This is an exciting time for the Canine Master family!

From the annoyance and frustration of the predator invasion that has bedeviled my farm this past year has come the solution in the form of a cute Maremma puppy. A puppy bred for generations to do exactly what I need.

Tests to Predict Puppy Temperament and Personality

Be a protector. A guardian.

When the Maremma breeder offered me the pick of the litter, I could not have been happier. The opportunity to test and choose the puppy that we...

As many of you know I have a small farm in Connecticut. It’s not a working farm, but more of a hobby farm where I raise migratory waterfowl, chickens, domestic geese, and crowned cranes.

We also recently added a couple of horses as well. So it’s a good size spread with a lot going on. I love animals and this has been a passion project for a long time.

Predators on the Farm

Over the last year – like so many other people - I have unfortunately seen a marked increase of issues...

Ask any dog trainer or professional animal behaviorist and they’ll tell you they have at least one story that still makes their blood boil.

This is one of mine. All names have been changed to protect the “innocent”.

It never fails to astonish me when I am called into a lesson and the owners are considering getting rid of a dog because of a behavior that they (or someone they hired) inevitably caused.

I had a lesson with a woman that had previously been a client with a...

The stories started a few months into the year. Coyote sightings were on the rise. We thought it was a local happening but then we heard about sightings and attacks in neighboring states. Here in Connecticut, the stories were from New York and then Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Speaking to clients from other states who relayed the same information and I realized that it was national phenomena.

Experts estimate that every state in the contiguous US has seen an increase of coyote...

It can catch you by surprise. One day, your dog is an overly enthusiastic young puppy and the next, someone tells you he’s a senior. But while some senior products are labeled for dogs aged seven and up, the actual age varies. A larger dog may hit “senior” status as young as five, while smaller dogs can sometimes go all the way to age 10 or 11 before officially becoming seniors.

Whether your vet would classify your pet as a senior or not, it can never hurt to shift to...

Dogs are great. There is almost nothing like the love and loyalty and joy that comes with canine companionship. What is better than a dog?

How about two dogs? Or three dogs?

What about more dogs?

At some point every pet parent begins to ask themselves that most important of questions…Should I get another dog?

That is quite a question. And don’t believe for one second that there is only one right answer. Like many questions when it comes to pet parenting, it all depends. On you....

When I was in my 20’s, I owned a Doberman named Tyler that would drive me crazy every time I would take him for a ride in the car. Since I had a job that let me bring my dog to work each day, Tyler was basically my shadow, and everywhere I went, he went. As soon as I would put him in the car to go to work, he would start to pace side to side and would whine, bark and cry out loud for my whole journey (about 30 minutes). I thought initially maybe he was scared, but he wasn’t...

Dogs need exercise.

That’s a simple fact of canine life.

The amount varies from one breed to another with some breeds needing a ton more than others. But no matter the breed, a daily walk is good for both you and your pet.

A recent study found that dog owners added an average of 3 miles and 22 minutes to their daily walk average. The health benefits are quite real.

But lacing up your shoes, putting a leash on your dog, and pounding the pavement consistently can be tough, especially if...

I get this question from everybody when they find out I train dogs at a canine center:

"Is doggie daycare right for my dog?"

As the owner of Dog Gone Smart, one of the first doggie daycare centers in the USA, you might imagine I would tell everybody that sending your dog to doggie daycare is the perfect place for all dogs.

Well, this may shock you; I do not think Doggie Daycare and free play boarding facilities are the “right” choice for all dogs.

Many dogs love the...

Dogs are driven to be part of a pack. In the wild, that pack is of the four-legged, furry variety. But domesticated pets often find themselves serving as part of a human pack, with you, your children, your spouse, or whoever else lives in your home filling all those roles.

If you’re adopting a pet, you’re adding that animal to your pack, whether that pack is composed of people, pets, or a combination of both. Simply bringing the pet into your home can make things tougher for both...