Category: Pets

Does your dog get excited and jump on you and other people? Dogs jumping up on guests is a very common – and frustrating – behavior. Dogs jump on you to get attention and to try and greet you face to face. When dogs jump up, they get the attention they seek, making it very easy to accidentally reward the jumping by pushing the dog down or talking to the dog. With consistent training it is possible to teach your dog to stop jumping on you or your guests.

Why do dogs jump on you?

Although we might find it rude for dogs to jump on us or our guests, this is actually a very common and natural behavior for our dogs. Even dogs who have basic obedience training may struggle to control the impulse to jump up on you. Dogs greet each other face to face, and this can contribute to dogs attempting to greet us the same way, which usually involves jumping up. Although your dog is likely just trying to say hello, a dog jumping up can make a mess of your work clothes or, especially with large breed dogs, can accidentally cause someone to lose his balance and fall over.

When dogs jump on you or your guests, they are looking for attention and engagement. And the engagement they get, even though we might see it as negative by asking them to get off or pushing them off, can feel like play or positive attention for dogs. As a result, while you might feel frustrated your dog has been jumping, he doesn’t understand you want that behavior to stop. In fact, you may accidentally have rewarded the jumping. Dog training can help you curb your dog’s natural curious and social tendencies that result in the jumping behavior and give your dog something else to do instead of jumping.

How to stop a dog from jumping

When teaching your dog not to jump on people, get a friend or family member to help you set up training opportunities so your dog can practice calm engagement. The goal is to set our dogs up for success by removing the temptation to jump. Practice greetings with your dog on leash and  have lots of high value treats cut into small pieces.

Teach your dog an alternative behavior to jumping

The best way to stop a dog from jumping is to teach an alternative behavior that allows you to help your dog understand what you want him to be doing instead of jumping. We don’t want to correct dogs for jumping. Instead, we want to proactively teach the dogs to do an alternative behavior to jumping up on your guests.

Use these steps to teach your dog to stop jumping with an alternative behavior:

Step 1: Have a friend or family member approach you and your dog but, before they get to you, scatter a small handful of treats on the ground and encourage your dog to eat them while you briefly greet the person.

Step 2: While your dog is still eating the scattered treats, have your friend turn and walk away without engaging with your dog. Praise your dog, and when your dog has finished eating the scattered treats, get his attention with a treat in your hand, turn and walk the other way.

Step 3: When your dog is comfortable eating scattered treats as someone approaches and leaves, you can build up the duration of how long you greet someone. To do this, repeat the above steps and then continue to toss a treat for your dog to find while you talk with the person. Then, get your dog’s attention with a treat in your hand and turn to calmly walk away.

Step 4: When your dog can comfortably eat treats tossed on the ground while you greet a person, try approaching the person, tossing treats for your dog like you have before to put him in a calm state of mind. Then, if you have a social dog who enjoys meeting people, tell your dog, “Say hi and allow your dog to quickly greet the person. Keep the greeting short and positive and, before your dog gets too excited, toss treats again for your dog to find.

Step 5: As your dog begins to understand the game, he will look at you as you approach a person instead of jumping up. Your dog will make the connection that what gets rewarded is keeping all four feet on the floor and not jumping up. As your dog gets better at the game, reduce the number of treats you need to throw and scatter. Eventually, start to just drop treats as you greet your guests.

Timing your dog jumping training

The key to success with teaching your dog not to jump up is to make sure you are tossing treats before your dog can jump. If at any point your dog jumps on someone, don’t correct your dog for jumping up. Instead, just have the person ignore your dog, turn and walk away. Then, re-engage your dog by tossing treats and have the person reapproach as you continue to toss treats to reward your dog for staying on the ground.

Although jumping is natural for dogs, it’s important to teach dogs not to jump on you or your guests. A dog jumping up can be frightening to people, or even cause someone to fall and get injured. Jumping up is self-rewarding for dogs, so teaching your dog not to jump on people is easiest to do by giving your dog an incompatible behavior to do. By tossing treats for your dog to find while you talk with someone, you’re rewarding your dog for keeping his feet on the floor. Over time, your dog will learn to offer keeping his feet on the ground as you greet people.

Dog eye infections can be extremely painful and need immediate attention. There are lots of tell-tale signs to help determine whether it’s dog eye allergies vs. infection and what the appropriate treatment should be.

Your dog may not be able to tell you he has a sore eye, but here are some very obvious clues that he may be suffering from a dog eye infection:

• Squinting or keeping the eye completely closed. This is called Blepharospasm.
• Constant pawing at the eye, or rubbing the eye on the ground or couch.
• Your dog is sensitive to being approached or touched near the affected eye.
• Redness and signs of inflammation around the inner eyelids/mucosal tissue are signs of conjunctivitis.
• A redness around the iris in the “white of the eye” is referred is an episcleral injection caused by congestion of the episcleral vessels.
• Swollen conjunctival tissue is called chemosis.
• Excessive discharge from the eyes. It could be clear or, if there’s severe infection, it will likely be discolored, pus-like material. This is called epiphora.
• A general reddening/inflammation in the interior of the eye is known as Uveitis.

Dog eye allergies vs. infection

“Determining whether it’s an infection or an allergy can be a tricky diagnosis for a pet parent,” explains veterinarian Dr. Chad Maki, BVM&S, of Huntington Beach, California. “If the inflammation is severe, the eye seems to be painful, and there is mucopurulent discharge (pus discharge), then most likely it’s an infection.”

Dr. Maki points out that if symptoms are milder, even if there is clear discharge, but the eye doesn’t seem painful, then it could be either an infection or an allergy. Allergies usually have other symptoms, too, such as sneezing, an obviously itchy skin (pruritus), constant paw-licking, ear-scratching and irritated anal glands.

“Further, if the symptoms are year-round, the issue could be an atopic dermatitis. It’s important to check that the issue isn’t food related, too. Thus, with so many variables, it’s best to let a veterinarian make the final diagnosis,” he adds.

Dog eye infection diagnosis

Because there is such a wide range of causes of eye infections, a veterinarian will typically administer a topical anesthetic to relieve pain and then proceed with a more thorough ocular exam.

Typical dog eye infection tests include:

• The Schirmir Tear Test (STT) measures the amount of tear production. If it is low, it could be a case of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye. This is an autoimmune condition that attacks the patient’s own tear glands and can be treated with topical ocular immunosuppressants.
• An examination with an opthalmoscope allows the veterinarian to see the back of the eye through the pupil and also to look for any misplaced hairs or eyelashes or foreign material such as a foxtail that could be caught under the third eyelid, as well as any sign of a tumor.
• A test to read the intraocular pressure will determine if it’s a more serious condition such as glaucoma.
• A fluoresceine stain will determine if there’s a corneal ulcer present, which is more serious and needs to be treated and monitored closely for resolution.
• Sometimes a sample of the discharge is sent away to be analyzed.

More serious conditions such as glaucoma, a luxated lens, melting ulcer or foreign body penetration, require immediate referral to an ophthalmologist, as fast surgical intervention may be able to rescue the eye.

Dogs often contract eye infections from other dogs. Common dog eye infectious are caused by Mycoplasma bacteria and a range of viruses such as adenovirus, distemper virus, herpesvirus, parainfluenza virus, pneumovirus, respiratory coronavirus and influenza A.

Dog eye infection treatment : when to see a vet

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Routine treatment for an ulcer or bacterial infection is antibiotic eye drops or ointment. More severe infections require a course of antibiotics in addition to a topical ocular medication.

Bad doggie news: Your dog will not be impressed, because a head cone is usually required to keep the area paw-free from scratching. Fortunately, there are lot of more comfortable soft options that will do the job instead of a hard-plastic cone.

How to treat dog eye infections at home

Although there are no dog eye infection treatments at home, there’s a lot a pet parent can do to prevent dog eye issues.

Use these tips to prevent dog eye infections:

• Keep the eyes and the surrounding hair and skin clean. Keep nails short and dull so they don’t inadvertently scratch the eye area. And avoid other pets who may scratch and cause trauma, too.
• Special canine eye lubricant gels are good preventives to use prior to and after outdoor activities to help avoid dust and foreign material getting into the eye and also before a bath to avoid a shampoo irritating the eyes. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
• Don’t allow your dog to dig randomly in the yard or in areas with lots of low bushes and plants that could cause trauma to the eye area.

“We see a lot of eye trauma due to plant branches, thorns, foxtails and other areas where dogs are investigating narrow places,” cautions Dr. Maki.

If your dog is prone to allergies, keep an antihistamine such as over the counter Benedryl (diphenhydramine) on hand. Dr. Maki recommends 1mg/lb., up to 50mg per dose, up to every eight hours.

Eye infections can also be controlled if you avoid interaction with dogs with any signs of an upper respiratory infection or eye irritation. Also, step up your pooch’s regular grooming routine to ensure the eye area is always clean. Also, wipe your dog’s face with specially formulated wipes after every hike and day at the beach. Your dog will thank you with grateful kisses.

Dogs can be both curious and naughty, resulting in them inadvertently ingesting something that can make them sick and even be life-threatening. A quick reaction — making your dog throw up — matters. But how true is the rumor that making a dog throw up with hydrogen peroxide or baking soda is safe? We’ll show you how and when to safely induce your pooch to vomit.

When to make your dog throw up

Despite properly dog-proofing a home, a dog can still get into trouble by ingesting something poisonous that needs to get out of his system as soon as possible.

These household items could make your dog sick:

• Mouse or rat bait pellets, both in packages and when placed around the home and outdoors
• Foods containing xylitol
• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Avocadoes
• Onions

Keep a list of toxic items handy inside a kitchen cupboard, like this one from Pet Poison Helpline.

The ASPCA.org website also has a very comprehensive list of poisonous plants.

“How quickly you need to react will depend on what they’ve swallowed,” says Dr. Renee Schmid, senior veterinary toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline. “For things like xylitol or most medications, vomiting should occur within the first 1 to 2 hours. For liquids and chewable tablets, there is usually only a 15 to 20 minute window. For plant material and many baits, chocolate and grapes/raisins, you can usually have success several hours after the ingestion.”

While it usually comes down to a dog’s individual personality and behavior, Dr. Schmid says that according to calls received by the Pet Poison Hotline, Labradors and mixed breeds are the most likely dog breeds to eat foods that will require a human to make the dogs throw up.

How much hydrogen peroxide to make a dog to throw up

Dr. Schmid says that giving a dose of hydrogen peroxide to make a dog throw up is the only safe way to induce vomiting in a dog at home.

But, she cautions, “There is a limit as to how much hydrogen peroxide can be safely given, and too much can cause serious stomach issues. So, it’s a good idea to talk with a veterinary professional to determine the amount that can safely be given in terms of the size and weight of the dog. The hydrogen peroxide should be fresh, non-expired and still bubbly when poured out of the container.”

Give your veterinarian a call to confirm how much hydrogen peroxide to give your dog. However, here is the basic rule of thumb:

Use 3% hydrogen peroxide, which you can buy in the store or online. Use only 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of your dog’s body weight, not going over 3 tablespoons. For example:

5-pound dog = 1 teaspoon 3% hydrogen peroxide

10 pound = 2 teaspoons

15 pound = 3 teaspoons (or 1 tablespoon as there are 3 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon)

20 pound = 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon

25 pound = 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons

30 pound = 2 tablespoons

35 pound = 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon

40 pound = 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons

45 pounds and up = 3 teaspoons

Your dog should vomit within 5 minutes. If he doesn’t, you can re-dose only once. If he doesn’t vomit within 10 minutes, rush your dog to the veterinarian. Any more dosage can cause serious stomach issues and then you’ll have even more of an emergency.

Make a bottle of hydrogen peroxide a household essential. There’s a six-month expiry date once a bottle has been opened. If unopened, check the expiration date detailed on the packaging, which is usually around three years.

Never make a dog vomit with baking soda

Never give a dog baking soda to induce vomiting as it can result in serious electrolyte changes to a normally healthy dog and may even result in hospitalization. The same goes for making a dog throw up with hands. Attempting to get a dog to throw up with your hands can cause permanent damage to nerves needed to protect the airway.

Be prepared in case you need to make your dog throw up

Keep a pet first aid kit both at home and in the car. When a dog ingests something dangerous, you’ll need fresh hydrogen peroxide and syringes to administer it, plus gauze to wipe the mouth and jaw.

For additional advice, there’s a $75 fee for calling the 24-hour Pet Poison Hotline. The staff are trained to evaluate the danger and give detailed information on how to make your dog throw up and further determine whether the pet can be monitored at home or should be seen by a veterinarian.

While it good to know what to do should you need to make your dog to throw up, remember that when a dog vomits, aspiration also occurs, which means the automatic inhalation of the foreign substances into the airway and into the lungs. So, caution is key as vomiting should only be induced if there is really a true need.

Dog eye infections can be extremely painful and need immediate attention. There are lots of tell-tale signs to help determine whether it’s dog eye allergies vs. infection and what the appropriate treatment should be.

Your dog may not be able to tell you he has a sore eye, but here are some very obvious clues that he may be suffering from a dog eye infection:

• Squinting or keeping the eye completely closed. This is called Blepharospasm.
• Constant pawing at the eye, or rubbing the eye on the ground or couch.
• Your dog is sensitive to being approached or touched near the affected eye.
• Redness and signs of inflammation around the inner eyelids/mucosal tissue are signs of conjunctivitis.
• A redness around the iris in the “white of the eye” is referred is an episcleral injection caused by congestion of the episcleral vessels.
• Swollen conjunctival tissue is called chemosis.
• Excessive discharge from the eyes. It could be clear or, if there’s severe infection, it will likely be discolored, pus-like material. This is called epiphora.
• A general reddening/inflammation in the interior of the eye is known as Uveitis.

Dog eye allergies vs. infection

“Determining whether it’s an infection or an allergy can be a tricky diagnosis for a pet parent,” explains veterinarian Dr. Chad Maki, BVM&S, of Huntington Beach, California. “If the inflammation is severe, the eye seems to be painful, and there is mucopurulent discharge (pus discharge), then most likely it’s an infection.”

Dr. Maki points out that if symptoms are milder, even if there is clear discharge, but the eye doesn’t seem painful, then it could be either an infection or an allergy. Allergies usually have other symptoms, too, such as sneezing, an obviously itchy skin (pruritus), constant paw-licking, ear-scratching and irritated anal glands.

“Further, if the symptoms are year-round, the issue could be an atopic dermatitis. It’s important to check that the issue isn’t food related, too. Thus, with so many variables, it’s best to let a veterinarian make the final diagnosis,” he adds.

Dog eye infection diagnosis

Because there is such a wide range of causes of eye infections, a veterinarian will typically administer a topical anesthetic to relieve pain and then proceed with a more thorough ocular exam.

Typical dog eye infection tests include:

• The Schirmir Tear Test (STT) measures the amount of tear production. If it is low, it could be a case of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye. This is an autoimmune condition that attacks the patient’s own tear glands and can be treated with topical ocular immunosuppressants.
• An examination with an opthalmoscope allows the veterinarian to see the back of the eye through the pupil and also to look for any misplaced hairs or eyelashes or foreign material such as a foxtail that could be caught under the third eyelid, as well as any sign of a tumor.
• A test to read the intraocular pressure will determine if it’s a more serious condition such as glaucoma.
• A fluoresceine stain will determine if there’s a corneal ulcer present, which is more serious and needs to be treated and monitored closely for resolution.
• Sometimes a sample of the discharge is sent away to be analyzed.

More serious conditions such as glaucoma, a luxated lens, melting ulcer or foreign body penetration, require immediate referral to an ophthalmologist, as fast surgical intervention may be able to rescue the eye.

Dogs often contract eye infections from other dogs. Common dog eye infectious are caused by Mycoplasma bacteria and a range of viruses such as adenovirus, distemper virus, herpesvirus, parainfluenza virus, pneumovirus, respiratory coronavirus and influenza A.

Dog eye infection treatment : when to see a vet

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Routine treatment for an ulcer or bacterial infection is antibiotic eye drops or ointment. More severe infections require a course of antibiotics in addition to a topical ocular medication.

Bad doggie news: Your dog will not be impressed, because a head cone is usually required to keep the area paw-free from scratching. Fortunately, there are lot of more comfortable soft options that will do the job instead of a hard-plastic cone.

How to treat dog eye infections at home

Although there are no dog eye infection treatments at home, there’s a lot a pet parent can do to prevent dog eye issues.

Use these tips to prevent dog eye infections:

• Keep the eyes and the surrounding hair and skin clean. Keep nails short and dull so they don’t inadvertently scratch the eye area. And avoid other pets who may scratch and cause trauma, too.
• Special canine eye lubricant gels are good preventives to use prior to and after outdoor activities to help avoid dust and foreign material getting into the eye and also before a bath to avoid a shampoo irritating the eyes. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
• Don’t allow your dog to dig randomly in the yard or in areas with lots of low bushes and plants that could cause trauma to the eye area.

“We see a lot of eye trauma due to plant branches, thorns, foxtails and other areas where dogs are investigating narrow places,” cautions Dr. Maki.

If your dog is prone to allergies, keep an antihistamine such as over the counter Benedryl (diphenhydramine) on hand. Dr. Maki recommends 1mg/lb., up to 50mg per dose, up to every eight hours.

Eye infections can also be controlled if you avoid interaction with dogs with any signs of an upper respiratory infection or eye irritation. Also, step up your pooch’s regular grooming routine to ensure the eye area is always clean. Also, wipe your dog’s face with specially formulated wipes after every hike and day at the beach. Your dog will thank you with grateful kisses.

Does your dog get excited and jump on you and other people? Dogs jumping up on guests is a very common – and frustrating – behavior. Dogs jump on you to get attention and to try and greet you face to face. When dogs jump up, they get the attention they seek, making it very easy to accidentally reward the jumping by pushing the dog down or talking to the dog. With consistent training it is possible to teach your dog to stop jumping on you or your guests.

Why do dogs jump on you?

Although we might find it rude for dogs to jump on us or our guests, this is actually a very common and natural behavior for our dogs. Even dogs who have basic obedience training may struggle to control the impulse to jump up on you. Dogs greet each other face to face, and this can contribute to dogs attempting to greet us the same way, which usually involves jumping up. Although your dog is likely just trying to say hello, a dog jumping up can make a mess of your work clothes or, especially with large breed dogs, can accidentally cause someone to lose his balance and fall over.

When dogs jump on you or your guests, they are looking for attention and engagement. And the engagement they get, even though we might see it as negative by asking them to get off or pushing them off, can feel like play or positive attention for dogs. As a result, while you might feel frustrated your dog has been jumping, he doesn’t understand you want that behavior to stop. In fact, you may accidentally have rewarded the jumping. Dog training can help you curb your dog’s natural curious and social tendencies that result in the jumping behavior and give your dog something else to do instead of jumping.

How to stop a dog from jumping

When teaching your dog not to jump on people, get a friend or family member to help you set up training opportunities so your dog can practice calm engagement. The goal is to set our dogs up for success by removing the temptation to jump. Practice greetings with your dog on leash and  have lots of high value treats cut into small pieces.

Teach your dog an alternative behavior to jumping

The best way to stop a dog from jumping is to teach an alternative behavior that allows you to help your dog understand what you want him to be doing instead of jumping. We don’t want to correct dogs for jumping. Instead, we want to proactively teach the dogs to do an alternative behavior to jumping up on your guests.

Use these steps to teach your dog to stop jumping with an alternative behavior:

Step 1: Have a friend or family member approach you and your dog but, before they get to you, scatter a small handful of treats on the ground and encourage your dog to eat them while you briefly greet the person.

Step 2: While your dog is still eating the scattered treats, have your friend turn and walk away without engaging with your dog. Praise your dog, and when your dog has finished eating the scattered treats, get his attention with a treat in your hand, turn and walk the other way.

Step 3: When your dog is comfortable eating scattered treats as someone approaches and leaves, you can build up the duration of how long you greet someone. To do this, repeat the above steps and then continue to toss a treat for your dog to find while you talk with the person. Then, get your dog’s attention with a treat in your hand and turn to calmly walk away.

Step 4: When your dog can comfortably eat treats tossed on the ground while you greet a person, try approaching the person, tossing treats for your dog like you have before to put him in a calm state of mind. Then, if you have a social dog who enjoys meeting people, tell your dog, “Say hi and allow your dog to quickly greet the person. Keep the greeting short and positive and, before your dog gets too excited, toss treats again for your dog to find.

Step 5: As your dog begins to understand the game, he will look at you as you approach a person instead of jumping up. Your dog will make the connection that what gets rewarded is keeping all four feet on the floor and not jumping up. As your dog gets better at the game, reduce the number of treats you need to throw and scatter. Eventually, start to just drop treats as you greet your guests.

Timing your dog jumping training

The key to success with teaching your dog not to jump up is to make sure you are tossing treats before your dog can jump. If at any point your dog jumps on someone, don’t correct your dog for jumping up. Instead, just have the person ignore your dog, turn and walk away. Then, re-engage your dog by tossing treats and have the person reapproach as you continue to toss treats to reward your dog for staying on the ground.

Although jumping is natural for dogs, it’s important to teach dogs not to jump on you or your guests. A dog jumping up can be frightening to people, or even cause someone to fall and get injured. Jumping up is self-rewarding for dogs, so teaching your dog not to jump on people is easiest to do by giving your dog an incompatible behavior to do. By tossing treats for your dog to find while you talk with someone, you’re rewarding your dog for keeping his feet on the floor. Over time, your dog will learn to offer keeping his feet on the ground as you greet people.

The social media platform TikTok is a leading destination for short-form mobile video with users from all over the world watching content. With a company mission to inspire creativity and bring joy, it is no surprise that accounts featuring dogs are popular. We reached out to top dog influencer accounts to learn more about them, their funny dog TikToks and the four-legged social media stars.

Bunny the talking dog

Have you ever wondered what your dog was thinking? Bunny, an Old English Sheepdog and Poodle mix, can tell you!

Alexis Devine didn’t set out to have her pup Bunny and Bunny’s brother, a Standard Poodle named Otter, become TikTok stars. She started sharing their interactions on a whim. Despite the pups having no idea they were becoming popular online, the content she was posting engaged viewers — 7.5 million of them.

People love Bunny’s ability to communicate — through words! She has a board with more than 100 FluentPet buttons. The buttons are used to record words that can be “spoken” by a dog when stepped on. Alexis explains that Bunny the talking dog uses the buttons to “communicate how she is feeling, what she wants, when she is in pain and how annoying her little brother (Otter) is.”

Alexis didn’t expect her posts to go viral. Bunny the talking dog tapping buttons with her paw to tell her, “Mom, love you” was one of the first posts to gain a large volume of viewers. A more recent post shows Bunny telling Alexis’ dad, who is dog sitting at the time, “Love you.” Grandpa’s reaction, caught on a security camera, is one of genuine emotion as he leans down to tell Bunny the talking dog that he loves her, too. It’s this honest communication that viewers can’t get enough of.

Bunny does most of the talking, but recently Otter is getting in on the action, too, sneaking over to his big sister’s collection of words. Bunny’s not the only dog in the family who gets to communicate with the humans.

Find Alexis, Bunny and Otter on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter @whataboutbunny.

Family friendly dog influencer —  @EllieGoldenLife

Kevin Bubolz, and his Golden Retriever, Ellie, create online content to support their mission – spreading smiles to their 4 million TikTok followers.

Kevin first learned how much happiness a dog can bring to humans while he was deployed in Afghanistan as an Army pilot. His unit was accompanied by a dog named Zac, who spread joy even under the harshest environments. “Upon returning home from deployment,” Kevin explains, “I decided to create the same happiness within my local community.” He trained Ellie as a therapy dog, and they spent years volunteering in schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

But during the pandemic, when volunteering in person wasn’t an option, Kevin and Ellie needed another avenue. At the time, Kevin was pursuing his MBA in marketing and reached out to undergraduate students asking where they spend their time. The answer he thought he heard was “The TikTok.”

Upon creating an account, and realizing it was called just “TikTok,” he immediately saw the appeal. He remembers, “I became enamored with the ability to connect with people around the world via short-form video.

The co-stars are known for their family-friendly, entertaining content. During one of their videos, called Ellie’s Taste Test Tournament, Ellie had over 125 million views while showing amazing restraint in front of yummy treats. In the post, Ellie samples delicious salmon by barely flicking her tongue over the food after Kevin gives the cue, “You can taste.” Ellie then ponders which she will choose while waiting for her cue to take her reward.

Ellie loves creating content. When Kevin says, “film,” Ellie comes running into the room and flashes her famous smile. A smile that you can learn how to teach your dog to do, on cue, in one of the team’s posts!

Find Kevin and Ellie on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook @EllieGoldenLife and their blog goldenretrieverlife.com.

The most lovable TikTok dogs — @gusgusinthecity

TikTok wasn’t Susan’s first foray into the world of social media. The trio, Susan (who prefers to only go by her first name) along with her French Bulldogs Gus Gus and Marty, had a large following on other platforms when friends suggested giving TikTok a try.

Susan discovered she loved how creative and fun the platform was, specifically how it incorporates music into the videos. She gives credit to TikTok for being pioneers of that feature.

Marty is a big draw, but it is Gus Gus who starred in their first viral post, a clip where you can hear him vocalize a noise that sounds like he is saying, “Mom.” Then, there was the first time he received his now signature haircut, a fur tattoo (a pattern shaved into the fur) at a pet convention in Las Vegas. The clip went viral on many platforms.

Susan explains that it was the French Bulldogs’ “cute faces, big ears and cuddly personality” that initially drew her to them — and it seems their 1.1 million followers have a similar reaction. Susan admits, “The [followers] just love how cute and funny they are. People really live for Marty’s weirdness!”

It seems Gus Gus and Marty’s big personalities were meant to be viral. Their mom shares, “They LOVE making people happy, so what do they get out of it? They get to spread joy and kindness around the world!”

Find Susan, Gus Gus and Marty on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @gusgusinthecity.

The ultimate funny dog TikToks — that dog guy @jauncydev

How did Jonny Devaney become known as “that dog guy” on the internet when most of his TikTok posts don’t include his Samoyed, Thor or any dog for that matter? Jonny’s posts often show him personifying different dog breeds and their well-known characteristics. In his funny dog TikTok “If Dogs Were People” series, Jonny portrays dogs as humans who are being robbed, playing cards, interviewing for a job, house shopping, listening to music in the car and more.

We all know that, given a human body, a Chihuahua would listen to music while rocking out, head banging to the lyrics, while, in contrast, a yellow Lab would joyfully rock back and forth to the groove while eating potato chips. Jonny brings those visuals to life for his 1.9 million TikTok followers.

Having grown up around dogs – his mom owns a dog walking/boarding business – he already knows the unique personalities of many dog breeds. He does additional research online to help identify the common traits he can poke fun at. Then, after formulating the skit, Jonny gives it his all to make you laugh. He says his hardest TikTok to film was “dogs after they get groomed.” He explains, “I had to belly flop into a puddle. I say ‘had to’ but nobody made me do it. I stood there for about 10 minutes just working up the courage to belly flop into an inch of water.” Jonny didn’t just share the hilarious final clip, but also posted behind the scenes of him psyching himself up for the performance.

Jonny recently became a full-time dog influencer, making an income off merch and brand deals. “I would just like to say thank you to everyone,” he shares. “The world is a scary place, and all I have ever wanted to do was take people’s minds off it and laugh for a little bit. Having such a large following, I am able to do this every day and it is incredibly fulfilling.”

Find Jonny on TikTok and Instagram @jauncydev; he’s expanding to YouTube soon.

Everything about the Weimaraner telegraphs speed, stamina and clean-cut beauty. Once seen, this striking dog is never forgotten. Here are seven fun facts about the wondrous Weimaraner.

The Weimaraner dog breed backstory

The noblemen of Weimar (today in the state of Thuringia, in modern-day Germany) were keen hunters who pursued a variety of big game, including bear, boar and deer. The original Weimar Pointers appeared in the 19th century and were valued for their versatility, superb tracking ability and courage. The nobles bred the dogs to enhance these many qualities, all in a distinctive gray package. Availability of the dogs was strictly controlled. The German Weimaraner Club was formed, with restricted membership, and only members were permitted to own and breed the dogs. Few outsiders knew much about the breed, but stories abounded touting their hunting prowess. In 1928, Howard Knight, a sportsman in New England, attempted to join the German club. He promised to protect the purity of the breed, but the club still sent him two sterilized dogs. Knight wouldn’t give up. Eventually, he was sent three females and a male puppy in 1938. Other admirers of the breed in this country joined forces with Knight. In 1942, the Weimaraner Club of America was formed, a breed standard was written and an application was submitted to the American Kennel Club for breed recognition. It was granted the same year, and the Weimaraner was exhibited for the first time at the famed Westminster Dog Show in 1943. Americans had timing in their favor, as they began importing Weims from breeders in war-torn Europe. The breed was well on its way in this country.

The Weimaraner’s signature nickname

The Weimaraner quickly developed the nickname of dogdom’s “gray ghost” for its light eyes and coat color and stealthy hunting style.

The Weimaraner as a status symbol

By the mid-1950s, the Weimaraner’s ever-growing popularity proved to be a mixed blessing. Their success as eye-catching show dogs and big-running hunters soon made them a canine status symbol. Price tags soared, often for dogs with bad temperaments and second-rate bloodlines. Many a Weim who was bought in haste ended up being offered “free to a good home.” It took a decade for the breed to rebound from this explosive over popularity, thanks to the determination of responsible breeders working with a strong gene pool.

Weimaraner Temperament

The Weimaraner is a loving, energetic hunting dog. To repeat: The Weim is energetic. Tireless. Inexhaustible. They need lots of daily exercise and prefer to do it with you. They are not an independent breed and will not be content to sit in the backyard or a kennel run by themselves for hours. You must be willing to make the time to engage with them through games and play, providing an outlet for their energy. Otherwise they are prone to separation anxiety, which in turn can result in barking, whining, howling, digging, overall destructive behavior and even injury to themselves. As beautiful, sweet and faithful as the Weimaraner is, anyone considering the breed must commit to the need for training and owner engagement. More Weimaraners are surrendered to breed rescue for separation anxiety, most likely than for any other reason.

Another flavor of the Weimaraner

While the vast majority of Weimaraners have a short, smooth and sleek coat, there is also a long-haired variety, with a silky coat and an undocked, feathered tail. They are considered quite attractive by many, and you will find breeders in the United States who produce them. Although the long-haired dogs cannot compete in American Kennel Club dog shows, they can participate in all other AKC-sanctioned events like obedience, agility and rally. Long-haired Weims are accepted in the United Kennel Club’s dog shows here in the United States, as well as in Canada and overseas. The gene is recessive, so a breeding can produce long-haired puppies only if both parents carry the trait.

Am I blue?

Weimaraners also come in a dark, smoky or charcoal color called “blue,” in addition to the familiar shades of silvery gray that earned him his nickname. Many pet owners choose one gray and one blue dog, just for fun, enjoying the contrast in color. As with the long-haired Weims, blues can compete in all AKC performance events but are not permitted in the show ring.

Famous Weimaraner owners

With the Weimaraner’s sleek silvery coat, amber eyes and clean-cut physique, it’s not surprising that the breed has been favored by presidents, royalty and celebrities over many decades. President Dwight Eisenhower was accompanied to the White House by his Weimaraner, Heidi. Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco received a Weimaraner as a wedding gift before marrying Prince Rainier III. Celebrated producer and TV host of American Bandstand, Dick Clark, had Weimaraners. Adrien Brody, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Kendall Jenner and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta all own Weimaraners. The most famous Weimaraner owner is photographer William Wegman, whose striking dogs have graced the pages of fashion magazines and coffee-table books, as well as calendars and greeting cards, for years. If you’ve seen a Weimaraner pictured on roller skates or wearing a Marilyn Monroe wig, it’s due to Wegman’s fertile imagination and cooperative dogs.

A snapshot of the Weimaraner dog breed:

1. Where does the Weimaraner come from?

Germany. Weimaraners were bred as a hunting dog in the early 19th century and used by royalty for hunting large game such as bear, boar and deer.

2. How did the Weimaraner get its name?

It is pronounced WHY-ma-ra-ner. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Karl August, whose court, located in the city of Weimar (now in the state of Thuringia in modern-day Germany), enjoyed hunting.

3. What size is the Weimaraner?

Males are typically 25 to 27 inches, and 70 to 90 pounds. Females are 23 to 25 inches, and 55 to 75 pounds.

4. What is the Weimaraner like?

Friendly, fearless, alert and obedient. Very loving and people-oriented. They want to be with you. Without this essential contact, they are prone to separation anxiety, barking and destructive behavior.

5. How active is the Weimaraner?

Very active. This breed needs frequent, vigorous exercise with his owner and must have an outlet for his energy. Lots of interactive games and play.

6. Is the Weimaraner good at any dog sports or activities?

Yes! Smart and versatile. Obedience, agility, rally, dock diving. They have webbed feet and make great water dogs.

7. Is the Weimaraner good at dog jobs?

Yes! They are great at search and rescue, detection, make fine service dogs … they really can do anything.

8. Is the Weimaraner dog breed good for first-time dog owners?

This is a large and very strong, boisterous breed. Probably not ideal for most first-time owners.

9. Is the Weimaraner a good family pet?

The best match would be active owners who like exercise and have a fenced yard. The breed has a strong, instinctive prey drive, so watch the pet cats, birds and rodents. Strong and boisterous enough to knock over toddlers. Not recommended for most seniors. Not a breed to be left alone all day; single owners and working households must consider doggie daycare or a similar arrangement.

10. Is the Weimaraner a good apartment dog?

Typically, no. A large, securely fenced yard recommended, along with plenty of walks on leash and safe, supervised, off-leash exercise.

11. How easy is it to train a Weimaraner?

The breed is very smart and learns quickly. Is it “obedient?” That’s a learned behavior that must begin at a very young age. Obedience classes in a group setting are recommended to instill confidence in the owner and teach the dog to work with distractions.

12. Is the Weimaraner given to excessive barking?

He can be, without appropriate training. Barking is a sign of boredom and, if ignored, can lead to destructive behavior and separation anxiety.

13. Does the Weimaraner make a good traveler?

Yes, when training begins early. Crate training is essential for safe car and air travel, hotel/motel stays, overnight visits to the vet, etc.

14. Is the Weimaraner easy to groom?

Yes! Occasional brushing to remove loose hair, plus regular nail cutting, and cleaning of ears and teeth. Be prepared for seasonal shedding.

15. How popular is the Weimaraner?

No. 40 in the American Kennel Club list of most popular breeds (there are 200 AKC-recognized breeds in all) in 2021, based on annual registrations.

Did you know that nearly every U.S. president has had a dog in the family while living in the White House? It’s only fitting that there’s a whole day to celebrate dogs in politics on September 23. Personally, my girls Lucy and Emmy are looking forward to the cooler days ahead – and the pumpkin treats that follow. Show us how you and your #dogsterdogs are enjoying your September days by tagging us in your photos on social media.

Don’t see your dog event on the list? Email us at dogstermag@belvoir.com and we will include your dog event.

Month-long September 2022 Dog Holidays

Preparedness month

Animal Pain Awareness month

Responsible Dog Ownership month

Service Dog month

Pet Health Insurance Month

Weekly September 2022 Dog Holidays

September 18-24, 2022: deaf dog awareness week

September 18-24, 2022: national dog week

September 18-24, 2022: adopt-a-less-adoptable-pet week

Daily September 2022 Dog Holidays

September 11, 2022: Hug Your Hound day
September 11, 2022: Pet Memorial Day
September 17, 2022: Pups Mill Awareness day
September 23, 2022: Dogs in Politics day
September 28, 2022: World’s largest pet walk

September 2022 Dog Events

September 11, 2022: Woofstock 2022. Outdoor dog-and-family-friendly festival and fundraiser for Rescue Village in Northeast Ohio. Takes place at Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field. Click here for more information.

September 17-18, 2022: Long Island Pet Expo in the Park is held at Tanner Park in Copiague, New York. This family friendly event has free admission. For more information, click here.

September 17-18, 2022: The Canadian Pet Expo held at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario is the largest gathering of pet, reptile and aquatic vendors in Canada. For more information, visit canadianpetexpo.ca.

September 24-25, 2022: Greater Boston Pet Expo is held at the Shriners Auditorium Wilmington, MA. For more information, click here.

September 25, 2022: Surf City Surf Dog Event at Huntington Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, California. This world-famous canine sporting event is free to the public and features surfing teams who have 12 minutes to catch their top five waves. The event partners with dog charities and features local, adoptable dogs. Catch a wave here.

September 29, 2022: Yappy Hour event is held at The Rock Garden at Meadow Brook Hall in Detroit, Michigan. Proceeds benefit the Michigan Animal Rescue League.  For more information, click here.

 

Want to see what dog holidays are coming up in 2022? Check out Dogster’s dog holiday list.

Keeping your dog safely confined when you can’t properly supervise her is important for training a puppy or acclimating a new dog to your home. When it comes down to kennels vs crates, the choice is personal for what is best for your dog, home and family. Interestingly, while dog crates and kennels are normalized here in North America, they aren’t routinely used in other parts of the world like Europe or Australia, who instead create dog-proof areas. Some people use the words kennel and crate interchangeably, however a kennel is usually a large penned in container that includes space for a bed, food and water dish, toys and pee pad while a crate is a small container just big enough for a dog to turnaround in and sleep.

What are indoor and outdoor dog kennels?

A kennel is a permanent or portable contained area that can be used to contain dogs when you aren’t home or able to supervise. Depending on the size of your dog, you can use portable exercise pens (X-pens) as kennels setup in your home. Outdoor dog kennels setup in your yard is another option. However, it’s safer to setup dog kennels indoors to prevent exposure to the elements and reduce the chance of dognapping. Dogster recommends only kenneling your dog inside the home.

Dog kennels are larger than dog crates and are typically large enough for dogs to comfortably move around making it appropriate for dogs to be left alone in them for longer periods of time. In a dog kennel, it’s important for dogs to have safe and comfortable places to sleep, water, possibly a place to eliminate such as a puppy pad if you’re using them as part as potty training and safe chews and/or enrichment toys.

Some example of exercise pens to use for indoor kennels are:

1. $139. PEIPOOS Dog Panel Pet Playpen Kennel
2. $45. Frisco 8-Panel Plastic Exercise Dog Playpen
3. $108.99. Go Pet Club Heavy Duty Wire Dog Exercise Pen

What are dog crates?

Dog crates are smaller contained enclosures generally either plastic or wire that dogs can be put into when not supervised. Many dogs come to think of their crate as a comfortable bed and safe space. The appropriate size for a dog crate is big enough for a dog to comfortably sit, stand and lay down. Dog crates can be useful for giving dogs safe places to sleep at night. Dog crates can also be beneficial with supporting puppies learning potty training. Because dog crates are small areas, they are not appropriate to leave dogs in for long periods of time (more than a few hours). Here are examples of different types of dog crates:

1. $595. Fable Medium Dog Crate
2. $99.99. Frisco Heavy Duty Enhanced Lock Double Door Fold & Carry Wire Dog Crate
3. $499.99. Moderno Dog Crate
4. $299. PetSacee Wooden Dog Crate
5. $598. Orvis Wooden End-Table Crate
6. $375-$675. Revol Dog Crate

Creating dog-proof areas

Another option for keeping your dog safely contained when they are alone is to create a dog-proofed area of you home. Instead of using a crate or kennel you can use a smaller room (depending on the size of your dog), such as a bathroom, laundry room or spare bedroom to create a specific place for your dog to stay. If you want to use a dog-proof room as a kenneling area, select a room with easily washable floors. Remove anything from the room that could be harmful to your dog or that your dog could chew. Then add in necessities to keep your dog comfortable and engaged, such as water, a bed, dog safe chews and enrichment activities. Looking to block off a room to create a dog-proof area? Here are some examples of wall mounted dog gates:

1. $71.02. Frisco Steel 3-Panel Configurable Dog Gate
2. $59.99. The Safety Mate Gate
3. $249-$298. One-Touch Pet Gate
4. $139.50. Retract-a-Gate Retractable Pet Gate

Which is better: a dog kennel or crate?

Dog crates and kennels are a great way to keep your dog from getting into things around the house that could be dangerous when you aren’t able to supervise them. Crates can also help your dog to sleep through the night and give your dog a private, safe place to be. If you need to leave your dog for extended periods of time like when you are at work, it’s best not to use a crate. Instead create a dog-proof area of your home or keep your dog in a larger kennel to provide your dog with space to comfortably move around. If you must leave your dog crated for extended periods of time, it’s essential to hire a dog walker or have a friend or family member come and visit to give your dog a break from their crate.

Help for leaving your dog at home alone

If you are struggling with leaving your dog home even safely contained in a crate or kennel, seek support form an experienced dog trainer who utilizes positive reinforcement training techniques. A trainer will be able to help you work with your dog to develop and maintain positive associations with the crate. A trainer will also be able to help you assess if your dog is struggling and might need additional support with a separation anxiety condition, which could be preventing your dog from being able to comfortably settle on their own.

Providing your dog with a crate, kennel or other safe space to be when they can’t be supervised is an important part of training. Keeping your dog safely contained can help prevent your dog from chewing your belongings or getting into things that could be harmful to her. Determining the right sort of containment is going to depend on how long you need to leave your dog, and your dog’s personality. Crates are good for short-term containment, while kennels or dog-proofed areas of the house are best if your dog will be spending an extended period of time alone.

Most pet parents have likely heard the theory that mixed-breed dogs live longer and are healthier than purebred dogs.

Do mixed-breed dogs live longer?

While there’s some research supporting the theory that some mixed breeds could live longer, it’s not a simple answer.

Dr. Annette Louviere, of Wisdom Panel pet DNA testing service, says that a recent study by the University of California, Davis and Wisdom Panel found that breeds with higher in-breeding require more veterinary care. It also found that after removing brachycephalic breeds from the analysis, larger breeds in this category tend to require even more health care than smaller-sized breeds. And typically, breeds with the lowest amount of in-breeding came from randomly-bred backgrounds (mutts) or breeds with recent cross-breeding (like the Australian Labradoodle).

How Long Do Mixed Breeds Dogs Live?

Dr. Louviere says dog life expectancy can vary depending on the size and breed of the dog. But average dog lifespan for a typical medium-sized dog is thought to range between 10 and 13 years. Dogs with the longest lifespan include smaller breeds, which tend to live longer than large and giant breeds.

Though it’s difficult to predict, says Dr. Louviere, some sources say mixed-breed dogs have an average lifespan of 11 years while others go up to 14 years. She says a variety of factors influence the lifespan of mixed-breed dogs, which is what makes predicting life expectancy difficult. But in-breeding and body size tend to play important roles in dog lifespans.

However, that doesn’t mean mixed breeds will necessarily live longer. For instance, a 2013 study by the University of California, Davis found that 13 of the 24 genetic disorders evaluated in the study were prevalent in about the same number of mixed-breed dogs as purebreds.

Why some dogs have a longer lifespan

There’s a need for more research to learn more about aging and longevity in dogs.

This is the idea behind the Dog Aging Project, a nationwide long-term study of health aging in dogs. It aims to identify the biological and environmental factors influencing healthy longevity. The community science study collects information about each participating dog from the pet parent and their veterinarian, including information about disease history, activity, diet, cognitive function and more. About 40,000 dogs have been enrolled in the study so far.

Daniel Promislow, principal investigator for the Dog Aging Project, was inspired to study aging in dogs by a 2007 article in the journal Science about the genetics of size in dogs. Daniel, who is also a professor in the Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, and Department of Biology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, says he realized that we could learn a lot by studying aging in dogs, potentially for both dogs and people.

He says during the past year, Dog Aging Project researchers have been analyzing their first year of data.

“We have seen that among the dogs in our study, older dogs are less active. This is not surprising,” he says. “What did surprise us is that older owners have dogs that are more active. As we thought about this finding, we realized it might be due to older owners having more available time, either because they are retired, or simply have more flexible work schedules.”

He says they have also found a strong association between feeding frequency and several diseases, but need more information before they can draw any conclusions from that. They are also now starting to analyze molecular biology data to begin searching for molecular signals of health and disease in dogs.

“We are also looking at how various environmental variables, from air pollution to socio-economic status to nearby parks, are associated with health,” he says.

He says the project and other research has shown that for a given size, mixed-breed dogs tend to live more than a year longer than purebred dogs.

“We are very interested in understanding the underlying biology that influences this large difference in life expectancy between purebred and mixed-breed dogs,” he says.

Improving the average dog’s lifespan

There are many experts, groups and animal lovers interested in finding ways to improve dogs’ lifespans. In fact, The Functional Dog Collaborative aims to support the breeding and raising of purebred, outcrossed and mixed-breed dogs while focusing on physical and behavioral health. They have a private group on Facebook with 10.4K members.

Of course, it all starts with information and education. Dr. Louviere says there are many helpful resources within veterinary communities, breed clubs and reputable online sites where pet parents can find common health issues about their purebred dogs. Wisdom Panel hosts an online breed library that includes information on various genetic health conditions of reported dog breeds.

With the ongoing research on dog longevity, we will soon have more insight into improving the lives of our beloved pets.