Face the feline facts. Cats can be fussy, fascinating, frustrating, funny, and even a bit freaky. It is easy to be puzzled or perplexed as to why cats do what they do. However, do not expect them to apologize or grovel. Cats leave those actions to gotta-please dogs. That’s why I wrote the original The Cat Behavior Answer Book way back in 2007. Much has happened in the cat world since then. That was the motivation behind my writing the 2nd edition and adding nearly 80 percent new content which was just released by my publisher, Storey Books. In fact, a major feline revolution is underway that cannot be ignored – nor should it. More cats live in households than dogs. More people are willing to admit to being “cat daddies” or “cat moms.” It’s cool to love and live with cats.

If only our dogs could get by on their cute looks. But if they don’t learn good doggy manners and have consistent training, some dogs grow up to be more challenging than cute. More fearful than fun. More bossy than benign. That’s why I wrote the original The Dog Behavior Answer Book way back in 2006. But I realized so much has changed in the dog world since then. That was the motivation behind me writing the 2nd edition of this book that contains nearly 80 percent new content and is being released this month.

In celebration, Pet King Brands, the makers of ZYMOX® and Oratene® Brushless Oral Care encouraged me to share some excerpts of my book in this blog post on the five common dog behavior issues.

Welcome to the dog days of summer. Are you in search of a destination where your dog can make a splash – literally?

Whether the body of water is an ocean, lake, pool – or even a tub — the health benefits are immense for dogs coping with arthritis, post-surgical recovery, limb problems, or extra pounds. If you have a high-energy dog, swimming is a safer exercise option than walks, runs, or hikes when the heat is on. Quite simply, water therapy is a good aerobic exercise, particularly since the water provides resistance. Water also offers a natural buoyancy, far kinder on dogs than long walks on concrete sidewalks or arduous hikes on rocky terrain. In water, canine joints are not jarred or jolted as they are on land.

What do dinosaurs, mastodons, fleas and ticks share in common? All roamed the earth millions of years ago. Of the four, only fleas and ticks have managed to elude extinction and continue to harass and irritate dogs and cats all over the globe. These blood-sucking nuisances definitely possess a strong knack for survival. Today’s fleas and ticks continue to be quite prolific. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day. After feeding on your pet’s blood, a female tick can lay as more than 1,500 eggs.

Yikes.

I love having a spacious, fenced backyard for my dogs, Emma and Kona, to romp and play. On occasion, I place my indoor cats, Casey, Rusty and Mikey in a large, zippered popup enclosure and supervise as they get a safe opportunity to see, smell and hear nature. Looking around, the confines of the backyard can feel safe and inviting, but be aware that backyards can harbor unexpected health dangers to our pets.