October 2025

Open Your Mouth and Say Woof!

This month’s issue is supported in part by SF Animal Medical Center and dog lovers like you.

Welcome to Bay Woof, October 2025

Open Your Mouth and Say Woof!

Welcome to Bay Woof’s annual Canine Health and Wellness issue, bringing you care tips from veterinarians and other dog pros - all without the need to file a claim on Fido’s insurance policy.

Learn how recognizing behavioral cues can help diagnose and treat health problems early from Yes! Dog’s Rebekah Piedad. Check out trainer Sara Scott’s simple daily wellness checklist or read up on Dr. Ian Dunbar’s thoughtful prescriptions for canine health and longevity. Don’t miss Ask Dr. Dog by Dr. Lisa Richardson of Sage Compassion for Animals with tips for managing breathing difficulties in flat-faced dogs (Frenchie folks, we’re looking at you). And for anyone who likes to exercise their pups in Hoffman Bay, Mary Barnsdale has the lowdown on the latest in the Point Isabel development plans - but hurry; public comment period ends October 20.  

Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find our stalwart columnists: Nose for News, The Monthly Woof, Good Dog!, Commission Tails, and Shelter Zone. And as always, Mr. Smarty Pants and Red and Howling are there to brighten your mood.

Here’s wishing you a lifetime of health and wellness with your favorite pooch - happy reading!

M Rocket
Publisher, Bay Woof

cover photo: © 2025 Bay woof; AdobeStock

This Month’s Bones to Chew

October’s Feature Stories

Featured Articles
Ouch! How Hidden Pain Can Drive Your Dog’s Behavior
Rebekah Piedad
Ouch! How Hidden Pain Can Drive Your Dog’s Behavior
Rebekah Piedad

Dogs can’t tell us how they’re feeling. And for that reason, many people aren’t aware how often pain and physical discomfort can influence their dog’s behavior. 

Rebekah Piedad
It’s a Dog’s Life: Three Keys to Health and Longevity
Dr. Ian Dunbar
It’s a Dog’s Life: Three Keys to Health and Longevity
Dr. Ian Dunbar

When we think about canine health and wellness, three key issues immediately come to mind: (1) a dog’s physical health, (2) a dog’s longevity, and (3) a dog’s mental health.

Dr. Ian Dunbar
Save Water Access for Dogs at North Point Isabel! Submit Comments by October 20
Mary Barnsdale
Save Water Access for Dogs at North Point Isabel! Submit Comments by October 20
Mary Barnsdale

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) recently published plans for a major maintenance project on North Point Isabel.

Mary Barnsdale
Your Dog’s Daily Wellness Checklist: The Three Pillars Approach
Sara Scott
Your Dog’s Daily Wellness Checklist: The Three Pillars Approach
Sara Scott

“What are some important things that dogs need every day?” I opened my volunteer training session at Berkeley Animal Control with this simple question, and hands shot up around the room.

Sara Scott
Nose for News
Mapping Your Dog's Health, Oakley Knows the Rules, Meet the Doodle Makeovers, and More!
S. Emerson Moffat
Mapping Your Dog's Health, Oakley Knows the Rules, Meet the Doodle Makeovers, and More!
S. Emerson Moffat

Finally, a New York shelter has come up with a winning strategy to find homes for its harder-to-adopt larger dogs. Enter the doodle makeover!

S. Emerson Moffat

Columns from the October Pack

Shelter Zone
Saving Fiona: A Tale of Healing, Hope, and Home
Judy Wasman
Saving Fiona: A Tale of Healing, Hope, and Home
Judy Wasman

We’ll never know the story of her life before, but one thing was clear: she was a lost and broken soul in desperate need of a second chance.

Judy Wasman
Good Dog!
Where Training Meets Trail Etiquette: The Secret to Responsible Hiking With Your Dog
Ren Volpe
Where Training Meets Trail Etiquette: The Secret to Responsible Hiking With Your Dog
Ren Volpe

Whether you signed up for it or not, on the trail you represent all dog guardians. Dogs stay welcome on public trails only if they’re under control.

Ren Volpe
Ask Dr. Dog
Breathing Problems in Frenchies and Other Flat-Faced Pups: What to Know, How to Help
Dr. Lissa Richardson
Breathing Problems in Frenchies and Other Flat-Faced Pups: What to Know, How to Help
Dr. Lissa Richardson

French Bulldogs are beloved for their playful personalities and signature squishy faces. But those same short snouts can cause serious breathing difficulties. 

Dr. Lissa Richardson
The Monthly Woof
Reality vs. Perfection: When Managing Behavior Makes More Sense
Trish King
Reality vs. Perfection: When Managing Behavior Makes More Sense
Trish King

“It’s not the dog, it’s the owner.” Of course, that’s not always true, but it certainly is true much of the time.

Trish King
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
October 2025
R.U. Steinberg
October 2025
R.U. Steinberg

According to Forbes Advisor, 42% of American dog owners got their furry friends from a pet store and 38% got them from a shelter or animal rescue.

R.U. Steinberg
Commission Tails
Time for a Change: Why SF Should Ban Glue Traps
Mikaila Garfinkel
Time for a Change: Why SF Should Ban Glue Traps
Mikaila Garfinkel

In September, commissioners voted unanimously to support  recommendations to the mayor, Board of Supervisors, and city administrator to ban the sale and use of glue traps in San Francisco.

Mikaila Garfinkel

SF Bay Area Dog Park Map

adventures await