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Adoption Update – Kira
“Kira is such a smart and adaptive girl! She learns from all the people and animals she meets. For example, she learned from my roommate’s chihuahuas to be a good watchdog, she learned from my cat to be gentle with the new kitten…”
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Adoption Update – Violet
“For years, I have had a desire to adopt another dog to join my family. In Feb 2022, I finally did it and I couldn’t be more grateful and happy with the decision…”
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Living and Learning with a Fearful Dog
Living with a fearful dog can be an entirely new experience for even long term dog owners. There are many degrees of fearful dogs and your dog may slide up and down the spectrum depending upon their skills and the …
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Separation Anxiety and How to Prevent It
Keep departures and arrivals low-key. During the 10-15 minutes before you leave the house, strive for a calm, neutral atmosphere. Avoid grand gestures of hugging, kissing, or petting with your dog. If your dog has previously shown any signs of …
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What is Positive Reinforcement?
“The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.” – B.F. Skinner Here at ARF, the method of training we use (for both dogs and cats) is called “positive reinforcement.” Positive reinforcement works by using praise …
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What is Trigger Stacking?
Trigger stacking happens to dogs when there are too many sensitive stimuli occurring within short succession of each other. These sensitive stimuli are specific to each dog, but some common stimuli include other dogs, bikes, vacuums, and skateboards. Each stimuli …
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General Tips for Taking Great Animal Photos
So you want to try to take some gorgeous photos of your pet? We can help! Every dog and cat has a photogenic side and we can assist you in finding it. If this helps you get some great shots, …
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Adopting a Dog with Heartworm
Heartworms are worms that live in the heart and lungs of infected animals. Heartworm larvae are spread via mosquito bites, and heartworm disease can lead to lung damage and heart failure if untreated. Heartworm disease is easy to prevent with preventive medication available through your veterinarian. Once infected, however, elimination of heartworms is a lengthy process.