HappyownerHappydog

02/14/2025

Is kibble bad for your dogs teeth?

Our volunteers' 17 day ordeal comes to an end.

01/30/2025

Why you should not use laser pointers with dogs. I have met dogs, whose owners had, they now live a life of chasing and being fixated on shadows, anything that shines on the walls of the house. One owner had to have all blinds closed all day long.

Playing with laser pointers can harm a dog's health. Here’s why, plus safer alternatives for a physical and mental workout.

01/27/2025

We have no idea what noises our dogs are hearing. This article is a wonderful way of learning about how your dog hears.
https://happyhealthydog.org/2024/12/31/whats-your-dog-hearing/

01/20/2025

Our dogs have their own journeys through life. It is our duty to make sure they experience their journey with love and trust. Many times I come across dog owners who want their dog to be who they want them to be, even if the dog cannot manage it. Dont be selfish, be the advocate for your dog.

01/17/2025

What we and our pets eat is the number one cause and prevention of most issues. How do we know if the food we are giving them is what they need? It is so hard with so many pet food companies and variations of food, from kibble to cooked to raw food. I suggest you find a pet food store that have staff that are certified in pet nutrition and can educate you in what your dog needs.

01/16/2025

As Pet parents we do not always see symptoms and behaviors as messages rather than problems. Yesterday a groomer shared with me that one of her clients dogs was being more difficult than usual. The dog was being more skittish, the owner thinking this game of try to catch the dog to give over to the groomer was fun, not seeing that this behavior was a communication to her. Where are we not noticing symptoms before they become unwanted behaviors, now the dog has no choice as we did not pay attention to the original communication.

01/15/2025

Animals Reflect Our Energy​
Your pet feels your stress, joy, and love more deeply than you might realize. Are you aware of what messages you are sending through your energy?

01/13/2025

"Our dogs remind us of the art of being present and of finding joy in the simplest moments." Take time in your day to sit with your dog and get present without the phone or any distractions and just be.

01/10/2025

Dogs, much like children, crave attention and validation. Next time you ask them to do something and give them a treat, repeat and this time give them praise only and see how they react differently. Our level of excitement when giving praise, creates a different response to just giving them a treat.

01/09/2025

Lets dedicate some time to observing our pets to really understand their needs, write down what you notice. This will also help you relax, as you will not be thinking of anything else, while focused on your dog.

01/07/2025

Have you checked how many carbs in your dogs food? Most companies do not put this on their bags. Call the company and find out, as this is the effect on dogs with high carbs in their food.

Carbs make one hungry (one means a dog, a cat, or you)

Carbs push the blood sugar skyward

Insulin rushes in to lower it

When the spike and drop in blood sugar takes place over and over (as it does in the SAD and most pet feeding scenarios based on kibble), insulin resistance sets in (estimates: 80% of people in the US have it now)

That means insulin fails in its job to get the blood sugar under control

IR also means insulinemia: high blood levels of insulin remain, as it tries and tries to do its job

Insulin is a growth hormone, in simple terms. It’s all about anabolism, build up.

Unlike most hormones, it affects almost every cell in the body, including the fat cells.

—>Too many carbs + too much insulin = fat bodies, in pets or their peeps.

01/06/2025

Dogs’ developmental stages are not too dissimilar to humans. We have our baby, toddler, teenage, and adult stages, spanning at least 18 years. When people get puppies, they often forget that puppyhood into adolescence and adulthood can last at least two years. People are often shocked at how hard these two years can be. Expectations are often too high, and there’s a common lack of understanding of how challenging these periods can be for our dogs. This can cause frustration, upset, and annoyance at our dogs’ behaviour, leading to thousands of dogs being given up to rescues during this time...
The time to educate is before you get a puppy, but it is rare that I come across a client that has already done that research or called me out before the puppy arrives.

12/30/2024

What could shift in your relationship with your dog if you approached this new year with their natural wisdom? What if you met each moment with the pure presence they so naturally embody? Naturally regulate your nervous system, so you shake off any fear/anxiety. Live life to the full. Not hold grudges.

12/27/2024

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position statement, “The application of aversive methods—which, by definition, rely on application of force, pain, or emotional or physical discomfort—should not be used in canine training or for the treatment of behavioral disorders.”
Why do trainers promot this way of training?
Why do owners believe this is the best way?
Why do vets promot this way of training?

12/26/2024

We need to train dogs with reward-based methods. Aversive dog training methods—such as prong collars, shock collars, and leash corrections—work because they use fear and pain.
Dog guardians should recognize and respect the emotional lives of dogs.

12/24/2024

Next time your pet is relaxed, maybe gazing out of the window or just taking in the scent of the air etc, instead of reaching for your phone to capture the moment, simply sit with them. Notice how you are feeling, how your breathing naturally slows to match theirs. This is their timeless gift to us—a return to our own natural state of being. This is a gift that we are not aware that our dogs can give us.

12/23/2024

At this time of the year that often pulls us in many directions, our animals remain anchored in the wisdom of simply being, offering us a pathway back to our own inner sanctuary. When you find yourself getting stressed, turn to your dog for help in grounding your energy, perhaps a cuddle, massaging, petting or I like to use my dogs ears by stroking them between my thumb and fingers,( Honey loves me doing this)

12/20/2024

https://drjudymorgan.com/products/pet-personality-quiz?_pos=1&_sid=d0692b43a&_ss=r&utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=hQAkt_HrnJ9cvddEWr2Sz68Vmxw-WdCLfR1Tx9bhdnHZu-Z4NcUgwbwjOdAQn3Zo.Yhix2W

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine theory revolves around the 5 elements known as Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each element is associated with specific organ systems and a specific personality or “constitution”. Each constitution can be predisposed to medical issues, based on the or...