No profit grows where is no pleasure taken; in brief, sir, study what you most affect. — William Shakespeare If your overweight dog is ever going to get back into shape, you’ll have to play several different (but equally critical) roles throughout the process. On one level, you’re going to be a general. This one […]
About: VP Coaching Staff
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First of all, if you’re at all interested in this topic, you really ought to check out Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma, my book about the science (and business) of canine health and obesity. If you don’t think it’s the most honest, rigorous, in-depth, and all-around helpful book you’ve ever read on the topic, I’ll refund 100% of […]
Regardless of whether you call yourself an “owner,” a “guardian,” or simply a “friend,” in your quest to be the best human possible to your cohabitating canine companion, one of the most challenging obstacles you will confront will also be one of the most adorable: Your dog’s longing, sorrowful, expectant gaze.
This essay is a continuation of our exploration of the value of canine exercise. In Part One, we discussed the health and welfare benefits of exercise for both you and your dog. Now we turn our attention to pet owners and examine the degree to which, in light of those benefits, they should feel compelled to […]
Is it so intuitive that dogs need (or even want) exercise? We don’t worry ourselves with seeing to it that our pet fish swim laps every morning. Pastured animals don’t run laps around their fields. And, to casual observers, many dogs seem perfectly content to lounge lazily on a couch all day. Even if we […]
Why The Varsity Report Matters — The 2011 Pet Blogger Challenge
Animal Welfare / Dog Agility and Flexibility / Dog Behavior / Dog Nutrition / Dog Obesity and Weight Management / Dog Psychology / Dog Strength and Muscular Development / Dog Training / Pet Health and Fitness Events / Pet Products VP Coaching Staff 14 Comments
2011 Pet Blogger Challenge As part of its on-going effort to raise awareness about the importance of pet fitness, health, and wellness topics, Varsity Pets is proud to announce that we have joined the Second Annual Pet Blogger Challenge. The Pet Blogger Challenge is an initiative through which pet industry bloggers candidly expose their goals, […]
Your dog does not understand the concept of holidays. She doesn’t have any idea what all the seasonal decorations collected in your house are meant to represent (although she probably enjoys smelling all the fragrant trimmings). She doesn’t know that a bunch of humans she rarely sees have gathered together for the purpose of celebrating […]
When it comes to relationships, its hard to overstate the importance of communication. Whether you’re talking about friends, lovers, family members, or co-workers, it may be possible to imagine a relationship in which one party never intentionally communicates with the other, but to actually participate in such a relationship would be absurd.
Over a charming photograph of a squat English bulldog, the cover of the New York Times Magazine recently asked its readers “Can the Bulldog be Saved?” The accompanying article was written by the immensely talented Benoit Denizet-Lewis and it reflects both the warmth and thoroughness which ordinarily characterize his journalism. The article was an exposé […]
[Like this post? Want to learn more about how to keep your dog healthy and happy? Check out Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma, my book from Present Tense Press. Kirkus Reviews calls it “remarkable,” “eye-opening,” “scandalous,” and “impressive.”] — Joint injuries are all too common in certain dog breeds. Be they of the ligament, tendon, […]
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