Hey teens: If you haven't already heard, the first week of May is considered National Pet Week, so what better time is there to learn about how you could be a better friend to the dog(s) in your life?
Coincidentally, there was a recent and quite timely CNN student news report as well as an NPR news reports and related Psychology Today blog post -- all citing research from Dr. Stanley Coren, who advises that all dog owners "not hug their dogs" (or anybody else's dog). Despite the fact that it might feel therapeutic and wonderful to you, it causes a great deal of stress on dogs to feel corralled or confined. So when those sweet eyes look up at you as if they are begging for a hug and kiss, think again!
Dr. Coren offers some great advice in many interesting books about our four-legged friends. I particularly enjoyed browsing Why Does My Dog Act That Way? which is chock-full of good advice for interpreting dog behavior as well as for help modifying bad behavior. If there are other things that you've wondered about your dog, Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? just might have answers. Lastly, if you've been woken up or distracted from a book when your napping or dozing dog begins to run and bark in his/her sleep, than you might enjoy checking out Do Dogs Dream?
Lastly, don't forget that there are many dogs in Chicago who are not pets (and don't have homes). If you're interested in helping enrich the lives of shelter pets at the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago, they have a number of recommended Do-It-Yourself Donations on their website, including easy tutorials and illustrations for crafts both their cats and dogs would love:
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