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Nov 18, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
Taking care of a dog in an apartment can be complicated. Apartments often have limited outdoor areas for dogs to run in, less indoor space to play or train in, and a plethora of human and canine neighbors to try to get along with. That said, don’t give up hope! Most types and sizes of dogs can do well in apartments provided they get the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
Potty training a puppy is an exercise in diligence, consistency, and patience, requiring owners to keep a close eye on their dog’s body language, do their best to prevent accidents from happening, and provide rewards when the puppy relieves herself in the right spot. So how do these things apply when it comes to how to potty train a puppy in an apartment? While the basics remain the same, there are some special considerations.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
Here in Georgia, the end of last week was windy, waterlogged, and a good reminder of how important it can be for everyone—especially pet owners—to be prepared for natural disasters. Although I’ve lived in hurricane-prone regions before, I moved to the area a month ago from the northeastern U.S. and neither my human nor dog hurricane kits are quite what they used to be.
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Sep 16, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
Most dog owners don’t need a scientific study to tell them that dogs can pick up on—and be affected by—the emotions of the humans around them. If I’m having a rough day, I can fully expect to find a chin on my knee and big, worried brown eyes gazing up at me. Even if I think I’m hiding my stress well, maintaining a normal routine, and interacting with my dogs as I usually do, the dogs respond. It makes sense that my dogs would know me well enough to catch on to my emotional state.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
If there is one thing that growing up around a breeding kennel has taught me it’s that every dog is an individual. In my experience, it’s possible to make some guesses about future behavior based on the breed of the dog, the temperament of the parents, the skills that run in the genetic line, and so on—that’s what selective breeding is all about—but there are still so many unknowns that go into how a specific dog acts and what she might need.
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Aug 22, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
While many dogs love children, or are at least comfortably tolerant of them, kids and dogs don’t always do well together. Without proper education and supervision, children (and adults, too) can—in all innocence and with the best of intentions—put a dog in a position where the dog feels like her only recourse is to bite.
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Jul 31, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
It never ceases to amaze me just how much stuff puppies can get into in even the most thoroughly puppy-proofed environments. Take your eyes off of a young dog for a moment, and she’ll have found the screw to the dishwasher that went missing six months before she arrived (ask me how I know…). Even after several decades of cohabitating with canines, every time I bring a new dog home, I learn something about how to better puppy proof my house.
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Jul 3, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
Asking for a dog to pay attention by calling her name is one of the most commonly used cues in everyday life with our canine companions. That makes it easy to teach, even by accident. Most dogs will figure out their names eventually even without being specifically taught because it is repeated and reinforced so often. Call your dog’s name when it’s time for dinner or a walk and she will quickly learn that her name means it’s time to check in to see if something good is happening.
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Jun 15, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
With so many dogs needing good homes, deciding to buy a puppy rather than adopt one from a shelter or rescue can be a controversial decision. In my experience, people choose to buy dogs for several reasons. Many, myself included, get attached to a specific breed or want a dog who is more likely to demonstrate certain traits and behaviors. Often, people feel more comfortable knowing where their dog is coming from, his genetic and health history, and how he has been handled and socialized.
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Jun 7, 2024 | 
whole-dog-journal.com | Kate O'Connor |showed Airedales
How to teach a dog to come when called is simple…at least in theory. In reality, newer handlers—and plenty of experience ones, too—often struggle with feeling like the process is taking too long or that the dog isn’t ever going to come back reliably. Understanding what you are trying to accomplish, getting to know the individual dog you are working with, and having the patience to not jump ahead too quickly are invaluable tools when it comes to teaching a good recall.
