The Worst Things You Can Say to Someone Who Just Lost a Pet

Grieving the loss of a pet is different for every single person, but it's always difficult. The support of friends and family who sympathize and care can make the grieving process easier, but a thoughtless word from someone who doesn't understand why a pet owner is just so sad can be extra hurtful.

Not sure what to say to a friend who is grieving the loss of a pet? Try this: Show up with a favorite snack, say you're sorry for the loss, share a happy memory about the beloved pet and offer to listen. In the end, you don't really need to say much of anything — but there are a few things you never want to say to someone who's just lost a pet.


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Dog stands guard for week in Washington state protecting second dog trapped in cistern

In this Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, photo provided by Amy Carey, of Vashon Island Pet Protectors, a setter mix named Tillie, left, watches over Phoebe, a basset hound who was trapped after falling into the cistern nearly a week earlier before being rescued by searchers on Vashon Island, Wash. A Washington state animal shelter says Tillie stood guard for a nearly a week to watch over Phoebe, only leaving her side to alert people of her trapped friend. The two were found unharmed Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, after they were reported missing by their owners last week. (Amy Carey/Vashon Island Pet Protectors via AP)

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Brushing

No, not bats, but dogs.  (But if you want to brush a bat maybe this guide will help):

Regular brushing keeps your dog's coat healthy, clean and good looking.  Plus, it is a good bonding mechanism.  Brushing her lets her know you are taking care of her.  Tips:

1. Brush all: make sure to brush all over, not just her back.  Get behind the ears, the belly, legs, etc.

2. Time: I incorporate McKenzie's brushings into her going-out-to-potty time.  After removing booties, the brush is nearby and she knows the drill (she even gets excited).  Making it part of her routine helps her and me, and if I am rushing (late for work), then I'll do her back in the morning, and her belly when I get from work.  So, split the work.

3. Care: be gentle, but pay attention to her reactions: e.g., the hair behind her ears turns -- over time -- into thick hairballs that I have to eventually cut with scissors (so afraid to nick her skin), that is, unless I brush there regularly.  So I brush those spots gently, but have learned to watch her face to see if it is too much.  Other parts of the body also require careful brushing.

4.  Legs: don't forget the legs.  McKenzie has very fine, but long hair going all the way down past her 'heel' and for a long time I simply over-looked it.

5. Belly Time: I get her to lay on her back for a good belly brushing.  This, too, is a sensitive area, so go easy.

6. Matted Hair: according to how bad the mats are, you might have to use scissors.  McKenzie only needs a regular hit on the matting to eventually work it out over days, but this only happens if I get slack on regular brushing (which I have not in a long time).

Morning yard patrol complete Sir.  Please take off muh booties and brush me Sir.  Ty Sir!

"Mom licked me! Now I lick you!" Why Does My Dog... Always Lick Me?

It’s not much of a conundrum, really. The bottom line is that most of the time, dogs will lick their people as a sign of affection. “You are the sun and the moon,” their silky tongue would have you know. “And guess what? You taste good, too!”

But much as barking can be, licking is also a multi-faceted tool that seems to play many roles in canine behavior and, consequently, tends towards many different interpretations.

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How Smart Is Your Dog? Now You Can Compare

All that energy people put into posting YouTube videos of their clever — or dumb — dogs can be harnessed for the good of scientific research.  A team at Duke University found that dog owners could competently test their pets at home for studies on canine intelligence.

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I Forgot How To Dog #2

"Does this look natural?"

Why is that dog looking at me?

More than one experiment has made some things pretty clear.  Dogs look at humans much more than wolves do.  Wolves tend to put their nose to the Tupperware and keep at it.  This evidence has led to the unsurprising conclusion that dogs are more socially connected to humans and wolves more self-reliant.

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