My coworker asked me for some advice for his friend who has a Mastiff/Rottweiler mix that recently charged a neighbor. The story goes like this.

His friend's Mastiff/Rottweiler jumped the fence and charged a neighbor as he was walking by with his dog. The dog didn't bite the neighbor or his dog. According to the owner, her dog barked at the neighbor and scared him. That's it.  read more »

No. She's not addicted to anything. She's in physical rehabilitation for hip dysplasia. At least once a week, my husband Brian or I take Dakota to Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation in Burnsville. With each visit, Dakota walks on an underwater treadmill, stands in a whirl-pool-like spa, gets stretched on an exercise ball (shaped like a big blue peanut), and does other stretching and strength building exercises.  read more »

Seriously. If I'm behind a closed door, Watson is on the other side of it meowing. When I'm in my office, he's on the chair next to me — only because I've already moved him off of my lap. And when I'm in the yard, if he's not outside with me, he runs from window to window so he can keep me in sight.  read more »

My husband and I make the trek up North at least once a year. We usually have the dogs with us -- who seem to enjoy the getaway as much as we do.

As Minnesota heads into summer (albeit very, very slowly), vacations are being planned that include many a canine. If you're looking for a dog friendly cabin nestled in the north woods, I recommend Little Ollie Lake Cabin.

Check out the story and photo gallery of my trip last summer. Enjoy!  read more »

This weekend while at a graduation party, my husband and I watched a 12-year-old kid, under the instruction of his father, put a puppy in its kennel in the car. Nothing strange about that—except that it was 85 degrees and humid. I waited a few minutes, then asked the kid, "Is there a window open in the car?"

"I don't know. Yea, I think so."  read more »

Where did the saying “Cats have nine lives” originate? by Laura French

The saying may go back to ancient Egypt, where cats were treated as royalty and nine was a number with mystical significance. Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable says that the saying refers to the belief that “a cat is popularly supposed to be more tenacious of life than animals in general.”

Surviving falls from great heights is one of the cat’s most often-noted survival skills. In fact, according to www.coolquiz.com, a cat is more likely to survive a longer fall than a shorter one. New York veterinarians reported a 10 percent death rate in cats that fell from 2 to 6 stories, but only 5 percent in falls from 7 to 32 stories.  read more »

Understanding behavior is vital to knowing your dog. If there's one thing that I really love about Pet Central is its ability to distribute exceptional pet information. Our informational clinics are no exception.

If you have a dog that gets snarky with other dogs, it is no fun. The behavior can be stressful, scary and embarrassing. On Saturday June 7, Dr. Chris Pachel will present a very important clinic about dog-to-dog aggression.  read more »

In a matter of a few days, I received emails from three different rescue groups asking me to post a blog that helps them recruit foster families. If you have ever thought about fostering animals, I completely recommend it. (Foster based rescue groups do not have a central shelter, but instead rely on their network of foster families to provide temporary care for animals in their homes.)

In the past, I've fostered cats for a few different organizations. Yes, a litter of kittens I took care of destroyed a plant. Stripes came to me with a nasty upper respiratory infection, but he pulled through with medication and loving care. And my mom (who lives out of town) just couldn't understand why I converted the guest room into a foster cat sanctuary.

And yes, I did get attached to the cats in my care. Every single one of them. But I have to say, it is quite a great feeling to help an animal find a loving forever home.  read more »

Lesson one: Leash your dog. Today's guest blogger, Jeannine Moga, addresses the often awkward situation of unleashed dogs greeting dog-phobic people. Even most dog lovers would prefer that dogs remain leashed in public places. So if you are a person who lets your dog amble freely off-leash because the dog is, “friendly,” or “loves people” --listen up.

Not a Leash-Free World by Jeannine Moga

At the risk of sounding like a party pooper, I must admit that I am an enthusiastic fan of leash laws. In fact, I prefer my dogs, and every one else’s dogs, on a short (and NOT a flexi) leash. Allow me to explain.  read more »

We've all heard the saying "Dogs have cleaner mouths than people." But do they? Today we shine some light on this often quoted but hugely misunderstood statement.

Do dogs actually have cleaner mouths than people? by Laura French

The short answer: No. Both humans and dogs have plenty of oral bacteria. Dogs may have more, given their tendency to snack on road kill and raid the cat litter box. An article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) reports that “More than 64 species of bacteria may be found in the mouths of dogs,” including staph, strep, and e-coli.  read more »