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Carolyn's Corner

A dog kissing Carolyn

Carolyn Lapps is the General Manager at Fetch Family Pet Resort. Her love and passion for all animals began at a young age and has led to a career. She is frequently consulted on pet socialization, family integration issues, and is highly regarded for her experience with domestic animal management and care.

vet scanning dog for a microchip

WHY EVERY DOG SHOULD BE MICROCHIPPED

May is National Chip Your Pet Month, and this subject is one that still gets debated every now and then. It’s not a legal requirement, and some see the procedure as invasive and intrusive. I wish to dispel that myth. A microchip is about the size of a small grain of rice and is inserted…

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woman giving a dog a pill

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIRST AID FOR DOGS

April is “Pet First Aid” month so I thought we would take this opportunity to talk about first aid kits, care giving measures, and some of the more common injuries that can occur. The most important thing is to have a plan in case of emergency. The name and number of your dog’s vet and…

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dog on a leash looking up at something

WHAT IS DOG BLOAT AND WHY YOUR DOG SHOULD NEVER PLAY AFTER EATING

For those of you who know me, I joke around a lot, but when I am serious, it’s for a reason. This is one of the times where the subject is serious because consequences from not understanding your dog’s normal digestive cycle can be fatal to your furry family member. When humans eat, the natural…

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brown dog with a red ball

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS CONSUMED SOMETHING TOXIC

March is National Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month so now is a good time to talk about recognizing symptoms your dog may display if they have eaten something toxic. Things that are poisonous to your furry family member can be found just about anywhere – from your backyard to things in cabinets to human food…

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man walking a dog on a leash

DANGERS OF RETRACTABLE LEASHES

The other day I saw one of our furry students come across the parking lot heading to class at Fetch, and he surged forward on a retractable leash causing major problems for himself and his owner. Thus, another topic is born because retractable leashes, and their pitfalls, need to be discussed. Let’s start with the…

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man teaching dog high five

Why it is Not a Good Idea to Train Your Own Dog

We all love our dogs. From the moment, we are first drawn to their face and playfulness, we enter into a commitment to bring them home and make them a member of the family. From there, it’s about establishing a confidence bond based on rules of good behavior mixed with just the right amount of…

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submissive dog

Submissive Behavior in Dogs

Understanding and recognizing submissive behavior in dogs is a critical part of the confidence bond you develop with your furry family member. Many people misunderstand the meaning of submissive and dominant behaviors in dogs. The terms “submissive” and “dominant” are very general and should not be overanalyzed. In fact, many behaviorists and trainers try to…

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woman training dog

Respecting the Biology of a Dog

I love dogs. Those of you who know me understand and appreciate my passion for all animals. They become members of our family, and we share our homes with them. Depending on your house rules, dogs may sleep in the same bed as their owners and eat from the same table at times. For many,…

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trainer teaching a dog the 'place' command

The Benefits of the ‘Place’ Command

Lots of people know the ‘sit’ command for dogs. It seems to the most common one in the pet owner repertoire. However, the ‘place’ command is far more important to you and your dog. It’s about achieving the fastest response to ensure the maximum amount of safety for you, your pet, other humans, and other…

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Dalmatian sleeping comfortably in a crate

Let’s Talk About Crate Training

Crate training is a superb way to create desirable behaviors in dogs. Professional trainers advocate for the use of crates because they mimic and satisfy a dog’s instinct to be in a den. At the same time, it can alleviate many problems that arise in the early stages of bonding with your furry family member.…

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