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How to Clicker Train Your Dog to Sit, Come, Stay, or Leave It!

How to Clicker Train Your Dog to Sit, Come, Stay, or Leave It!

With the new beginnings brought on by the start of 2022, it’s the perfect time to start thinking of ways you can include training in your dog’s everyday routine. In 2010, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers introduced January as National Train Your Dog Month to promote the importance of properly training your dog. Why January? Many new pets are adopted and added to families over the holiday season, so encouraging training throughout the month of January can help new pet parents start off on the right paw.

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Holiday Gifts & Indoor Enrichment for Your Four-Legged Friends

Holiday Gifts & Indoor Enrichment for Your Four-Legged Friends

Our beloved pets give us so much love, companionship, loyalty, and more throughout their lives, and this holiday season is the purr–fect time to gift them with something special! If you are still on the lookout for last-minute gift ideas for your pet — or simply looking for something to keep them entertained while spending more time indoors — check out these awesome ideas your pet is sure to love!

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HOMEWARD HOUNDS: Roice-Hurst Humane Society and HomewardBound partner to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness with pets

HOMEWARD HOUNDS: Roice-Hurst Humane Society and HomewardBound partner to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness with pets

Roice-Hurst Humane Society and HomewardBound of the Grand Valley are joining forces to provide temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness with their pets through the innovative Homeward Hounds project. This first-of-its-kind collaboration ensures people don’t have to choose between avoiding extreme temperatures on the streets and keeping their beloved companion animals.

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Take a Hike: How hiking benefits you, your pet, and Roice-Hurst!

Take a Hike: How hiking benefits you, your pet, and Roice-Hurst!

November 17th is National Take a Hike Day, meaning there is no better day to get out and take a hike! Not only is hiking great for your physical health, it also releases mood-boosting endorphins that can ward off anxiety and depression. Stepping into nature and disconnecting from the distractions of our daily life allows us to recharge, refocus, and reconnect with both ourselves and nature.

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7 Ways to Celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

7 Ways to Celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

Each year, the first full week of November is dedicated to celebrating and showing gratitude towards the lifesaving work provided by animal shelters and rescues nationwide. As a vital part of the communities they serve, animal shelters and rescues devote themselves tirelessly to bettering the lives of not only homeless animals, but also owned pets in need throughout the community. Without rescue organizations, many services like adoption, sheltering and reuniting lost pets, cruelty investigations, spay and neuter programs, pet care assistance, and more would be nonexistent. Everything animal shelters strive to accomplish and provide to their communities can’t exist without these organizations, but they also couldn’t exist without one additional — and important — key factor: you!

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DIY Halloween Treats for Your Pets

DIY Halloween Treats for Your Pets

Happy Howl-O-Ween! Halloween brings along loads of candy and delicious treats, most of which can be dangerous to pets. While it may be tempting to treat your pet with just a bite of some of your favorite treats, it’s best to avoid feeding pets candies and treats that aren’t intended for pets. Sugar can wreak havoc on your pet’s health, and sugar substitutes like xylitol are highly toxic. Even so, many pet owners like to treat their pets with something special during all the Halloween fun. Whether or not you decide to dress your dog or cat in those oh-so-cute costumes, here are two DIY treat recipes to help your pet avoid harmful foods and make the most of this Halloween! After all, it’s the perfect time for your pet to show off his or her tricks for some yummy treats!

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Pet Obesity Prevention: Keeping the pounds off your hounds!

Pet Obesity Prevention: Keeping the pounds off your hounds!

When you love your pets as much as they love their favorite foods and treats, it can be difficult knowing when to say no when they are begging for just one more treat. If you love them, you’ll give them all the treats and yummy foods they could ever desire, right? While that seems like a really great deal to your furry food-lover, it can very quickly turn into too much of a good thing.

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