The Humane Society of Denver says a barking dog can cause neighborhood disputes and violations of animal control ordinances. If your dog's barking has created neighborhood tension, then it's a good idea to discuss the problem with your neighbors and tell them you are taking steps to modify it.

Determine when and for how long your dog barks and what's causing the barking. Is the dog left alone for long periods of time? Is the dog's environment barren, without playmates or toys? Is it a young dog with few outlets for his or her energy? Is it a herding or sporting dog who needs a "job" to be happy?

Recommendations:

Walk your dog daily.

Teach the dog to fetch a ball or Frisbee.

Teach commands for five to 10 minutes a day.

Take an obedience class with your dog.

Provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy when you're not there. Rotating the toys makes them more interesting.

When you are away, don't take away toys as punishment for barking. The dog won't know why the toy is gone. Instead, he or she will be bored and restless, and probably bark more.

When you have to leave for extended periods, take your dog to a "doggie day care" or have someone lined up to take Fido for a walk outside.

Teach your dog a "quiet" command. When he or she barks at someone, allow two or three barks, then say "Quiet." Interrupt the barking by shaking a can filled with pennies; this will startle your dog into being quiet, and then you can present a reward.

Canadian housing starts rose 13 per cent to 243,959 units in February at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Starts were down 2 per cent from February of 2022. Single-detached housing starts rose 2 per cent to 64,281 units, while multi-family and others rose 17 per cent to 179,677 (SAAR). 

In British Columbia, starts fell by 25 per cent in February to 37,389 units SAAR in all areas of the province. In areas in the province with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached starts fell 9 per cent m/m to 5,308 units while multi-family starts fell 30 per cent to 28,367 units. Starts in the province were 8 per cent above the levels from February 2022. Starts were up by 1.1k in Kelowna and 1k in Abbotsford, while falling 2k in Victoria and 14k in Vancouver from last month. The 6-month moving average trend fell 3.8 per cent to 48.8k in BC in November. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-housing-starts-february-2023

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

The death of a loved one sets off profound grief that can affect every part of someone's life. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, grieving people often feel overwhelmed and unable to tolerate their feelings. Here are seven things that bereaved people should know:

1. It will get better. Some studies say there is a 2-year grief cycle before life really begins to resemble something normal.

2. You can handle the grief. Move through the pain by making space for it. Take breaks, go for a walk, stretch or sit quietly.

3. Nap, sleep more and drink water. Grief is exhausting, so be kind to yourself. Try to avoid alcohol, since it might worsen the grief.

4. When grief hits, think about it as a loop. Your calm might suddenly give way to sadness and crying, but that's not the end. The calm place will return and you will come back to serenity.

5. It's not just sadness. Grief can be a collection of emotions—anger, regret, relief, fear, grief, sadness, loss, and guilt. All these feelings are normal.

6. Look for the meaning. Some people have said grief itself seems useless—just more pointless suffering. But you might also find room for a sense of peace, or it might realign your priorities. Be open to meaning.

7. Proceed gently. Take a bath, avoid emotional TV shows or movies, but enjoy old favorites. Try not to make huge, impulsive changes in your life or lifestyle. Maybe quitting the job you love shouldn't happen right now.

Owning a pet for a long time keeps you more astute and happy, a study has found. People who own pets seem to have a sharper mind compared to non-pet owners, according to the American Academy of Neurology.

The study, using data from more than 1,300 adults who participated in the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study, found that long-term pet ownership was the most beneficial, according to CNN. The key to reaping the highest benefit: ownership of five years or more.

Animal companions don't have to be the fluffy variety. Although dogs and cats were the more prevalent pets in the study, people who owned birds, fish and reptiles saw the same benefits.

The study's authors say that they could only confirm an association, and more research is needed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between pet ownership and better cognitive health. But the relationship between pet ownership and stress reduction has been well-established in numerous studies, and researchers believe the physiological benefits of pet ownership, such as reduced blood pressure and lower cortisol levels, could positively impact cognitive health.

The study joins a growing body of evidence that supports what animal lovers have known all along: Pets just make life better!

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, click here.

Vancouver, BC – March, 2023. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 4,775 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) systems in February 2023, a decrease of 46.5 per cent from February 2022. The average MLS^® residential price in BC in 2023 was 941,575, down 14.7 per cent compared to the average price of over $1.1 million in February 2022, recorded at the market's peak. The total sales dollar volume was $4.5 billion, representing a 54.4 per cent decrease from the same time in the previous year. 

“While activity across provincial housing markets remains well below normal,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “There are encouraging signs that the market is balancing out. Home sales rose month-over-month in most markets, and prices appear to be firming up in the face of low supply.”

Worth mentioning, the provincial MLS^® average price was up 8.5 per cent month-over-month to its highest level since July 2022, partially due to a more stable market but also because of the composition of sales reverting to a more normal mix following low sales of single detached homes through the Lower Mainland in January.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

February listing data show slow sales resulting in below-average sales activity in the Metro Vancouver area.

With sales remaining well-below historical norms, the number of available homes for sale in the region have continued inching upwards.

Here's a summary of the February 2023 housing market statistics.

The humble-tinned sardine has never gotten a fair shake. Tender and a little salty, these tiny members of the herring family typically lack any unpleasant fishy odor or taste, and they are packed with heart- healthy omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-12, calcium and other beneficial minerals. The American Heart Association recommends eating oily fish twice a week; and tinned fish, such as sardines, are an easy, inexpensive and shelf-stable choice. Combined with heart-healthy avocado and a fried or poached egg, sardine avocado toast is filling and delicious.

Ingredients:

4 slices sturdy bread

1 large ripe avocado

4 large eggs

1 tin sardines (smoked sardines in olive oil is recommended)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch garlic powder

Balsamic vinegar

Peel and mash the avocado. Add lemon juice and garlic powder, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside, then remove sardine fillets from the oil— about two fillets per slice, depending on the size of the fillets. With a fork, break the fillets into chunks and discard any stray pin bones. Set aside and toast the bread. While your bread toasts, drizzle oil into a skillet and place over medium- high heat until the oil shimmers. Fry eggs to desired doneness (or poach in them boiling water if you prefer a healthier version.)

To serve, spread each slice of toasted bread with mashed avocado and top it with your desired quantity of sardines. Lay the egg on top and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Add more salt and pepper, if desired, and serve.

Canadian employment rose slightly to 20.05 million in February, up by 22,000 (0.1 per cent). The Canadian unemployment rate held steady at 5 per cent, hovering just above all-time lows. Employment gains were concentrated in health care and social assistance (+15,000), public administration (+10,000), and utilities (+7,500), while employment fell in business, building and other support services (-11,000). Employment among those aged 55 to 64 rose by 25,000 (+0.7 per cent) as older workers returned to the labour force. Average hourly wages were up 5.4 per cent from February of last year, while total hours worked were up 1.4 per cent year-over-year.

Employment in BC rose by 6,700 (0.2 per cent) to 2.777 million in February, while Metro Vancouver's employment rose by 0.6 per cent month over month. Both BC and Metro Vancouver's unemployment rates jumped to 5.1 per cent, however. This was driven by an increase in workers entering the labour force, particularly middle-aged females, rather than a decrease in employment. BC's unemployment rate now matches Ontario, while Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec have a lower rate. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-employment-february-2023-march-10-2023

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

As signalled in its previous interest rate announcement, The Bank of Canada maintained its overnight rate at 4.5 per cent this morning. In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that restrictive monetary policy is weighing on demand and it expects weak economic growth for the next couple of quarters. That weak growth should moderate wage growth in a currently tight labour market and ease competitive pressures on prices, ultimately leading to inflation reaching 3 per cent by the middle of 2023.  As for the possibility of future rate increases, the Bank stated that it will continue to assess economic developments and the impact of past interest rate increases and is prepared to increase its policy rate further if needed.

Economic data in Canada has been mixed of late.  Labour markets remain very strong while economic growth appears to have somewhat stalled. Inflation, while still high on a year-over-year basis, has come down significantly on a monthly basis with total CPI trending at 2.5 per cent annualized over the past three months and core measures of inflation trending at between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent. Uncertainty as to the direction of the economy has led to significant volatility in bond yields as financial markets grasp for clues on future monetary policy decisions. As a result, 5-year bond yields in Canada (an important benchmark for fixed mortgage rates) have soared back to their previous highs. Consequently, after falling to start the year, fixed mortgage rates have ticked slightly higher. However, we still anticipate that mortgage rates will end the year lower once the full impact of the past year of rate increases is felt on economic growth and inflation.

Link:  https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/bank-of-canada-interest-rate-announcement-9k8aczm5zv

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Regular exercise is a healthy choice for most people—and a great way to shake off winter gloom. But when common winter illnesses hit, sometimes the healthiest choice is to stay home and rest. Here are some basic tips to help exercisers know when to grab their shoes and when to head back to bed.

DO the neck check. If all of your symptoms are above your neck, such as a stuffy nose or mild headache, then it's probably fine to exercise, according to Thomas Weidner, professor of athletic training at Ball State University, in an interview with the New York Times. Multiple studies have shown that exercise does not worsen cold symptoms or lengthen the cold.

DON'T hit the gym if you have any symptoms below the neck, including hacking coughs, nausea, upset stomach, fatigue or body aches. Stay home instead and rest.

DO take it easy. According to health.com, strongly consider minimizing the intensity if you're used to high-impact workouts. A 20-minute walk is a good choice if you're under the weather, and it could alleviate your cold symptoms.

DON'T power through a fever or worsening symptoms. You should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before you exercise again. If you feel worse during your workouts, then recognize that as a sign from your body that you need to rest.

What can you find in the middle of April and March, but not at the beginning or end of either? –The letter R!

What is a flower's favorite kind of pickle? – A daffo-dill.

What did the gardener do after she retired? – Not mulch.

Does February march? – No, but April may!