Jasper, happily chewing on his bully stick, with sister, Sophie, in the background It’s been awhile since I’ve shared any shelter dog news from Animal Care & Control in NY. We’ve been so immersed in acclimating and training our own shelter rescue, Jasper, but that’s no excuse. Jasper, like your rescue babies, is one of the lucky ones. These sweet beings are still waiting. For any of you who have a dog with behavior issues serious enough to try medication, maybe we can go through our journeys together. We just started Jasper on Prozac. I know medicating… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Victoria Stilwell and Summit moderator, John Hockenberry I went to a really wonderful event recently put on by Purina, called the Better with Pets Summit. In its sophomore year, the Summit focused on how the human-pet bond is evolving, and how innovation, technology and new thinking is changing our relationships with our pets. It was a fascinating day-long event here in New York City, with master of ceremonies John Hockenberry, host of public radio’s “The Takeaway.” And, kudos to Purina, for bringing together some of the brightest minds in all different… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links If you’re a Bark & Swagger follower, you know I’m a fan of the PUPSAVER. For me, it’s the best dog car seat out there. It’s the only one officially crash-tested by the same company that crash tests infant car seats for the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). With the holidays almost upon us, we’re already thinking gifts – for us, our pups, our friends and loved ones. If you live outside a major city or just plain get around in a car with your dog, you need a car seat. I… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Sophie & Jasper relaxing on a bench by the river Is being in love with a dog harness a bit extreme? I mean, I’m emotional about stuff, I admit it. I get excited. So when I bought two awesome-looking harnesses from Ruffwear, one of my favorite dog gear brands, and they arrived, I couldn’t wait to try them out. And, boy, did we give those babies a run for the money! We’ve been all over with them for the past couple of months, and I figured now was a… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links   My little man… It’s been seven weeks since we adopted Jasper, and about four since I’ve written about it. He’s settling into our household and we have a pretty good idea of the dog we’ve gotten now. For the most part, Jasper is a terrific boy. He’s loving, smart, playful and a big cuddler and kisser. I love that, because Sophie isn’t. So, all those times I was dying to reach out and scoop her up and cuddle her, I often resisted, because I know it makes her… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links My babies, Sophie & Jasper Pet theft is a very serious subject, but how we protect our furry friends can be fashionable and fun. July is Lost Pet Prevention Month, and a great time to find that fabulous ID tag as fashion statement meets full coverage protection. There are companies now making stylish tags in every color imaginable, blinged out or more subdued. The one I like, because it condenses everything I’d need to keep Sophie and Jasper safe, as well as offers me great resources if they get… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links   Did you just see that?! Destroying the house when you’re out; incessant barking in the crate; lunging at people; barking at people…do any of these sound like your dog? I can put “Check!” next to a few. Today’s post is the final one in a three-part series on dog behaviors explained by the experts. We’ll tackling some of the tough stuff – separation anxiety and how you know if your dog has it; fear-agression issues and what that means. We even have some great advice for moms and… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Taking Notesphoto credit: Seattle PI Ever wondered how your dog thinks? Are you unsure about how to deal with a behavior issue? There’s a new book called Decoding Your Dog, written by board-certified animal behaviorists, Drs. Debra Horwitz and John Ciribissi, and edited by nationally-syndicated pet journalist, Steve Dale, that can help. It’s easy to read and has great information on everything from choosing the right dog or adding a second dog, benevolent training tips, and solid, science-based evidence on how to treat things like aggression, separation anxiety, even advice… [Continue Reading]