Tag: dogs

When the Leaves Change Color, Can Your Pets See It?

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Autumn plays with all your senses, but none so much as your sense of sight, as deciduous trees burst into shades of brilliant red, vibrant orange and buttery yellow. This vivid array is enough to make you wonder: Does my dog or cat enjoy these colors like I do?

For decades, many people believed that dogs and cats were colorblind, or could only see shades of black, white and gray.  The truth is, they do see colors, but not in the way we do.

Your dog’s true colors

For people and pets, color perception begins at the retina, or the tissue lining the back of the eye. The retina contains two kinds of photoreceptor cells: rods, which perceive low and shifting light, and cones, which discern colors.

Humans have three kinds of cones, which can pick up red, blue and green wavelengths. Dogs only have two kinds of cones: those that are sensitive to blue and those that pick up yellow-green. That means dogs can’t see the full range of colors, or the richness or intensity, that humans do. Their world is essentially limited to shades of blue, yellow and gray.

Putting dogs to the test

To determine how dogs see colors, scientist Jay Neitz at the University of California, Santa Barbara, performed a unique test. Dogs were shown three panels of light, two of which were the same color. Dogs were rewarded with a treat when they touched their noses to the panel with the different color.

In this way, Neitz found the hues dogs could distinguish ranged from dark and light blue to dark and light yellow and shades of gray.

How about cats?

Cats, like humans, have three types of cones in their retinas but fewer cones overall. So they may see a similar range of colors that you do, but the colors tend to be less vibrant. Within that spectrum of colors, cats tend to see blue, violet, yellow and green better than red.

Seeing the light

While dogs and cats may have fewer cones than humans, they make up for it with more rods, helping them to see better in the dark than humans. Dogs can have up to three times the rods as humans, according to Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know. Cats are even more suited to nocturnal wandering, with as many as eight times the rods as humans.

Dogs and cats can also see the type B ultraviolet (UVB) spectrum, meaning some colors, such as white, may fluoresce and be disturbing for animals.

Work with your pet’s color spectrum

How can you use this color knowledge to your advantage? First, understand that a red or orange toy may appear gray, brown or black to your pet, or just doesn’t “pop” from the environment like it does for you. A blue toy may capture your pet’s attention better.

If you want to create a soothing environment for your pet at home, again, work with your dog or cat’s visible spectrum. Choose wall paints, pillows and blankets in the blue, green or violet range of the spectrum, rather than oranges and reds. Avoid bright white when possible because it might light up or flare for your pet more than it does for you.

But what about all those red and orange leaves piled in your backyard? Your pet may not appreciate the colors, but he or she can certainly have fun leaping and rolling in all of them with you. Just remember to follow our Autumn Safety Tips to keep your pet safe!

Exercise and the Overweight Pet: A Common-Sense Approach

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An overweight cat standing in the grass on a sunny day.

Has your pet ever been fat shamed? Maybe it was a casual dig at the dog park. Or an insensitive remark on social media. It can be easy to underestimate how many extra pounds your pet may be carrying because, frankly, pet obesity has become the new normal. That is why we’re pointing out that tomorrow is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Pet obesity is nothing to take lightly!

About 59.5 percent of cats and 55.8 percent of dogs are considered overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). Obesity can contribute to diabetes, joint problems such as arthritis, difficulty breathing and even a shorter life span.

If you’ve got a pet who needs to take care of their weight, you’ll likely need to change their diet — including feeding them fewer human food treats. But increasing the exercise is equally important because you want your pet to lose fat while retaining or building muscle mass. How much exercise is healthy? Here are some tips to help your pet drop those unwanted pounds and earn the praise and admiration he or she deserves.

First stop: your veterinary clinic

Your veterinarian will weigh your pet and show you how to objectively determine your pet’s ideal weight. Together, you can make a plan on how to approach your pet’s weight loss. Your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic weight loss diet or determine the right quantity of your current food to help your pet lose weight while still receiving all the nutrition they need.

The doctor will also check to see if your pet has any underlying conditions, such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) in dogs, which, when treated, can help with weight loss. He or she will also examine your pet for underlying heart or orthopedic conditions that may impact your pet’s exercise plan.

Gradual weight loss is best

Your pet shouldn’t lose weight too fast. As a general rule, a dog can lose about 1 to 3 percent of their body weight per month, while a cat can lose 0.5 to 2 percent per month, according to APOP. But this may vary depending on your pet’s breed and weight. Overweight cats who lose weight too fast and go off their food are prone to fatty liver disease, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. If your cat doesn’t eat for a day or two, contact your veterinarian.

Begin exercise gradually, too

Your veterinarian will typically recommend short exercise sessions, then gradually extend the length of these sessions as your pet loses weight. For overweight or arthritic dogs, low-impact exercises like walking and swimming are good because they put less stress on the joints than running and jumping. If your pet has arthritis, ask your veterinarian about medications to help your dog exercise pain free.

Start with short walks on flat terrain, gradually extending the walk and adding hills. Let your dog warm up and do their business, then gently increase the speed of your walk so your dog is getting some heart-pounding aerobic exercise. If your dog starts panting too much or lagging behind, that’s your cue to slow down a bit. Dogs that are overweight, especially those that are brachycephalic, or flat-faced, can have trouble breathing and become overheated easily. It’s best to walk these dogs in the cool of the morning or evening.

Depending on your dog’s health status, your veterinarian may recommend an exercise regimen of perhaps 30-minute walks five times a week. Each week, you can gradually increase the amount of aerobic time during the walk. If your dog tolerates that well, you can build up to twice-a-day walks or jogging.

Another alternative is to schedule regular appointments at canine rehabilitation clinics, where they can put your dog through the paces on regular or underwater treadmills. You can even make use of digital pet activity monitors to help monitor your pet’s daily efforts.

Cat fitness

Cats can be slightly more challenging to exercise, but you can start with 5-minute play sessions, chasing a laser pointer or feather toy. A cat tree can encourage your cat to climb and stretch its muscles. Food puzzles make your cat work for their meals and provide mental stimulation. Another alternative is to hide kibble in different parts of the house so your cat has to “hunt” for their meal.

Monitor progress with monthly weigh-ins

Whether you weigh your pet at the veterinary office or on your own scale, it’s important to make sure your pet is making weight-loss progress. Too much or too little weight loss suggests a call to your veterinarian, who can make adjustments in diet or exercise to keep your pet on track.

World Rabies Day: 10 Things You Need to Know

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For dogs and cats, infection with the rabies virus is inevitably fatal. But the good news is, it’s entirely preventable with regular rabies vaccinations. Protecting your pet’s health is an important way to safeguard your family, since infected animals can spread the virus to people, too. As part of World Rabies Day on September 28, we’re offering 10 things you should know to help keep all your loved ones safe.

  1. The rabies virus is transmitted by exposure to the saliva of an infected animal. This usually occurs through a bite, although, less commonly, saliva can enter a scratch or open wound. Most pets that fall victim to rabies are unvaccinated and are infected by wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks or foxes. That’s why you shouldn’t allow your pet to chase or fight wildlife.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 60 to 70 dogs and more than 250 cats in the U.S. die of rabies each year. Thanks to pet vaccinations, human deaths in the U.S. are relatively low, averaging about two people per year. The same can’t be said for rabies infections worldwide: Approximately 59,000 human deaths occur each year, in many cases from the bite of a rabid dog.

  2. Rabies occurs in 49 states, with Hawaii being the exception. The disease is especially prevalent on the East Coast from Maine to Florida and along the Mexican border.
  3. There’s no cure for rabies in pets. Once animals show signs of disease, they typically die in less than 10 days. And there’s no way to diagnose the disease in a live animal — it can only be done by examining brain tissue after an animal passes away.
  4. Animals can only transmit the virus after they show signs of disease. In the early stages, infected dogs and cats may appear nervous, aggressive or more friendly than normal. In time, they can become overly sensitive to light and sound. They may have seizures and lash out at others. Finally, they may drool excessively and experience a paralysis that first affects the head and neck before moving down the body, eventually paralyzing the muscles of the chest so they’re no longer able to breathe.
  5. Most states have laws that require rabies vaccinations for pets. Check with your veterinarian and know the state and local ordinances to make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination always stays current.
  6. Unvaccinated pets that bite a human or another pet usually require a 10-day quarantine. Infected animals can’t transmit the virus until they’re showing signs, and they usually die within 10 days after that. If the animal survives the 10 days, it means it wasn’t shedding the virus at the time of the bite.
  7. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal or another pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. Ask the owner of the other pet for proof of rabies vaccination. If they don’t have it or it was a wild animal, contact animal control to determine appropriate action. If your pet’s rabies vaccination is current, your veterinarian may recommend a booster vaccine.

    If your pet’s rabies vaccine has expired, the state may require a 6-month quarantine in an approved animal care center. Because the incubation period, or the time between the bite and the start of signs, is typically less than six months, this allows time to observe the pet and make sure it doesn’t show signs of infection before it is exposed to other pets and humans.

  8. Contact your veterinarian if your pet bites another pet or a person. You will need to provide proof of a rabies vaccination. As rabies laws vary regionally, your veterinarian can advise you as to what steps need to be taken in your state.
  9. Teach children to be gentle and respectful when handling pets. This helps reduce the risk of animal bites. Children should also ask the owner permission before petting other dogs or cats, for the same reason.
  10. If you or someone you are with is bitten by a potentially rabid animal, wash the wound with soap and water and call a physician or emergency room immediately. The doctor will treat the wound and decide if post-exposure prophylaxis, or an injection of plasma followed by a series of rabies vaccinations is needed.

By keeping your pet’s rabies vaccination current, limiting your pet’s exposure to wildlife and teaching children how to handle pets appropriately, you can minimize the risk of rabies infection for everyone in your household.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Pet Pain Relief

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Maybe your pup roughhoused at the dog park and is now favoring a leg. Or your cat drops food from her mouth as if it’s painful to chew. What’s the harm in exploring your medicine cabinet for a little pain relief? After all, over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin are relatively harmless for people, so the same goes for pets, right?

Unfortunately, that kind of well-meaning thinking has led to potentially serious health problems for both cats and dogs. Since pets don’t metabolize these drugs like people do, medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen can be harmful or even deadly to your dog or cat.

As part of Animal Pain Awareness Month, we’re sharing some tips on pet pain relief to help keep your beloved ones safe.

Human NSAIDs and pets

Medications such as aspirin (Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) are considered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, but human NSAIDs, especially in high doses, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney failure, liver failure, bleeding problems and even neurological issues in pets. Cats are even more sensitive to NSAIDs than dogs. Signs of potential toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, black/tarry stools, pale or yellow gums, changes in amount or frequency of urination, collapse and seizures.

While acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a pain reliever and fever reducer, it has no anti-inflammatory properties, so it is not considered an NSAID. It may be combined with aspirin in products such as Excedrin. While acetaminophen can be toxic to dogs, it’s often fatal for cats. Ingestion can lead to liver damage and a condition called methemoglobinemia, in which red blood cells cannot carry necessary oxygen to the body. In these cases, the blood may actually appear brown rather than the healthy red color of oxygenated blood. Signs include increased respiratory rate, pale or muddy gums, vomiting, swelling of the face or extremities and collapse.

If you see these signs after inadvertently giving your pet over-the-counter human pain relievers, or after your pet accidentally chewed through the bottle of pain relievers in your purse or backpack, contact your veterinarian immediately or call the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center.

Pain relief dos and don’ts

So how can you help a pet that you suspect may be in pain?

  • DO schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Depending on the cause, the doctor may prescribe a veterinary NSAID for your pup that has been shown to be safe and effective in dogs. While there are no NSAIDs approved for long-term use in cats, your veterinarian may prescribe other medications for pain relief.
  • DON’T give your pet any over-the-counter pain medication without consulting your veterinarian first. Wouldn’t you rather ask now than end up at the emergency clinic later?
  • DON’T give your pet a veterinary NSAID that was prescribed for another pet. You may accidentally give the wrong dose, or this pet may have an underlying health condition or be on medications that aren’t compatible with the NSAID.
  • DO let your vet know what other medications your pet is taking. In particular, if they are already taking steroids such as prednisone or prednisolone, they shouldn’t start taking NSAIDs.
  • DON’T administer any additional NSAIDs if your pet is already taking a veterinary NSAID.
  • DO monitor them for potential side effects, if your dog is currently taking a veterinary NSAID. Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy are warning signs. Your veterinarian may also recommend periodic blood tests to make sure your dog’s liver and kidney values remain normal while on the medication.

When in doubt, your veterinarian is always your best resource for safeguarding your pet’s health.

Does Your Pet Need to See a Veterinary Nutritionist?

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The food bowl is the center of the universe for most pets. The whir of a can opener or the clatter of kibble tumbling onto a plate is enough to rouse any dog or cat from a dead sleep and send them bounding into the kitchen. When you think about it, does anything impact your pet’s health more, on a daily basis, than the food you feed it?

While the majority of dogs and cats do just fine when fed a complete and balanced commercial diet, there are some cases where you may want to seek the specialized advice of a pet nutritionist.

What is a veterinary nutritionist?

Just as human doctors specialize in particular types of medicine, from dermatology to surgery, these veterinarians select nutrition as their specialty. While your eyes may glaze over when you read about carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids and other dietary ingredients, these doctors are fascinated by these topics.

After finishing 4 years of veterinary school, doctors must complete 1 year of general clinical experience and then an additional 2- to 3-year residency where they focus on the nutritional management of healthy pets and those with single or multiple diseases. To become board-certified, they must publish peer-reviewed research, write up detailed case reports and pass a grueling, 2-day written test.  At that point, they can add another title after their names: DACVN, which stands for Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.

Why consult a nutrition specialist?

There are several reasons why your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary nutritionist or you might seek a specialist’s advice on your own.

Your pet needs a therapeutic diet. Certain medical conditions, such as kidney or cardiac disease, benefit from a specialized, therapeutic diet. In some cases, there may be a commercial diet available by prescription but your pet does not like the taste. If no commercial diet is available for your pet’s particular condition, a board-certified nutritionist can tailor one to your pet’s needs.

Your pet has multiple medical conditions. Perhaps your pet has food allergies and chronic kidney disease, for example. Again, a nutritionist can develop a specially formulated diet to address both conditions.

Your pet needs to be fed through a tube. Some conditions, such as fatty liver disease in cats, may require a special liquid diet devised for a feeding tube.

You prefer a homemade diet. While there may be recipes for homemade diets on the internet, many of them are “generic” formulas that aren’t tailored to your pet and can be deficient in necessary nutrients. For the health of your pet, any homemade diet should be developed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Your pet is carrying a few extra pounds. A nutritionist can develop a personalized weight loss plan that helps your pet lose the weight and keep it off.

You want to know more about your pet’s nutrition. If you’d like an expert to identify your pet’s specific nutritional needs and recommend an individualized feeding plan, a veterinary nutritionist is your best resource.

Interested in a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist? Just ask your veterinarian for a referral or consult the Diplomate Directory at www.acvn.org.

Disabled Dogs Get by With a Little Help

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In a world of designer dogs, there’s a special beauty to those who are, well, less than perfect. That includes the dogs with visible disabilities, who may have lost a limb or an eye, as well as those with less obvious impairments, such as deafness, anxiety or phobias.

Time and again, these dogs show us how to rise in the face of adversity and eschew self-pity as they clear off every item on the coffee table with one sweep of their happy tails. Thankfully, veterinarians and other animal health specialists are hard at work to help these dogs maintain mobility and live their fullest lives.

Canine prosthetics

Dogs may lose a limb for any number of reasons. With some types of cancer or leg fractures that are beyond repair, limb amputation can be life saving. Other dogs may simply be dealt the short stick genetically, resulting in birth defects that make walking a challenge. Still others, unfortunately, suffer from neglect by their owners.

In one instance, neighbors in South Carolina called the police to report that the Great Dane next door was tied up outdoors and emaciated. When the police arrived, they discovered the dog had chewed off the lower portion of his right rear leg to try to get away. After treatment and care from a local animal rescue organization, the dog regained strength but had trouble walking.

Enter Animal Ortho Care, a company in Sterling, Virginia, that creates custom-made thermoplastic prosthetics. Although many dogs adapt to three legs without a prosthetic, the company has created braces or prosthetic limbs for 20,000 animals, from dogs and cats to horses, sheep, birds and elephants, since it began in 2004.

Have wheels, will travel

Some dogs lose the use of their legs because of spinal cord injuries, degenerative conditions or other problems. In these cases, smaller dogs can be carried in modified infant slings or backpacks or even pulled in a wagon. If the dog has lost use of its rear limbs, the back end can be supported with portable slings or wheelchairs to help maintain mobility.

No sight or hearing? No problem

Pets may lose their eyesight because of trauma, cataracts or other conditions such as glaucoma (high eye pressure). Most adapt quite well, as long as you don’t move the furniture too often and don’t leave them unsupervised around stairs. Blind pets may be trained to follow sounds such as claps, clicks or whistles.

Loss of hearing is common in older dogs but may occur earlier from chronic ear infections and other causes. These dogs can also learn to follow hand signals in lieu of verbal commands.

With the help of dedicated health care professionals and patient owners, dogs with disabilities can maintain their mobility and live long, satisfying lives.

A Legacy of Healthy Pups Requires Nutrition They Can Trust

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An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

The Matthews family knows a thing or two about pet nutrition.

When your family motto is “Work hard, play hard,” and part of that work and a lot of that play involves multiple litters of goldendoodles at a time, you need to make sure that everyone — especially those on four legs — is happy and healthy. You need nutrition you can rely on and trust.

The Matthews have been breeding goldendoodles for several years, and they’ve relied upon Taste of the Wild since day one. McKinley Mantell and her sister, Tori Matthews, got a pet goldendoodle, Dixie, 12 years ago — way before goldendoodles were a wildly popular breed. Dixie gave McKinley and Tori a passion for the breed, and that passion became a dream to give other families the opportunity to love a doodle just as much as they loved theirs.

The sisters spent hours researching the best way to breed and raise goldendoodles. “We wanted to raise happy healthy puppies to be service dogs, emotional support dogs, and life-long companions.” Tori says. “We started with two female golden retrievers, Sadie and Rue, and fell in love with their happy personalities and even temperaments,” McKinley says. “We knew they’d be perfect mothers.” And so the Matthews Legacy Farm breeding program began.

When the sisters started the program, McKinley and her husband, Matt, had been feeding Taste of the Wild to their own goldendoodle, Bear. “We’d been looking for a brand with a clean nutrition panel,” Matt remembers. “So we tried Taste of the Wild, and we quickly noticed Bear’s thick, shiny coat. And she just seemed healthier.”

“If we were noticing how great it was working first hand for our own dog, then we knew it would be great for our program,” McKinley says.

A Caring Environment

Matthews Legacy Farm is an animal haven. The 15-acre plot where the farm sits is home to cows, horses, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and cats. “We have a little bit of everything,” McKinley says. “But they’re all pets. Every one of them.”

But let’s not forget the dogs. While Bear, Sadie and Rue are the constant canine companions, there have been up to 20 goldendoodle puppies goofing around the farm at one time. “Both dogs had litters, and one was huge. 11 puppies! That was fun,” McKinley remembers.

In addition to their own personal dogs, the Matthews created a “guardian program,” meaning that they place potential mothers in pre-screened homes. “This way, the mother has an amazing quality of life and a great family to create many lasting memories,” Matt says. Part of the screening process for a potential home is that the mother and any subsequent puppies be fed high-quality food. “We recommend Taste of the Wild.”

Wild at Home, Wherever Home Might Be

The Matthews have placed doodle puppies all over the United States (with their first international placements to Canada and Mexico coming this fall). No matter where the puppies make their new homes — from New York to Oregon to California to Washington, D.C.— one thing stays consistent: Every new pet family is sent home with a “Matthews Legacy Farm Puppy Package” that includes a toy, teething bone, shampoo, training treats, a bandana, poop bags and pee pads, puppy folder with records, birth certificate and training guide, all in a sturdy Matthews Legacy Farm canvas bag. And they also get two sample bags of Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe with Smoke-Flavored Salmon.

“There are a few reasons for this,” McKinley says. “With puppies going to a new home and leaving mom and siblings for the first time, having the same food helps them adapt to new family and strange living space more easily.” But it’s not just the puppies who are adapting to change; the new puppy parents are as well. “So taking the guesswork out of the puppies’ nutrition for the owners brings them comfort and helps them get started on the right foot.”

Another reason the Matthews prefer to send the puppies home with Taste of the Wild is a little more practical. “We love the distribution,” Matt says. “Whether they’re going to Vegas or New York, we’re confident that if the new owners want to stick with Taste of the Wild, it will be available to them. Whether it’s at the local store or online, we like knowing that it’s there.”

But another reason is because the puppies love the Pacific Stream Puppy recipe. “We start feeding puppies at 5 weeks,” Tori says. “We soak the food with warm water and they just jump right in, like it’s a natural-born instinct. We’ve never had to force-feed a puppy. They love the flavors. They just crave it.”

The new owners seem to recognize how much the pups love Taste of the Wild. The Matthews stay in touch with every family who has adopted their puppies, and whenever nutrition comes up, it usually turns out that they stuck with Taste of the Wild. “Every time we hear from owners and they say they’re still on Taste of the Wild, we consider it a success,” Matt says. “It tells me that we’re doing it right.”

As for the Matthews’ adult dogs, there isn’t a Taste of the Wild recipe that they don’t like. The pregnant mothers get switched to puppy recipes to get extra nutrients into mom and her milk while the other dogs have yet to turn down an adult recipe. “We try to mix it up for them from time to time,” Matt says. “And they just down it no matter what.”

More Puppies, More Fun on the Horizon

There is a lot of puppy action happening at Matthews Legacy Farm. With two litters due in July and two more by October, it’ll be worth your while to follow the family and all the puppies on Instagram and Facebook. And if you haven’t already, look us up on Instagram, Facebook and X.

An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

A new puppy text graphic with a white, tan and black puppy lying in the grass.

Stuck at Home? Build a Backyard Agility Course

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Is your dog’s energy level cranked up a notch or two above the average pooch? Does he or she seem to have an insatiable need to run, even on a rainy day? Are you looking for new ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated? Could you stand a little more exercise, too? Then a backyard agility course may be the perfect outlet for the both of you.

Canine agility is a sport where you run next to your dog, directing them with commands and hand signals, through an obstacle course during a set amount of time. It’s a great way to help your dog expend excess energy and pick up new obedience tips while providing a mental challenge to help reduce boredom and anxiety. Best of all, this sport gets you off the couch and helps build a stronger bond between you and your dog.

First stop: a vet check

As always, your dog’s health and safety are priorities. Ask your veterinarian to examine your dog to make sure there aren’t any underlying conditions that could be exacerbated by this sport.

Since running the course obstacles could put stress on muscles and joints, it’s especially important to look for orthopedic conditions such as arthritis or ligament ruptures as well as spinal disease. A diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean your dog can’t participate in agility, it just means you’ll need to adapt the course to keep your dog safe. Your veterinarian can provide guidance.

Learn about the sport

If possible, take a course in beginner agility or read books and articles to learn the basics. Because much of the sport relies on communication between you and your dog, teach your dog commands such as “watch me,” “look,” or the skill of touching his or her nose to your hand or a target. These are just some of the commands that will help you move your dog through the course.

At first, keep training sessions short, just five to ten minutes, then gradually lengthen the sessions. Make sure to lavish your dog with positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats so he or she associates good things with your sessions.

Mapping your course

The obstacle course can be designed in a myriad of ways, depending on the size of your yard and the number of obstacles you choose. You can find agility starter kits online, which contain some of the basic obstacles, or you can make your own. Here are a few examples:

Weave poles — A series of lightweight, vertical poles that your dog zigzags through like a slalom skier. Poles should be flexible and bend if your dog bumps into them. Potential materials include PCV tubing, bamboo poles, ski poles, or even orange cones, initially placed about two feet apart.

Tunnels — Flexible, lightweight tunnels that your dog can run through. A children’s play tunnel may do the trick.

Jumps — Adjustable hurdles that your dog can leap over. You can build these out of almost anything, as long as the pole can be dislodged so your dog won’t be hurt if they bump it. Consider using two stacks of books or bricks with a broom handle laying across them. The height can be raised as your dog becomes more proficient.

Tire jumps — Basically, a vertically mounted ring your dog can jump through. Try securing a hula hoop or tire between two PVC pipes at a height that’s easy for your dog to leap through.

Teeter-totter — This is a plank with a fulcrum in the middle. Ideally, cover the plank with rubber or carpeting to prevent your dog from slipping. As your dog runs up this plank, the obstacle pivots in the middle like a seesaw, bringing the far end down so they walk safely onto the ground.

Start with a walk-through

Once you’ve set up the course, walk your dog through it slowly, helping them understand each obstacle. Use hand signals, vocal commands, praise and treats to help guide the way. Start with simple obstacles, then move on to more complicated ones.

Never force your dog through any obstacles that cause them fear or anxiety. For example, it might be scary for your dog to enter a dark tunnel initially. In this case, try leading them through with a trail of treats and lots of encouragement.

As your dog gets used to the course, you can gradually increase the speed or the height of the jumps. It’s a great way to build your dog’s confidence, strengthen your bond and get you both off the couch!

How to Foster a Dog: A Beginner’s Guide

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Looking for a fulfilling job that doesn’t require a fancy resume and comes with lots of perks? Consider becoming a dog foster parent!

Scroll through pet adoption websites or the social media feeds of shelters and rescue groups, and you’ll see a vast array of dogs looking for furever homes. What you don’t usually see is the foster team that quietly works behind the scenes at the adoption center to help make sure these forever homes are found.

Dog foster parents provide a temporary home — and any special care needed — for homeless animals until they’re adopted. A dog may be in a foster home for a few weeks or a few months, depending on when they become adopted by their forever family.

How Much Does It Cost to Foster a Dog?

While the details of a foster program vary from shelter to shelter, most rescue operations go above and beyond to make fostering appealing. Donated supplies such as food, bowls, bedding and toys are often made available for foster parents. Shelters will typically cover veterinary costs as well.

Your time, attention and commitment are typically the only “costs” associated with fostering a dog. As well as their daily care at home, you will likely be asked to bring them to adoption events so they can meet potential adopters and find their permanent home. You’ll also need to make sure they are socialized well and take them to any veterinary appointments they may have.

The shelter may also ask you to send photos or videos of their cute or silly antics so they can show potential adopters what they’re like at home. Often, a dog acts differently in a quiet and calm home compared to the overstimulating and noisy shelter environment. However, sometimes, even after being placed in a foster home, shelter dogs are found to be “unadoptable.” The good news is there are programs suited for these unadoptable dogs.

Why Is Fostering Dogs Important?

There are many reasons why foster caregivers are needed for homeless dogs. Some rescue organizations don’t have brick-and-mortar buildings to house homeless pets and rely entirely on the kindness of foster families. For shelters that do have housing, they can become overcrowded, and placing some pets in foster care helps reduce the burden on the shelter. Additionally, dogs that have been in a shelter environment for a long time may need more personal interaction than they’ve had in their kennel, and foster parents can provide an enriching home environment for them.

Some dogs come from situations that did not provide proper socialization, and they may be fearful. By staying with nurturing foster parents, they can learn to trust and be calm around people and other dogs and cats. Similarly, some dogs may have behavior issues like separation anxiety, and they need a calm and patient support person to help them overcome their fears. Occasionally, dogs who underwent medical care may need a place to recover from injury or surgeries such as spays or neuters. Foster families also provide a place to raise newborn puppies until they’re ready for adoption.

Do You Get Paid to Foster Dogs?

No, being a pet foster is usually an unpaid, volunteer position. However, many foster volunteers are provided with all the supplies and resources needed to care for a dog (e.g., food, toys, bowls and bedding). The cost of veterinary care is typically covered by the shelter or rescue organization as well.

Even though you don’t get paid, there are many other reasons to become a foster parent for shelter animals. Here are just a few:

  • If you can’t commit to the responsibility of having a pet long-term, fostering gives you a “pet fix” when you need it.
  • It’s rewarding to know that the simple act of opening your home and providing a loving environment could save a dog’s life.
  • Helping a fearful or shy dog transform into a trusting, calm and loving pet is incredibly fulfilling.
  • What’s not to like about raising a litter of puppies (or kittens — cats need fosters, too!)?
  • If you have kids, fostering can teach them how to be respectful and responsible with pets.
  • Your other pets may like the companionship of a new playmate.
  • Foster pets can chase away loneliness (conveniently, that works both ways).

How Does Fostering a Dog Work?

If you have an open heart, patience and the time to commit to fostering a dog, why not look into pet rescues or shelters in your area? These organizations are happy to explain the rules of their foster programs. In most cases, it doesn’t require any special training, just a foster application and a commitment from you. The shelter will ask you lots of questions about your home, your schedule, any other pets that you might have, and much more. Once everything is approved, you can go home with your new foster dog.

A Foster Home Can Become a Dog’s Forever Home

When you bring a foster animal into your home, the goal is to provide them with a happy and safe space until they are adopted. But sometimes heartstrings get pulled and a dog’s foster journey doesn’t end that way. “Foster failure” is the name given to people who fall in love with their foster dog and just can’t let go. And that’s perfectly OK.

Dogs at Work: The Ever-Talented Canine Nose Also Detects Heat

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A close-up of a brown dog's nose.

It changes temperatures. Can it also detect them?

According to an old wives’ tale, if your dog’s nose is warm and dry, it’s a sign of illness. But the truth is, there are more reliable ways to check your dog’s health: it turns out that nose temperature can change throughout the day.

While animals such as deer, cows, and horses always tend to have warm noses, it’s common for a dog’s nose to be a few degrees cooler when the environmental temperature is fairly warm. (When ambient temperatures are cold, dog noses tend to be a bit warmer.)

But a cooler nose in a warm environment makes sense: There’s no fur covering the skin on the snout and dogs often lick their noses, adding moisture which dissipates heat as it evaporates. That cooler nose temperature is what led researchers at Sweden’s Lund University and Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University to wonder if there might be a purpose for it: Could it be used by dogs for heat detection?

Putting the idea to the test

The researchers trained three dogs to discriminate between two objects without seeing or smelling them. One object was at ambient temperature and the other at the warmer temperature of a furry animal. When tested, all three dogs were able to identify the objects emitting mild thermal radiation.

The scientists also performed magnetic resonance imaging on 13 dogs while they exposed them to objects that were either warm or ambient temperatures. The left parts of the dogs’ brains, which accept inputs from the nose, lit up when the dogs were exposed to warm objects. When objects at normal temperature were placed in front of their noses, no area of the dogs’ brains responded.

What does it all mean?

Combined, the two experiments demonstrate that dog noses can detect mild heat, and this causes a reaction in a specific area of their brains. The scientists speculate that this trait was probably inherited from wolf ancestors that used it to help track prey.

But dogs aren’t the only creatures with this unusual talent. Black fire beetles, some snakes and vampire bats also use heat detection to help hunt prey.

Researchers also surmise that the ability to detect heat is what makes dogs great hunters even if they’ve lost some of their other senses such as sight, smell or hearing. It’s possible that heat detection helps avalanche dogs and search and rescue dogs track down missing people.

While this ability to detect heat might explain a lot of things about dogs, one thing is still a mystery: How can they unerringly find a tennis ball under five feet of snow?