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Home » Humanizing Dogs

Humanizing Dogs

Everything from dogs doing things that humans do… to making sense of your dog’s behavior (like tail wagging and barking) in a way that we humans can understand. There are lots of ways we tend "humanize" our pets and treat them like children! Did you know that you can safely dye your dog’s hair? And feed your dog human foods? And teach your dog English? (My dog understands more than 80 words… and he can spell!) See if you have one of the most intelligent dog breeds or not. What about motorcycling with your dog… have you tried it? Does your dog watch TV? Do you know your dog’s “true” age? (It’s not just about multiplying by 7.) Wondering if your dog would be a good service dog or companion animal? We've even got some tax deductions that you can take for being a dog owner -- much like tax deductions you can take for children! All good things to know for first time dog owners.

Dog Motorcycle Riding: Safe vs. Unsafe Options (Plus Our Favorite Motorcycle Gear For Dogs!)

Here are my photos of dogs riding motorcycles… at fast speeds on highways! I never thought I’d see this in person… but I did. If you’re considering riding with your dog on the motorcycle, please also consider a dog motorcycle carrier of some sort, dog goggles, and a dog helmet. Or a motorcycle dog trailer — like my friend uses when motorcycling with her two large dogs! (See pictures here.)

Some Legitimate Dog Tax Deductions You Can Actually Take!

These are actual tax deductions, as quoted by people ‘in the know’ who share their advice about tax write-offs, as they relate to dogs. (Including dog foster parents, dog breeders, guard dog owners, Instagram influencers, and more!) Most of us cannot deduct our dogs or any expenses associated with them on our IRS tax returns. But that doesn’t stop people from trying! Lots of funny dog write-off stories here, too.

5 DIY Dog Hair Dye Methods Using Food Color… Read This Before You Dye Your Dog’s Fur A Different Color!

Want to dye your dog’s fur a different color? The safest dog hair dye is food coloring (juice from colorful foods or organic food coloring). Here’s how to dye dog hair yourself at home — without making your pet uncomfortable… or sick!

Are Human Foods OK For Dogs To Eat? See Which Ones Are Safe… And Which Ones Are NOT!

unsafe-human-foods-for-dogs

Here is the best list of foods you should AVOID giving to your dog (human foods that are poisonous or toxic to dogs) + Foods that you CAN give to your dog (human food safe for dogs) — according to pet experts. Plus, what you should know if you decide to offer table scraps and other people foods to your dog at some point.

Would You Marry Your Dog? Lots Of People Do! Here’s How To Marry Your Pet

Do you love your dog?… Do you love your dog enough to marry him — or her? Lots of people have married their pets… here’s the latest buzz about pet weddings.

Dog Language: How Many Words Does Your Dog Know? Here’s A List Of The 80+ Phrases My Dog Understands

Canine intelligence & dog language: The words and commands from human language that a dog knows. Here are the phrases my dog understands and what they mean.

Can Dogs Watch TV? Dog Eyesight Compared To Human Eyesight

Have you ever wondered if your dog is actually watching TV with you? The fact is dog eyesight is different from human eyesight, so dogs see images on television differently than we do.

Interesting Dog & People Similarities

It’s amazing how many dog & people similarities really do exist. That’s right, for many of the things that we do as humans, there’s an equivalent behavior in the dog world. Here are lots of interesting similarities between dogs and people.

New Dog Age Calculator: Don’t Just Multiply By 7, A Dog’s Breed & Size Also Influence Age In Dog Years

Did you know that dog age is actually influenced by your dog’s breed and size? That’s right, there’s much more to it than just multiplying by 7 to get your dog’s age in human years. Here is a much more accurate way to determine dog age.

Secrets To Understanding What A Wagging Dog Tail Means

dog-tail-wagging

This video shows 3 wagging dog tail behaviors that your dog may display. Once you recognize these 3 tail wagging behaviors, start paying attention to whether your dog wags his tail to the right or the left. Each way means something different.

Videos Of Dogs Playing Basketball – Can Your Dog Do That?

Have you ever wanted your dog to be more human? Try teaching him this trick. Also another cool trick to teach your dog.

Therapy Dogs – Does Your Dog Have What It Takes To Get Therapy Dog Certification?

If you’ve always thought that your dog would make a good therapy dog, here are some things to think about — plus a listing of the requirements for dogs and owners to become volunteers and therapy dogs.

Do You Allow Your Dog On The Bed? We Did… Then Didn’t… Now We Do Again

Just who did we buy those expensive pillows for anyway?… We recently invested in a new set of down pillows for our master bedroom. They were very expensive. Aside from the fact that we allow our dog on our bed — though we didn’t used to — we’re now finding that he uses our new pillows all the time!

Can Your Dog Spell Words?… I Think Mine Can

My husband and I have resorted to SPELLING various words around our dog in order to talk about certain things in his presence, without him knowing it. The idea: If we spell it, he won’t hear that magic word that gets him all riled up in anticipation of whatever it is. Wrong!…

Dog Flowers = Flower Arrangements Made In The Shape Of Dogs

Check out the following pictures of dog flowers. Some are made with REAL flowers. Others were created by placing a real dog behind a painted picture of a flower.Both are fun!

Did You Know You Can ‘Spin’ Your Dog’s Fur Into Something Meaningful?

With as little as 1 ounce of your dog’s fur — acquired when brushing your pet — Furever Creations will spin that fur into a personalized item of your choosing. What better way to memorialize your beloved dog?

How To ‘Read’ Your Dog’s Tail-Wagging Behavior

A study of dogs has revealed that a dog wags its tail to the left when they are fearful or anxious. A dog wags its tail to the right when they are attracted to something or happy. See a video of a dog’s tail-wagging behavior and view details of the study here.

Test Your Pet: A Dog IQ Test + Other Fun Ways To Determine How Smart Your Dog Is

How smart is your dog? Have you ever ‘tested’ your pet in order to obtain some kind of measure of your dog’s intelligence level? Now you can. Here are 7 quick & easy tests that you can do with your dog to see how ‘smart’ your pet is. They’re FUN, too!

Things I Learned From My Dog

A classic from the archives… all I really need to know I learned from my dog.

12 Ways That Dogs Play Tricks On Humans

Ever wonder what dogs would do different if they ruled the world? Here’s how a dog sees life and recommendations from a big dog to a little dog at ‘Dog School’.

See Which Are The Most Intelligent Dog Breeds… Also The Least Intelligent Dogs

Is yours the smartest dog in the world?… If it’s an Australian Cattle Dog, Rottweiler, Papillon, Labrador Retriever, Shetland Sheepdog, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Poodle, or Border Collie then it might be! But not if you have a Shih Tzu, Basset Hound, Mastiff, Pekingese, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Chow Chow, Bulldog, Basenji, or an Afghan Hound.

Another Skateboarding Bulldog Video

Dogs really are amazing!…

Dog Plays Poker

It takes a fairly smart dog to grasp the concept of playing cards, let alone the game of Poker.

A Question About Male Dogs Lifting Their Leg To Pee

My dog just turned a year old and he’s STILL not lifting his leg to pee. Yep, he squats like girl!… Now what’s with that???

Have You Checked Your Dog’s Butt For Jesus Yet?

You’ve heard about the Mother Mary appearing in odd and unique places all across the world, right? And the face of Jesus appears now and again in strange places, too. But who knew in this day & age that Jesus would actually appear on the behinds of dogs across the country???

4-Wheeling Dog Likes ATVs

Sadie has been doing this for years… riding on the back of an ATV 4-wheeler while plowing snow.

How Old Is My Dog?… Use This Dog Age-Human Age Equivalent Chart

dog age facts found on computer

You’ve heard for years that to figure a dog’s age in ‘dog years’ you should just add 7 to each year that your dog has been alive. That should give you the human equivalent of your dog’s age. Wrong!

Safety Alert!… Dog Opens Window All By Herself

Watch this dog escape — by herself — from a basement when all the doors and windows are closed and the owners are away at work.

A Singing Dog

Here’s a Siberian Husky dog that can sing…

Planet Dog: A Doglopedia – How To Match Your Personality Type With Your Dog’s Type

Does your dog match your personality? Or complement it? It’s said that Type A people usually do better with Type B dogs. Here’s how to tell which type your dog is…

This Dog Can Count And Do Math!

Maggie was featured on Animal Planet for her counting skills.

Hiking Dog Gets A Free Ride

Whether he spends most of the trip enjoying the great outdoors from the luxury of a baby-backpack…

Dog Versions of Popular Human Things

Check out these popular human gadgets & accessories that they’ve scaled down and made chewable… just for dogs! Here are some adorable dog toys that closely resemble human things.

Do You Know Where Your Dog’s Sweet Spot Is?

Do you know how to scratch your dog’s itches? We’ve noticed that each of our dogs has a ‘sweet spot’… that one place that makes their day anytime it gets scratched. Here’s more about our dogs’ sweet spots…

Talking Dogs Say I Love Mama

Can your dog talk? One thing’s for sure… These dogs can speak enough of the English language to say one thing very clearly: ‘I love Mama’.

These Dogs Can Really Speak!

These dogs speak a variety of ‘real’ words…

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About Me

LynnetteI like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

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