are peppered with your futile attempts to entertain them. If you have the feeling ‘all hope is lost’ and are looking for a solution, then this article is for you. Following are some great ideas to encourage your children to get moving…and all them involve a little strategic negotiating. Read the rest »