Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime

As first seen on the Bedford-Katonah Patch
For most people, the signs of springtime come from the ground—seedlings pushing up from the soil, leaves unfurling on once-bare branches, flower bulbs sparking the ground with colors. For me, the surest sign… Read the rest

Temperament Testing a Dog or Puppy

As first seen on the Bedford-Katonah Patch
When I brought each of my kids home from the hospital, I was ready. The rooms were painted and the cribs were set up. The onesies were folded, the stimulating mobiles were hung,… Read the rest

Raising and Training Dogs of Various Breeds

As first seen on the Bedford-Katonah Patch
Over the past two weeks my articles have centered around Choosing a Dog or Puppy and Temperament Testing potential candidates before adopting one.   I covered many pre-puppy considerations—but clearly not all of… Read the rest

Tips For the Holiday Gift Puppy

I have recently written about holidays from your dog’s perspective. Frantic activity, changing schedules, trees, candle, bows, parties, music…yikes! All that happy but stressful human chaos can create simmering canine anxieties that result in behavior changes (resurgent chewing, hyper-excitability, over-assertive… Read the rest

Pet Odors

If you have pets, chances are you’ll have to do occasional battle against stains and odors.
My first hint? Stop it before it starts. If you’re housetraining a puppy or managing an incontinent older dog, roll up the carpets if… Read the rest

Choosing A Kid-Safe Puppy

Choosing a dog to raise with young kids should never be left to luck. I often recommend that my clients wait until their kids are at least 7 to 10 years old before bringing a puppy into the mix. I… Read the rest

Dog Groups

The American Kennel Club organizes dogs in groups based on the tasks for which the dogs were originally bred. Of course, a dog’s behavior depends upon more than just their breed group, but groups can offer a broad overview of… Read the rest

Boundary Training for Dogs

Meet Max, better and more recently known as “Mad Max.” Dear Max is a bright and energetic puppy with a passion for gardening–especially the digging part.
Max was driving his family crazy by uprooting, toppling, disrupting, disturbing and otherwise destroying… Read the rest