I once had a client confess to me, sounding rather frustrated and a little bit hurt, that their Labrador did not know how to play fetch. I told them that the lab was clearly defective, but the problem should be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty and that they could send him back for a software update. Surprising though it may be to the layperson, dogs – even retrievers – are not born automatically knowing how to play fetch!   And people, despite the best efforts of their canine companions, can sometimes do a fantastic job of squashing the innate love that instinct has already given many dogs.   The absolutely, positively, totally, number one, most important thing to remember about fetch is that it is a game .   We are doing this to have fun with our dog, folks.   Lighten up.   (I am not talking about the retrieve portion of obedience or schutzhund, or hunting dogs retrieving birds.   Although y’all could stand to lighten up a little too, just saying.   It’s still sup

  Memorial Day is next week, which means that if you haven’t booked your summer vacation then you are already running late.   And of course you weren’t planning on leaving your pup behind, right? Right? That’s what I thought.   After all, “wanna go for a ride?” elicits just as much canine enthusiasm as “wanna go walkies?” in most dogs I have met.   And what human can’t help but smile at the classic sight of a dog with their head hanging out the window of a car, joy in their eyes and jowls in the breeze?     But whether you are headed down to the beach or up to the mountains, or simply across town to grandma’s house, safe travel for all of your family members is vitally important.   A pup napping in the passenger seat becomes a projectile headed for the windshield if the vehicle gets rear-ended.   That happy dog with their head out the window can decide to jump into the middle of traffic without a moment’s notice.   If you, dear reader, have managed to avoid tragedy of this k

I learned a lot while working in animal rescue.   Some of it was heartwarming, some heartbreaking; some was fun, some was brutal; some was to be expected, and some was surprising.   One of the more surprising, yet practical things I learned, was how to make peanut butter gravy.   Now, peanut butter gravy is not a gourmet dish.   It consists of only two ingredients – peanut butter and water – the proportions and amounts of which are highly dependent upon the chef and the diner.   To the human senses, its taste and even aroma are, shall we say, uninspiring.   Served with its signature fixings – that is, mixed with dry kibble – it becomes downright revolting.   But its uses are multitudinous and to the canine palate it is seemingly incomparable.   First things first.   Choosy dog moms choose Jif.   If it’s that store brand crap or, god forbid, Peter Pan, don’t bother even trying to salvage the scraps.    For real, though, any brand is fine, but as a safety concern, make sure tha