Category Archives: Uncategorized

Paws on Floor, Not Kids

It's easier to teach a new behavior than it is to correct a bad habit.
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Variety in the Dog’s Diet

The irony in the "only feed 1 food to your dog. EVER" philosophy: Look at dogs living on the edges of human life, anywhere. They're scavengers. That's why they hang around. They're designed to recycle what they find on the ground.
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Nuisance Barking at Neighbors: 1st Step – Manage the Environment

A reader in Mar Vista wrote: “What can I do about a 6 month old male puppy who barks at neighbors and others he sees from our backyard? He barks constantly when he’s outside, and nothing we’ve tried has worked. We’ve been hoping he’ll grow out of it.” Dogs rarely “grow out of” nuisance barking. [...]
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You See a Crate, Your Dog Sees a Sanctuary

I can’t think of any behavior modification tool that causes my clients more consternation than the “crate.” It seems the human brain frequently equates any small, confined space with a box or a jail cell, both understandably uncomfortable images to subject your best friend to. What most people fail to realize is that crates can actually [...]
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Six Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Dog

Research suggests it takes an average of 6 weeks for dogs and humans to convert a behavior into a habit. Six weeks of consistent practice, that is. Today is the beginning of Lent, a 6 week period in which many people seek to change or modify a behavior, in advance of the Easter holiday. Frequently, the [...]
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Pet Emergency Preparedness Fair, Saturday, February 25th, Santa Monica’s Clover Park

http://www.smmirror.com/#mode=single&view=34122 The 3rd Annual Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Fair will be held this Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Clover Park in Santa Monica. The event is being hosted by the City of Santa Monica Office of Emergency Management Division; The American Red Cross of Santa Monica, Los Angeles Region; and the Society [...]
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A Calm Start Leads to a Calm Walk with Your Dog

Today I met with a delightful adult spaniel rescue and her adoring family in Santa Monica. They’ve been struggling with increasing displays of anti-social behavior on walks when in close proximity to other dogs, delivery trucks, and postal carriers. Recently, their beloved canine companion snapped at a toddler and her mother, and that was enough [...]
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Canine Vaccine “Requirements” in 2011

A recent article entitled Bordatella Vaccination for Dogs: Fraud and Fallacy, by Patricia Jordan, DVM, and widely distributed across the Net, brought up the why/when/which vaccine questions on a list for canine professionals.  It never ceases to amaze me how reluctant a sizable portion of the veterinary clinicians are to adopt 3 year vaccine schedules [...]
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When July 4th Stopped Being Fun

The City of Santa Monica will have its annual fireworks extravaganza this weekend.  A few years ago they moved it from the ocean front to Santa Monica College’s Cosair Field, which happens to be about 3 blocks from my house.  The awe-inspiring colors dazzle and dance just above the treetops on my street, giving me [...]
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Tail Tales

I often hear people say they know their growling / lunging / snarling dog really wants to be “friends” with other dogs or people because they’re wagging their tail at the same time.  This is a huge misconception about dog body language, and no doubt has led to more than a few dog bites when [...]
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