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Your Dog Knows When You Are Sick

Your Dog Knows When You Are Sick

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsMany dog owners who are starting to feel under the weather have had the experience of having their dog curl up next to them as soon as a sniffle starts. Sometimes it seems your dog knows you are getting sick even before you do!But how is this possible? Do dogs have a sixth sense?Not really. But a dog’s sense of smell is so very highly developed that it seems like a sixth sense to us humans. While six million olfactory receptors in our human noses seems like a lot, dogs have an astounding 300 million receptors in…
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Why Yelling At Your Dog Doesn’t Work

Why Yelling At Your Dog Doesn’t Work

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsYes we humans love our dogs and yes, sometimes they also make us want to pull our hair out! But no matter what your dog does and how tempted you are, you should never yell or scream at your dog. Why?Because not only does it not work, yelling at your dog can actually make the situation worse. Your dog doesn’t know why you are yelling, even if it seems obvious to you. Your yelling, whether over something he did hours ago or even a few minutes ago, is not addressing the dog’s behavior.Yelling at your dog weakens any…
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Should You Give Your Dog A Probiotic?

Should You Give Your Dog A Probiotic?

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsProbiotics are all the rage in the human health world. Turns out people are also giving them to their dogs. But is this a good idea? Let’s look a bit more closely.First of all, what exactly is a probiotic? In simple terms, a probiotic is a type of friendly bacteria that when ingested provides health benefits such as the production of certain vitamins and other substances that are helpful to the body.It's In The Gut!A dog’s immune system, just like a humans, resides mostly in the gut, which is the largest immune organ in the body.…
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How To Stop Your Dog From Fence Fighting

How To Stop Your Dog From Fence Fighting

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftips If you have ever let your dog out into your backyard on a beautiful day, only to have him run over to the fence separating him from your neighbor’s yard, growling and snarling at his canine neighbor, you know exactly what we mean by “fence fighting.”  Not only is this behavior embarrassing, it’s very disruptive and can also be dangerous for the dogs involved. Many dog owners are also quite dismayed to see their dogs doing this, as the dog is likely usually quite well behaved and non-aggressive.  Before we get into how to discourage…
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How To Introduce Your Baby To Your Dog

How To Introduce Your Baby To Your Dog

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsBringing a new baby home is an exciting and momentous step for everyone in the family and this includes your dog. You’ll have nine months to prepare for your baby’s arrival and during this time, you need to work on your dog’s behavior to make sure he is well trained and he sees you as her leader. If this means working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist, then by all means do this, as the safety of your child comes first.Assuming your baby is born at the hospital, you’ll want to bring an item home that…
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Five Common Houseplants That Are Toxic To Dogs

Five Common Houseplants That Are Toxic To Dogs

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsWe’ve written before about the Sago palm, used both indoors and outdoors as an ornamental plant, and how it’s deadly poisonous to dogs. Let’s look now at five common houseplants that are quite toxic to dogs as well:One - Snake Plant (Sansevieria)  The snake plant is extremely popular as a houseplant, not only because of its striking good looks, but because it’s so easy to grow. But unfortunately, all parts of the snake plant are poisonous to dogs and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Two - Alocasia (also known as elephant’s ear)  This dark green plant is a…
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Why Does Your Dog Snore And Should You Be Concerned?

Why Does Your Dog Snore And Should You Be Concerned?

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsThere are a lot of people who love to sleep with their dogs (and vice versa!!) as a dog can provide a sense of security and for many people, decrease feelings of anxiety. Plus, co-sleeping with your dog can definitely strengthen the bond between human and canine.So if you sleep with your dog or even have him sleeping in the same room and your dog has a habit of snoring, this can certainly disrupt your night's rest.Funny, Not Funny!As funny as it is to us humans to hear a dog snoring away while sleeping, this might…
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Why You Should Never Let Your Dog Ride With His Head Out The Car Window

Why You Should Never Let Your Dog Ride With His Head Out The Car Window

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsDogs love to ride with their heads hanging out the car window, their tongues hanging out and ears flopping in the breeze. But as much as they might enjoy this, it’s really not a good idea and can be potentially harful to your dog.Why do dogs seem to enjoy doing this so much? They love the movement of fresh air on their faces and the moving air also carries with it a symphony of scents. No wonder your dog likes this so much!But the dangers of allowing him to do this far outweigh the momentary pleasure.…
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Five Fun Facts About Basset Hounds

Five Fun Facts About Basset Hounds

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsLow and slow, and with their mournful expressions and droopy ears, Bassets are the “sad clowns” of the dog world. Here are five fun facts you might not know about these popular dogs.One - Bassets were bred to hunt by French aristocrats and were derived from the BloodhoundTwo -  They are in second place only to the bloodhound when it comes to their sense of smell. These dogs have over 220 million smell receptors, compared to a human’s paltry five million. Three - The name “Basset” comes from the French word bas which means low. They may…
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Natural Dog Food – Is It Better For Your Dog?

Natural Dog Food – Is It Better For Your Dog?

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftipsWe recently took a look at the alarming number of unnecessary, and potentially toxic ingredients in commercially prepared dog kibble. Dog owners want the best for their pups, but asking busy people to make their own dog food from scratch is a step too far for most folks. Many people are turning to so-called “natural” dog foods to fill this gap. But are they any better?Natural Does Not Always Equal BetterIt just makes sense that most dog owners believe that less additives and less processing in their dog’s food is better. And overall, that’s true. But caution…
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