dog socialization.

Anna Westhoff Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife Anna adopted as a puppy in late 2009. Anna wrote this week's column. At our basic training class, our teacher often warned the class about allowing our pooches to meet and greet strange dogs that we encounter on walks. She recommended giving any unknown dogs a wide berth, just in case they are poorly trained or vicious. Yet at the same time, she stressed the importance of socializing our dogs properly. Socialization is key, after all, when boarding. This seemingly contradictory advice confused some of us. How does one socialize a dog without allowing it to spend time with new ...

A dachshund party. Pathfinder Linden, Flickr Welcome to Paw Nation's newest column, Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your home city. We'll tell you about interesting local events, important activities, useful resources and other fun happenings all across the country. And feel free to help us do a better job by writing in with suggestions for local events near you. Your dog is your best friend, exercise partner and confidant (not to mention your furry vacuum cleaner), but more than that, he can also improve your social life by helping you meet other great dog people. Beyond the regulars at the dog park, stretch your leash a bit further to ...