“I’m sad. Where is everybody? Where did my pack go?”
When summer ends, the kids return to school, schedules change, and doggie misses the “pack”. The house is so quiet, playmates are not coming and going, and maybe some family members who grew up with the dog will be heading to college and not returning for quite some time. This is a time of transition and the stress of schedule changes impact the entire family, including the dog. They are familiar with the one routine and now must adjust to another. With this separation anxiety and transition, behavioral problems can occur. How can we help reduce this stress and help dogs ease back into a different sort of routine?
Liam Crowe of Bark Busters USA offers some tips: (more…)
Summer is not over yet. River and lakes remain. Our swimming pools still hold water. Our pets can find this enticing, but dogs need to know where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where they get in. Many dogs enjoy swimming without giving a thought to how clean or dirty the water. If your pet has had a dip in a lake or river, rinse them off to avoid ear mites, eye infections and pesky clingy insects which can embed themselves into their fur.
Some professional dog walkers have been ignoring the law which took effect six months ago. Dog walkers caring for the rich and famous conduct their doggy day-car services at Laurel Canyon Park in the Hollywood Hills. There are about 20 dog walkers any given day, and some of them arrive with two vans full of dogs and stay for up to three hours. One couple charges $35 per dog and earn approximately $180,000 a year. 
Your kids are home for the summer. They have friends over. Some have pets; some do not. Young children are frequently left alone with the pets while parents “run a few errands”.
It happens every year about this time. We get out the suitcases, start to pack up, and across the room our pets are paying close attention sizing up the situation to determine if they are going with. Then just when they are about to wag their tails, they start worrying if this scene means they are about to be left behind with a dog sitter or taken to a boarding facility. Guilt. 
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