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What Dog Walkers Wished You Knew In a perfect world, you don’t have to leave your dog go to work every day. You can stay home, go on walks and live the life of a dog. If that sounds nice, your dream is probably similar to mine, in which we can become a stay-at-home dog mom (or parent). Sigh. Unfortunately, our dream of lounging with our furry friend will have to be put on hold because we need money! I need that paycheck to be able to afford my girl, Mia's food, toys, and vet visits. How can I treat...

How to Exercise Your Dog Mentally, Not Just Physically Have you ever asked yourself, how do I make sure I give my dog enough exercise, mentally and physically? In this article we talk about a couple of cool ways to make sure your beloved pup is well exercised! Chloe just LOVES to chase her ball around the yard or go for long walks, which are great ways for her to get much-needed physical activity. But what about exercise for mental stimulation? Dogs who don't get enough mental stimulation can display all types of unwanted and undesirable behaviors. Many agree that...

5 Strategies to Help Overweight Dogs Slim Down Here at Sparky Steps, we agree with most animal lovers: Dogs are adorable in ALL shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, excess weight can sometimes pose serious wellness risks for your pup. And it’s not always easy to spot. Sure, weight gain is pretty obvious in petite breeds like Yorkies. But depending on a canine’s height and heritage, surplus pounds can accumulate subtly. Wondering if Rover needs to go on a diet? Once your pet has reached full adulthood, ask your vet to recommend an optimal weight range. Then double-check how your dog measures...

 4 Things to Know About Dog Intelligence We all want to believe our dogs are smart. Every time they learn a new trick or sense that we need some extra affection, we laud them as geniuses. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating your dog’s quick wit and emotional intuition, there are objective measures of dog intelligence. Is your dog truly a four-footed Einstein, or are you blinded by puppy love?   Signs of Intelligence Intelligence can be reflected in a number of different ways. Just like people, dogs will have varying personalities and skills. PetMD lists some common...

Dog vs. Nature: How to Keep Your Pup Safe From Other Animals In Nature there are lions and tigers and bears, oh my... Okay, chances are Duke isn't going to be facing the first two in nature anytime soon, unless there's been a breakout from a nearby zoo, but if you live in a rural area there are likely bears and other animals roaming around. Chances are even good that they're wandering into your yard to poke around in your garbage cans. You might also have raccoons, skunks, snakes and even coyotes in areas around your home. Remember: they call...