Paws Up Blog

Dogs lick to show love and care to their people, and often do so to get your attention. When you reciprocate it with petting or other positive affirmations, it reinforces the bond they are trying to create. It releases endorphins which are neurotransmitters that calm dogs down and make them more relaxed- and this, in turn, releases dopamine, which is associated with pleasure.  Essentially your dog emotionally feels better after licking! Licking also enhances a dogs sense of smell, and when you sweat, you emit lots of things dogs love to smell and taste- hence why they love licking your...

Let’s talk about six gifts you can order TODAY for your favorite tiny dog- and I know we all want to support small businesses whenever we can, so you can feel good while you’re pampering your dog. Petique- Dog Strollers For Everyone! Petique makes strollers for dogs of ALL sizes and trust me, you want a high quality stroller with your dogs comfort in mind. Your tiny dog will be able stay out enjoying the world for far longer and it gives them a place to rest when they get tired. Their strollers are designed to be stable, and they...

It's no secret that most small dogs head for the heating blanket when temperatures drop in northern climates, but that doesn't mean that their brains go on vacation. Owners routinely report an increase in energy and "zoomies" during the months where outdoor time is limited, but you can use these indoor enrichment activities to keep your dog's energy under wraps all winter long! Enrichment (a.k.a. slow feeder) Bowls: This is probably the easiest ways to add variety to your dog's life, these maze filled bowls make it harder to access all the food, engaging their brain and providing mental stimulation- all...

So often when I tell people that I have a subscription box for small dogs, they tell me that they would love to buy it but "my dog doesn't like toys!" It's usually followed up by explaining that they bought baskets of toys for their dogs but their dog ignores them, or engaged with them a few times and never touched them again. It doesn't surprise me. While some dogs naturally understand toys, toys in themselves do not have a value for your dog.  It doesn't have to be this way! I am going to discuss a few ways to engage...

Giving your dog a life filled with mental enrichment means giving them variety in all aspects of play.  Dogs are neophiliacs- meaning they love new experiences and toys over ones they already know. So keeping things fresh and new for them helps them to experience the world in a different way- it's enrichment made easy! Research shows that dogs lose interest in a toy in as little as 30 seconds, which means those toys that have been in their toy baskets collecting dust for months (or even years) need to be rotated out. Have no fear, simply putting the toys...