Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com Paw Nation http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.pawnation.com/media/feedlogo.gif Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cute Pet of the Day - March 19, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/19/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-19-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/19/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-19-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/19/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-19-2010/#commentsFiled under:

mblazowich, Flickr

Don't worry, Madison; we're sure you'll find the remote just in time to watch Dog Whisperer!

Congratulations to our submitter, mblazowich. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dog picturescute pet of the daycute petsCuteDogPicturesCutePetOfTheDayCutePetsPaw Nation StaffFri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 18, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/18/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-18-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/18/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-18-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/18/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-18-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Devo's best friend may be a stuffed animal, but the two pups are inseparable!

Congratulations to our submitter, Pups The Traveling Labrador. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dog picturescute dogscute pet of the dayCuteDogPicturesCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffThu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTAsk the AKC Animal Behaviorist: Help! My Dog Won't Stop Barkinghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-help-my-dog-wont-stop-barking/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-help-my-dog-wont-stop-barking/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-help-my-dog-wont-stop-barking/#commentsFiled under:

marj k, Flickr

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of ten books including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

Dear Dr. Burch,
Our dog Quigley is a very yappy Shetland sheepdog who barks at everything -- air, cars, leaves, vacuum cleaners, brooms, snow, people, other dogs, etc. He is the sweetest, most lovable dog ever, but the noise is driving us crazy. What do you recommend to tame his incessant barking?

Dr. Burch Says: As a Shetland sheepdog, Quigley's actually got a long heritage of barking. Shelties originally were used by farmers to herd livestock. Because Shelties are smaller dogs, they often use their voices to get the livestock moving, so your problem isn't unusual.

There are a number of reasons dogs bark. The most common include:

  • Alerting behavior, such as when a stranger is at the front door.
  • To show excitement, like you would see during an active play session.
  • To communicate with you when he wants something, as in, "Let's go outside!"
  • To communicate with other dogs when he wants to say hello or something else.
  • Separation behavior, such as when dogs bark, bark, bark when their owners are gone.

Some herding breeds, like the Shetland sheepdog, will also bark when something is moving. This can be caused by excitement or a desire to herd the object. You've mentioned several situations that sound like moving objects are an issue, including cars, falling leaves, vacuum cleaners, brooms, snow, and other dogs.

Continue reading Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist: Help! My Dog Won't Stop Barking

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]]>dog barkingdog behaviordog trainingDogBarkingDogBehaviorDogTrainingPaw Nation StaffWed, 17 Mar 2010 16:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 17, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-17-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-17-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-17-2010/#commentsFiled under:

yodecka, Flickr

Looking good, Chaos! Pink is definitely your color.

Congratulations to our submitter, yodecka. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dogscute pet of the daycute petsCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayCutePetsPaw Nation StaffWed, 17 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 16, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/16/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-16-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/16/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-16-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/16/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-16-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Georgianna, Flickr

Watch out, Derek Jeter, there's a new shortstop in town. Great hustle, Frankie!

Congratulations to our submitter, Georgianna. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dogscute pet of the daycute pet picturesCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayCutePetPicturesPaw Nation StaffTue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 15, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-15-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-15-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-15-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Triple Tri, Flickr

This dog must have a great life. How could anyone ever say no to a face like that?

Congratulations to our submitter, Triple Tri,. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dogcute pet of the daycute petsCuteDogCutePetOfTheDayCutePetsPaw Nation StaffMon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTModerncat's Modern Finds: Great Scratchers from $10 - $500http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/moderncats-modern-finds-great-scratchers-from-10-500/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/moderncats-modern-finds-great-scratchers-from-10-500/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/moderncats-modern-finds-great-scratchers-from-10-500/#commentsFiled under:



With so many cat products hitting shelves every week, we asked our favorite kitty-centric blog, Moderncat, to roundup their faves in our column Moderncat's Modern Finds.


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]]>cat productscat scratchingCatProductsCatScratchingModernCatPaw Nation StaffFri, 12 Mar 2010 16:45:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 12, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-12-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-12-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-12-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Okay, fine, you win the staring contest!

Congratulations to our submitter, Just Klickin It. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute cat picute catscute pet of the dayCuteCatPiCuteCatsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffFri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 11, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-11-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-11-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-11-2010/#commentsFiled under:

six8chv, Flickr

Max the bunny loves to hop and shop!

Congratulations to our submitter, six8chv. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>bunniescute pet of the daycute petsCutePetOfTheDayCutePetsrabbitsPaw Nation StaffThu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTAsk the AKC Animal Behaviorist: Help! My Cat Is Peeing All Over the Househttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/ask-the-akc-expert-help-my-cat-is-peeing-all-over-the-house/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/ask-the-akc-expert-help-my-cat-is-peeing-all-over-the-house/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/ask-the-akc-expert-help-my-cat-is-peeing-all-over-the-house/#commentsFiled under: ,

MRBECK, Flickr

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of nine books, more than 200 articles and has been a lobbyist on legislation concerning hazardous dogs and responsible dog ownership.

My husband and I own a mixed-breed cat who we absolutely adore. We have had her for four years and have experienced no issues with her using the litter box until the now. For the past two weeks, she has been urinating on the carpet all over the house. She still uses the litter box for defecating. Any idea what might be going on?

When an animal who has had no problems with house training suddenly has a change in habits, the first thing I suggest is a quick trip to the vet. This may be a behavioral issue, but you want to rule out any possible medical issues. These could include urinary-tract problems or other diseases.

Once the vet says the cat has no health problems, it's time to look at possible behavioral causes. Is she scent marking or flat-out urinating, i.e. does she leave puddles of urine? Have there been any changes in the environment? Did you get new carpet, new furniture, a new pet, or change the brand of litter you're using? Changes in a cat's world can cause the cat to "mark" the new items so that everyone knows the house belongs to this kitty.

Also think about whether there is anything happening to cause the cat to be nervous or feel a need for your attention. Are you or your husband gone more than usual? Has there been a change in your schedule or focus so there is less time and affection for the cat? If so, that may be what is setting her off.

Finally, remember that cats are clean creatures. Are you cleaning the litterbox regularly? If there is waste in the litterbox, a cat may choose the bathtub or carpet rather than tiptoe around in a dirty litterbox. Now that your carpet has the scent of urine in it, it should be cleaned it with an enzyme urine removal product (from your local pet store). As long as the carpet smells like urine, unfortunately, there is a good chance the cat will continue to use it as a potty area.


Mary R. Burch, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and the Director of the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program. Dr. Burch is the author of "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.

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]]>akccat behaviorcat peecat urinecat utiCatBehaviorCatPeeCatUrinePaw Nation StaffWed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 10, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-10-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-10-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-10-2010/#commentsFiled under:

betsyw566, Flickr

It's just another day hanging out on the cat tree for Samantha!

Congratulations to our submitter, betsyw566. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute cat picturescute catscute pet of the dayCuteCatPicturesCuteCatsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffWed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 9, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-9-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-9-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-9-2010/#commentsFiled under:

poochitoutou, Flickr

"Is it Spring yet? I'm ready to hit the beach!"

Congratulations to our submitter, poochitoutou. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dog picturescute dogscute pet of the dayCuteDogPicturesCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffTue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 8, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/08/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-8-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/08/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-8-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/08/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-8-2010/#commentsFiled under:

VeeDoubleU, Flickr

Don't forget to buckle up, Gizmo!

Congratulations to our submitter, VeeDoubleU. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dogcute dog picturescute pet of the dayCuteDogPicturesCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffMon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTAsk The AKC Animal Behaviorist: Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-why-does-my-dog-eat-poop/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-why-does-my-dog-eat-poop/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-why-does-my-dog-eat-poop/#commentsFiled under:

sad dog

Zer0_pt, Flickr

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior.

Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of nine books, more than 200 articles and has been a lobbyist on legislation concerning hazardous dogs and responsible dog ownership.


Dear Dr. Burch,
My dog has a disturbing habit -- he eats his own poop! Why does he do this?

Dr. Burch Says: If there is a dog behavioral issue that makes us cringe, it's when dogs eat their own waste. We're talking about when the dog eats his own or another dog's poop.

There are several reasons dogs eat feces. A few of the most common reasons include:

A Nutritional Deficiency: When there are inadequate nutrients in a dog's food, he feels hungry and eats whatever is readily available. Nutrients can be depleted as a result of parasites like tapeworms. Not enough or too much food can cause the nutritional deficiencies that result in coprophagia, the consumption of feces. Too much food, especially for puppies, can cause diarrhea that depletes nutrients. If there is a period of time that dogs are starving and they eat feces to survive, like some feral dogs, they may develop this hard-to-break habit.

A Desire to Clean House: Dogs like to be clean. When confined in dirty crates or small areas, some dogs will eat their feces to clean the area. Dams (mother dogs) will often eat poop to keep their puppies clean. When puppies are newborns, dams lick them to provide stimulation that results in urinating and defecating.

A Need for Self-stimulation: Dogs who are bored will sometimes eat feces simply to have something to do. Confinement combined with neglect can cause maladaptive behaviors like eating feces. Some dogs are copy-cats (or copy-dogs, as the case may be) and they will join in if other dogs in the household are providing waste management services in the backyard. Training is a good tool for managing this behavior. A reliable "come" and "leave it!" will help prevent the problem in instances where the dog finds something before you do. Your veterinarian can talk to you about nutrition and the appropriate food for your dog.

Basically, the main reason dogs eat poop is because it's there. If your dogs are eating feces when they're in the backyard, remember, they can't eat it if it's not around. Do some quick patrolling and cleaning of your yard before the dogs go out.


Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.

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]]>ask the akc behavioristAskTheAkcBehavioristpet health questionsPetHealthQuestionspoopPaw Nation StaffFri, 05 Mar 2010 14:45:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 5, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-5-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-5-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/05/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-5-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Don't worry, Annie. We won't tell anyone it was you.

Congratulations to our submitter, knittinkitten1. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute cat picturescute catscute pet of the dayCuteCatPicturesCuteCatsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffFri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTPet on the Street: How Does Your Dog Celebrate the Holidays?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/pet-on-the-street-how-does-your-dog-celebrate-the-holidays/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/pet-on-the-street-how-does-your-dog-celebrate-the-holidays/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/pet-on-the-street-how-does-your-dog-celebrate-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under:

Here at Paw Nation, we know that every pet has a story, and it's usually a story their owners just love to tell. So we decided to hit the streets to ask pets (and their owners) about everything from how they were adopted to what was the naughtiest thing they've ever done. It's our new weekly series, "Pet on the Street." We hope you love it.

In this episode we learn how these folks celebrate the holidays every year. Who knows, maybe they'll inspire you to create a special St. Patrick's Day party for your pooch. And be sure to let us know what questions you would like us to ask and what cites we should visit!

PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE.

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]]>Christmasdog-on-the-streetholidayspet partiesPetPartiesPaw Nation StaffThu, 04 Mar 2010 17:00:00 ESTFunny Bunny Picture: Bumfacehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/funny-bunny-picture-bumface/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/funny-bunny-picture-bumface/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/funny-bunny-picture-bumface/#commentsFiled under:

Queen of the Universe, Flickr

This rabbit doesn't look happy.

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]]>bunnyhighway patrolHighwayPatroljowlsrabbitPaw Nation StaffThu, 04 Mar 2010 09:30:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 4, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-4-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-4-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-4-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Nicole Belisle

Hey there, Spark. You truly are the most righteous of all righteous cats.

Congratulations to our submitters, Adam and Nicole. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute cat picturescute catscute pet picturescute petsCuteCatPicturesCuteCatsCutePetPicturesCutePetsPaw Nation StaffThu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 ESTAsk the AKC Animal Behaviorist: Introducing a Puppy to an Older Doghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-introducing-a-puppy-to-an-older/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-introducing-a-puppy-to-an-older/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-introducing-a-puppy-to-an-older/#commentsFiled under:

American Kennel Club

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of nine books, more than 200 articles and has been a lobbyist on legislation concerning hazardous dogs and responsible dog ownership.

Dear Dr. Burch,
We have an 11-year old pit bull/heeler mix and a small three-year-old mixed breed. I'd like to adopt a Doberman pinscher puppy -- I've had two in the past and I love the breed. We are an older couple and this will probably be our last dog. Is it fair to our older dog to bring in a puppy? Am I being selfish? I am retired and have a lot of time on my hands, but I worry that our big dog might get depressed if I bring in another big dog. I don't want our dogs to think that they are being replaced.

Dr. Burch Says: This is a situation that could turn out fine or it could be a real mess. First, you mention that you will be adding a puppy to your home. In many ways, this makes it easier for older dogs to adapt. The key is making sure you aren't so caught up with a new puppy that the older dogs no longer receive attention. Ask yourself if you will have the time for the new pup as well as to provide play time, walks, and special individual time minus the puppy for the two older dogs. Since you are retired, this may not be a problem.

The Doberman won't be a puppy forever. He or she will soon get bigger. Dobes are working dogs. They are active and need a lot of activity and training. You'll want to think about if you are prepared for this level of activity. Finally, even though you have a big dog to show the pup the ropes, the person raising the puppy will be you. We suggest that all puppies have some basic training. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is a great place to start. You and your puppy can earn a gold Olympics style medal and have a lot of fun.


Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.

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]]>doberman pinscherDobermanPinscherpuppiesPaw Nation StaffWed, 03 Mar 2010 15:54:00 ESTCute Pet of the Day - March 3, 2010http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-3-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-3-2010/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/cute-pet-of-the-day-march-3-2010/#commentsFiled under:

Cindy5678, Flickr

"Can you take a hint? I am not going to doggy daycare if you are going to Aruba!"

Congratulations to our submitter, Cindy5678. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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]]>cute dog picturescute dogscute pet of the dayCuteDogPicturesCuteDogsCutePetOfTheDayPaw Nation StaffWed, 03 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST