A Better Dog Trainer

Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in sugar free gum as well as other sugar free products, has been found to be poisonous to dogs. This is just a heads up to all dog owners to be careful to keep your dog away from this new potential danger. For more info check out this article. http://www.cbsnews.com//sweetener-xylitol-in-some-sugarle/

Every year Jimmy Kimmel brings on dog groomer Cat Opson who gives a few dogs a halloween costume haircut...if you find it amusing check out previous years which are even more impressive! http://www.ew.com//dog-halloween-costumes-jimmy-kimmel-live

The importance of Dog Training As a dog trainer, at least half the calls I get are from stressed out dog owners who have a behavioral issue with their dog they can not resolve. Most of them tell me their dog has been through training and knows sit, down and staykind of. But a big part of our training program is preventing problems down the line, problems many people don’t anticipate. The old adage of a once of prevention is worth a pound of cure is as true when training y...our dog as it is for medical issues. Another analogy one can make in regards to medical issues is that the sooner you address a behavioral issue the easier it will be to solve the problem and prevent serious consequences. Many times I am perplexed that people live with behavioral issues for years before they reach out for help. So for the safety of your dog and to ensure a peaceful coexistence, make an earnest effort to prevent problems and if you have any concerns about your dog’s behavior reach out for help sooner rather than later. See more

I just watched an incredible story on chaser, the smartest dog in the world. You can check it out on 60 mins on-line http://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/ Chaser has a vocabulary of over 1000 words and of course is a border collie. The story not only gives you new insight to the intelligence of dogs and how they think, but also why we have such an emotional connection with them.

Abc news recently reported on a couple in Oregon awarded nearly 240,000 dollars after winning a law suit over a neighbor's barking dog, the barking went on for over a decade. This might have been an ugly dispute between neighbors who do not get along. But it is just as likely that it was someone who did not know how to prevent or address the problem. A big part of training is preventing problems for your dog's safety, your sanity and to make your dog a great addition to your community not a liability.

We just love this video! Its a good belly laugh! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHvExOg4NI0

With the summer months quickly approaching, its time to review the best steps to preventing heat stroke in your dog. http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-cool-summer.

A well behaved dog that is trail savvy makes enjoying the great outdoors even better. But before you lace up your boots, spend a few minutes prepping your 4 legged companion and considering their needs. And please, when in doubt, keep your pup on leash- its safer for them and the native ecosystem you are out there to enjoy. This article from our friends at REI can help get you started: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hiking-dogs.html... Happy Hiking!

Thousands of years ago dogs were domesticated and we have been enjoying their incredible abilities and loyalties ever since.... and sometimes those abilities even save our lives. Let's hear it for our hero dogs! http://www.animalplanet.com//vide/dog-saves-injured-owner/

Shedding season is here! If you are like us with a full coated, or worse a double coated, dog you are probably chasing pesky clumps of fur down the hall and out from under the furniture. If its beginning to get to you we recommend the following: brush your dog every day- use a gentle brush that can get into the fur, and go against the grain to really get at the lose fur support your dogs coat with a supplement for skin and coat lots of exercise out doors will help sluff off loose hair too Good luck!

Our favorite trick we've taught Bodhi is to "seek" for his ball. We love to throw his ball while hiking and often we will loose it in tall grass- one quick "go seek" and body is working the scent cone and comes back with the ball overtime. Its really cool to see him use his abilities like this! What is your favorite dog trick?

If you like hiking with your dog as much as we do then you'll know that ticks are out in force right now. And some folks in our neighborhood are struggling with fleas as well, which pretty much means we are all on the look out for these unpleasant critters as well. But take heart, solutions for protecting you dog abound- from flea and tick combs to chemical solutions like Frontline, there is a workable solution for every dog, puppy and lifestyle. For a little info, we like this old but useful explanation of these pests http://lmvet.com//pacifica-parasite-prevention-fleas-and-/

Here is an interesting article sent to us by our own vet here in San Rafael: http://www.vetstreet.com//top-10-warning-signs-of-cancer-i