Pet of the Month: July

Let’s give a round of ap-paws to our adorable July Pet of the Month, Bear! His full name is Beartholomew Gordon Buhr, and his birthday is on Valentine’s Day. This cutie is just a year and a half old, but has gone through so much before finding his furever home with his loving family now. 

Bear is a rescue, and his family is not sure what exactly is his breed. Their best guess is that he’s a cross between an Australian Kelpie and a Border Collie. 

Throwback: This photo was taken when Bear was first brought home.

He was rescued February 2022. His fur mom had just seen a Facebook post about two pups needing to be re-homed because the bigger and older one didn’t like them. She, together with Bear’s fur dad, drove a few towns over to get him. It was only when they got home that they

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How to Stop Dogs From Roughhousing Indoors

I would love to stop my dogs from roughhousing indoors.

I have a weimaraner and a yellow Labrador. They are both very playful dogs who get bursts of energy several times per day!

We don’t have a yard, so I try my best to give my dogs the exercise they need. 

We go for several leashed walks and runs each week. I give them some off-leash time on trails, and we compete in dog agility.

Still, I usually fail to provide my dogs with enough exercise on a weekly basis.

So they do a bit of “roughhousing” or wrestling in the house. Usually in the morning when they get up and again when they get the evening “zoomies.”

Should I let my two dogs roughhouse?

Roughhousing or play fighting indoors is normal dog behavior. It’s not a bad thing!

Play fighting is healthy for social dogs as long as all

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Happy Dogs and More Happy Dogs with Radio New Zealand

I spoke about dogs with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand’s Sunday Morning–and then came back to answer listeners’ questions. 

Two happy herding dogs in a field of long grass, with the cover of the book Wag by Zazie Todd

By Zazie Todd PhD

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Recently, I chatted all about dogs with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand’s Sunday Morning. We talked about my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, the importance of reward-based training and enrichment for your dog, and the relationship between dogs and their people.

You can listen to that interview here: Dr. Zazie Todd: how we know your dog loves you.

Then I came back to answer listeners’ questions about dogs. We didn’t manage to fit them all in, but we covered lots of topics from dog training treats and the best ways to train your dog or deal with behaviour

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7 Ways to Celebrate Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

It’s heartbreaking to lose a pet. Whether it is the daunting notion that the one who was always there for you no matter what will no longer be there, or the grieving of losing the one with whom you shared the best memories, the pain of loss is real.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day on August 28th celebrates our furry friends who have passed before us. Founded by Deborah Barnes in honor of her ragdoll cat, this day is the time to celebrate the love that your past pets brought.

7 Ways to Celebrate Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

There are many ways to memorialize our furry, feathery, and finned friends, and you should always choose the one that brings you comfort. If you’re looking for ways to pay tribute to your departed pets, or simply want some inspiration to observe it in your way, here are a few ways

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Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic | The Top Five Most Infamous Summer Pet Allergens
Dog running in field.

The sun is shining, the grass is green, and, for many of us, allergy season is in full swing. Pet allergy season often mirrors those in people. You may be wondering, though, what is your pet actually allergic to? Read on for the Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic’s top five list of the most common summer pet allergens. 

Our Top Culprits

Pets can be allergic to almost anything. Unlike humans, who tend to have respiratory symptoms (stuffy nose, anyone?), our animal friends tend to exhibit their allergies as skin conditions like itching, redness, ear infections, and hair loss. 

Many times it can be difficult to deduce what your pet is actually allergic to. In the case of pets with atopic dermatitis there may be multiple causes. There do tend to be some common players, though.

The most common summer pet allergens that our veterinarians see include:

  1. Flea bites: Some pets
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