It is estimated that around 62% of households in Australia own a pet, and out of these 38% of them are dog owners, according to PIAA. Large dogs make up some of the most popular breeds in the country - those with the right attitude can make excellent guard dogs, making them ideal for families [...]

The post Could a Large Dog be your Ideal Family Pet? appeared first on PetSecure.

While the younger version of your family dog may have been ready to bounce out the door and hit the road at a moment’s notice, your senior pet may not be so keen on the hassle and bother of travel adventures. This can be particularly true for aging dogs with mobility issues, chronic pain, or [...]

The post Travel with Pets: 6 Tips if you Plan to Travel with a Senior Dog appeared first on PetSecure.

How do you decide which books to buy versus which to borrow from the library? If you know me, you know I want All. The. Books. But that’s not practical or affordable, so I look at library books as novels or quick reads that I likely won’t reference again, and I buy books I plan […]

What’s your take on sugar? I love sugar, of course. I strive to avoid it but. #cookies Now, as a parent, I find myself having to choose between the “do as I say, not as I do” approach or sneaking all the cookies after Violet’s gone to bed… 😉 Honestly, though, I’m not sure a militant […]

The other night, Violet told her first joke. We talked to her about smelling things, as one does to a two-year old in spring, and John asked her, “What does Cooper smell like?” She grinned. “Cat poop!” And then she laughed maniacally. While I appreciate her developing sense of humor, I can assure you: Cooper […]

My dog is the best. He’s sweet. He loves to cuddle.  He adores cats. He skitters with his dog friends. He’s incredible with our two-year-old daughter, even falling in line when she waggles her fingers at him and says, “Cooper coming,” in her little voice. He’s my running partner and my sidekick in this balancing-work-and-mom-life […]

When you love a dog like Cooper–a scaredy dog who reacts poorly when frightened–it takes effort. All of it. There is, of course, the training piece. It’s a big part of it because diminishing the fear through counter-conditioning or teaching coping strategies through positive reinforcement can help with the reactivity. There is, too, the management […]

I’m not someone who’s easily offended. I’m a “live and let live” kind of gal, generally speaking, as long as you’re not hurting or bothering anyone (or yourself). For ages, though, I found myself rolling my eyes over the same pet adoption memes again and again. But I never thought to comment on them. Fast […]

Finding a veterinarian to care for your pets can be as simple as lucking into an awesome referral or as challenging as interviewing lots of potential clinics. We’ve been through the range of vets from the best to the not-so-great, and we’re embarking on a search for a new vet for Cooper! I’m hoping by […]

In most cases, giving up a pet isn’t easy, and it is certainly heartbreaking to see how many pets get surrendered.  But it is very easy to be "judgey" about this, and in many cases being judgmental is justified - but not always. In reality unless we know the reasons that could have resulted in [...]

The post Before you judge, consider why some pets are surrendered appeared first on PetSecure.

Firstly, for context, your dog’s nose is amazing! In fact a dog’s sense of smell is, according to James Walker*,10,000 to 100,000 times as acute as that of a human!  This actually explains a lot of the reasons why dogs are avid sniffers, but there is a bit more to it. Why does my dog [...]

The post Dogs and smell.  The burning questions! appeared first on PetSecure.

Yikes!  How Much????  Bringing a dog into your life can be one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences you’ll ever have. But, as with having children, dog ownership can turn into an expensive exercise, and there are expenses that don’t always get taken into account when the decision is made to undertake such a [...]

The post Tips to Help You Cut the Cost of Dog Ownership appeared first on PetSecure.

Last year I shared Running With a Dog That Pulls and included a ton of other running tips I’ve picked up along this slowwwww journey of ours. This weekend, I’ll run my longest distance yet–a 10k–with sights set toward a half marathon in the fall. That, btw, is my uppermost limit. I’m never going to […]

In the summer of 2012, John walked Cooper through our southern Indiana neighborhood. Suddenly, Cooper yanked the leash and dove into a storm drain and came up with… a one dollar bill. He’s our highest grossing dog to date. Of course, if we look at his net… actually, I guess he’d still be in the […]

There is a growing number  of pets in our communities that need support and affection; as animal lovers it can be difficult when we see beautiful dogs and cats that are looking for homes, and our circumstances means that we can't take on a pet in our home.  It could be that you live in [...]

The post 5 Great Ways to Support your Local Animal Shelter appeared first on PetSecure.

We can all fall for the “Aww Cute” factor when we see gorgeous pics of kittens, puppies, dogs and cats online.  Most are just adoring pet parents sharing pics of their beloved fur friends – but it’s important to watch out when you see pets being advertised online in particular on sites such as Facebook, [...]

The post Is it OK to Buy A Dog Online? appeared first on PetSecure.

Do you feed your dog fresh veggies? There seems to be some degree of controversy around “people food” for dogs circulating at all times. (Read: The trouble with table food, a post from 2015!) I truly believe that hesitation around sharing food with dogs centers around decades of marketing–you must feed dog food, which is […]

This space exists so that we can share honestly in a digital world that often is far too glossy. So, here goes: Some days, today being one, I don’t like Cooper. He can be a jerk. And, when he’s a jerk, I just don’t like him. I love him, of course. I love him to […]

A few weeks ago, I started our morning litter box routine. Newt and Ripley share three boxes: one upstairs, one in the laundry room, and one in my bathroom. Twice a day, I start with the box upstairs, scoop all three, then move on with our day! That morning, I scooped the upstairs box and […]

Safety first. That phrase permeates everything, doesn’t it? Whether it’s the painstaking child-proofing of your home, or the rules you teach and enforce (Look both ways! Wash your hands! Hold mommy’s hand!) it’s always safety first. Yet, somehow, we fall flat when we’re at home with our kids and pets. We take it for granted–She’s […]

I love Dog World, this space built on a shared love and compassion for our furry friends. The most important relationships in my life grew from this space, and I’ve learned to take better care of my pets along the way. Dog World (that should be a theme park, imo…) brings joy, laughter, tears, and […]

Have you jumped on the turmeric bandwagon yet? It seems to be all the rage right now, and I’ll admit: I’m late to the party! Why? Well, I think it’s my natural desire to push back, to rebel. I read a ton of cancer stuff online–which I need to stop doing–but I can’t even tell […]

Last year I announced the launch of my new “pet” project, The Zero-Waste Pet. (Sorry for the terrible pun.) Then I promptly forgot to come back here and share any of it, so today I’m going to remedy that with a quick roundup! Everything Aspiring Eco-Friendly Dogs and Cats Need to Know If you’re brand […]

What is the worst thing you can do if your pet goes walkabout?  Well the biggest mistake is to not act quickly enough.  Think of your pet as a toddler - how long could they survive on their own if they were lost? Most pets are found relatively close to home, and thankfully, most pets [...]

The post The Worst Thing To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing appeared first on PetSecure.

We all love summer, don't we?  It's the time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, providing of course that it's not TOO hot!  But what should you be aware of that could present a danger to your pet in the summer? Heat Yes - it is stating the obvious, but that doesn't mean [...]

The post Summer Dangers for Pets appeared first on PetSecure.

We're in the midst of a heatwave in Australia, but of course it is not an uncommon event.  But still we need to remind ourselves that our pets can also get heatstroke which can go downhill very quickly and even result in death. With humans, we perspire and this can have a cooling effect on [...]

The post Overheating in Pets Can Be Fatal: How to Spot the Signs appeared first on PetSecure.

We recently returned from Cooper’s vacation! We’ve done this almost annually since Emmett’s youngest days with us. We pack our bags and head to a cabin in the woods somewhere for a long weekend of pet-approved activities: hiking, napping, snacking, whatever! It’s super fun to plan a trip around your dog because… well… let’s talk […]

Welcome, friends, to the 9th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge. This is my eighth time participating, and if you’re not a blogger, these Q’s and A’s might give you a glimpse into what it’s like! It seems 2018 packed a punch for many of us. I know I spent the year caught up in my own […]

Do you have an itchy dog? Does your pup suffer from skin ickiness that varies by season? Then this one might be for you… Quick, obvious disclaimer: I’m not a vet. I’m not a vet tech. I’m not anything useful. I’m just a writer. I tend to research obsessively and try only what I deem […]

Several years ago, a friend of mine wanted to adopt a specific breed. She reached out to a number of breed-specific rescues who all told her the same thing: Sorry, you don’t have a fenced-in yard. So, what did she do? She contacted a reputable breeder in her state and purchased a pup. Did I […]