Author: Michelle Douglas

The Chinese Shar Pei is a hearty breed. They are often described as stubborn, headstrong, and difficult to train. The truth is, they are great companions and can be quite fun to train to a very high level! However, they do not typically respond well to aversive training methods, which rely on physical corrections to attempt to teach the dog what to avoid. So their ‘difficult-to-train’ reputation may have originated from trainers attempting to use force, which was not inherently motivating. Luckily, modern training techniques[1] strive to enhance our relationships with our dogs, and shar pei respond quite well to...

The term “Separation Anxiety” is used to describe or explain destructive behavior associated with the fear of being left alone. There are mild forms of separation anxiety, which can generally be treated with behavior modification exercises; and there are severe cases, often requiring medication. We will discuss the symptoms and some common behavior modification techniques here. Reading the signs There are several different behaviors that could signal separation anxiety. Some dogs will eliminate in the house when you leave, even for short periods. Dogs that are left outside will dig giant holes in your garden, or tunnel under a fence....

ARE YOU READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS? With the holidays approaching rapidly, there are a few questions that always seem to pop up regarding pets. There is, of course the question of whether or not to get a pet for Christmas, or give one for that matter. There are the safety concerns for the pets we already have, and love dearly. Do we give our furry family members gifts (and if so, what)? Then, there are the good manners we always have to hear about from our relatives, which of course our pets do not possess when the relatives are around....