As a pet photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing the unique personalities of countless dogs. Some are bold and boisterous, while others are shy and reserved, particularly around new people or dogs. Social anxiety in dogs is a common issue, but with patience and understanding, you can help your furry friend become more confident in social situations. Let’s explore how to support a dog with social anxiety.

As a photographer who captures the beauty of life with pets and as a dog lover who has experienced the chaos that sometimes comes in a household with one or more dogs, I’ve seen all sorts of canine behavior, including the sometimes frustrating habit of chewing. Whether it’s a favorite shoe (like the time I was in a trip and our nearly year old puppy destroyed the only pair of casual shoes I had with me) or a piece of furniture (followed by learning some wood repair skills), inappropriate chewing can be a challenging issue for dog owners. There are different reasons why this chewing happens, and figuring out why dogs chew and how you can redirect this behavior into something positive is essential for successful life with dogs.

The holiday season is a time of giving, and we often want to give our loved ones exactly what they want. We want to surprise them with thoughtful gifts that say we have listened to them and know them and know their heart. Sometimes when we know our loved ones want a companion, a furry friend, we think that a puppy would be the perfect gift. However, this is one of those times where things may not go as planned. In fact, giving a puppy as a Christmas gift is not always the best choice, and a puppy should only be given in consultation with the recipient, and only after careful consideration of all aspects of dog ownership, because while a dog can be the best thing ever for the right person who is prepared, giving a puppy to a person who isn’t ready for one or doesn’t know what responsibilities which come with pet ownership can be a real disaster.

Becoming a dog owner is like stepping into a world where love speaks a silent language, a language of wags, yawns, and stretches. Each gesture holds a wealth of information about how your furry friend is feeling and what they need from you. Let’s decode some of these common dog behaviors together.

The holiday season is a time of giving, and we often want to give our loved ones exactly what they want. We want to surprise them with thoughtful gifts that say we have listened to them and know them and know their heart. Sometimes when we know our loved ones want a companion, a furry friend, we think that a puppy would be the perfect gift. However, this is one of those times where things may not go as planned. In fact, giving a puppy as a Christmas gift is not always the best choice, and a puppy should only be given in consultation with the recipient, and only after careful consideration of all aspects of dog ownership, because while a dog can be the best thing ever for the right person who is prepared, giving a puppy to a person who isn’t ready for one or doesn’t know what responsibilities which come with pet ownership can be a real disaster.

I grew up in Texas.  It never stayed cold enough long enough for us to stop worrying about ticks. But the main ticks we worried about in suburbia were dog ticks.  Then I moved to Maryland.  For those of you not from Maryland, the deer are pretty much domesticated here. I can’t walk on the path from my suburban house along the river without encountering many deer, along with foxes, groundhogs, rabbits, and more.  It is a beautiful thing to be able to be near so much nature, but all those deer also mean we have abundant deer ticks.