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 ...

  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 rea...

  Last week, I wrote about how awesome Kong dog toys are and how nice it is that my dogs chew on them.   You know what’s not nice and awesome? Kong dog beds, and my dogs chewing on them.   It’s not an uncommon problem.   Puppies like to chew and they are perfectly happy to chew on, well, anything that they can put in their mouths.   For those of us who crate train our puppies – which I highly recommend! – this management strategy can curb a lot of unwanted chewing and keep the pup safely away from dangerous items.   But we feel bad sending our cute little fluffballs to puppy jail so not only do we train our dogs to enjoy the crate, but we also make it comfortable with cuddly toys, warm blankets, and plush beds.   And then what do the little bastards do? Render absolutely everything we give them into a mountain of shredded fabric and stuffing, drenched in excrement, all the while they screech like tormented souls and rattle the bars of their canine ...