Lifestyle

The patients who interacted closely with the dogs were six times more likely to become MRSA carriers than those who did not interact closely. But when the dogs were decolonized, the close-interaction group's risk for becoming MRSA carriers was no different from the group of patients who did not interact closely with the dogs.

Everyone wants to walk their dog without being pulled down the street. Not only is it unpleasant for you, but a dog who constantly pulls on his collar—and therefore his throat—can injure himself. A good no-pull harness is a training aid that encourages the dog not to pull without causing them harm, pain, or making the walk more punishing.

GPS technology to track your dog is fairly new, but the number of dog tracking device options has grown. The effectiveness of those tracking devices has also substantially improved.

Calm canines range from small to giant, so you have your choice of size, but if you’re also looking for a dog who is easy to care for take note: Some low-energy breeds also have extra grooming or medical needs.

No dog should be left outdoors in freezing weather. An insulated and/or heated dog house can keep your dog comfortable if your dog does spend a significant amount of time outside on winter days.

The term “recovery collar” is becoming the standard term to refer to what has been called an Elizabethan collar, a pet cone, or more humorously, a lampshade, a pet radar dish, and, of course, the misnomer “cone of shame.” There is no shame in needing help! The term Elizabethan collar is still heard frequently, but because it tends to be shortened to e-collar and because that’s also a shortened version of electronic collar, the phrase is falling out of use for this application.

page 24, for contact information for the makers of these products, including this one, the K9 Bike Jogger (formerly known as WalkyDog).

The fun part of adopting a rescue dog is figuring out which one speaks to you. Here are some questions you should ask that will help you to figure out which rescue dog is the right one for you.

The first popularized Doodle was a Labrador Retriever and Poodle mix, bred in 1989 by Wally Conron as a guide dog prospect. He aimed to create a dog with the temperament of a Lab, but the non-shedding coat of a Standard Poodle for a woman who needed a guide dog, but whose husband had dog allergies. In a 2014 interview with Psychology Today, Conron said that he regrets popularizing Doodle breeding. "I opened a Pandora's box, that's what I did,” he said.

A healthy home is a happy home. We can all agree on that. How can you make your home healthier for you and your animal companions? We can tell you 20 ways, right off the top of our heads. We’ll divide our suggestions into four areas: Cleanliness, Diet, Environment, and Lifestyle.

The number of dog friendly hotel chains is growing, making it easier to decide what to do with your dog when traveling.

My husband and I acquired two (temporary) canine foundlings last week. Julie is a five-month-old purebred Akita puppy that we rescued from our local shelter, where her cage card identified her as a Shepherd/Husky mix. Her prospects for adoption were dismal, given that the shelter euthanizes 85-90 percent of incoming animals. Our second castaway, Princess, is a three-year-old Beagle mix. My husband and I were driving down a busy highway when we spotted her, hunched in the middle of the road, defecating while cars swerved around her on both sides. Princess was wearing a collar and tag, but her owners had moved, and she ended up staying at our house for several days while we tracked down their new phone number and location.