Resources

Looking to adopt, volunteer or foster a dog or cat? You’ve come to the right place! Please fill out the form associated to your request and we’ll get in touch with you once we receive it. Thanks!

*A Note on Rehoming Your Pet*

We now have a wonderful option for pet owners interested in rehoming their pet. We are excited to be partnering with REHOME, by Adopt A Pet and the Petco Foundation, to help owners who find themselves needing to rehome a pet. More information on REHOME is available by visiting this blog post: Wagging Dog Partners with REHOME

Resources and info for the responsible pet owner along with some other stuff:

Preparing for a New Dog

These articles will help you to help your new (adopted or fostered) dog adjust to his/her new life in your home. Whether you’re adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue, or fostering a shelter dog for a rescue – this info will set you and your new furry friend up for a successful relationship together. A dog coming out of a foster home is not subjected to the same stressors (any longer) as a dog fresh from a shelter but all of this info still applies – always.

 

  • Three Ways To Confuse A New Dog – “Three days, three weeks, three months.” To give you a better expectation of a new dog’s adjustment timeline. Thanks Dr. McConnell.
  • Learn What Decompression Is – This is a term that you may hear often, and for good reason. It’s an important part of a dog’s transition into any new environment, regardless of where they’re coming from. KD Mathews does a nice job of explaining what decompression is all about, why new pet parents or fosters need to be cognizant of it, and why we need to address a new dog’s need to decompress – before doing anything else. Here is a great video about the Decompression period, thanks to Rebound Hounds.
  • Give ‘Em A Break – Trainer Erin Topp talks about the Two Week Shutdown and the need for slowing your roll when you bring a new dog into your home. She also emphasizes use of a crate and leash during this transition as well as limiting freedom, all things that make for a better honeymoon period and successful long term life together.
  • Wagging Dog Rescue Slow Intro Protocol – What to do and expect for the first few weeks with a new dog.
  • Dog: Nothing In Life Is Free – This is one of the main areas (aside from the above, of course) where people go wrong and placements fail. NILIF – Nothing In Life Is Free – is a way of living with your animal, and anyone who has worked with or adopted from me/WDR has heard this subject before. I don’t have kids but I was one once, and my grandparents raised me in the NILIF lifestyle. I had to work for the things I received. Dog owners today, however, expect our animals to behave perfectly even if we’re lavishing everything upon them and requiring nothing. I’m pretty sure if my grandparents had given me everything I wanted right off the bat, I’d have grown up to be a total spoiled jerk. Dogs are no different. NILIF is a way of life, and it’s a successful method for just about every living being on this earth. Here is a great video of NILIF in action, thanks to Gone To The Dogs.
  • Pet Parenting Style Influences Dog Behavior – A study by Oregon State University looks at how pet parenting styles affect a dog’s confidence, puzzle solving ability, and overall demeanor. The three parenting styles studied are Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Permissive. It’s no surprise to us that the Authoritative style (rules and rewards) results in the most confident and well behaved furry children!
Canine Behavior and Training

If you think about it, it’s kind of a dirty trick to take a species that naturally chases moving objects, eats whatever it comes across, bites to argue, etc., and then announce all these as behavior problems. ~ Jean Donaldson

Crate Training

Dog Body Language and Communication

Dog Bites

Fearful & Reactive Dogs

Kids & Dogs

Resource Guarding

Separation Anxiety

Training

Canine Medical Conditions

The Canine Cancer Epidemic – Check out The Dog Cancer Series documentaries for a wealth of information on this alarming increase in canine cancer and what you can do to help your pets remain cancer free.  Worth the investment!  There’s so much info on these dvd’s (also available for download).

 

Higher Quality Dog Foods

All the above said, the more you can home cook for your pets (or self or kids), the better. And there is cancer in kibble. There’s always risk of bacterial contamination in raw foods just as there is in processed foods. It’s up to you, the responsible pet owner, to do your research and decide what’s best for your pet and you.

Check out the pet food documentary Pet Fooled for a more thorough investigative understanding of processed dog foods and their effect on our pets.

Dog Boarding
Dog Trainers & Behaviorists
Pawesome Dog Products
  • Kong – safe rubber chew toys for (most) dogs (and remember – always choose black rubber for powerful chewers!)
  • Nylabone – safe durable plastic chew toys for powerful chewers
  • Goughnuts – safe rubber chew toys for (most) powerful chewers made from recycled tires!
  • Jolly Pets – fun balls and things for active, playful dogs (and horses!)
  • RedBarn Pet Products – quality rolled foods and treats, bone chews and more
  • BestBullySticks – a great source for high quality antlers (and more!)
  • Thundershirt
  • Kuranda Dog Beds
  • Through A Dog’s Ear – peaceful solo piano music designed to calm your dog
  • Paco Collars
  • Blackwing Farms – using plant based remedies to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of our pets
  • Natural Dog Company – organic, vegan, all natural products to heal our furry friends (snouts, paws, wrinkles, skin)
Preparing for a New Cat

These articles will help you to help your new (adopted or fostered) cat adjust to his/her new life in your home. Whether you’re adopting a cat from a shelter or rescue, or fostering a shelter cat for a rescue – this info will set you and your new furry friend up for a successful relationship together. A cat coming out of a foster home is not subjected to the same stressors (any longer) as a cat fresh from a shelter but all of this info still applies – always.

 

Feline Behavior and Training

Whether it’s just a pesky little annoying behavior you’d like to tweak or a major problem that has you at the end of your rope, you must shift your thinking in order to look at the possible true cause, as well as determine whether its truly a behavior problem or a normal behavior that needs a better alternative. ~ Pam Johnson-Bennett

Resource Guarding

Feline Medical Conditions

Here are some great articles about living with cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV is not a death sentence, and it turns out that FIV+ cats CAN live with FIV- cats as long as they get along with each other!

Amazing Veterinarians, Specialty Hospitals & In-home Care In SoCal
Reputable California Rescues
Resources for Pet Owners in Need
There are many organizations dedicated to providing assistance to pet owners who find themselves in need. Please explore all options before deciding to give up your pet. If you absolutely must rehome your furry family member, Rehome may help you find the perfect match.

 

Excellent Books For Your Bookshelf

These are some of the most important books you can possibly have on your dog bookshelf!

 

  • Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know by Alexandra Horowitz
  • On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
  • Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by Jean Donaldson
  • The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Dr. Patricia McConnell
  • Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
  • Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook by Barbara Handelman
  • Canine Body Language by Brenda Aloff
  • Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet: Healthier Dog Food The ABC Way by Steve Brown
  • The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression by Karen Delise
  • The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant
How To Save The Planet
  • Cowspiracy – the Problem (it’s simple economics, folks)
  • Racing Extinction – the Cost (our planet)
  • What The Health – the Truth (this one was really good! why we have so many serious health issues)
  • Food, Inc. – more Truth (we are being manipulated and it’s costing us our health)
  • Farm Sanctuary – and more (you don’t like the dog meat trade? take a closer look at our own food practices)
  • Mercy For Animals – yet more (know where your food comes from)