It’s that time again!  Calendars.  In this day of Blackberrys and IPhones, give me a good old fashioned wall calendar, any day. I love them and I love choosing my new calendar every year.  Naturally, I go for some kind of dog themed calendar and there are always plenty to choose from.  It seems like a very important decision.  Clearly, you want a calendar that is interesting enough to look at every single day for the next year.  This year, I got two.
The first one is the Snapshots calendar.  All …

I found this article today in The Houston Chronicle and I thought it was well worth passing along.  GREAT advice and information.  Before you go out and get that Christmas puppy, read this!
Thinking of getting a pet? Think hard.
Houston’s animal shelters and foster homes are filled with pets surrendered by people who made a decision they came to regret. The Houston Humane Society offers five reasons you should not get a pet:
1. Your lifestyle is not set up for a pet. People who travel constantly or work extremely long hours will not …

Rosie has been adopted! I could not be more thrilled to pass on the news that Rosie has a new daddy and a beautiful new name (Cleopatra or Cleo). Thank you so much to everyone who passed around the blog helping in the search for Cleo’s forever home. Her new home is perfect for her. Chuck, her new daddy, is active and committed. He absolutely understands the huge responsibility it is to own a dog (especially a pit bull rescue), and he plans on running with her and …

Friday night I came home to this beautiful girl sitting in front of my apartment. She was just sitting there calmly as if she had come to visit me on purpose. My heart sank when I saw her because I knew immediately that she was homeless and that I would not be able to turn a blind eye on her. She looked at me directly with her golden eyes as if to say, “I mean no harm”. I brought out some food and water and started working with her a …

The clicker is widely regarded as the greatest breakthrough in modern animal training. Clicker training evolved from the training of marine animals. Since marine animals are usually at a distance (and in the water!), trainers found it difficult to instantly reward them for correct responses. While Marine animal trainers usually use a whistle to mark the behaviors (the sound travels better underwater), we use a simple piece of metal and plastic which clarifies (in the dog’s mind), what is expected of him at an exact point in time without …

Hud works on an Everlasting Beanie Ball made by Star Mark
As important as physical exercise is, mental stimulation is also critical. Most breeds of dogs were originally bred to do a job; they were created for a purpose.  As household pets, most dogs are never asked to herd the cattle, pull the sled, hunt for dinner, guard the sheep, or kill vermin on the farm! Without mental stimulation, a dog will become bored and/ or anxious and as a result, behavior issues will most likely ensue.
Imagine if you never learned …

I confess. I have done it. We are all guilty of it. Pet owners constantly say all kinds of things to their dogs; from commands, to baby talk, to full on monologues. But the thing is, no matter how soulfully they may look up at you, dogs are not born understanding English… or French, or German, or Chinese. They can learn words in any language, but they must be taught. However, most pet owners just automatically assume that their dog understands language and they forgo any kind of …

Hollywood has done it again. Beverly Hills Chihuahua was a huge box office success. That means lots of families and lots of little kids ventured out to the theater and left wanting a Chihuahua of their very own. I mean, who can resist those adorable, tiny, talking dogs? They look so great in the movie, and they are sooo little! Therefore, they must be a perfect dog for families and little kids, right?  The answer is a definitive, NO. As adorable and wonderful as they may be, …

Now hear this!  Once a  week, I will be joining morning DJ and dog lover/advocate, Dana Tyson, to discuss dog training tips and advice during her morning show on Sunny 99.1.  Podcasts of the show are available by clicking here if you miss the on-air broadcast by clicking this link.  Wow, technology is so great! 
If you have any questions or tips you would like Dana and I to discuss on air, just send me an email and tell me a little about your Fido woes. 
steph@getalonglittledoggie.net
 
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make …