Boots and Paws

Depression in Dogs

The benefits that a dog can bring to a human in terms of depression are well known – dogs can help alleviate and mitigate the symptoms of depression. They lower blood pressure, promote touch, provide a much needed distraction and their ability to alter our behavior is obvious to any pet owner. Can dogs experience depression? Obviously, we cannot get them a therapists couch and tell us how they feel but their behavior will tell us a lot if we pay attention. Some dogs are excited and enthusiastic

Dogs in Clothes

I was never really a fan of putting dogs in clothes. Maybe a funny or cute headband or sunglasses for a holiday, but in general, I was not a fan. Dogs use their bodies to communicate with other dogs and animals and when they are wearing clothes, this can hinder that communication. My dog Oscar is not a fan of costumes and will tolerate me putting sunglasses on him for a single picture, but then it’s over. Then my dog Ollie came along and I just defaulted to no clothes on pets. One day, we went

More Than Training

I have often asked myself, how much does my dog need to be trained? I don’t have competition goals for either of my dogs but I still wonder if they and I would benefit from more training. Training can be an amazing way to deepen and strengthen your relationship with your dog, but that is not the only way to become more connected.           There are many ways to strengthen your relationship with your dog – one of the most important being developing trust. How do you develop trust