Blog — Health and Well-Being

I currently have my dogs on an "attention diet." That means "no touch, no talk, no eye contact," as Cesar Millan would say (and I promise you, this is both the first and last time I will ever quote Cesar!). Why do my dogs need an attention diet? Well, they've received way too much attention indoors, been completely anthropomorphized, overstimulated, over-pet, overly coo-ed to, and in a fairly co-dependent relationship with me for most of their lives. It's only day two and so far, so good. I've been able to practically go "cold turkey" and my dogs are snoring soundly while...

Dogs are like humans in many ways, including their biology. An important biological element that we share is the 10th cranial nerve, also known as the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve connects the brain to the body and helps regulate the autonomic nervous system in both humans and dogs. When all is going well our ventral vagus is in charge, and we have feelings of safety and comfort. Our breathing and movements are easy and joyful. We are in a state of flow, showing playful behavior while interacting with others. When we start to sense fear or perceive danger, this system also helps...

I recently saw an article stating that the reason a dog acts out is because he is bored and needs more mental stimulation (7 Signs Your Dog Needs More Mental Stimulation). What's more likely to be true is that your dog is already over-stimulated and this is why he's acting out. What our dogs need today is more emotional grounding and less mental stimulation. Think about it, there's no such thing as being over-grounded, because emotional grounding is always good. But there is such a thing as being over-stimulated. We all get over-stimulated when we have too much mental activity and not...

The answer is definitely yes. But here's what you should know:  1. Green tripe looks like brains and smells like poop. It is full of digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria that will benefit your dog's gut. 2. You should never store it in plastic unless you don't mind your Tupperware smelling like a cow's stomach FOREVER. 3. Your roommates will hate you and your dog friends will love you.  4. Try to buy from Greentripe.com like we do. The bleached stuff you find at the grocery store is not what you want. They offer straight tripe, but also have great...

Do you dread trimming your dog's nails? Do you avoid it altogether by relying on your vet or groomer to do this task for you? Most people I know would answer yes to one or both of these questions, but you don't have to! I'm writing this article to help you get a better grip on this grooming task. A really important part of your relationship with your dog, in my humble opinion, is being able to groom him. I almost always start my grooming sessions by massaging the dog. This is an invaluable way to solidify the bond between you...