Lifestyle

Those of us who like dogs can't help but touch them. We are irresistibly drawn to adore them with our hands, to pet them, stroke them, rub their ears, and get lost in the ecstasy of dog beneath our fingertips. Dogs pull not only our hearts but also our hands into a companionship of touch, a relationship we hope is mutually satisfying. Caressing a dog can be a direct line to nirvana, calming nerves, lifting mood, relieving suffering, a spiritual experience that soothes the soul.

Maybe your home lacks a fenced-in yard. Or maybe it doesn’t, but you want to protect its lush landscaping. Or maybe your dog needs...

As the saying goes, “Sh*t happens,” and as every responsible dog owner knows, cleaning up after their dogs is an absolute must. For those...

A number of restaurants allow dogs in their outdoor seating areas. There are a few that even offer special menu items for canine guests. You should consider your and other guest's comfort by being sure that your dog is a well mannered dinner date.

Here at WDJ, we’re always on the lookout for products that improve life with our dogs in any way. Every year, we talk with our experts and determine the toys, training and care tools, and treats that provide the biggest lift to them and their canine companions. These are their top picks for 2024!

I got my first dog, a stray that I begged my mother to allow me to keep, when I was 9 years old. It was...

1.Place both hands briefly, gently, on either side of your dog's spine, and then feed him a treat.2.Gradually move your hand down and under your dog's ribcage on the far side, touching and feeding him a treat several times at each step.3.Gradually move your other hand around the front of your dog's chest to his opposite shoulder, touching and feeding him several times at each step.4.Put light pressure on your dog with both hands, gradually hugging him toward you, and then feed him a treat.5.Gradually increase pressure, feeding him treats several times at each step.6.Hug your dog against your chest, lifting upward slightly; release and treat.7.Gradually increase the amount of lift pressure until you are picking him up, giving him a treat several times at each step.

Adopting a dog who has been a long-term resident at a shelter can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Long stints in an animal shelter...

Most of us have seen a dog using a wheelchair to carry his paralyzed or weak back legs. But did you know there are...

She was the last living search and rescue dog who worked to find survivors at the Twin Towers after the September 11 attacks. At 16 years...

I’m not one of those dog owners who has her dogs wrapped in cotton wool, constantly looking to protect them from any and all...

I often find myself mentally doing the same crystal ball exercise when a new client enters my training center with a seemingly mismatched canine companion. Sometimes I see right away that we are really going to have our work cut out for us. However, I really don’t ever despair; relationship miracles can, and do, happen. Seemingly misfit human/canine matches can grow into solid partnerships . . . as long as the partners have a few things going for them – the major components of a good relationship, the kind that’s built to last.