Blog

It’s probably no mystery why we’re getting so many more behavior questions during the COVID lockdown than we normally do: Humans are home more, and it’s changing routines and creating stress for us and our pets. Fortunately, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, is up to the challenge! Q: I just got a new puppy, and […]

The global pandemic has turned our world upside down. The nation imposed travel restrictions, some states are on lockdown, our cities and towns are reeling, many neighborhoods seem like tumbleweeds should be blowing past boarded-up windows, and our workplaces and homes have dramatically changed almost overnight. Despite shifting sands, there are some bedrock-solid things that […]

What happens when you have a setback while house training your puppy? As always, I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to help a reader out! Q: I’ve had a miniature poodle puppy since he was 9 weeks old. He is now almost 14 weeks old. Because it was so cold when I first […]

Remember your first pet? Of course you do! As you read “first pet,” the memories instantly flooded back with the species, breed, name, color, size, gender, where she/he slept, what games you played, on and on. I’ve asked this question one-on-one in conversations with movie stars, sports heroes, business titans, and politicians during the 17 […]

Are lap cats made or born? Here’s what I told a reader. Q: My cat doesn’t like to sit on my lap, and he doesn’t really like to be petted much either. Is there anything I can do to change his ways? A: Having a cat sit on your lap is something special, and if […]