Elisa Hedman

Why dogs pull on the leash, what pulling can do to the neck and eyes, how collars and harnesses compare, and how to teach a puppy to walk on a loose leash with rewards.

Dogs with white or thin coats and pink skin can get sunburned, and repeated sun damage is linked to skin cancers on the belly, flanks and nose. Which dogs are most at risk, the signs, practical ways to limit sun…

Hot cars kill dogs, but in UK data exercise caused far more heatstroke than cars did, often on days that didn’t feel very hot. How to adjust walks, protect paws on hot pavement, why cracked windows don’t help, and what…

Where the “alpha wolf” idea came from, what dominance really means in dogs, why most unwanted behavior isn’t about rank, and why confrontational methods backfire.

Moving day means open doors, strangers and a dog whose whole world has been packed into boxes. How to prepare in the weeks before, keep your dog safe on the day, update its microchip and ID, check the new yard,…

What research shows about how dogs smell, see and hear: why the nose is built for scent, which colors dogs see, and whether dogs can really smell fear.

A few fleas on your dog usually mean many more eggs, larvae and pupae in the house. How to check for fleas and flea dirt, why every pet in the home needs treating, what to do with bedding and carpets,…

What a wagging tail, a lowered body, a lip lick or a growl can and cannot tell you, why the “guilty look” isn’t guilt, and why a growl should never be punished.