Updated September 2026 September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. It is a useful reminder that pain is not always obvious. A dog may not cry, yelp or refuse to move. Sometimes the first clue is simply that something familiar has changed. As a dog walker, I do not diagnose pain or decide what treatment a…
Updated August 2026 Bringing home a puppy should be something you remember for the right reasons. Unfortunately, not every puppy is bred or sold responsibly. Some are produced in poor conditions, removed from their mothers too early or passed through dealers who make it difficult to discover where they were born. A puppy farm is…
Dogs are remarkably good at adapting. That can be wonderful, but it also means the first signs of joint discomfort can be surprisingly easy to miss. A dog doesn’t necessarily start limping as soon as something hurts. You might first notice them taking a little longer to get out of bed, walking more slowly, hesitating…
Updated August 2026 Dogs do not always bark, growl or run away when they feel uncomfortable. Earlier signs can be much quieter. A dog may turn their head away, lick their lips, yawn, scratch or begin sniffing the ground. These actions can be easily missed or dismissed because they also occur as part of normal…
Updated August 2026 A frightening noise, a veterinary visit, a difficult walk, or an unwanted encounter can continue to affect a dog after the event has ended. Your dog may look calm at first but remain more alert, restless or easily startled later that day. They may react more strongly to something they would normally…
Updated August 2026 Confidence and resilience are closely connected, but they are not quite the same. Confidence is how secure or capable a dog feels in a particular situation. Resilience is their ability to cope with a challenge and recover afterwards. A resilient dog can still become frightened, startled or overwhelmed. The difference is that…
Updated August 2026 Dogs bite, grab and shake their leads for several reasons. A puppy may discover that the lead is a wonderfully wiggly toy. An adolescent dog may grab it when excited about leaving home. A nervous or reactive dog may bite the lead after a difficult encounter because they are frustrated, stressed or…
Updated August 2026 A growl can sound frightening, especially when it comes from your own dog. It may feel as though your dog has suddenly become aggressive, challenged you or behaved badly. Growling is communication. Your dog may be frightened, uncomfortable, or frustrated; guarding something important; or experiencing pain. Some dogs also growl during play,…
