Dog Star Daily

Puppies and Shelter Dogs: Two Sides of the Same Coin

I am a dog trainer and I lead a double life. Of sorts. Behaviorally speaking.

The Essential Puppy Training Course is HERE!

We are thrilled to announce the release of our all-new Essential Puppy Training Course.

Dominance and Dogs: Who is the Boss?

Dogs often act as connectors in society.

The 2 Most Common Mistakes Dog Owners Make (and How to Fix Them)

There are a couple of mistakes that dog owners frequently make which are simple to fix and have the potential to dramatically improve a dog's behavior.

Getting a Puppy Over the Holidays

The holidays can be a wonderful time to add a puppy or dog to your family, but the holidays also present plenty of challenges.

All Puppies Deserve a FIRST Chance — an EDUCATION!

Owners and their new puppies are still getting the short end of the stick.

Ian Dunbar

The Outermost House

Sue Pearson | Sat, 04/07/2007 - 17:21

You’ve flipped through all the magazines in the waiting room, and heard the stories of countless animals as they filtered through the veterinary clinic with their owners. They arrive and leave again, bidding you good luck, and yet breathing a silent breath of relief that it is you who remain. The hours of waiting grow long when your pal of fourteen years is in the throes of an uncertain surgery. And so, you find yourself wandering the hallways, reading the numerous memorials, awards, and diplomas that paper the walls – anything to take your thoughts somewhere else for a few minutes.

The Dune Chronicles (second in an ongoing series)

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Sat, 04/07/2007 - 07:01

It was 4 pm on a sun-drenched autumn day. The sun had begun it’s descent, making the temperature perfect for a four-mile trek in the Northern California hills. The dusky sky was ripening into a mottled rosy-violet curtain that would gradually darken to a deep blueberry hue. Flecks of silver stars dotted the atmosphere and a sliver of silvery moon was making an early appearance on the horizon.

Mojo's 13th Birthday

Nicole Wilde | Fri, 04/06/2007 - 09:04

Mojo is my baby. Sure, he’s a 120-pound, fur-covered baby, but my baby nevertheless. He’s a gorgeous combination of malamute, german shepherd, rottweiler and wolf. Long, thick black hair with sparse tan markings, tall and long-bodied. Amber eyes and a thick, bushy tail, just a bit wolfy-looking. When he stands on his hind legs, he is taller than I am—okay, with me being 5’2” that’s not saying much, but still. Mojo doesn’t stand on his hind legs much these days; today is his 13th birthday.

"Potty Training" with real grass!

Dog Star Daily® | Thu, 04/05/2007 - 18:48

Here are several photos of 5 week old pups using their real grass toilet area as suggested in Dr. Ian Dunbar's books "BEFORE You Get Your Puppy" and "AFTER You Get Your Puppy".

These pups will have a strong substrate preference for grass and be essentially pre-potty trained before they go to their new homes.

And with fifteen puppies in the litter this early habit is also a savior for their human *Mum* as well.

Note: While these pups will do their best to reach grass in order to do their business please remember that most pups, regardless of early training, do not have full bladder and bowel control until somewhere around six months of age. They still must be supervised or have access to a Long-

Dog Training Secrets No One Else Knows

Cindy Bruckart | Wed, 04/04/2007 - 16:01

If I told you that I had a special gift for seeing through your dog’s behavior and pin-pointing the problem and solution almost instantaneously, would you be intrigued? What if I told you that I could impart this wisdom to you and enable you to communicate clearly with your pet, so as to control that pet’s behavior? How much would you pay to learn the secrets of dog training from an intuitive and gifted master?

Saving Ollie - Part 1 in a series on a shelter dog with serious behavior problems

Jeff Silverman | Wed, 04/04/2007 - 06:42

I had little optimism for Ollie’s future as we concluded his initial behavior consultation. Homes for 140-pound dogs who bite people are in short supply, and Ollie seemed about to lose his. Ann and Meredith (not their real names) had adopted him from a shelter less than two months before our appointment. Their relationship started out wonderfully. The big goofy Harlequin Great Dane quickly bonded with his new family and spent his first 2 or 3 weeks charming their friends and neighbors. Then his behavior took a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse.

The Dune Chronicles: A little background….

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Wed, 04/04/2007 - 02:09

When the time came for me to select my first new puppy in many years I proceeded slowly and carefully and put a lot of thought into it. Choosing a new dog to be your companion is a big decision, and as someone who works with animal shelters and their resident animals I have seen so many pairings gone awry. I know it is important to really think about lifestyle and expectations before getting a dog; and then there is lots of research to do to find the dog the will be the best match.

Making a Living With the Dogs- by Veronica Boutelle, MA, CTC

Dog Star Daily® | Tue, 04/03/2007 - 07:48

Ever wish you could quit your day job and live life with the dogs? Perhaps you sit at your work desk dreaming of being a dog walker? Maybe you drift off during meetings, imagining yourself training canines? Or stare past customers, planning your own doggie daycare? In short, do you want to work with dogs full time, but can’t see how? Coaching and supporting dog professionals for a living, I’ve seen people make the transition to full-time dog pro from all walks of life—lawyers, secretaries, computer scientists, sales reps, consultants, college students, you name it. So if you’ve ever daydreamed, read on to see what it takes to make a living with the dogs.

Seek Good Education

Dog Food Ads: Hope or Hype?

Nicole Wilde | Mon, 04/02/2007 - 09:04

Dog Food Ads: Hope or Hype?

Have you ever seen that dog food commercial where the puppy scampers up the wooden porch steps to the adoring child? Thanks to the magic of television, the dog is then an adult, walking up those same stairs to the now-teenager. Fast-forward another few years and the dog is a senior, climbing slowly toward his loving adult owner. Do the math, and you know what comes next—reaching for the Kleenex.

Basic Instinct

Dog Star Daily® | Sun, 04/01/2007 - 12:35

Many years ago, I asked my malamute Phoenix, whether she wanted to drive down Solano Avenue to get some frozen yogurt and she didn't reply with her usual WrrrWrrrooooo and so, convinced she was up to some mischief, I quietly crept upstairs, only to find her puzzling with The Times crossword while listening to CNN. This may surprise some of you. It certainly surprised me. Normally I expect dogs to chew, dig and bark for amusement, not to read a book, enjoy needlepoint, or watch soaps on the television.