Raising Your Paws- Your resource for dog & cat pet parents

In this “Best Of” Replay show, we’ll start by talking about barking. Different sounding barks communicate different emotions and needs. If you’re trying to reduce your dog’s barking recognizing what your dog is telling you is the first step. I’ll explain the sound that means your dog is feeling excited.

Then, why do some women have a harder time getting their dogs to obey them compared to men? Listen as Camilla Gray-Nelson, author ...

Do you like it or hate it when your dog wants to jump up on you when they greet you? Why do dogs want to jump up on people anyway? There are two reasons I’ll tell you about. If you want to stop the behavior teach your dog the way you would prefer them to greet you. 

When we take our pets to the vet because they are sick or injured we are feeling fear and love and anguished hope that they will be okay, plus worry and possible stress...

Who is the most famous dog in the world?  It may surprise you to know, he isn’t even real yet he says words that we, human beings would often like to say.  In today’s creature feature I’ll share some fun facts about this character that most children know and love, and many adults still fondly remember.  

Continuing my conversation with dog aggression expert, Michael Shikashio, CDBC, (aggressivedog.com) we talk about what to do if y...

Do you wonder exactly why cats get hairballs and if there is anything you can do to reduce the amount that form in your cat’s stomach and then get thrown up exactly when and where you most don’t want them? I’ll explain how hairballs are a good thing for your feline, what to do to lessen their existence and the symptoms to watch for that might indicate an excessively large hairball may be causing health problems.

There have been two...

Are you frustrated by the yellow and brown spots on your lawn that occur when your dog pees in the grass?  Wondering why it happens and what can you do about it? 

The reason those spots appear is that dog urine is rich in nitrogen and it’s the high concentrations of this plus associated salts in the urine that kills or essentially “burns” the grass the urine soaks into.  

You may have heard that to stop your dog from killing the gr...

Does your cat start yowling or meowing excessively in the early mornings or late at night? This can be very annoying, I know. Why do cats make this loud, piercing sound and what can be done to stop it? I’ll explain a number of reasons why cats may start excessive vocalization and what to do, during this episode and then in more detail on the companion blog.

I have heard that it is important that your dog respect you. I know Rosy, ...

Does one of your cats bully other cats in the house hold? When human bullies torment other people, it seems like the reasons for doing so, is that they take delight in picking on others. Bullying cat’s behavior may look the same –torturing and attacking others, but the reasons are very different and specific to being a feline. I’ll explain a few of most common reasons a cat may turn into a bully.

Then, continuing the conversation ...

Can cats experience separation anxiety as we start leaving them alone more as we return to working outside the home? Yes, they can. I’ll explain how they may exhibit anxiety and what you can do to distract them after you’ve left or prevent them from becoming unnerved in the first place.

To find a good dog trainer, what should you be looking for regarding their credentials and what are the first big questions to ask them. Louie T...

The difference in effectively training large versus small dogs, has more to do with your technique and what is required from you, rather than their abilities. The mechanics of training large and small dogs stay the same, but there are subtle differences in how you train, that can get in the way of success or guarantee it. In this episode, I’ll offer three training tips for small breeds having to do with the position of your body, t...

In this week’s creature feature hear about how a man’s grocery shopping trip cost him a whole lot more – thanks to his dogs.

Do you find it almost impossible to get medicine in your pets at times? As you struggle and fight to get pills or drops in them, do you find yourself thinking, “there has got to be an easier way”? Well, there is.  And it has to do with changing the form of the medicine. My guest is Dr. Alan Chan, a pharmacist...

For this week’s Creature Feature, you’ll hear two stories, about a dog and a cat that unknowingly caused a “bit” of panic that resulted in the police being called.

Then, hear stories from my guest, Dr. Kwane Stewart, known as the “Street Vet” about his experiences treating pets of the homeless in Los Angeles, California. For the last 9 years, Dr. Stewart has spent time walking the neighborhoods looking for people living on the str...

Today’s creature feature is about a diamond in the ruff.  Hear a story about a dog named Duque, a mutt that was worth 15,000 dollars, at least while the diamond ring he had swallowed, was inside of his stomach.

Are you allergic to cats? Or you may not be, but one of your family members is? Wish you could have a cat or already do and suffer the consequences of your allergic reactions? Cat allergies can seem like a really hopeless p...

In today’s creature feature -three stories from England about cats bringing presents home to their humans – but not the dead rodents you would normally expect.  Sometimes felines hunt out and capture more people friendly things.

Does your dog ever have times where they behave in uncharacteristic ways like acting all hyper and crazy, other times, becoming mopey and rather sad looking or even taking up a bad habit that no amount of ...

For this show’s Creature Feature, you’ll hear three stories about a few dogs who ate unbelievable things – to the point that it is hard to swallow. Then, watch a Twin Cities Live TV show segment where I teach you what to do if your dog is choking and can’t breathe.

Are you getting bored doing the same old things with your dog as the pandemic drags on?  Wouldn’t it be nice to get some fresh ideas for things your dog can do to liven...

Do cats see in color? How does your cat’s eyes show you its mood?  You’d think that cats have really good vision – but the truth may surprise you. I’ll take a closer look at those large, beautiful eyes feline eyes.

Then, if your dog picks up garbage to eat when you’re out walking, do you try to take it out of their mouth? To avoid getting bitten in the process, dog aggression expert, Bryan Bailey, author of the book, “The Hammer: ...

You know your pet loves food but have you ever wondered what they actually can taste compared to you? I’ll explain the similarities and differences between your taste buds and dogs and cats. Did you know that there is a fifth identified taste detector on your tongue that you share with your pets?  Find out what it is.

Talking about dogs biting people is a disturbing issue.  Contrary to what many people think and you may have exper...

To start this episode, I’ll tell you another creature feature.  Do you remember the part in the movie, The Wizard of OZ when Toto and Dorothy are swept away in their house by a tornado?  If you think a dog being carried away is only fiction, wait till you hear this.

Then, I’ve got news.  After a stay-at-home order, due to the pandemic, Rocket, the NutriSource Pet Food’s sponsored, M Health Fairview - University of Minnesota - Mas...

Does your dog ever initiate scrapes or scuffles with another dog? All of a sudden, they are at each other. You may not know what started it, if someone is getting hurt or not, and the human owners watching nearby are screaming, and yelling sometimes louder than the dogs. No injuries may result, but it’s still upsetting when this occurs. Even if we don’t think there was any provocation, there are reasons your dog can become physical...

I’m starting a new segment, called Creature Feature, remarkable, funny, or heartwarming short tales es about animals. Here’s the first creature feature, “Sometimes, wishes come true in the funniest of ways.”

Do you feel like you get unconditional love from your dog? Do you ever wonder why it is that they do love us so much? Science is revealing now, how dogs are positively affected by us.  My guest today, is Dr. Clive Wynne, the di...