Blog

Emotional Support Dogs vs. Service Dogs A peacock, a hamster, dogs, and cats: all manner of animals have been called emotional support animals (ESAs). A flurry of news stories about airlines cracking down on emotional support animal flight rules has called attention to ESAs. What does it take for an animal to be an official ESA? What differentiates an emotional support dog and a service dog? Emotional Support Dogs Emotional support dogs provide comfort to individuals with different emotional and mental conditions, according to the United States Dog Registry. Emotional support dogs can help people with conditions such as anxiety,...

Older Dogs Need Love, Too: Consider Adopting a Senior Dog! In American society, we oftentimes relate “old” to “useless”, but this should certainly not be the case when it comes to living beings such as cats and dogs. Shelters across the country are filled with dogs aged 7+ years, an age at which a dog is considered past his or her prime. Of the nearly 700,000 shelter dogs euthanized each year, many are older dogs that simply did not get adopted. Too many potential dog owners have their eyes on puppies, but senior dogs can give possibly years of joy...

Preparing to Adopt a Second Dog According to the ASPCA, 3.3 million dogs enter into a shelter in the United States each year. It is understandable why families are adding second or even third dogs into their families. Along with the want to help dogs in need, families want to add an additional forever pet for companionship. Adopting your first dog is a difficult task, but adding a second to the mix is a whole new ball game. It’s easy to want a second snuggle partner, but are you taking the correct steps to ensure a happy and safe home...

Curbing Enthusiasm: Get Your Dog to Stop Jumping on Your Guests “Down!” This is a command, like “Sit” or “Stay”, that many people like to train their dogs to do. It involves having the dog go from a sitting position to a down position and is used to keep the dog relaxed and to keep him/ her in one place. Is the Down command suitable when it comes to jumping up on guests? Not so much…mainly because by then, the activity has already happened. It’s best to learn how to stop the behavior entirely, before those front paws even leave...

How to Socialize Dogs and Children Dogs and kids can be a really big part of life, but if the two don’t know how to get along the fur can really fly. Whether you are bringing home a newborn baby to a household with a dog or introducing a puppy to a household full of kids, it is important to prepare everyone. Socializing your dog and teaching your kids how to behave around dogs will help them interact safely and build a lasting bond. Introducing a New Puppy at Home Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting experience, but...