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Pet Wellness Advocate
As previously mentioned, Sky, my 18-month-old Vizsla, is really finicky about what and when he’ll eat. This could be his personality, his discerning palate or the fact that he is an intact male, something that not many pet owners outside the dog show world are accustomed to anymore (but for me will be the norm... Read more »
We tend to think we know our dogs inside and out. We notice when they’re hungry, when they want a walk, when they’re feeling playful. But pain? That’s the one thing they are wired to hide. And that’s exactly why arthritis in dogs is so often overlooked—or undertreated. It’s not that we don’t care. It’s... Read more »
We talk endlessly about behavior in dogs. We talk about what they’re doing wrong. What they should be doing. What needs fixing. What needs managing. But how often do we talk about their outlook? There’s a word I’ve come to love: Dogsitivity. Not forced cheerfulness. Not endless tail wagging. Not “easy.” But something more meaningful... Read more »
I have a soft spot for veterinary behaviorists. They’re the rarest birds in veterinary medicine — there are only about a hundred of them in the entire world — and they sit right at the crossroads of medicine, behavior, and the human–animal bond. One of my favorites is Dr. Lisa Radosta, who joined me on... Read more »
Every so often, I receive an email that reminds me why I do this work. A listener named Michael wrote me after hearing a recent episode of Dog Talk (and Kitties, Too) on WLIW.FM, the only NPR station on Long Island (that has carried my show every week since 2005!). Yes, people do still listen... Read more »
I’ve hosted thousands of conversations about dogs, but last week’s Dog Talk® with filmmaker/author Cathryn Michon has stayed with me in that quiet, insistent way grief does. We were talking about her luminous new short film—I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever—which closes this year’s NY Dog Film Festival. It’s based on her tender, watercolor-washed... Read more »
We all know it can get dangerously hot out there. You don’t need another reminder to avoid leaving your dog in the car or going for a mid-afternoon jog with them (although I still see this happening, and it still makes my blood boil). But what you do need to know is that heatstroke in... Read more »
You have friends and family who are nuts about their pets, but how do you acknowledge that love? Do you struggle to find unique and special holiday gifts - or birthday or “no occasion” gifts - for them? What can you give people with cats and dogs as presents to celebrate their bond? I... Read more »
When I say “Do not ignore dog vomit” I don’t mean “just step over the mess and hope someone else cleans it up!” I mean consider it a possible sign of a serious physical problem. Ignore it at your peril. I recently survived two medical emergencies with my 10-year-old Weimaraner Maisie. The reason we dodged... Read more »
Drum roll, please! For the first time in the 9 years of the Dog Film Festival there will be a new separate category called SERVICE DOG SALUTE - with cash prizes and all-expense-paid trips to the NYC Premiere on October 24th, 2024 for the top three finalists! As always, the Festival will then travel to... Read more »