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Illustrated Articles

Behavior & Training

  • The Samoyed's smile reflects his gentle, congenial nature. Like his forebears, this dog wants and expects to be considered a full member of his human family.

  • On first sight of the Schipperke, the dog appears to be a cloud of black down, fluffed up and unbelievably animated. If you could actually transform peppery energy into something material that you could touch, it would take the form of this elegant canine creature.

  • Among the most noble and elegant of breeds, the Scottish Deerhound looks most at home lounging in a Scottish castle. But while he does need room to stretch out, both inside and out, his quiet demeanor enables him to make even modest homes his castle.

  • Forget that pink bunny that runs on batteries - the Scottish Terrier has had the nickname "little diehard" since the 19th century. Small but incredibly solid, the Scottie is built like a shaggy black brick and this little ruffian wants to move, explore, chase things, and generally stay active and useful.

  • A cat’s claws are an integral part of their anatomy. Scratching behaviors are normal and serve many purposes, yet cats can cause damage and injury with their claws. By gaining an understanding of the reason that your cat uses her claws, you can provide her with alternative outlets and prevent her from causing damage to your property.

  • At first glance you might think she is a Scotty of a different color, but the Sealyham Terrier, or Sealy to her friends, comes from different stock and is very much her own dog. At one time a popular breed, she is now among the least known dogs. Yet she still retains her unique charm: a calm terrier, but nevertheless a terrier through and through.

  • The heroic dogs involved in search and rescue missions optimize their natural abilities to help distressed people.

  • Dogs do so much more than entertain us with tricks or accompany us on walks. Their abilities as service dogs are astounding. Gaining in popularity, dogs that assist people who have seizures play an important role in the lives of their owners.

  • Separation anxiety describes dogs that usually are overly attached or dependent on family members. They become extremely anxious and show distress behaviors such as vocalization, destruction, or house-soiling when separated from the owners.

  • At certain times of the year, birds are under the powerful influence of sex hormones and will behave instinctively in distinct ways that you may not have witnessed before. Humans may cause frustration or confusion in their birds with what may be our inappropriate responses to their sexual behaviors. This handout describes several of these behaviors in birds and how to prevent or manage them.