Purple and Paws
Advice and stories from one dog to lover to another
I’ve written two guest posts about what life with a Border Collie is like (Tips for Life with a Border Collie and 8 Things You Should Know If You Want to Adopt a Border Collie). But Socks is also part Aussie. So today I thought I’d share what life is like with an Australian Shepherd.
Before I adopted Socks, my family owned two dogs who never, in the fifteen and eleven years we had them, brought ticks into the house. Then I brought Socks home and within a few months, I found myself dealing with a tick situation.
If only we could take our dogs to work every day. While some companies do allow pets in the office, the reality is that most pet parents can’t take their dogs to work and must either leave them at home or enroll them in doggy day camp. If you’ve decided to take your dog to …
Displaying and sharing pictures of our dogs is something most pet owners love to do. But capturing a good picture of your fur baby can be tough. Dogs don’t want to pose and they don’t care if the lighting’s great or the background is fantastic. So how can you capture a great portrait of Fido …
While there are many benefits to owning a dog, one of the downsides is how dirty your car can get. Drool, muddy paws, hair…anything and everything can and will appear in your vehicle. So how can you keep your car clean as a dog owner? Read on for some helpful tips and tricks.
Chow Chows, Aussies, Saint Bernards, Golden Retrievers, and Wheaten Terriers…what do all these dogs have in common? Double coats. When the words “double coat” are uttered, most people picture a dog with thick, dense hair. The truth is some breeds with double coats don’t need an excessive amount of grooming while others do. Here are …
For most of us, summer signals the start of lazy days by the pool, vacations, and barbecues. But for dog owners, summer can be a tricky time of year. We don’t want to keep our dogs cooped up inside all day but taking them outside can raise their chances of heat stroke. Here are five …
I’m lucky enough to live half a mile from South Mountain Park, which is one of the biggest deserts in Phoenix. It’s full of trails that Socks and I love to explore. But walking your dog in the desert comes with a set of risks. Here are five tips for anyone who wants to start …
I don’t know about your dog, but Socks has a lot of toys. Some he inherited from my family’s previous two dogs and others I’ve bought for him over the years even though he doesn’t need any more. One of these days I’m going to do a purge and rid the house of the excess …
Every Saturday I whip up a batch of homemade dog treats Socks can enjoy at lunchtime for the next seven days. These treats are great because they last a week and you don’t need to keep them in the fridge. Buy a pretty dog treat container like I did and spoil your pooch every week …