Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my 5 humorous canine, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.
As we enter that bleary-eyed complicated interval between Christmas and New Year, I believed I’d take this opportunity to look again over the highlights of my yr spent documenting the varied antics and inspiration my canine have offered and entertained us with. Well, I’ve been entertained – I hope you have got, too!
It’s like a type of episodes of a TV present the place the writers clearly wished to take every week off, so we get handled to a flashback episode! Plus, it’s an awesome alternative so that you can make amends for a few of my favourite tales from the yr.
So, with no additional ado, listed below are my 5 Favorite Posts of 2024:
Ned’s Weepy Peepers – The Perils of Having a Small Head
Read it right here: Ned’s Weepy Peepers: Solving the Problem of Giving Eye Drops to Dogs (with Video)
What I loved about this post was that it allowed me to take my real-life expertise of struggling to deal with the weepy eyes of an uncooperative creature with a tiny head. While Ned is splendidly good in each approach, he made life very tough when it got here to cleansing and making use of drops to his weepy eyes, main me to provide you with some inventive options. It’s little nuggets of knowledge that come from private expertise that make it a lot simpler to narrate to the difficulties skilled by many pet homeowners and supply some potential options.
Unexpected Support for My Chronic Fatigue
Read it right here: Unexpected Support for My Chronic Fatigue: How My Dogs Adapted to Napping
Knowing how many individuals live with sickness, it was good to have the ability to share my experience with chronic fatigue, and the way my pets have typically made it simpler, not more durable, to get by robust days. Many folks may really feel discouraged in regards to the concept of getting pets once they lack the flexibility or power to maintain up with the ultramarathon runners and 5 am energy walkers, believing that they’d not be capable of give a canine every little thing they want.
However, I’ve discovered that canine are way more adaptable and emotionally clever than we could give them credit score for, and fairly than turning into annoyed and anxious after I expertise a crash, my pack of canine (and the cats) appear to relish the time we spend simply chilling out or having a sleep. So a lot in order that I can now simply say the phrase ‘nap’ and the canine come barrelling upstairs to assert their spot on the mattress.
Who’s the Boss?
Read it right here: Who’s the Boss? Debunking the Dominance Theory (With Video)
I like the phrase “daily’s a college day” as a result of it actually sums up how I really feel about my private {and professional} life. Just once you assume you’ve acquired the measure of issues, you be taught one thing new that turns every little thing round. That’s what occurred after I found that what I knew about canine dominance and pack conduct was being questioned and redefined by animal behaviorists and dog trainers.
When you see how completely different people work together, it makes a lot extra sense having discovered in regards to the innate roles that canine tackle in a pack or group atmosphere. Living with a pack of 5 canine has allowed me to expertise firsthand how canine relationships are way more complicated than a linear dominance hierarchy, and recognizing their roles inside the group has helped me adapt and enhance my strategy to interplay and coaching.
Ned The Helpless
Read it right here: Ned the Helpless: Dr. Karyn’s Quintessential Chihuahua (with Video)
Ned is essentially the most scrumptious, squishable creature I’ve ever identified, and I like him a lot that it really makes me unhappy as a result of I do know that we could solely have a mere 15 years left collectively. Have you ever felt that approach a few pet? I’ve by no means wished to have youngsters, however with Ned in my life, I can totally admire the pull at your coronary heart everytime you’re away from them, the fixed fear that one thing may occur to them, and the nice and cozy and fuzzy feeling of being wanted. Before Ned, I had by no means had a pet that so clearly ‘wanted’ me. Patiently ready to leap up into my arms to raise him onto the couch or carry him as much as mattress, yapping at me after dinner till I put together his sizzling water bottle, his helplessness is so endearing.
Dr Karyn’s 10 Commandments For Successful Puppy Parenting – Part One and Part Two
Read them right here:
Over the previous decade or so, I’ve discovered rather a lot about canine conduct, coaching, obedience, and respect. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what number of pet dad and mom are doing their canine a disservice by being inconsistent and imprecise of their strategy to pet parenting. I’m actually not an ideal canine proprietor, and my strategies is probably not for everybody, however I’ve loved with the ability to give some pointers that may make these first few months a bit of simpler, and set your canine up for achievement (click on right here to learn Part 1 and Part 2). Dogs are happiest after we are clear and constant about what we wish from them. It is aggravating and complicated for them when they’re being shouted at as adults for issues they have been allowed to get away with once they have been younger, and no pet proprietor ought to be saying the phrases “he/she received’t let me do this.”
Looking Ahead
As we sit up for extra chaos and enjoyable in 2025, we’d love to listen to from you. What – or who – do you need to know extra about? Have you bought any burning questions on Kodah’s inside ideas or Fred’s ongoing bathroom coaching (I’d similar to to go one week with out a sneaky indoor poop!). Perhaps you’d like me to reveal one thing that’s confused or evaded you.
Drop me a line within the feedback part beneath, and I’ll see what the gang and I can do for you.
Wishing you all a 2025 stuffed with enjoyable and fur, from Ned, Fred, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, and myself.
