Modern Dog Magazine Home

My Dog Vicky

Sharon Mercer — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

She was the ugliest dog I had ever seen, black and brown brindle, a Pitbull body with a Labrador head, a crooked leg but the clearest, most beautiful brown eyes. I trapped her in a live trap at the local landfill four years ago. The guys who worked there had picked the trap up and placed it under the awning. It was a cold and wet November afternoon.

Lucky Dog

Charlene Logan Burnett — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

“She’s chosen me,” Bob had said. So, we filled out the adoption papers and a week later, Maggie had made herself at home, treeing the 13-year-old cat, barking at anything that moved within a one-mile radius, and tearing the woven-wood shades off the window frame.

What I Learned from Buddy

Joanne Clark — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The second rule was, no sleeping on my bed. The first morning, I woke up and found myself staring at this sweet little face on the pillow next to me, and he was staring back. I laughed, and the second rule went out the window. Little did I know that long ago morning what an amazing journey it would be with Buddy, and that one day he would save my life, as I had saved his.

Sophie the Unicorn Dog

Kate Dougherty — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

She was there when an important relationship fell apart and I thought my heart would never heal. She looked at me with soulful eyes as if to say, “It will be alright and life goes on.” And she was right, for someone new came into my life, whose friendship I treasure to this day.

Dear Dogsitter

Kristine Gunter — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Dear Dogsitter: Thank you so much for agreeing to take care of the dogs while I’m away. Even though some people claim Corgis are a “high-maintenance” breed, I think you’ll find my three to be delightful housemates with very few idiosyncrasies. Below are just a few “house rules” you might want to review prior to your arrival.

Griffin

Terri Cave — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I watched him pull the wooden paint stick from the paint can and begin to run. I began to run, in slow motion it seemed, after him. He thought it was a game, so he ran faster. Paint dripped all over my new carpet. He got stuck once, just as I thought I had him, and he managed to push himself through the small space splattering the paint all over my black leather sofa and chair.

The Whippet

Marian Buechert — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In the race for first place in the human heart, the Whippet is an odds-on favourite. Neat, sweet, and fleet, these smaller cousins of the ancient Greyhound are tough to beat.

Gorgeous Inside and Out

Mary-Jo Dionne — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I’m so thankful for the invention of the telephone, I need a new word for this level of gratitude. Being between addresses and currently living out of a suitcase at my in-laws’ until we take possession of our new house, I’ve been wearing what has become something of a uniform for the last month: coffee-stained yoga pants that embody the descriptor “elastic waist” and uncombed hair in an unkempt ponytail. It’s been so long since I’ve put on mascara, the wee wand would likely render me befuddled. So the irony isn’t lost on me that this is the state in which I find myself when I prepare for my talk with supermodel Niki Taylor. If ever there were an instance to fall down on my knees and thank higher beings for the magic of technology, allowing me an over-the-phone-and-therefore-not-visible chat, this would be it. The whole thing is nothing short of a miracle.

DIY Eat - Low-Cal Snacks

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Fast, fresh, and healthy treats your dog will adore, whether he’s a liver lover, fish fanatic or in need of a low-cal snack.

DIY Craft - Trick or Treat!

alicia2 — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Four fun, fast, and funny hallowe’en costumes for your dog

How Dogs Were Created

Stanley Coren — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Because the domestication of dogs occurred so long ago during prehistoric times, many of our beliefs about people’s early relationships with dogs, wolves, and wild canines are sheer speculation. In some respects, we have not moved very far from the vision of the British writer Rudyard Kipling in 1912 when he offered his theory of the domestication of dogs in his Just So Stories. The story begins with the wild dog/wolf/jackal/coyote hanging around the home of the humans, looking at the food being cooked by the primitive human female, and feeling hungry.

Foods for Health

Laura Scott and Elizabeth Pask — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The best thing we can do for our dogs is to provide them with healthy nutrition. There are many foods that fulfill basic nutritional needs, but what about foods that actually improve health? Specific foods can have a positive impact on many health conditions. You can feed these foods in addition to your dog’s regular food, or, if you are feeding homemade food, you can incorporate these foods into your dog’s meals.

Sweet Treats for a Sweet Tooth

alicia2 — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Since chocolate is bad for dogs, here are some suggested ways to indulge your dog’s sweet tooth in a healthy manner

Up in the Air

Corey Van’t Haaff — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Pepper and Booberry had a lot in common. Pepper looked like a Shih Tzu but nobody was certain. The abused and abandoned dog was found urine-soaked, flea-ridden, and battling a raging urinary tract infection. Tumours on her back made it look bent. Booberry, a blue Chihuahua who was more ear than body, was found in a dumpster suffering from parvovirus. Both were resident at a shelter that euthanized far too many dogs every day. Both were hopeless and both were close to their last days on earth.

Furkids

Jennifer Messer — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Google furkids and you will find hits on everything from dogsitters to tailored clothing: the population of pet guardians that relate to their bundles of fur much like offspring is steadily growing. Some pet parents see their dog as a child-substitute—a replacement for the unconditional love and nurturing that comes with a parent-child relationship. Others view caring for their dog as a bona fide parenting role, regardless of their choices surrounding reproduction, and seem to use the term furkids to symbolize their degree of love and commitment.