Cat & Dog Behavior & Care Advice
Amy Shojai, CABC, Pet Expert & Award-Winning Author
DWAA Hall of Fame & AVMA Veterinary Media Award Winner
How to Choose Pet Sitters
When the holidays or business travel rolls around, pet sitters can be a big help when you plan vacations with or without your dog or cat. .Time off from work and a change of routine offers humans much-needed stress relief. But the same is not always true for furry family members. That’s where pet sitters come in. Do you have a pet sitter for your furry wonders? Here’s what you need to know!
Puppy Proofing Tips: How to Keep Puppies Safe
About the same time as Bravo's cancer diagnosis, a stray puppy showed up. Shadow answered prayers we didn't know we made. Sometimes God answers prayers in advance. So we once again needed to puppy proof the house. When we lost our 11-year-old German shepherd...
Veterinary Visits: Why Vets Take Your Pet to the Back
Does your veterinary clinic routinely take your pets to the back for treatment, out of your sight? Why do vets take your pet to the back? Years ago I worked as a vet tech and we didn’t routinely “take pets to the back” for treatment. Emergency visits, or pets not easily handled, were the exceptions. But more often than not, dogs and cats had their temperatures taken, vaccines administered, routine blood and stool samples procured, all while in the presence of the owners. Today, that may not be true…and here’s why.
Weird Stuff Dogs & Cats Eat: Why They Do It
Owners fill bowls with nutritious food to keep dogs healthy. So what’s up with all the weird stuff dogs eat? Why do dogs eat rocks, eat dirt, eat poop, and even eat dangerous stuff?
Tail Talk: What Dog & Cat Wagging Tails Mean
Pet tail talk goes beyond happy dog tail wagging. Today is National Dog Day and it's appropriate to talk about how dogs show happiness. It's not always about a wagging tail, either. Dogs and cat tail movement meaning speak volumes with their tails, from happiness to...
5 Kinds of Dog Aggression: #GetTough on Dog Fighting
April 8th was DOG FIGHTING AWARENESS DAY, and I’ve written about dog aggression and stopping dog fights before. It’s a good time to review the 5 common kinds of dog aggression and what to do.
According to the ASPCA, dog fighting happens all over the country and in all kinds of communities–rich, poor, middle class, it doesn’t matter, it’s there festering just beneath the surface. When fight rings are located, cases are built, offenders are prosecuted, and abuse survivors find loving homes.
Why Cats Drool During Petting
Does your cat DROOL during petting? What’s up with that? Here are a few thoughts on the (wet) subject…
Scared Cat? Here’s How to Solve Feline Stranger Danger!
Do you live with a scared cat? Does your new kitten hide under the bed? Do your adult cats disappear when visitors ring the doorbell—or thunder and fireworks BOOM? Does the new puppy send kitty into hiss-terics? It’s important to keep your cat happy, or else she can’t learn, and the stress can make her sick. Learning why a scared cat acts that way helps you know how to avoid “fright night” triggers.
A scared cat reacts with fear to unfamiliar people, places or situations. If kitties haven’t had a good experience—they assume the worst. Many kittens are clueless but as the cat matures, this “stranger danger” behavior protects kitties so they don’t walk up to hungry critters, dogs or people….
Why Does My Dog Hate Hats, and How to Banish Hat Hate?
You love your dog, and he adores you back. But why does your dog hates hats? Our Magical-Dog acted confused and barked at my husband when he wore a hat–until he heard his voice. But Bravo-Dawg didn’t seem to care. Some dogs act fearful, while others become aggressive when faced with hat-wearing people. What’s up with weird hat hate behavior? Has he become a fashion critic?
Dog Taste Buds: What Flavor Do Dogs Love?
Do dogs have taste buds? Yes! But do dogs care about taste? Again, they clearly have flavor preferences. Of course, we know some of the odd and nasty weird stuff dogs eat—I really do need to record an Ask Amy about why dogs drink out of the toilet—but do they actually taste such things? How dogs taste remains a mystery in many ways.
Dogs taste sense mirrors that of humans, one reason your dogs beg for yummies from the table. For young dogs, smell of the food seems to trump taste. With some dogs, dirty socks might be a flavor enhancer . . . Read on, to learn what tastes dogs love, hate, and more!
Awards
CWA Muse Medallion Award
Dog Writers Association of America Maxwell Award
Fear Free Certified
CWA Muse Medallion Award
Cat Writers Muse Medallion Awards
Memberships
