Training

Preventing Dog Reactivity: Don’t Let Them Run That Fenceline

Dogs can be reactive for a variety of reasons, including a conditioned response to feeling frustrated. When your dog is racing up and down the fence-line, nose to nose with the dog next door, hair standing up, barking and growling, do you see a problem, or do you love the fact that Rover is getting some exercise? If the latter…

by Leslie McGavin Clifton, PMCT, CPDT-KA

My Dog Won’t Play: How to Facilitate Playful Behavior in Your Dog

What could be a reason for a dog to not engage in play? When Doobie joined my household, this 5-year-old lab knew only fear. Play was a totally foreign concept to this frightened creature. Dobie’s immediate concerns were how to cope in a new and frightening environment. The latter is really what I wish to communicate, to all those who…

by Leslie McGavin Clifton, PMCT, CPDT-KA

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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