Joanna (Howdini’s co-founder) and I love, love, love our dogs. Her black lab mix, Lola, often graces our offices with her presence. Until we sound-proofed our studio, she could bring a taping to a temporary halt by lapping water so loudly in her bowl that you could hear it in the next room.

Did I mention that she is not a small, purse-sized dog?

My dog, Chester, does not come to the office. It’s hard to get a taxi with him, and taking him on the subway is not allowed. I’ve thought about putting one of those orange “service dog” vests on him, but anybody who watched him for ten seconds could tell that the only service he might provide is ridding the subway platform of candy wrappers and abandoned pizza crusts.

Like most dogs, he’d eat anything, even though he has only a few teeth left. Chester is a cavalier King Charles spaniel, a beautiful, sweet and loving breed, but they often have problems with their teeth. His teeth began to decay early, creating horrific dog breath and, more important, overall health concerns, especially to his heart. Most of his teeth have had to be pulled.

I’m told there wasn’t much I could have done to prevent his problem, but I do wish I’d known how to brush his teeth better. I wish, in other words, that there’d been a nice, simple Howdini to show me how to do it, like the one we’ve just added, featuring dog expert Mike D’Abruzzo.

If you’ve got a dog, and you want to maintain his teeth, don’t miss HOW TO BRUSH A DOG’S TEETH.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to teach them to floss.