Feature Stories
This Month’s Hot Topics
This month’s issue is supported in part by SF Animal Medical Center and dog lovers like you.
Teamwork Is the Key: Love Is the Reward
Meet my sporty dog Crimes. He’s successfully competed in dock diving, fast cat, barn hunt, and nose work. He trains in flyball and agility - we are a playful household.
All About Agility: Is It the Right Sport for You and Your Dog?
Have you ever watched in awe as a dog and its handler navigate a complex obstacle course with speed, precision, and breathtaking teamwork? Welcome to the thrilling world of dog agility!
Fresh Name, Growing Services: ARF is Now Joybound People & Pets
After 32 years as the Animal Rescue Foundation, ARF has started its next chapter as Joybound People & Pets.
Breaking Bad: How Counterconditioning Changes Problem Behaviors
Counterconditioning - a method deeply rooted in behavioral science - offers a powerful and effective strategy to help transform these behaviors into positive outcomes.
How Doodle You Do… Is a Doodle Right for You?
I encountered my first Doodles in the early 2000s while pet sitting in San Mateo County.
Speak From the Heart: Discovering Your Dog's Love Language
Can we draw parallels to author Gary Chapman’s five famous “love languages?” Might physical touch, quality time, or gift giving unlock our pups’ emotional preferences?
Beyond Love: Building Bonds With Your Dog
That’s a big part of why we have dogs in the first place: they accept us unconditionally and offer a never-ending supply of love whenever we’re ready to receive it.
If It Didn’t Hurt, It Wouldn’t Work: The Truth About Choke, Prong, and Shock Collars
Our understanding of animal behavior has evolved significantly in the last few decades (thanks, science). Yet outdated ideas about the best way to train dogs persist.
What It Takes: Training Your Own Service Dog
How do you know if your dog is capable of becoming a service animal? And how do you prepare your dog for such a big leap in responsibilities?
Calming Fido's Holiday Fears: A Specialist’s Tips for a Stress-Free Season
For many dogs, new experiences like fireworks, travel, and house guests can turn this time of year into a stressful mess.
Puppy Presents: Pros and Cons of Gifting a Dog to Your Kids
There are some very real benefits to growing up with a dog, but adding a dog to your family is not a decision that should be made lightly.
Why We Do It: A Grateful Salute to My Fellow Rescuers
But here’s the thing, the part that might not be so obvious to the naked eye, the reason so many of us in the rescue and humanitarian sector keep going. It's gratitude.
Grateful for a Life Shared: 15 Years with Finntroll
“Don’t get a Malinois,” people repeatedly warned me when I first declared my intention to welcome one of these famously intense Belgian herding dogs into my life.
Bearing Up: What Cancer (and My Dog) Taught Me About Gratitude
Even in the darkest times, I could always find gratitude, which I think made a huge impact on my treatment and recovery.
The Scoop on Canine Carts: When Are Wheels Right for My Dog?
Mobility devices can help keep a dog going in more ways than one.
Big in Europe and Coming Your Way: New Osteoarthritis Pain Med for Dogs
Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is no fun. It’s a degenerative joint disease that ultimately leads to functional decline of the joint, resulting in lameness and chronic pain for the dog.
Love Shots: Why Vaccinating Your Pup Matters
Why should I vaccinate my pup? We’ll give you five good reasons, but really, the first two alone should be enough for anyone who cares about their pet.
Work to Eat: Why Food Puzzles Are a Dog’s Best Friend
There are ways to manage and prevent your dog from redecorating your house with last night’s takeout boxes and torn up shoes - the answer is work-to-eat puzzle toys.
Bone Appetit! Tips for More Effective Food Training
Have you tried using food in training but found it difficult? Here are some of my top tips for the effective use of food in dog training.
More Bark for Your Buck: A Practical Guide to Cheap and Healthy Dog Treats
As holistic pet care gains momentum, more dog owners are questioning the ingredients in commercial dog food and treats.