Pet Parent Tips
Handle Common Leash-Walking Challenges
by Marilyn Peterson, CPDT-KA, Behavior and Training Manager Dogs straining on their leashes, pulling their owners across the neighborhood terrain is a common challenge. Thankfully,
Pet Photography Tips You Can Use at Home
By Martha Russell, author of the Adopt an Oregon Dog blog, and Jean Dion, Digital Content Coordinator Capturing great photos of your pet can be
Pet-Proof Your Foster Home
You’ve opened your heart and home to a dog or cat in need. Congratulations! You’re a foster parent. Chances are, you know a bit about
Social Distancing and Cats: 5 Quick Tips
Before COVID-19 hit, our cats ruled our houses. They were happy to greet us when we got home from work, of course. And some even
Keeping Pets Cool in the Summer Heat
Summer is here, but so is the heat! During the summer, we take extra precautions to make sure our four-legged residents are cool and comfortable.
Basic DIY Training Resources for Your Dog
January is National Train Your Dog Month! For this month’s blog series, I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite resources
Very Scary Things: Work it Out With Fear Management Tactics
In this series, we explored how to help your fearful dog. We covered how to see the fear in the first place, how to isolate
Very Scary Things: I Spy Game
This month’s blog series is all about helping fearful dogs. We’ve covered how to recognize signs of fear and how to get to the root
Very Scary Things: Causes of Fear in Dogs
Do you like haunted houses and monster masks? It’s fun to be a little bit scared, but real fear is nothing to joke about. Last
Very Scary Things: Read the BEET
October is here already and the stores are packed with scarecrows, pumpkins and pies. I’m planning my costume for Bowser’s Boo Bash – are you
Back to School Basics: Dog Exercise
Sports and games are a part of any healthy curriculum. In our Back to School series, it’s time to take a look at ways to
Back to School Basics: Pet Enrichment
What did you do this summer? Did you go for a hike? Take a kayak trip? Plant a garden? Try some new foods? Whatever activity
Back to School Basics: Must-Have Dog Supplies
I have a confession. There is a drawer in my home that contains too many pens; I can’t resist a good “Back to School” supply
Cooperative Pet Care
I had to go to the dentist last week and as I lay in that vulnerable position, mouth open , drill buzzing, I kept thinking
Be Your Dog's Advocate
I recently visited a new veterinarian to update my Aussie, Joy, on her rabies vaccine and to do a heartworm test. After taking a brief
Trigger…Happy
Recently I was lucky enough to travel to the east coast on a business trip. After a week of work, which included coaching new professional
Enriching Cats
Give your bored, destructive, and trainable cat some training and enrichment. Enriching cats will make you and your cat happy.
Growling is Great
Many people mistakenly believe that growling is aggression and should be stopped. But really, growling is great! It’s a dog’s last resort before biting.
Greeting a Shy Dog
What if your dog is shy of new people? Or, how do you make friends with a shy dog? Here are tips and tricks for greeting a shy dog.
Solving the Jumping Up Problem
Does your dog jump up to greet people? We can help you with solving the jumping up problem. Maybe he’s a little too friendly with
Hosting Family Gatherings With Party Animals
Do you worry about upcoming family gatherings, and how extended family dogs will get along? Here are tips for hosting family gatherings with party animals.
Helping Your Crazy Cat
Does your cat bite, chew, yowl, or run around too much? Helping your crazy cat can be as easy as providing enrichment to fulfill their hunter instincts.
Dealing with Bouncy Biters
Dealing with bouncy biters is a challenge, but they can be some of the very best dogs. Learn how to help these confident, active, and smart dogs behave.
Easy Does It: Bringing Home a New Family Member
The first weeks are a stressful time when you’re bringing home a new pet. Here are tips to give your new and established pets the space, time, and tools to adjust to the new arrangement.
Leaving Your New Dog at Home
If you are adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue, chances are the dog you see has experienced heartbreak, at least once, maybe several times. Dogs are emotional and affiliative creatures that can form extremely strong bonds with their social partners. Learn how to bond with your dog and avoid anxiety that can lead to destructive behavior when you leave!
Johnny Wants a Dog- Finding the Right Dog For Kids
Your kids have been bugging you for months to get a dog! You’ve put them off for as long as possible but now your spouse is in on it, so you’d better join the club. How can you be sure you’re getting a dog that will actually be good for them and good to them?
Who Is That Doggy In The Window?
Let’s talk about how individual characteristics can be discovered in a few quick moments while visiting a shelter dog of any breed or combination of breeds.
Guessing the Genetics: Does it Matter?
This week, we’ll dive into why breed-types matter when selecting a random-bred or mixed-breed dog.
Which Is Your Favorite Dog Breed?
Learn why breeding two dogs together doesn’t make the best of those two dogs, but rather brings both the best and the worst of all of the ancestors of those two dogs into a litter of puppies.
Giving a Christmas Puppy?
This time of year, videos are making the rounds showing children being surprised with a new puppy or kitten. Their chubby faces beam with delight and the
I Forgot to Train My Dog!
Pumpkin pies are in the oven, wine is chilling and the guests will be arriving tomorrow, so you’ve got a couple minutes to spare. You
Self-control Training for the Family Dog
It’s anything but a normal time of year. As the weather cools, our activities tend toward being indoors. People come over. They bring goodies and
Certified Professional Dog Trainers
Congratulations to WHS Behavior Training Coordinator, Jessi Keller who has achieved the designation of Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge-Assessed! Jessi has the experience and professionalism
Holiday Dog Training Series
Walking around Costco the other day, I noticed side-by-side Halloween and Christmas displays. Seems like the holidays get compressed closer and closer every year! In
Dogs and Kids
The mother was distracted, chatting with a friend, but I’d been watching her dog at the park for a little while. Clearly an insecure adolescent,
Getting to Know You
We’re building an amazing team of trainers and behavior experts at Willamette Humane Society! In a recent blog, I told you about the CPDT-KA and
Preparing Your Pets for the 4th of July
With the 4th of July just around the corner, and neighbors starting to set off fireworks, it’s important to make sure your dogs and cats