Archive for October, 2009

by Lindsay Stordahl on October 29th, 2009
19 Comments »
I’ve always heard people are less likely to adopt black dogs. True or not, there are an awful lot of black dogs lingering a bit longer in shelters and rescue programs. Maybe it’s our obsession with finding that “perfect” family dog that most closely resembles a golden retriever. My last dog was a golden, and when I set out to look for my next dog, I did not have a black mutt in mind. I thought ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 24th, 2009
15 Comments »
How to kennel train a dog: First, bait the kennel with a very naughty cat. Next, allow the dog to smell the bait … If you are going to use a kennel at all with your dog, consistent kennel training is important. Most dogs have at least some anxiety when kenneled. This was the case recently when my mutt Ace spent the night at a relative’s house who reported that Ace cried, paced and yipped until 2 a.m. ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 19th, 2009
25 Comments »
I took a close look at some popular brands of dog food to find out the ingredients. I am not a vet or a nutritionist, but I can read. If you are reading this blog you should be able to read the ingredients in your dog’s food. Take a look, and let me know what you find out. The first two ingredients in a healthy dog food should be high-quality proteins, according to Michelle Smith, owner of Natural Pet Center i ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 16th, 2009
15 Comments »
I’ve always fed my mutt and two cats dry food. They’ve eaten a few brands over the years, sometimes natural food, sometimes not. I feed them dry food for convenience sake – convenience in buying it, storing it and preparing it. It’s consistent. It’s easy. It’s relatively cheap. After my recent interview with Michelle from Natural Pet Center in Fargo, I thought I’d use some of ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 13th, 2009
21 Comments »
The best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients with high-quality animal proteins, whole grains, vegetables and is naturally preserved, according to Michelle Smith, owner of Natural Pet Center of Fargo since 2005. Natural Pet Center of Fargo does not sell dog food brands that include by-products, corn, fillers or chemical preservatives, according to its web site. If Michelle can provide the tools for people to ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 11th, 2009
7 Comments »
Note: This is a guest post from Abbey of Danes Down Under. Abbey is a social worker in the drug and alcohol management industry. She has clinical depression (also known as unipolar or major depression) and owns two great danes and one Maltese. Clinical depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Individuals with clinical depression ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 9th, 2009
17 Comments »
It is disrespectful when a dog bounds all over my car assuming he has the right to sit shotgun, in my lap and anywhere else he pleases. Most people don’t seem to mind where their dogs sit in the car. If you are one of those people, I encourage you to change your mind. My dog is never allowed in the front seat. Here’s why: 1. I’d like to keep at least the front half of my car fairly clean and less sm ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 7th, 2009
9 Comments »
A slip lead works like a choke collar and will help with training the dog to walk on a loose leash. It also puts the owner in control rather than the dog. One of the easiest ways to make an emergency slip lead is to loop the handle of the leash through itself and put it around the dog’s neck. The “clip” end of the leash will already be attached to the dog’s collar like normal. This trick has c ...
by Lindsay Stordahl on October 2nd, 2009
13 Comments »
In our community of Fargo, N.D., West Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., 85 impounded dogs were euthanized in 2008, along with 698 cats (not a typo). Giant breed dogs, “bad rap” breeds, senior dogs, sick dogs and injured dogs are the least likely to be pulled from pounds because it is more difficult to find homes for them. Without foster homes, dogs cannot be saved because there is nowhere for them to go. ...