Maybe you've had an experience explaining some of the hazards of Idaho living to out-of-state friends and relatives—or maybe you just told someone who doesn't live here that there are goat heads alongside the road everywhere this time of year. To their shocked stares and confused questions, you've probably answered, "Oh, not actual heads of actual goats… stickers or thorns. You know, goat heads."

You may or may not have heard that poinsettias are highly toxic, even deadly to pets and children. If this is news to you, you maybe worried about bringing these popular plants into your home during the holidays since it's "common knowledge" that they could be fatal when ingested.

Before bringing home a new pet, you probably looked around your house before you brought your furry friend home and pet-proofed. Maybe you read about the best ways to keep puppies and kitties out of your human food, what to keep out of reach, and how to keep Fido or fluffy from chewing up your beautiful leather shoes. By all accounts, your dog and cat should be safe, happy, and comfortable in your home. But did you consider the toxicity level of your houseplants in the process?

Are you looking for new plants to put in your yard and flower beds, but you're not sure what to choose as a dog owner? It's crucial that you do some necessary research before selecting new flowers, shrubs, and trees for your lawn. Without proper information, you could plant something that's dangerous to your dog's health.

It's warming up, and everywhere we look green things are sprouting and growing. It's time to get out the shovel and the garden gloves and spend some time in your yard. It's a fun time of year to be making sure your lawn is the greenest on the block.

Spring is here, and so are the grasses and flowers and plants springing to life. Before we know it, we'll be in the heat of summer, and your dog will get to do what he or she loves best: running around in the fields or the foothills. If you're like most dog owners in our area, you're familiar with the after-playtime cleanup, which invariably involves picking some nasty clingers out of your dog's fur. The most common clinger in our area is cheatgrass or Bromus tectorum.

Spring is here, and with it comes a whole plethora of gorgeous new blooms and foliage. There's nothing quite as refreshing as taking your pet for a stroll and enjoying the fresh scents of flowers and plants. Before you head out with your trimmers or visit the local rose garden, however, you need to know which kinds of plants can be dangerous to your pet, especially if they have an allergy to a common spring bloom.