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3 Great Games to Play With Your Dog
3 Great Games to Play With Your Dog Talk to most dog owners and they’ll tell you the importance of taking Fido out for his daily walk. Yet when it comes to playtime, some owners might not rank this activity so highly. However, the first things we learn as humans are learnt through playing. That red bouncy ball that escaped you so many times at the beach was the key to developing the coordination that lets you eat food, tie your shoelaces, and even fly a jet aircraft. It’s the same for our dogs. Playing provides the foundations that let dogs perform daily activities, it allows them to use their natural behaviours, boosts fitness and improves their cognitive skills. As we humans grow up, we play less and less, but when we remember the adage about ‘all work and no play’ and go outside with a ball, we feel revived and enthusiastic. Your dog is only too happy to help you feel like this all the time! So Why Do Dogs Play? Biologist John Bradshaw says: “Play must promote survival; otherwise, evolution would select against it. A young animal that’s playing out in the open is much more obvious to a predator than one sleeping in its den. However, the benefits of play do not usually become apparent until months later, when they emerge in the form of better social integration or more sophisticated hunting techniques…the simplest explanation is that play is self-rewarding: in other words, it is fun!” When I’m working with owners that are experiencing problems with their dog, as part of their assessment, I always look at what enrichment the dog gets during the day. That’s because, in some cases, a dog that’s reactive to another may get a rush of dopamine pumping through his body. This can be highly addictive, especially if Fido isn’t experiencing any ‘highs’ for the rest of his day. So the behaviour, which may have been originally borne out of fear or frustration, can end up being rewarding for that dog and therefore repeated due to a lack of stimulation. Playing with your dog not only provides happy hormones for your pooch but it also helps focus his natural behaviours in a positive way. Playing strengthens the dog-owner bond, teaches Fido you’re fun to be with, and it helps create and maintain a healthy body and mind. What could be better than that? There are some great ways you can bust your dog’s neurons through play, so here are three game ideas to play with your pooch: 1. Choose the Right Cup Let the dog see you hide a treat under an upturned plastic cup or clean yoghurt pot. When he moves towards it, praise your dog and say “FIND IT.” When your dog pushes the cup over, praise your dog to reinforce this action – his reward is being able to munch up the treat he’s just found! When your dog starts to do this readily, put him outside the room and hide the treat. This makes it a blind search for your dog. Bring your dog back in, place your palm near to his nose so he can smell the scent from the treat, then say “FIND IT” gesturing towards the room. 2. Tidy Up Toys Start off by placing your dog’s toy basket in the middle of the room, kneel down next to it and scatter the toys. Give your dog his retrieve cue (for example “FETCH”), praise him when he picks up the toy and then hold the basket under your dog’s jaw, say “BE TIDY.” Praise and reward your dog when he drops the toy into the basket. Then repeat… 3. Spin Left and Twist Right With a treat in your hand show it to your dog, place it close to his nose then move it in a wide circle clockwise and say “SPIN.” As the dog follows the treat, praise and reward him with the treat. To teach your dog the twist, move your hand containing the treat in a wide circle anti-clockwise and say “TWIST.” Praise and reward your dog when he gets it right. Once your dog is getting the idea, introduce a hand signal or movement to indicate left spins and right twists. Top Tip: Avoid games that encourage mouthing, biting or jumping at you. Very often rough and tumble games can lead to a dog getting over-excited or, for some, a little fearful. Instead redirect your dog’s attention onto rubberized chew toys if he starts getting over-aroused, or introduce food puzzle games as this gets your dog’s brain working, helping to calm him down. AUTHOR BIO Hanne Grice Hanne Grice is a dog trainer & behaviour specialist; published author and founder of the pet care and behaviour company Walk the Dog™ (WTD). Over the last nine years, Hanne has helped over a thousand human and furry clients, working with famous faces from the world of sport, film and entertainment. She has won a number of awards both nationally and locally for her work in the UK, and represented female entrepreneurs presenting in front of government bodies and Ministers. Hanne is the author of ‘Playing With Your Dog‘ and contributes to a number of publications sharing advice on canine behaviour. Hanne has given expert advice on the BBC Breakfast sofa, BBC Radio 5 Live, Talk Sport, Radio Dacorum and has regularly appeared on BBC Three Counties. She also runs a popular Puppy & Dog School in Hertfordshire, England, and holds educational workshops for both pet owners and pet professionals. Hanne is a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, The Pet Professional Guild, The Animal Behaviour Society, The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, The Society for the Promoting of Applied Research in Canine Science, The Animal Behavior Management Alliance and the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers.
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Meeting Up at the Dog Park
Meeting Up at the Dog Park Whether you’ve moved to a new area, or are traveling with your dog on vacation and visiting a new town, you probably are asking yourself, where is the local dog park? Maybe you like to hike or camp with your dog, but are not sure of which are pet safe and dog-friendly trails and sites. Or, maybe you would just like to meet other doggy parents and give yourself and your dog a chance to simply socialize. The big question is—how can you find where to do this? Today, dog parks and pet-friendly parks are popping up in cities and towns all over, giving dogs who may not usually have the opportunity to get out and stretch, to have a chance to have some fun, make new doggy friends, and have a safe space to run free and just be, well, a dog! According to the American Kennel Club, there are many benefits to a dog park, including: 1. Allowing Dogs to Safely Exercise Dog parks are fenced in and offer dogs the opportunity to be off-leash and have the safe freedom to run, play, and have fun in an enclosed environment. 2. Dogs Can Safely Socialize Under the watchful eye of their guardians, dogs can play without the threat of danger, such as running away, being taken, or dodging out into a street with traffic. 3. Dog Parents Can Socialize With People of Common Interests Dog parents can share stories, tips, and be supportive of each other while bonding (and sharing some laughs) over their beloved dogs. 4. Promotes Responsible Dog Ownership A dog park gives dogs a great place to run off-leash without violating leash laws or infringing on the space and/or safety of passersby, running up to and frightening neighborhood children, running after joggers, etc. When visiting a dog park, it is important to be careful and considerate and know proper dog park etiquette, so all dogs and their humans can enjoy the playtime. This would include: Take note of the park or group rules, and respect them. Always be sure your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date and that your dog is in good health. Always keep a watch on your dog, and be ready to step in and head off any potential problems. If your dog is aggressive and cannot be controlled, don’t bring him/her to the dog park. Always bring poop bags and clean up after your dog! Bring a water dish/portable water bottle and fresh, cool water. Keep treats and food out of the dog park! The park is for play! Not all dogs like to share and when food is around, it can quickly become a hostile situation. Be friendly! Taking photos of your pet in action is always fun, just be sure to ask the other dogs’ families if it is okay to snap their pet as well. Not sure how to find a dog park, or even a dog-friendly beach, campground, or playground to go to with your dog? Check out the various iOS apps, including the 2019 Webby Honoree, BringFido! BringFido (both app and website) not only lists worldwide dog-friendly parks and beaches by state, but it also gives listings and reviews of many other dog-friendly places to visit, including hotels, restaurants, activities, events, and more! There are also some terrific blogs written by traveling pet bloggers who write about their experiences at dog parks, dog-friendly parks, and dog-friendly places. For tips about traveling with your dog, dog-friendly places to visit, and much more, here are just a few websites and blogs for traveling dog families to check out: BringFido Go Pet-Friendly Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them Year of the Monkey: Travel. Food. Pets. Lifestyle Doggone Destinations Camping With Dogs by Life With Mutts Another way to look for like-minded dog lovers and a dog meet-ups at parks and other destinations in your local area, or an area you are visiting, is by checking out MeetUp.com. Go to their “Pets” category and do a search for “dog meet-ups” or “dog parks” with a desired mile radius of your location to find dog-friendly places near you. Are you a Facebook fan? You can type in key words in the Facebook search bar, such as “dog parks,” “dog meet-ups,” or even breed-specific groups, then click on the “Groups” tab, and voila! There are tons of listings to search through right at your fingertips! As a cautionary reminder, please keep yourself and your pet safe by doing a little research first to be sure the group you located online is legit by checking out the member list to see if you can verify its authenticity from a member you may already know, or talk to a licensed and/or recognized canine group, vet, or a town official. If possible, take a drive to the dog park or meet-up place to visually check it out ahead of time. Once verified, you and your dog can enjoy a happy, healthy, and safe outing together with some new friends—canine and human! And don’t forget to get a 4Knines seat cover to protect your vehicle from those wet, muddy pawprints! Check out my 4Knines affiliate link here for a cover to fit your vehicle and your dog’s needs, and enjoy those happy tails on the trails! Dorothy Wills-Raftery Dorothy Wills-Raftery is an award-winning photojournalist and author of EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy; the FiveSibes™ Tales children’s books: What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness; and Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based On A True Holiday Miracle books (ArcticHouse Publishing), as well as the FiveSibes.com, an online encyclopedia for the Siberian Husky breed and Canine Epilepsy information, as well as her international award-winning FiveSibes blog, based on the lives of her five Siberian Huskies. Her work has also appeared in American Pet Magazine, Ruff Drafts, The Sled Dogger, and Hudson Valley Paw Print Magazine. Dorothy is the writer and host of "The Sibe Vibe” Dog Works Radio show. Dorothy is a 9-time Dog Writers of America Association “Excellence” nominee, winning the prestigious Maxwell Medallion in 2017 and 2016 for her writing, photography, and design. Her book EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy received the 2018 Independent Press Award for “Excellence” in the Reference Book category and 2017 NYC Big Book Award for “Excellence” in the Animal/Pet book category. Dorothy was also named “Best Author” in 2015 & 2016 by Hudson Valley Magazine and all four books named “Best in Print” by American Pet Magazine, An official International Purple Day® for Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012 and a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation-Canine Epilepsy, Dorothy is the creator of the FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness campaign and partnered with The Anita Kaufmann Foundation for #Paws4Purple Project, both inspired by her own epileptic Husky, Gibson. In addition to her Siberian Huskies, Dorothy shares her home with her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. You can follow Dorothy and her FiveSibes on Facebook at FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews, on Google + , Twitter, and Instagram(@FiveSibesMom). :|zpendofcontent|:
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Features of a Good Dog Daycare
Features of a Good Dog Daycare Dog daycares have become popular with dog owners but, like many pet-related services, the quality of care varies. Here are some tips on how to find a good dog daycare: Ask for recommendations from other dog owners, trainers and veterinarians and visit the daycare or daycares you are considering and spend some time there. Whether the daycare is indoors, outdoors or a combination, the daycare should be spacious. The dogs should have lots of room to run and they should be able to get away from one another if they want or need to. Note the odor of the facility. It should smell fresh and be clean and not like dog waste or harsh cleaners. For playtime, dogs should be divided into groups (divided by size, activity levels and playstyles) either by having the groups in separate areas from one another or by having the groups out in separate playtimes. Check what size the groups are. More than 10 or 15 dogs per group is risky. Consider also the staff to dog ratio. Most dog professionals recommend 1 staff member per 15 dogs with adjustments made for more and less active dogs. There should be continual supervision of the dogs. Ask about the daycares’ policy on toys. Some dogs become possessive over things and many daycares avoid having toys out with the dogs for this reason. Look for a daycare where there are rest areas for the dogs and where dogs are given rest periods. There should be clean fresh water always available. If it is an indoor facility, there should be a designated area where the dogs can do their business so that they are comfortable all day and so that they do not lose their housetraining skills. Some daycares incorporate walks into the day for this purpose. If you have an older dog, check to see if there are additional times for a dog who perhaps needs to void more often. Look at the fences surrounding the outdoor area and make sure they are high and solid. I like fences which also have buried wire to avoid dogs digging their way out. Are there double gates and double doors so that dogs are secure when people are coming in and out of the facility? Meet the staff! The staff members should really care about dogs. They should employ reward-based methods to encourage good behavior from the dogs and understand that punishment is known to create aggression. They should easily recognize stress signals in dogs. Staff members should know the difference between play and aggression and when to interrupt dog interactions. Be sure to ask what training the staff have in dog behavior and care. Your dog’s daycare experience is going to be as good as the staff who make it happen. Ask how the staff break up fights and what tools they use. Walk away from any facility that tells you they allow dogs to just “sort it out”. There should always be at least one staff member with current pet first aid present. Staff should also be able to give medications to your dog if required. Ask how the daycare screens the dogs who attend the daycare (the dogs should be screened for suitability). Is there a detailed application form (there should be!)? Are there vaccination requirements (there should be)? Ask about the daycares’ policy is on emergencies. Decide if your is dog a good candidate for a daycare. Dogs who like to play with other dogs, are active and well-socialized are good candidates for daycare. Dogs who are distressed when left at home alone can be good candidates for daycare, but they also may prefer to hang out at a friend’s house or have a caregiver come to the home in the absence of the owner. Once your dog has been to a daycare, observe your dog to see if it looks like he likes it when you go again. Is he excited when he arrives and eager to meet up with the other dogs or is he showing stress signals and reluctant to approach the centre? If it’s the latter, then that daycare isn’t for him. Some businesses offer video access to their customers which can give peace of mind to an owner who wants to see first hand that their dog is having a great time. Decide how long your dog will attend daycare. Some offer hourly and half-day services. Daycares can be great for dogs but choose wisely! Jane Bowers, B.A., CABC, CPDT-KA Jane Bowers has been training dogs for over two decades. She teaches people to train their dogs in group and private training courses and has a keen interest in assisting dogs with behavioral issues. Her company is Dogs of Distinction Canine Training Inc. Jane has a monthly newspaper column on dog related topics and is a former host of a live call in TV show on animals. She is a strong advocate for force free and humane training methods for all animals. Jane has a degree in psychology and is certified as a dog trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and as a behaviour consultant through the International Association of Behavior Consultants and through the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. These organizations require a minimum number of continuing education units be obtained to retain certification. She is also a professional member of "The Pet Professional Guild," an organization committed to force-free training of animals and the "Association of Professional Dog Trainers," a professional organization of individual trainers who are committed to being better trainers through education. Jane is the content creator of the online course "Assessing and Interpreting Dog Behaviour," which is a course for law enforcement personnel who meet unfamiliar dogs in the course of their duties. She is the author of "Perfect Puppy Parenting," a guide to raising a happy, confident, well-behaved dog. Jane spent 17 years working for Customs Border Services and in joint teams with US Homeland Security and the RCMP. She spent a further 8 years working as an Animal Control Officer and Bylaw Enforcement Officer. Jane lives on a small farm with dogs, sheep, donkeys, and chickens. The dogs each came from situations that prevented them from living in their original homes. The dogs range in size and age and with the dog training and behavioral work, whether it's participating in the development of an online training course, working with a client's dog or tracking a lost pet or animal. :|zpendofcontent|:
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7 Tips to Writing The Ultimate Landlord-Wooing Pet Profile
7 Tips to Writing The Ultimate Landlord-Wooing Pet Profile Do you have a new house that you are excited to move into? Are you having difficulties getting a rental because of your pet? Well, it is great to own a pet but it is disturbing to know that you are unable to bring along your pet with you to your new house or apartment. Don’t fret, there is a way out! Have you considered writing a pet resume? Some landlords are simply just concerned and may be reluctant to allow a pet on their properties due to disturbances, noise, damages and problem in interaction with others. However, with a good pet profile, you can make the landlord comfortable and confident about having your pet on their property. Here are some tips to help you write a winning pet profile to persuade your landlord: 1. Let Your Landlord Know Your Pet You can turn a pet-unfriendly or reluctant landlord into a pet-friendly and accepting one by creating that connection between your pet and the landlord. It’s easy! Simply let your landlord get to know your pet through the information you give such as your pet’s name, age and breed. 2. Show a Good Picture Portray the lively and adorable look of your pet by including a picture in the resume. At first glance, your landlord could be attracted to your pet. Ensure you take a good picture of your pet, preferably in your home where it is easy to see what your pet looks like and how it interacts with the environment. The picture should show your pet as a happy and peaceful one. 3. Add a Video To make your landlord smile at the thought of your pet, an effective way to do that is through videos. “You can attach a video that shows your pet in various situations- while playing and Interacting with other people and animals. This will make your landlord comfortable with your pet on their property,” - explains Gladys Jacobs, a business writer at Academized and Study demic. 4. Give Additional Information Your pet resume is a chance to show your landlord that your pet is well-behaved. You can add an in-depth information about your pet, as much as you’d like such as, your pet’s gender, size, weight, height, personality, vet’s contact information and referee for your pet. This will make your landlord have a better understanding and know more about your pet. 5. Describe Your Pet’s Training It is important to include information on your pet’s training in your resume. If your pet has been trained, make sure you mention and show it in your pet’s resume. It is good to let your landlord know that your pet is groomed and it is also well-behaved in the environment. 6. Include Your Contact information Let’s not forget that you have to include your name and contact information in your resume. Some people actually fail to add this information. When you provide mean by which your landlord can reach you, it will be easy to let you know their decision, opinion, terms and conditions. 7. Present a Well Written Pet Resume When it comes to creating a pet resume, you would want it to be reader-friendly. Your resume should be easy to read and understand. Ensure you check for grammatical and spelling mistakes that cause your landlord to lose interest or create misunderstandings. To prevent a poorly written pet resume, here are some online writing and editing tools to help you: Stateofwriting / Via Writing: These are online writing guide full of tips to make your resume better. UK Writings: This site provides an online editing tool that can help you correct errors in your resume, as mentioned at UK Top Writers. Academ Advisor: This site offers proofreading guide to help you check errors in your resume. BoomEssays / PaperFellows: These sites are great online formatting tools for your resume. MyWritingWay: This website offers grammar tips and checkers for your resume. EssayRoo / EliteAssignmentHelp: These are great online services that can help you generate catchy titles, subheadings and keywords for your resume. These writing tips will help you write a pet resume that will impress your landlord, it will also help you win over other competing pet owners during the rent application process. Now, you can build a good relationship with your landlord by making them get to know your pet. Anticipate your landlord’s likely objections and give all the information you can about your pet so that, your landlord will know and fully understand your pet. Apply these tips in writing your pet’s profile and your landlord will be assured and comfortable with having your pet on their property. You can make use of the online writing and editing tools to get a well-written resume, it will surely help you and increase your chances of getting a pet-friendly home. Freddie Tubbs Freddie Tubbs is a business writer at Bigassignments and Academized. He regularly contributes articles to online magazines and blogs, such as the Vault and Australian help. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Are You a Dog-Less Dog Lover?
Are You a Dog-Less Dog Lover? A dog lover without a dog? Yes, it is hard to believe, but there are many reasons why a dog lover can't have a dog at home. Sometimes it is only a short-term situation, but some others, it is long-term. Either way, dog-less people feel the need to be part of the dog world! Are you or a friend in that situation? You may need to travel very often for work reasons or you have a long commute to work. Not everybody can afford a pet sitter or you don't want to see your dog only once in a while. Maybe you share a house with family or friends and they have other pets, or can't have one for any reason… But that doesn't stop you to be a dog lover! You may not have a dog, but you know the names of all your neighborhood dogs. You browse Instagram or YouTube almost every day to get your dose of dog candy, you have your own Instagram account where you post the pictures of dogs you meet everywhere you go and, you have to shoot a picture… You may even have a blog about dogs! If you are dog-less, there is no cure for that feeling, but you can have your dog love dose in some other ways with real dogs and at the same time, help others: 1. If you travel often, go to a shelter when you are in town, or visit the local shelter of the city you are in. Play with the dogs, take them for a walk, and help the shelter in anything they may need. 2. Offer your neighbors or friends a worry-free getaway weekend and spend time with the pooch! You can even put him in your car, take him to the park and after a fun day, have a sleepover with your furry friend. 3. Are you having a party and one of your friends is worried about leaving the doggie home alone all day? Invite the dog! Have toys at home, a plate with water and healthy treats for your four-legged guest. Why not invite all your humans with your canine friends? The party will be even more fun! 4. Be a weekend pet sitter when you have no plans to go out, have a Google calendar, post your availability, and enjoy 1 or 2 days of pure doggie love. You will feel energized to start the upcoming week. 5. Make a donation to a shelter. Collect funds by making a yard or a cake sale. Sell the things you don't need on eBay, make a raffle, etc. The shelter will love you for that! 6. Help to promote pet adoption. If you are a social media addict, use those skills to help dogs find a new loving home! Go to the shelter, take pictures, write the names and stories of every dog and create a campaign in all your social media accounts. Now you have some ideas! Share them with other dog lovers. What other ways you can suggest to dog-less dog lovers to get doggie love? Rosa Fierro Rosa Fierro is a graphic designer and a dog lover… an extreme dog lover! She carries her camera or phone all the time and, everywhere she goes, she shoots pictures of every dog she finds. She may have thousands of photos… She also runs Woof Love, a blog for extreme dog lovers. She loves to work with companies in the pet industry and animal organizations to create brand identities and marketing materials to help them promote their products, services or missions. She loves to connect with other pet lovers! You can find her blog and website at https://woof-love.com/ Stop by and say Hi! Or Woof!! Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. :|zpendofcontent|:
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10 Things Our Dogs Would Say If They Could Talk
10 Things Our Dogs Would Say If They Could Talk If you are here, I would assume you are a dog lover? Dog lovers like myself have all had a moment or two where they wonder (especially in certain situations) what their dogs would say if they could speak. And I'm not talking about "woof woof," I mean really speak. Tell me I'm not alone here? I consider myself pretty darn good at reading the body language of a dog, especially my own. But there are still several times that they puzzle me. What are they thinking? What would they say to me right now if they could talk? When I think my dogs are looking at me with love in their eyes, are they actually thinking to themselves "OMG hooman don't you understand that your outfit doesn't match?!" Taking all that into consideration, I thought it would make a fun post outlining from my own perspective "10 Things Our Dogs Would Say If They Could Talk?" 1. "It's 4:30 am hooman, and I need to pee! Or I need to make you think I have to pee, but really, there is a super cute poodle that goes for early morning walks that I simply CANNOT miss out on smelling, so WAKE UP!" 2. "Boy, that steak you left sitting on the counter sure looks tasty. It would be a shame if... somehow it miraculously fell to the floor." 3. "Yay... same kibble as every other day of my life. Too much to ask for a different flavor once and a while?" 4. "Dear lord hooman, that outfit looks ridiculous on you." 5. "Why are you getting your shoes on? Are we going somewhere? A walk? A Car ride? Wait, why aren't you putting on my leash? Hey, you forgot to bring me with you! Where are you going? Have I done something wrong? Come back! Omg, she's never coming back. I have been abandoned by my own hooman! How dare she! How will I live? Who will feed me? I'm freaking out right now." 6. "Is that a car I hear? Could it be? IT IS!!! She came back to me! Omg omg omg omg she's home, she's home, omg omg. I thought you left meeeeee! Why did you leave me? Lets never fight again." 7. "So hooman if you'd like to listen and have a civilized conversation with me rather than treating me like some child, I'd really appreci........ was that a squirrel? SQUIRREL!" 8. "I'll never understand why you keep telling me not to bark at this guy in uniform who keeps pretending to drop envelopes in a little box. He clearly trespasses on our property daily, and is quite obviously planning his lifelong attack on our home." 9. "I don't like this cat. I will never like this cat. I don't know why you keep telling me its not evil. I mean, look at it. I can't even walk past it without it slapping me with those long sharp devil claws." 10. "Yes, I realize I have already peed on this tree. But what you fail to realize is since this morning exactly --sniff sniff-- 5 dogs have also peed on said tree. Which means I need to pee on it again to make sure my scent is the strongest." What do you guys think? Pretty bang on? Okay, personal question for those of you reading. Have you ever commentated for your dog? I do this on a regular basis, no joke. Mostly when I have company at my house. And it never fails, each and every time, we always end up laughing so hard it brings tears to your eyes. Have a little fun today, commentate for your dog and make a voice that you think would be fitting for your furry family member. I know, I know, it sounds silly. And it is! But that's the best part! So what are you waiting for? If your dog could talk, what do you think he would say? Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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A Day in the Life of a Dog Owner
A Day in the Life of a Dog Owner Owning dogs, or rather, being owned by dogs is the life for many of us. Some of us own one, some own multiple dogs. However, no matter how many dogs you are owned by, dog parenthood is pretty much the same all around. Behind all the glitz and glammer people see when we walk our gorgeous pups, is a lot of work. A lot of routines. A lot of love, and a lot of fun! So what do our days look like? I can't speak for everyone, but here is a break down of a day in the life of a dog owner, from my own personal experience with my three Siberian Huskies. 9:00am - Wake up, take the dogs outside for a morning pee. 9:10am - Give the dogs some water, and breakfast 9:20am - Lock the dogs in the living room, using the baby gate in order to avoid counter surfing and garbage picking in the kitchen. 9:45am - Go to work 6:00pm - Come home from work to clean up whatever they decided to chew in the living room. 6:15pm - Take dogs outside for a walk and a pee. 7:00pm - Feed the dogs dinner , and water 8:00pm - Howling match with my huskies 8:15pm - Playtime with the dogs. Play catch with them etc... 9:00pm - Tv time, which means cuddle time with the huskies, and dog hair all over my clothes. 10:00pm - Change out of my dog fur clothes into my jammies. 11:00pm - Take dogs outside for a pee 12:00am and onward - get ready for bed 2:00am - Fight for some space on my bed 2:30am - Give up on fighting for space, and just curl into the big balls of fur beside me. Rinse repeat. Keep in mind this is just a general day. Of course, more is involved on weekends and what have you. But you get the idea. A lot of work yet a lot of perks go into being owned by dogs. I think one of the biggest benefits aside from a dog's undying love for us, is the social part of it. Walking your dog, or even taking him to a dog park is a great way to meet people in your area. I have made some awesome friends just because our dogs wanted to sniff each other. Exercise! When you are owned by dogs, exercise is essential. So for my lazy butt, my huskies keep me moving. Keep me busy, and keep me outdoors and active. Boredom seldom occurs when you have dogs. It's Sunday, there is nothing to do. No one is around. Hmmmm what to do, what to do? Look over at your dog who is always eager to do just about anything with you, and bam light bulb hits. Take the dog for a walk. Go to the dog park. Go outside and play with your dog. Make a fun hide and seek game with treats. Bake some easy, yummy treats for him. The possibilities are endless. Now you know the typical day in the life of a dog owner from my perspective. But I'm curious. What does your day look like? Share in the comments! Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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How to Pick the Perfect Small Dog Breed for your Family
How to Pick the Perfect Small Dog Breed for Your Family Small dog breeds can be a great addition to your family for so many reasons. They are much easier to welcome into the home mainly due to their small size. It is also very easy to go for car rides with them or take along on longer trips. A small dog eats less food (think budget) and is cheaper to have groomed. A small dog can also cuddle in your lap very easily! But what if your small doggie doesn’t blend well into your family? This would be a huge problem and wreak havoc on the entire crew, including the dog. My goal: ~ Identify some main traits of your family ~ This will help you evaluate which small dog would be best for your tribe. Identify 4 main characteristics of your family: Are they loud? Are there lots of family members? Are you a clean freak? Doggie hair okay until you vacuum? Is everyone asleep at the same time? Is the home highly dynamic with strong personalities? Are family members soft-spoken usually? …So you get the drift… go ahead now and write down 4 identifying family traits! Next, keep your family traits on hand as you read below to find some great recommendations. You will surely find a couple of good candidates that will fit well into your family life! COMMON FAMILY TRAITS: A. We are a soft-spoken family AND/OR there are not many of us. You will want a calm & sensitive dog to go with your reserved family style. I recommend: Bichon Frise A sensitive and gentle dog. American Eskimo A reserved and friendly breed - Also very protective. Tibetan Spaniel A bit aloof at times and laid back but are always happy. B. We are loud and boisterous and proud of it AND/OR we have a large brood AND/OR we have young kids You need a dog that can go with the flow. A tough doggie that can bounce back from anything. I recommend: French Bulldog A high affectionate and playful dog - Mr. Social and loves to be with their humans. Maltese A lively and fearless dog - not much phases them. Poodle A highly trainable dog that is full of high energy - maybe even more than your active family. C. We are clean freaks AND/OR not too keen on dog hair. You will want a dog that does not shed their fur. I recommend: Bichon Frise Havanese Maltipoo Yorkshire Terrier Maltese Poodle D. We don’t mind the dog hair and will vacuum it up AND/OR we have dog allergies (Note: I realize this doesn’t make logical sense but a dog that sheds is better on allergies than a dog that DOES NOT shed. This is due to the fact that dogs that do not shed keep the allergens on their body at all times.) You will want a dog that DOES shed on a regular basis. I recommend: Boston Terrier American Eskimo Cavalier King Charles Spaniel French Bulldog Tibetan Spaniel Beagle Please don’t be scared to get a “shedding” dog! With a regular maintenance routine of bathing and brushing your pup, you can keep the hair under great control. E. We want a lap doggie AND/OR want our dog with us at all times You are looking for a highly social dog that yearns to be with their humans always. I recommend: Boston Terrier Lively, very friendly, wants to be near you always. Shih Tzu Thinks they are human too. Maltipoo Wants to stay near you and your kids to get plenty of love. It can be a huge decision to select your next family dog. Please don’t choose them based solely on their cuteness factor. Let’s face it, they are all adorable! You should examine your family and identify several characteristics of your home life. Then, match a couple of your family’s top traits with a dog that will mesh well. A mismatched pup can spell trouble for both your family and the dog. However, a well-matched dog will be happy, healthy, and bring great joy to the whole family! Which dog did you match with your family’s traits? Donna Millwood Donna is the creator/owner of PetHangout.com, a vibrant online pet retail shop that is all things dog and cat. Prior to starting her own business, she devoted her professional career as a Software Analyst and System Engineer for over 3 decades. Her love of technology naturally fed over into giving back as a mentor to high school kids in design and programming. She has adored dogs and cats her entire life and makes it her heartfelt mission to create a richer, happier, and healthier life for our furry friends. You can find her intriguing reads at PetHangout.com/The-Tale-Wagger. Donna makes her home in the Upstate of South Carolina with her husband, Jeff, and 5 sweet fur babies, Drake, Gracie, CJ, Grey, and Sammy. She and Jeff beam with pride over their 3 grown children and 3 absolutely adorable grandchildren. Connect with Donna today - She is excited over networking opportunities with others who are turning their love for pets into a passionate endeavor. donna@pethangout.com https://www.facebook.com/PetHangout/ https://twitter.com/PetHangout https://www.pinterest.com/pethangout/ https://www.instagram.com/pethangout/ :|zpendofcontent|:
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10 Life Hacks For Dog Parents
10 Life Hacks For Dog Parents Life hacks have been all the rage these last few years, only growing in popularity. And why wouldn't they? Anything we could do in our lives to make normal every days tasks easier is a welcome in my eyes. But what about life hacks for dog parents? Have I peaked your interest yet? Read on! 1. A lot of people won't let their dogs on the furniture. While some people simply don't want them up there, others have this rule set in place because they don't want dog fur all over their sofa. My suggestion? Grab a sheet, a couch cover, or a blanket, throw it up when puppy wants to come up and snuggle. Remove when its time to get down. 2) Keeping number one in mind... If you don't want to take the time to throw a sheet over your sofa, here's something useful... DRYER SHEETS TO THE RESCUE! Did you know dryer sheets pick up dog fur off of fabric incredibly well? Now you know. You're welcome. 3) Want to keep your dog busy on a rainy day, but don't have the money for those expensive treat puzzle toys? Cupcake pans. Yes... cupcake pans. take a cupcake pan (muffin pan) put some small treats in a few of the slots, and place tennis balls over top of each slot. Let your dog find out which ones have treats in them!!! 4) Do your dogs like to dig up the yard when you're outside having playtime? Try making them their very own doggie sandbox. Reward them for using it, and soon they will learn where it is okay to dig, and where it isn't. 5) Are you one of those people who always see these incredible recipes for frozen treats, or any dog treat for that matter, but you just don't have time to try it? Or you really aren't the baking type? A super quick and easy recipe for a summer treat... Are you ready? Organic beef/chicken broth. Pour into ice cube trays. freeze. That is all. 6) As a Siberian Husky owner, I know the struggle is real when it comes to dog fur on carpets. Sure if you have a vacuum that works well your good to go right? Wrong... I have been through so many vacuums it's ridiculous. But who needs to spend hundreds of dollars on vacuums in their lifetime when you can just use a squeegee? Rake your carpet with the squeegee and watch the fur come up! It's a beautiful thing. 7) Do you have one of those super fluffer duffer dogs where the fur is so thick it's nearly impossible to check for fleas? Try the white towel test! Lay a white towel on the floor under your dog, and brush him out! If there are fleas, chances are a few of them will fall onto the towel. At the very least some flea dirt will. Problem solved. 8) This next hack is more known, but hey, you never know who hasn't heard it yet. If you cut your dogs nail too short, or if they caught it on something and is bleeding... flour, cornstarch or baking soda is very handy to have. Either dip your dog's toenail right in the powder of one of the things mentioned above, or if you have time, make a paste out of it with some water, then apply to the nail. Little bit of pressure afterward and the bleeding will stop. 9) Does your dog always seem to find a way to open up the trash can lid? Try using some baby locks to keep it shut. 10) I saved the best for last. Dog fur. An ongoing struggle. To the point where I started joking with people that the dog fur on my clothes was simply a fashion statement. My solution? TAPE! Any tape will do, but wide packing tape works wonders. Wrap it around your hand backward and go nuts on your clothes. Have you used any of these life hacks as a dog parent? Do you have any paw-some hacks to add to the list? Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while i’m at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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How to Choose the Right Puppy For Your Lifestyle
Many people pick fluffy, cute puppies; when in fact they should be choosing a puppy that fits their lifestyle the best. This is the most common mistake when looking to make a puppy a part of your family. Some families are looking for a dog that will lie around the house with them and their children, while others are looking for a puppy that will be able to go hiking with them on their weekend camping trips. Although this task of choosing a puppy may seem easy, it is something that be done with a lot of thought and research … Continue reading →
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Mixed Breed vs. Purebred? Make Mine a Schnoodle
When it comes to canine behavior there are no absolutes. While certain qualities are often associated with particular breeds, the truth is that ultimately behavior is breed independent — well, sort of. As an example, in general Labs love the water. But I guarantee you that I can show you Labs that are terrified of water. In the end, behavior is not determined solely by breed, even though breed does play a role. It’s the classic nature versus nurture model where both genetics and environment combined determine behavior and either can override the other. That being said, we can generalize … Continue reading →
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