I am one of those people for whom taking two large dogs on holiday does not sound like a dream vacation. If I have to, I can certainly manage it, but every now and then I prefer to travel without them. I joke that this way I get a break...
Can every dog swim? Learn safe water introductions, life-jacket tips, water-quality warnings and signs of distress.
"But mine isn't a hunting dog." I sometimes hear that when someone describes a dog disappearing into the woods after an animal's scent. A breed label does not decide on its own whether a moving animal or a fresh trail will set a dog in motion. Irene and I each...
Who would you trust with your dog’s lead? For me, that question goes far beyond whether someone loves dogs and turns up on time. On a walk, one unexpected encounter, a lead slipping from someone’s hand or a misread signal can be enough to change the situation. I have been a...
When I moved into my house and began working on the garden, I was fairly sure that dogs and a beautiful garden could not coexist. With one dog, planning was still possible. With two, gardening began to feel like a landscaping competition: one team builds and the other tests the...
Dogs and fireworks are a topic every New Year's Eve, but for a frightened dog the difficult period often starts well before Christmas. A single bang during an evening walk can turn a familiar street into somewhere the dog no longer wants to go. I would not take a dog...
If someone had told me years ago to take my dog to a grooming salon, I would have asked why, when we already had a bathtub and shampoo at home. That was exactly my attitude until our team member Pekwa, or Peku, visited Anneli at the Neli Käppa salon in...
I once read a story about a dog that goes missing and, when found, may even run away from its owner. My first reaction was natural enough: how is that possible? We have all seen reunions where a dog immediately recognises someone it has not seen for years. Why should...
Whenever I see an announcement seeking a new home for a dog, my heart sinks a little, especially when the reason is simply “he gets into trouble”. Adopting a dog is not like buying furniture that can be returned after the first scratch. Yet the more I have thought about...
