This Week in Dogs - Oct. 28th

Here's what's happening in the world of dogs this week!

Dog Star Daily: Michelle Douglas writes a wonderfully thought out, informative response to a recent dog bite fatality in "Lessons to Learn From Tragedy". She points out that the media hype about "pit bulls" or "guard dogs" takes focus off the real issue - unsupervised children being left with large animals. It is extremely dangerous to believe that, because you don't have a "pit bull" or "guard dog", that your children will never get bitten. Every dog owner - especially those who have children or are visited by children - should read this article.

Will My Dog Hate Me: Edie Jarolim has two great articles this week. First, for those preparing your pooch for Halloween, she discusses safety and comfort in dog costumes in "Dressing Your Dog For Halloween: Seven Tips". She has also started a very interesting discussion about pet stores who not only sell puppy mill dogs, but also adopt out shelter dogs. Should we, as dog lovers and puppy mill haters, support or oppose these stores? Join the discussion in "When Pet Store Policies Are Complex".

Love and a Six-Foot Leash: Aleksandra has a lovely anniversary post with pictures of all the dogs they've fostered and adopted out this year. She's a wonderful photographer, and the pictures will warm the heart of any dog lover! Stick around and browse the stories of some of her foster dogs if you need a pick-me-up.

Lastly, ClickerTraining.com has some great pointers on keeping your dog safe this Halloween. Some key points to remember: make sure pets are secured in your house and are unable to charge out the door when you give out candy; keep candy away from your dogs; and make sure children know not to approach unfamiliar (and be cautious when approaching familiar) dogs while in costume. Dogs don't understand Halloween costumes and can react aggressively out of fear.

Meghan is the owner of Canine Lifestyle Academy, LLC, a Sykesville dog training business which focuses on what dog owners really want - a dog that just behaves, without too much hassle! She lives in Sykesville with her fiance, and three wonderful dogs: Kyra and Marcus, three-year-old German Shepherd rescues; and Ember, ten-month-old terrier mix rescue (commonly called a "pit bull"). You can find CLA's website at: www.caninelifestyleacademy.com