Things had changed for Patches (not his real name) by the time I saw him. But let me start at the beginning. Patches is an All American dog of many breeds it seems – and he is beautiful. The original owner had to surrender Patches to a rescue organization because of her failing health. She could no longer take care of Patches.

There are things in life you have to experience to understand. Your first love. A first child. Your once-in-a-lifetime dog. If you have to ask, “What’s a once-in-a-lifetime dog?” you haven’t had one yet. And, by the way, you only get one. The Dog Gods deem it so.

Dog owners sometimes notice their dog appears sad or listless and wonder if dogs can get depressed in the same way that humans get depressed. The short answer to this question is “yes”. Dogs can get depressed in ways that are similar to human depression.

You’ve noticed that your dog appears to like some people more than others. Even if your dog sometimes shows aggressive tendencies toward people, he or she might not be bothered with certain people. Why is this?

Some dog behaviorists, behavior consultants and behavior specialists will not take their personal dogs to dog parks – ever. I am not one of those people. If you use some common sense and follow the guidelines below, you and your dog can both have a fun and stimulating time at the dog park.

I’ve witnessed too many dogs unnecessarily suffer because of misunderstandings about dog behavior. These misunderstandings are seen everyday in dog owners and even some dog trainers. It’s just a lack of knowledge about dogs for the most part; the following might shed some light on some of the most common misconceptions.

Here is a list of 4 items presented in order of least important to most important of things that can greatly improve your veterinarian’s relationship and effectiveness with your dog.

There are 15 principles in the dog behavior world I find myself repeating on a daily basis. Understanding and acknowledging these truths will greatly improve the relationship we have with our dogs. I’ve outlined these concepts below.

“When should I euthanize my dog?” is a question I’m frequently asked. I make it my policy to never tell dog owners if or when they should euthanize their dog. Please remember, no one can make this decision for you – not a dog trainer, not a behaviorist, not a veterinarian, no one. This is a decision that is ultimately best made by a loving owner.

Some dog owners feel they shouldn’t have to reward their dog for doing certain expected behaviors. They tell me they’re already paying for their dog’s vet bills, food and housing – that should be enough to get their dog’s loyalty.

Dogs can become fearful of many things through no fault of their own. Examples include: noises, riding in cars, touch, veterinarians, animate and inanimate objects, etc. The list is virtually endless.

There are numerous laws regarding dog bites. One that is important for dog owners to be aware of is known as the "one bite rule". Simply stated, the one bite rule means that dog owners have limited liability the first time their dog bites a human (this rule does not apply to dog-dog bites).

The state of affairs in defining and regulating service dogs is in flux to say the least – it’s the Wild West. Governmental entities, including the federal government, are looking at ways to more tightly control the definition and use of these dogs.

There are probably a number of reasons why the population growth rate of California has continued to decline over the last 30 years (1). Excessive government regulation is one of the reasons that is frequently cited.

It sounds so convenient. Just ship your dog to a dog training facility for two weeks and she’ll come back the dog you’ve always envisioned. If only it was that easy.

Animal professionals such as behaviorists, groomers, daycare workers, rescue workers and veterinarians should be concerned for dogs’ welfare in all areas (e.g., general health, behavior, nutrition, preventive medicine, environment).