It’s no secret that dogs are sociable creatures who are happiest being with others and having something to do. Not to get overly philosophical, but everyone needs a purpose.

Plus, dogs are like toddlers. If you don’t give them a constructive focus, they’ll find ways to entertain themselves, such as pulling all of the stuffing out of each cushion on your new couch, or enjoying four or five shoes -- each from a different pair. Not that we’ve had any experience with such things…

Numerous studies show there are physical, emotional, and mental benefits of dog ownership for people of all ages. From encouraging daily exercise to quiet companionship, it’s no surprise to dog lovers that pooches bring loads of benefits with their wagging tails.

Does your dog love the water? Does he or she have a special toy they will do anything to retrieve? Do they have a strong play drive? If so, then the canine sport of dock diving or dock jumping may be for you.

Any breed, including mixes, and any size of dog can compete as long as they are six months old, healthy, and the love water! Dogs compete for distance, leaping for height and swimming for speed.

If you’re like most pet parents, you have struggled to give your dog a pill at some point. With a little advice and patience, you will be a pro in no time.

Some medications are flavored, which means that you can just throw it down in the food bowl and most dogs will gobble it up - no problem. However, there are a lot of medications that aren’t flavored. Some even have a bitter taste and need to be disguised with something yummy to help your dog swallow it.

Now that the long winter is finally over, the dog parks are coming alive with the sounds of frolicking pups. For many dogs, these off-leash parks are an important part of sociability, not to mention exercise.

Are you trying to convince your place of work to go pet-friendly? A 2015 Society for Human Resource Management survey found 8 percent of American workplaces allow employees to bring their furry loved ones to work, up from 5 percent in 2013. (Source)

It may seem like having your pet around is just going to be fun and games, but with the right considerations, more and more companies may want to consider the benefits.

Did you know that some dogs are more prone to ear infections than others? It's true. Floppy-eared dogs like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and other long-eared dogs tend to have more ear infections than dogs with upright ears. So do dogs who swim a lot.

You might be surprised to discover how common dog worms are in the environment. In fact, some sources say most dogs - even healthy dogs -- host a low level of worms nearly all the time. After all, your dog goes outside, probably eats questionable substances on occasion, and may be known to roll in smelly areas. Since dog worms are often in the dirt (or in whatever else is in the dirt!), or are transmitted by fleas or mosquitos, you can see how it wouldn’t be a surprise that your dog could have worms.