If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to the Dogblog RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

1. Dogs are not people. They don’t have the same needs, and they interpret the world differently. Dogs are unimpressed by fancy dog clothes, expensive toys, large houses, or what you do for a living. What they desire is regular exercise, a stable pack leader, and affection that is properly earned.
2. Affection at the wrong time can nurture your dog’s fears– and foster an unstable mind. Never give affection to a frustrated, nervous, tense, aggressive, or anxious dog. This will not comfort the dog; it will simply reinforce the negative behavior. Share affection after your dog has exercised and eaten, changed an unwanted behavior into a behavior you asked for, responded to a rule or command, or entered a calm-submissive state.
3. Dogs experience the world with their nose, eyes and then ears. Many humans communicate to their canine companions “backward,” using sound, then sight, and generally ignoring scent. When meeting a dog for the first time, establish his trust by allowing him to experience your scent before engaging in eye contact or speaking to him.
4. Breed is not destiny. Many people blame the breed of the dog for problem behaviors. This is like making a generalization about human races — like saying all Latinos are lazy, or all Italians are mobsters. Although certain dog breeds have been selected to accentuate certain characteristics, all dogs share the same innate abilities. Selecting a dog with an energy level level that’s compatible with your energy and lifestyle is far more important than choosing the right breed.
5. Dogs need leadership. Without a strong, stable pack leader, dogs feel insecure and can develop issues — such as anxiety, phobias, fears, aggression, and obsessions. In order to establish yourself as the pack leader, you must master the walk and be sure to follow the guideline, “Exercise, discipline, and then affection.

by Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer

Meet Bennie and Lucy, renowned Hampton Falls Therapy Dogs.

These two Golden Retrievers have been featured on NHPTV’s NH Outlook and many stories and articles in publications around the country. They were the first Therapy Dogs allowed to work at Exeter Healthcare and just recently, they have begun visiting patients at the new Oncology Ward at Exeter Hospital.

Bennie was adopted from Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue at the age of 9 months. He was untrained and dog aggressive. It took four long hard years but finally he was good enough to become a certified Therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. A year after Ben came to our home Lucy was adopted at the age of 8 months. We were her last chance at life and we were determined to make the best of it.

What makes Bennie and Lucy unique is that Lucy was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the "waist" down.

Bennie has become Lucy’s own personal Service dog. He has become so devoted to her and lives his life making sure that she is safe and happy. The two of them work together to work miracles with the sick and injured.

They are now in their twilight years. Lucy is almost 11 and Bennie is 12. What makes Lucy’s age remarkable is she was never supposed to live more than a few years. I guess she had other ideas.

I’ll post stories from time to time.

Chandler Rudd

There is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left. To read more: http://tinyurl.com/yra6kc