Dog Training & Care Archives

World Spay Day and Pros & Cons of Dog Neutering

by Amy Shojai | Feb 24, 2026

Every year, the last Tuesday in February we celebrate World Spay Day! Yes, actually, there really are both pros and cons to dog neutering and puppy sterilization that may surprise you. It did me. After all, we’ve heard from animal welfare advocates for years preaching the gospel of spay/neuter. Heck, I preached this myself and for the majority of dogs and cats (ESPECIALLY cats!), “the big fix” is the best thing that ever happens to them.

There’s evidence, though, that the pros and cons of dog neutering are not so black and white….

Perfect Pairings: Picking the Pup with the Right Personality for You

by Amy Shojai | Feb 18, 2026

Just like humans, every pet has a particular personality. Some are naturally active, ready for adventure, and eager to see what you’re up to. Others are more laid back and offer all the chill vibes. Puppy personality and development changes over weeks, too. But because every pet is unique, it’s important to look for a furry partner who shares a love of your lifestyle!

Before you rush out and adopt the cutest pet you find, think about what kind of pet personality would be a great match so you can share lots of love and fun times for years to come. Sometimes puppy temperament tests can help you predict the perfect puppy match.

The Science Behind Pet Personalities: Why Your Dog Acts the Way It Does

by Amy Shojai | Feb 16, 2026

From time to time, I discover organizations and individuals that stand out in amazing, passionate ways. They have vision and purpose to help pets–and those who love them–in unique ways. To honor them and the great work they do, I host them on this blog. Today, WAGGLE.org shares terrific information about ways to understand our dogs–and be sure to check out WAGGLE.org, a unique crowd-funding source dedicated to pets and people needing emergency help with vet bills.

Celebrating Valentines Day the Furry Way: Gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers

by Amy Shojai | Feb 13, 2026

Valentine’s Day is the purr-fect tail-wagging time to show some love to your furry family. Here are some fun gift ideas for you and your pets.

National Love Your Pet Day: 15 Ways How Pets Show Love

by Amy Shojai | Feb 12, 2026

At my house, I see how pets show love every day. If you wonder, how do I make my cat love me, it’s easy! February 20 is National Love Your Pet Day, but Valentine’s Day comes soon. At my house, pet love happens EVERY day. Whether you love your pet with special attention, treats and toys or lap snuggles, pet love has become a given in our pet-friendly society.

9 Dental Issues You Share With Your Cats and Dogs

by Amy Shojai | Feb 11, 2026

Pet dental problems rate as important to cats and dogs as your own dental issues are for you. Could your dog’s breath melt your glasses? Does your cat’s smile look like five miles of bad road? Pet dental problems are surprisingly similar to their owners’ dental issues. ..

Valentine’s Day: Pet Danger Advice

by Amy Shojai | Feb 10, 2026

I’m often interviewed by media about various cat behavior and dog training issues, and of course, Valentine’s pet dangers top the list this week. Pet hazards are common when our normal routine goes out the window, so pet parents are vigilant around the holidays. Refer to this post about Easter dangers for pets. And don’t forget that pet safety issues for Christmas are similar to those for Valentine’s Day but it’s always good to refresh our watch list.

Listen To Your Muse: How Pets, Music & Theater Make a Paw-sitive Difference for Animals

by Amy Shojai | Jan 30, 2026

Twelve years ago today a special stray cat arrived on my doorstep …and stayed. And later that year, a very special musical STRAYS debuted, inspired by Karma (and other furry muses). What has YOUR muse led you to do? Here’s an inside look into my world…

Stray Cat Finds Forever Home: Karma Comes Home

by Amy Shojai | Jan 30, 2026

On this anniversary of Karma’s Gotcha-Day, I wanted to share how my stray cat found his forever home. This was originally published on February 7, 2014, the day it became official…when Karma Came Home!

I’ve included the opening song from STRAYS, THE MUSICAL that celebrates such homecomings… enjoy!

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How to Crate Train Puppies & Kittens

SQUEEE! It’s puppy & kitten season, and just in time for YOUR big adoption gotcha-day celebration, many stores will have crate, kennels, carriers, and accessories on sale. There are many kinds of crates and carriers, from soft sided to hard plastic to wire, and in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Read on for some crate training tips for both dogs AND for cats.

How to Stop MEOWING! 6 Ways to Silence Loud Mouth Cats

Is a new cat in your future? Each spring and fall, kitten season may bless you with a new feline friend. But can you predict talkative cats? You wonder, why does my cat meow so much? Heck, cat meowing may be one way cats show love. My Siamese wannabe Seren lived to be 21 years old, and she talked constantly. We relished her kitty conversations, but some cats over-indulge, and pet parents want to stop cat meowing.

Karma-Kat rarely talks unless we address him and doesn’t randomly meow. Mostly, Karma comments center around FOOD and TREATS. He also meows at Shadow–thank goodness the noise doesn’t scare him! Yes, he understands the words, and his “meow” is typically a “yes, please” answer to our questions. Oh, and Karma “announces” when he uses the (ahem) facilities. Trinity-Kitten meows LOUDLY anytime food enters the picture. What about your cats?

Why Does My Dog Hug & Lean?

Watch this video for tips understanding why dogs lean against us and grab/hug us.

Cats In Your Garden? 10 Tips How to Keep Cats Away

Why would you want to keep cats away? Well, if you have indoor felines and strays keep trespassing, that can put your pets’ tails in a twist. Other times, the stray or feral cats abuse your hospitality, poop in your garden, or stalk the birdbath and terrorize the birds. If you have plants that prove dangerous to cats, visiting felines could be poisoned. What’s a responsible cat person to do?

How do you shoo unwanted cats out of your back yard? Maybe you have a dog that likes to dig, too. With spring weather fast approaching, lots of folks now find that community cats, strays or even feral felines have decided to make themselves at home in unwanted places. Here are my 9 tips to keep cats away.

How to Read Dog Poop: Normal Dog Poop to Dog Poop Problems

Everyone who shares a home (and heart) with a dog at some point must deal with dog poop problems. Learning what’s normal, to yellow colored stool, or learning how serious blood in dog’s stool may be helps get your dog help. While it may not be the most appealing topic, learning about your dog’s “creativity” offers important insight into his health.

Not only his food, but also your dog’s environment and emotional state, affects how his body works. Fear, anxiety, and stress can change a dog’s behavior, but also can disrupt digestion and cause enteritis. That in turn affects his poop.

Recognizing healthy elimination helps pet owners alert to abnormal eliminations. That way, when necessary, you can get your dog prompt medical help to diagnose and treat problems before they become worse.

Why Does My Cat Eat Grass?

Kitties are obligate carnivores. They MUST eat meat to derive the correct nutrients to live and thrive. So, what’s the deal with grazing? Check out some of the reasons…including a video from my Pet Talk days.

Attack Cat Protects Human! Fictional Macy-Cat Imitates Life

We mostly think of DOGS as heroes protecting their people. But what about cats? Does he or she serve as a guard kitty, able and willing to keep bad guys at bay? Here are a few examples–and why I include cats sometimes unexpected behaviors in my thriller fiction.

Pet Pampering: When Do We Spoil Pets Too Much?

Give ‘em toys, for sure. Lavish attention, absolutely. Dress yourself up and accessorize with jewelry et al. But when pampering transforms our pets into mere fashion statements, I gotta draw a line in the kitty litter. Give me a break! What do YOU think…can spoiling your pet go too far?

Dog Vomiting: How to Treat Puppy Vomiting At Home

A vomiting dog or puppy vomiting can be very dangerous for your pet, and while we don’t like to talk about it, pet vomit is a fact of life. Dogs tend to vomit more readily than almost all other animals. (The cats just started snickering . . . ) When we brought a new puppy into our house, we became even more alert to the issue.

Water Binging Vomit

Bravo-Dawg used to vomit due to high-energy play immediately after eating–or gulping down buckets of water. We learned to keep him calm for at least a half-hour after meals, and to interrupt his water-binging antics.

With tiny puppies, it’s even more important for them to get a health evaluation more quickly since they can get even sicker quicker than the bigger or adult dogs. Puppy vomiting is even more serious when accompanied by diarrhea. It’s important to understand why dogs vomit, and whether or not to treat puppy vomiting at home.

Pet Music Therapy? The Sound of Success!

Pet music therapy can help solve dog and cat behavior problems as well as offer physical therapeutic benefits. Our pets are attuned to sound and are incredibly sensitive to noises, including music. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, some pets with “stranger danger” issues are in for a rough ride. Pet music therapy can help. Read on for more tips.

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