Allergies, Steroids, and Guilt; What went wrong and what saved us.

Tango’s Story for me is complex and difficult to put into words. But I’m willing to bet the people who know us personally, and those that helped him along the way, would say I’m making it way more complicated than it has to be. That’s probably because I’ve internalized, analyzed, and dissected every moment, every decision, and every mistake. I…

Seniors Rule!

Having a senior dog is hard. Really really hard. It’s the hardest stage of a pup’s life to have to deal with. It’s the absolute hardest part of being a fur parent. No, not because they’re too sick, or too grumpy, or too expensive, or not playful enough, or they sleep too much, or any…

Lazy Days and Dogs of Summer

FIRST, A RULE OF THUMB Out here in the desert heat we’re reaching highs of 110° and it’s not even June yet. There’s a good rule of thumb when thinking about what your dog can withstand, whether it’s in terms of hot or cold. If it’s too hot/cold for you, then it’s too hot/cold for…

Are You Responsible for Your Dog’s Etiquette? (Spoiler Alert: Yes!)

I find myself constantly apologizing for my dogs. Tango barks at you? “Sorry”. He growls at your dog? “So sorry!”. He barrels into you out of pure excitement because you said hello to him? Yep…”OMG! I’m SO sorry!” I’m responsible for his behavior. I’m not barking at you. I’m not jumping up on your shoulders…

Dogs, Decorations, and Frankenstein’s Monster

I love/am obsessed with Halloween. The movies, the decorations, the fall season. All of it. In this house it is a full on holiday and we celebrate it the entire month of October. As anyone with pets knows decorations can be problematic. I don’t know how or why, but Tango has never disturbed a single…

That Time Tango Went Bar Hopping

Have you ever taken your dog bar hopping? If not I highly recommend it. Taking Tango pretty much anywhere provides its own set of anxieties for me: Will there be other dogs or animals that he may not like? Maybe several small children he’ll want to tackle. Or my personal favorite, that one person that…

That Time Tango Went Tubing (and it did not go well)

I have a bucket list of sorts for Tango. Exposure to a variety of people and places for a dog with Tango’s reactivity and particular behavior problems is therapeutic for him. It has helped him adjust quickly to any environment. He’s a master adapter. But, having nothing to do with his behavioral issues, Tango is…

Tango’s Story

Sometimes I’m afraid to share Tango’s story. I often feel the need to defend him even when there is no judgement. It’s a preemptive measure on my part. But more often than not his story is received with love, understanding, and support. Tango is a reactive dog. He has fear aggression, food aggression, and other various…