Blogs by Colleen Safford

January 31, 2011 by Colleen Safford

As I have admitted in previous posts - I'm a self diagnosed Etsy addict. Here is yet another reason my Etsy addiction only grows.

It's all the ordinary dog qualities that make dogs extraordinary. My other addiction; dogs.

Anna Dibble's delightful print is a must have for every dog lover and addict.

Here's a link to throw this artist a bone!

January 27, 2011 by Colleen Safford

It is well known that all dogs need socialization. Socialization is the term dog trainers use for acclimating dogs to the world. This means safely exposing your dog to sounds, smells, different surfaces, objects (canes, walkers, wheelchairs, full shopping bags, hats), humans (tall, small, old and young, black, white, yellow and brown), and other furry beings (dogs, cats, horses etc.). Exposing your dog to the world where he will live is the foundation of developing a confident and

Colleen is sick as a dog

January 21, 2011 by Colleen Safford

Hello All,

I am wrapped up in blankets with lots of kind dogs attending to me with kisses and snuggles.

Stomach flu is no fun!

It got me thinking though, does anyone no where the saying, "sick as a dog" originates from?

Warm wags,

Colleen

Brrrrrrr, it's cold - coat or no coat for your furry friend?

January 12, 2011 by Colleen Safford

Does my dog need a coat?

Some people are quick to put a coat on their pooches because they simply love to accessorize the fur kids. Seeing a Husky in a coat always makes me giggle, but you do see it often in NYC. The coat isn't really serving any function but certainly conveys the message , "I've got a caring owner."

Owners with a dog who don't like wearing a coat are confused about how necessary it is and how much they should force the issue.

The truth

November 5, 2010 by Colleen Safford

It's an age old debate. Will feeding a dog table scraps or human food create a begging habit?

The definitive answer: Feeding human food or human grade food does not turn dogs into beggars. Thankfully, more and more humans are steering clear of the mass commerical pet foods in favor of feeding their canine kid a healthy human-grade diet.

In taking phone calls daily from training clients and living amongst a rotational group of boarding dogs (90% eating human grade

September 15, 2010 by Colleen Safford

A few times weekly, I act as a puppy parent grief counselour. I am not talking to people who are mourning a loss, but rather those dealing with the grief of owning a young puppy.

These are often people who have done all their research, found a great breeder or rescue, read a

August 19, 2010 by Colleen Safford

Dog owners often have idyllic visions of relaxing strolls with man's best friend. Most of us learn quite quickly however that for the majority of dogs, a leash walk is comparable to dancing the not-so-fluid Mamba. Often we become the bump at the end of the leash, being taken along for a ride.

August 5, 2010 by Colleen Safford

Ok, so I hesitated to write this one. It's been done and said a million times. It seems everyone knows that dogs and heat don't always mix well. But do "they!? "

I folded on this. Here, I sit and write. The nervous Nelly neurotic dog loving mama in me felt like I needed to issue my own public service announcement. Not once or twice, BUT THREE TIMES (imagine my eyeballs sticking out to the computer screen right now) on the news this week, I have heard about a doggy death related

July 27, 2010 by Colleen Safford

OK, so how long will it take to train my dog?

I answer this question every day. I have to choose my words wisely as to not overwhelm owners or send them searching for a trainer with some promise filled magical answer they are hoping to hear like, “A week!”

The very short, not so flowery answer; you will need to train (or at least minimally, manage) your furry friend for his entire life. I greatly soften this answer by reassuring owners that good habits develop

July 21, 2010 by Colleen Safford