For Your Puppy Buyers

Tumbleweeds of fur in spring and fall are normal for many dogs, especially double-coated breeds. Why seasonal shedding happens, how long it lasts, which tools and routines actually help, why shaving a double coat backfires, and when hair loss is…

Toads come out after rain in spring and summer, and a dog that licks, mouths or bites one can be poisoned within minutes. Which toads are most dangerous in North America, Australia and Europe, the signs to watch for, why…

The first week in a new home is a big change for a puppy that has never been away from its mother and littermates. What to do on the journey and the first day, how to get through the first…

In late winter and spring, pine processionary caterpillars come down from trees in long lines — and a curious dog that sniffs or licks one can end up with a swollen, damaged tongue. Where and when the risk is highest,…

In warm weather, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can make toxins that kill dogs quickly, and there is no antidote. What risky water and shoreline mats look like, why toxic growth can hide on riverbeds, how to rinse your dog after exposure,…

Fireworks fear is common, often starts in a dog’s first year and can get worse. How to prepare in the weeks before Canada Day and the Fourth of July, make the night itself easier, keep your dog from escaping, and…

Many evacuation centers don’t accept pets, and fast-moving disasters leave no time to go back. What to put in a grab-and-go kit for your dog, how to plan where you’ll both stay, setting up a buddy system, and keeping ID…

Curious puppies snap at bees and wasps, so stings on the face and in the mouth are common in summer. How to remove a stinger safely, the signs of a severe allergic reaction, which dogs are at higher risk, why…

A hot spot can go from a little scratching to a large, raw, oozing patch in a day. What hot spots are, the itch triggers behind them — fleas, allergies, ear problems, wet or matted coats — what treatment involves,…

Swimming is great exercise for many dogs, but pools without an exit, strong currents, boats and endless water retrieves all carry risks. How to supervise, when to use a life jacket, why to bring fresh water to the beach, and…

What large studies show about how long dogs live, why small dogs tend to outlive large ones, whether mixed breeds live longer, and what owners can do to help.

About a third of dogs are sensitive to noise, and fear of thunder and fireworks often starts young and can get worse. What to do during a storm, what the evidence says about wraps, supplements and medication, and how training…

Is “littermate syndrome” real? What research shows about raising two puppies together, the real risks, and what breeders should discuss before selling two to one home.

A summer road trip or camping weekend can be wonderful with a dog — if you plan for the car, the heat and the campsite. How to restrain your dog safely, handle car sickness, keep ID up to date away…

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.

Barbed grass seeds and foxtails peak in summer and can burrow into paws, ears, noses and eyes, and occasionally travel deep into the body. Which dogs are most at risk, the signs to watch for, why you shouldn’t dig them…

Food allergies are less common than most owners think. How they show up, why tests on blood, hair or saliva don’t diagnose them, and how an elimination diet works.

Many dogs are bitten in their own backyard, and many owners never see the snake. How to recognize a possible snakebite in North America and Australia, what to do (and what not to do) on the way to the vet,…

First aid buys time on the way to the veterinarian; it does not replace one. What to put in a dog first aid kit, the basic steps for bleeding, choking, heatstroke, poisoning, seizures and shock, how to move an injured…

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, takes months to show and is hard and risky to treat, but it is easy to prevent. When puppies should start, why the dose depends on weight, when dogs need testing, why missed doses matter,…

Ticks become active as the weather warms, and some carry diseases that can make dogs seriously ill. Where ticks hide, how to check and remove them safely, which diseases they spread, why many vets now recommend year-round prevention, and what…

Easter is one of the riskiest times of year for dogs and chocolate. Why chocolate eggs, raisin-filled hot cross buns, sugar-free sweets and plastic basket grass are dangerous, which spring plants and garden products to watch, how to run a…

Gum disease is one of the most common problems vets see in dogs, and most of it can be slowed at home. When to start brushing, how often it needs to happen, what chews and diets can and can’t do,…

Valentine’s Day fills the house with chocolate, sugar-free sweets, drinks and flowers. Which of them are dangerous for dogs and puppies and why, how to keep gifts out of reach, and what to do straight away if your dog eats…