Ever had a dog who won't give you his bone or chew toy if you try to take it from him? Or one who gets uncomfortable or growls if you get close to him when he's eating his dog food? Or snaps at you if he's on the sofa and you want him off? Or lifts his lip in a snarl if your friend tries to get close to you? Answer yes to any of the above, and you've successfully diagnosed your dog as having a guarding issue. The catchall, technical term is "resource-guarding," and can includ

Sometimes life is hard. I work all day trying to be cute and all Amanda can do is look at this screen. I just don’t understand what all the fuss is about.

You contemplate taking your dog for a walk with mixed emotions. You love the idea of going for a companionable stroll through the neighborhood together, but when you pick up his leash he becomes the Tasmanian Devil. Here are suggestions for turning this potential disaster into the enjoyable outing you dream of. Exercise first. Spend 15-20 minutes tossing a ball for your dog in the backyard, or providing intense mental exercise with a heavy duty shaping session. You'll take th

So you think this is a bad hair day – you should have seen me with I first arrived at the PawsCienda Pet Resort. Every day was a bad hair day! But my friends here at the PawsCienda love to brush me and keep me looking nice – it’s a good thing to – I’m generally pretty lazy.

If your dog is exhibiting some behavior you don't want, you may have wondered, "Why is he doing it?" Does he not love you? Is he trying to dominate you? If he knows you don't like whatever it is he is doing, then why does he keep doing it? Is he not your best friend, after all? I think the answer is that he behaves the way he does simply because he has some need that the behavior helps him meet. He may not even find the behavior particularly fun to do, as is the case with mos

My journey began on a warm and beautiful spring day. We left Charlottesville (my former home) driving through the lovely countryside – well I think the countryside was lovely – I actually never looked since I had my eyes closed and my head buried in the corner of my cat carrier the entire trip. After what seemed like an eternity, we pulled up to this beautiful rustic mountain lodge. As we went inside and looked around, the décor was just purrrfect! I was introduced to my n

Have you ever felt dismayed over the shrinking access for our canine companions? I know that to a large degree we've brought it on ourselves by our collective carelessness about proper public and leash-walking etiquette. Teaching your dog how to walk politely on a leash is more than just a convenience. When you can walk in public with your dog following your moves, he's more likely to stay out of trouble. Teach your dog the difference between walking and heeling. Whether yo