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National Dog Day: Celebrating Dogs by Becoming Better Owners
Every August 26, social media fills up with dog photos, bandanas, and "best day ever" captions. That's fine — dogs deserve the attention. But according to Ontario dog trainer Karen Laws, National Dog Day is a good excuse to ask a better question: are you actually...
The September Back-to-School Puppy Problem: Why Every Puppy Should Master Independence Before the Household Routine Changes
Quick answer: Puppies raised through summer or during busy holiday seasons often get near-constant human company. Then September hits, or the holiday season ends. Schedules snap back to normal, and the puppy who's never practiced being alone starts showing it: barking...
Puppy Training Progress: What Real Results Look Like, Day and Night (Tala’s story)
Quick answer: Real puppy training progress isn't a puppy that knows 20 commands — it's a puppy that waits at doors, doesn’t jump up when excited, settles without a fuss, sleeps through the night in a crate, and can recover after getting overstimulated. This is what...
Puppy Training: The 3 Things That Matter Most in the First Few Months
Bringing home a puppy is exciting. It’s also noisy, messy, exhausting, occasionally ridiculous, and often a very quick reminder that puppies do not arrive with an operating manual. One minute they’re sleeping peacefully. The next, they’re chewing the table leg, peeing...
Is Your Dog Really Protected Against the Migrating Tick Invasion of 2026?
Ticks are no longer a problem limited to a few wooded areas or an occasional spring hike. Across Canada and the United States, ticks are being found in more places, remaining active for longer periods and exposing dogs to several potentially serious diseases. For...
Dog Overheating and Wildfire Smoke in Ontario: What Every Owner Should Know
Ontario summers now bring more than heat. In July 2026, wildfire smoke once again spread across parts of the province, changing the air quality from hour to hour. The clear sky you see at breakfast might not match the smoky air by supper. Most owners check the...
When Your Dog Meets a Porcupine: What to Do, What Not to Do, and How to Prevent It
Porcupines are not looking for a fight. Unfortunately, some dogs interpret a slow-moving woodland animal as an invitation to conduct a full investigation—with their face. The porcupine usually objects. The result can be dozens, or even hundreds, of quills embedded in...
Heading Home: Avoiding the Post-Road-Trip Blues
There’s a particular feeling that settles in when an RV trip starts coming to an end. It’s not quite sadness, and it’s not quite relief. It’s more like looking around your little rolling home, seeing the dog bed slightly askew, the leash hanging by the door, the shoes...
Life with the Van Community
There’s something about travelling in an RV that changes the way you experience a place. You’re not just arriving somewhere. You’re bringing your little rolling household with you. Your bed, your coffee, your dog supplies, your storage bins, your “very organized”...
Travelling With Pippy: New Roads, Old Friends, and a Ferry Ride
I’m learning that travelling with a dog changes everything. Not in a dramatic, life-altering, put-it-on-a-mug kind of way. More in the practical, everyday way. You stop thinking only about where you want to go and start thinking about where your dog can walk, where...
On the Road: Adjusting to Campground Life as a Non-Camper
What I’m Learning About RV Life, Campgrounds, and Travelling With a Dog I should probably start with a confession. I’m not what anyone would call a ‘natural camper.’ I like nature. I like dogs. I like beautiful places. I like fresh air, trees, quiet mornings, and the...
Travelling with Pippy: Getting Road-Ready for an RV Adventure with Your Dog
There’s something wonderfully exciting about seeing the RV parked in the driveway, almost ready to roll. The cupboards are partly stocked. The route is taking shape. The checklists are multiplying. There are bags by the door, supplies on the table, and that familiar...
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