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.

Doggy farts and kitty vomit. Just like us, dogs and cats can develop tummy woes that trigger flatulence, stomach pain and diarrhea. Some pets even hunch over and vomit. There are all kinds of health issues we have to think about when we have pets, including their mental well-being, oral health, ear, and skin health, and issues like these relating to their gastrointestinal health.

Welcome to spring time in Texas! Seasonal allergies may find you sneezing and reaching for the tissue box. But allergic reactions to trees, plants and grass in your dog may cause him to lick, scratch and nibble on his itchy skin and paws.

For years, your dog or cat has dutifully had good bathroom habits. Suddenly, he starts urinating outside the litter box, on the living room rug or sigh, maybe even on your bed pillow. You may be puzzled, frustrated or a tad peeved. From your pet’s perspective, that yellow pool is no accident. It is a key clue that your pet may be dealing with a medical or behavior issue that merits your attention and possible treatment by your veterinarian.

Beckoning mud puddles. Threatened skunks. Tempting duck poo. Itchy flea infestation. These are just four reasons your dog needs a proper bath without delay. But dogs of all hair coats also benefit from an occasional “just-because” bath from you. It’s a great bonding opportunity and conditions your dog to welcome being handed. Let me share these tips to make bath time welcoming for the both of you:

You may love wiggling a wand toy for your ready-to-pounce cat or engage your dog in a friendly game of fetch in the back yard. Both activities help bolster the bond between you and your pets. Another one of the best ways to show love for your pet is to be down in his mouth – literally. Keeping tabs on your pet’s dental health can stave off many future problems and make any doggy kiss more fresh smelling and welcoming.

Many pets need steady doses of confidence throughout their lives to not have fear or anxiety and to maintain a can-do, happy attitude. However, like us, our pets have been emotionally impacted by the social restrictions triggered by this never-ending pandemic. For most of 2020 and 2021 we did not have anyone come inside our home. It took a toll on my pets’ confidence. This was especially evident with the two pets we adopted in early 2020: Rusty, a then seven-month-old ginger kitten and Emma, a then one-year-old toy poodle mix. Rusty arrived with confidence and performance skills that diminished due to COVID restrictions on house guests.

Dogs “talk” a lot with their tails. Be aware that tail movement signals various canine moods, but to properly “read” a dog, you must size up the entire body language on display, and not just what’s happening with the tail.

Unfortunately, far too people zero in on a wagging tail and regard it as the human equivalent of a friendly handshake when greeting a dog for the first time. Wrong. For your safety, pay attention to the dog’s facial expression and watch out for any signs of body tensing.

What does a hairless Sphynx cat share in common with an English bulldog? Both breeds are prone to skin issues. Any cat or any dog of any breed can encounter rashes, skin allergies, bacterial infections, yeast infections, reactions to new medications and other skin problems but there are some breeds that tend to suffer more than others. Here’s the skinny on pet skin health. Your pet’s skin is the largest organ, representing up to a whopping one-fourth of your pet’s total body weight. That is a lot of surface area to keep maintained and healthy so that they feel comfortable and happy.

Just got a puppy? Brace yourself for what I call the Wonder Year. The arrival of a pup may cause you to wonder where your sanity went. Pump up your level of patience because puppies are energetic, curious and sometimes, fearless. One way they investigate is by taste testing their surroundings. They also tend to swallow things that they shouldn’t. As a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor, I make it my mission to help pet parents play it safe for their pups’ sake. So, in preparing for your pup’s arrival, I recommend: