Pet Home Health Care

30/11/2025

28/11/2025

Walking with worried dogs can make walks hard, emotional and even scary. It's important to remember that even when a dog lunges forward, they are just trying to stay safe. We can help you to understand your dog and learn howe to make walks better, just drop us a line below.

19/11/2025

19/11/2025

Shortest walk on the block!! 🖤🤍🐈‍⬛🐾

15/11/2025

15/11/2025

We have so many adults looking for a home, including a 10-ish year old Siamese, and a 7y old black panther ❤️

Feistyfelines.org/available-kitties

15/11/2025

A set of videos show how to train your cat to use an inhaler for asthma.

15/11/2025

15/11/2025

They bring in the dogs, and suddenly the room gets quiet.

A child opens a book. A furry head tilts, eyes soft, tail still. No pressure. No red pen. Just a listener who never hurries them.

In Finland’s public libraries, kids read to trained dogs. The dogs don’t judge. They breathe slow and steady. That calm rubs off. Shoulders drop. Words come easier.

Some children choose a favorite story. Others bring the book they struggle with. It’s okay to stumble. The dog won’t mind. That’s the magic.

Sessions are short - around 10 to 15 minutes. It’s one child at a time, with the handler nearby to keep everyone safe and comfy. The point isn’t speed. It’s warmth, focus, and little wins that build into big confidence.

Librarians say shy voices get louder. Parents say bedtime reading gets sweeter. Kids say the best part is reading to a friend who thinks every story is perfect.

It’s simple, really. A book. A child. A patient dog. And a library that believes in gentle beginnings.

References

“Finnish reading dogs help kids learn and grow” - ThisisFINLAND (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland)

“Reading dogs” - The Finnish Kennel Club

“Lukukoira auttaa lukemaan opettelevaa ja nyt myös…” - Yle

“Lukukoirat” - Municipality of Lempäälä, Library

Disclaimer: Images are generated using AI for illustration purposes only.

13/11/2025

I stand by this statement. There is no place for shock or prong collars in dog training. The science shows they have risks for dogs' welfare, and the reward-based trainers show that you simply don't need to use aversive methods. And dominance training has been out-dated for some time. So stick to reward-based methods, which work, and don't have the risks of aversives. Often, this means using treats as positive reinforcement.

If you want to know more about the science on this, take a look at my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is available from all good bookstores, or have a browse of my website, where I've written about many of the studies.

Get Bark!: https://amzn.to/4iOEPMT
Visit my website: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/index.html

13/11/2025

🐾🐶Not every dog wants to meet your child—and that’s okay.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Even friendly dogs can become overwhelmed, anxious, or scared when approached by children. Some dogs simply don’t have the social skills or confidence to handle unpredictable movements, loud voices, or sudden hugs.

Sometimes other pet parents will allow your child to pet their dog because they think it is safe when it really isn't or they are training their dog using your child as part of the training.

Either way, these interactions are frequently unsafe for the child and for the dog.

As adults, it’s our job to advocate for both dogs and kids:
👉 Always think about what is at risk before you ask if your child can pet an unknown dog. Is it worth a bite?
👉 Teach children to respect a dog’s space.
👉 Watch for signs of stress—lip licking, turning away, yawning, stiff body language.
👉 Keep interactions short, calm, and positive.

Let’s protect children and dogs by setting them up for success—not stress. ❤️