Did you know that spending three minutes brushing your pet’s teeth can improve his or her quality of life?

It’s true.

Brushing your pet’s teeth may be one of the most important and easiest things you can do at home to safeguard his or her health. Without it, bacteria, tartar and plaque pile onto teeth. The first symptom of illness may be bad breath, which evolves to periodontal (gum) disease. Left untreated, bacteria in the mouth get into the bloodstream and can affect overall health. Read More…

Training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don’t even start. Keep training sessions short, on the order of 5-10 minutes, to maintain your dog’s motivation.

If your dog doesn’t respond appropriately to a command after several attempts, don’t reward him. Resume training a few seconds later using a simpler command. Return to the more complex task later. Read More…

Barking is one of many forms of vocal communication for dogs. People are often pleased that their dog barks, because it alerts them to the approach of people to their home or it tells them there’s something that the dog wants or needs. However, sometimes a dog’s barking can be excessive. Because barking serves a variety of functions, you must identify its cause and your dog’s motivation for barking before you can treat a barking problem Read More…

This video from dog trainer Zak George gives the basics on an important command that all dogs should comprehend – to come when called.  It can be a life saving command and one which Charleston dog owners should make sure their dogs understand.

Check out this handy guide from the folks at the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention which details the visual signs you should look for when monitoring your dogs weight.  Also included is a quick calorie guide for the most popular dog treats on the market today.  Please keep in mind that the caloric intake from treats can easily sneak up on a dog’s waistline.

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I have been told that my dog is obese and must be put on a diet. Is this true?
Nearly one-third (33%) of all adults in the United States are obese. Unfortunately, this same number now applies to our pets. Obesity leads to several diseases both in pets and people. Type II diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis are the most common weight-related disorders.

Diet and weight reduction are key to ensuring that your pet lives as long and healthy a life as possible. Read More…

Is your dog clingy? Does he whine or cry when you leave the house? Do you come home to find torn-up curtains? Are there deep scratches on your doors? If so, your dog may have separation anxiety.

It is often difficult to determine the cause of separation anxiety. Some pets are genetically predisposed, but there are many other causes, such as poor socialization, past neglect or abandonment, and changes in routine, to name a few. Read More…