Laurie Hertzel is the Star Tribune’s senior editor for books. She is not a dog expert, just a dog lover, chronicling the first year with her rescue puppy.
The adorable puppy we adopted 5 years ago grew into a big, reactive dog. There were days when I despaired and days when I wept, but I never gave up on him.
October 21, 2022
Between COVID lockdown and Angus' territorial behavior, I was afraid I would never be able to travel again. Then help arrived.
July 15, 2022
On vacation near Lake Superior, anxious Angus learned to relax. And then he saw a bear.
December 17, 2021
After a year on one anti-anxiety medication, we switched Angus to generic Prozac. It helps — some. But does it help enough?
October 1, 2021
A dog's nose is 100 million times more sensitive than yours. Sniffing games and nose work give those mighty snouts a great workout.
August 27, 2021
With pandemic lockdown ending, Angus has to relearn that it's OK to have visitors again. It's a long, slow road.
June 11, 2021
When an old friend came to visit with his new dog, we worried how Angus would respond.
February 19, 2021
A stretch of days with highs below zero meant Angus' daily walks were truncated. He embraced the torpor.
January 29, 2021
Long walks in the cold with Angus are filled with peace — and hooting.
December 31, 2020
Readers had scores of suggestions for getting Angus' daily pills inside him. Angus scoffed at them all.
December 18, 2020
Just before he turned 3, Angus reverted to old puppy behaviors — some endearing, some downright dangerous.
December 8, 2020
Medication is not the answer to every difficulty with an anxious dog, but the right drug can help a lot.
December 8, 2020
After three years of training and tears, Angus' anxiety is starting to ease, thanks to something I vowed I would never do.
August 16, 2020
When a bunny takes up residence in the garden on the side of our house, Angus is riveted.
July 17, 2020
Even something as benign as a misplaced broom can strike terror into the heart of our overly sensitive dog.
June 19, 2020
Even as pandemic distancing restrictions are slowly lifted, Angus stays calm by staying away.
May 1, 2020
Daily walks with Angus are a balm during this difficult, locked-in spring.
April 17, 2020
Too much togetherness can spark jealousy between Angus and his big sister, Rosie.
March 27, 2020
Working from home in this time of pandemic is scary and strange, but Angus and Rosie get us outside and keep us grounded.
March 14, 2020
We bought Angus a muzzle to help keep vet visits peaceful. But teaching him to wear it was no easy task.
February 14, 2020
Bring on the snow and the cold, says Angus, who would prefer to put summer off forever.
January 18, 2020
In his second year with us, our rescue dog stole his first bagel, killed his first squirrel and wormed his way deeper into our hearts.
October 4, 2019
One dog bite years ago taught me to be super-careful with skittish dogs.
September 14, 2019
All it took was repeated visits, lots of treats and a T-shirt.
August 30, 2019
It took me a long time to accept that Angus is a "reactive dog." But once I did, I began to learn how to care for him better.
August 2, 2019
Angus is back in school, this time learning to peacefully coexist with strange dogs.
July 12, 2019
Over the past year, Angus and I have slowly gotten to a good place on the daily walks. But oh, it took a long time.
June 28, 2019
After Angus is calm and attentive with the new dog sitter, I'm starting to think some of the problems lie with me.
June 8, 2019
Sure, Angus misbehaves. But it's time to recognize his virtues, too.
May 24, 2019
Twenty years of busy dogs and maturing trees have rendered our backyard grassless. Angus doesn't care — bare ground is easy to dig. And so he digs.