border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Mar 8

Cold Weather Dangers – How Cold Is Too Cold?

 Cold Weather Dangers – How Cold Is Too Cold? In some parts of the U.S., “spring has sprung” but in the Northeast, like Vermont where I live with two thin-coated Weimaraners, we have another two months of winter to bear, including a current windy cold snap in the single digits. Therefore, vigilance about keeping your… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Mar 5

Cold Dog Paws in Frosty Weather

Cold Dog Paws in Frosty Weather Protect your dog’s feet in the winter Since dogs have sweat glands in their toes, the moisture there can form into balls of ice when they abruptly leave a warm indoor environment and go into very cold temperatures. These ice balls can be so uncomfortable that a dog will… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Feb 9

Like Presidents, Dogs May Go Gray When Stressed

Like Presidents, Dogs May Go Gray When Stressed A new study, co-authored by author and scientist Temple Grandin and published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science explores whether anxiety and impulsiveness may contribute to premature graying in dogs. The research focused on a sample of 400 dogs, age 1 to 4 years old, found… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 4

False Confidence about Microchipping a Pet – Some Scary Truths

In an article published January 1 in The New York Times, the columnist pointed out that by law city shelters and pet stores are required to microchip animals before selling them or releasing them for adoption. The author mentioned that the chip should be registered, but the “rest of that story” is where the slippery… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Oct 13

Dog Talk Univ. Debuts: Dog Vomiting Myths

Dog Talk University Debuts: Myths About Dog Vomiting After my last blog on the basics of how and why a dog vomits, I realized there was a need for some shorter informational radio podcasts in which I could impart some basic information about pet health and wellness. I figured it might be easier on the… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Oct 6

What Does It Look Like When a Dog Vomits?

What Does It Look Like When a Dog Vomits?  This is a quick “Vomit 101” so you can be aware and prepared for what happens when a dog throws up. (If you have my book THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know then you probably don’t panic if your dog throws up… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jul 11

Dog with Goopy Eyes? A Totally Natural Remedy!

Dog with Goopy Eyes? A Totally Natural Remedy! I’ve been taking tracking lessons with my darling four-month-old Weimaraner puppy Wanda, working with Kathy Jo Magan, who is widely known as a tracking and Schutzhund trainer and competitor. Lucky for me, she leaves her Florida home base (where she also breeds Belgian Malinois and Corgis!) and… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jul 1

Nobody Likes to Hear Their Dog is Fat!

Nobody Likes to Hear Their Dog is Fat! Canine etiquette question: what do you say when you encounter someone whose dog is seriously overweight? I have been in this predicament more than several times and am torn between not wanting to offend or alienate the person, and advocating for a diet and change in feeding… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jun 20

New Dog Flu: Coming to Town Near You?

The New Dog Flu — Coming to a Town Near You? I don’t like to be a fear monger, but the new strain of dog flu that killed and sickened many dogs in Chicago, has now spread to 12 states beyond Illinois. A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about an episode of THE… Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jun 14

Shampooing Your Dog

Shampooing Your Dog — Making it Fun and Frequent On my NPR radio show DOG TALK® this past week I interviewed humorist Merrill Markoe, several of whose amazing videos will be featured in the Dog Film Festival October 3rd. I invited her to read one of the fall-down-funny essays from her book What the Dogs… Read more »