Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
First time dog owners
Dear Critter Corner: We are first time dog owners and will be bringing home our pup in a couple weeks. We want to set everyone up for success, what tips do you have for first time owners like us? Congratulations on your new pup! This is an exciting time and it’s...
Rabbits make great pets
Dear Critter Corner: My kids are old enough to look after their first pet and are very interested in adopting a bunny. I’ve always thought of rabbits as outside animals, do they make good house pets? There are over 300 breeds of rabbits, and many do well in an indoor...
Excited dog jumping on guests
Dear Critter Corner: We have recently started to have more guests coming over to the house and our pup is jumping on them. He is very well behaved with us and doesn’t jump when we come home, but is overly excited with the guest. What can we do to teach our pup to...
Litter Box Issues
Dear Critter Corner: My cat has started to go to the bathroom outside the litter box. He was great for the first few months we had him and loves the family, but lately has started to leave presents in unexpected places around the house. A month ago, we dog-sat for a...
Barky dog
Dear Critter Corner: I have noticed that our pup has started to bark at other dogs while on leash, but is fine once they are able to get to the dog or if they are off leash. My pup is a large breed and the barking looks scary to the other owners and dogs. How do I...
Socializing puppy before she’s fully vaccinated
Dear Critter Corner: We have a new puppy and would love to start training and socializing her right away, but our vet said she can’t go on walks until she’s had a couple more shots. Is there a way to safely expose her to new people and places in the meantime? There...
Adjusting to dog parks
Dear Critter Corner: My family and I just adopted a young, energetic dog who loves to play. We want to take him to the dog park but we have never seen him play with another dog. He tries to pull to other dogs on leash but has never met any. What do you recommend we...
Teaching dog self-control
Dear Critter Corner: Our pup is very excited about life! With that excitement comes a lot of jumping, pulling, and door dashing to name a few. What can we do to help curb some of his enthusiasm and teach him some self-control? What a great question! Teaching our...
Collar suggestions for escape artists
Dear Critter Corner: My dog has a tendency to chase after things on walks and has slipped out of her collar on occasion. Are there other types of gear that are recommended for escape artists? There are a few pieces of gear that make it harder for dogs to escape. If...
Docking and Cropping
Dear Critter Corner: I was recently surprised to learn that Doberman Pinscher dogs have naturally long and curly tails and floppy ears. Every one I had previously seen has a short bobtail and sharp, pointy ears. What is the point of cutting their tails and ears? The...
