Dog Service Network, LLC » Outdoors

Navigating the Challenges of Summer Pet Travel

Dog Service Network — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:16:21 +0000

PETCO Partners with Radio Personality, Tracie Hotchner, to Simplify Summer Pet Travel

San Diego (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 28, 2010 — Summer is just around the corner, school is almost out, the weather is heating up and bags are being packed. Many Americans will soon head out on vacation and bring along their four-legged friend. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, an estimated 29.1 million Americans have traveled with a pet in the past three years. However, few consider the many safety and regulation issues associated with pet travel until it’s too late. PETCO and pet expert Tracie Hotchner, host of NPR’s Gracie-Award® winning show “Dog Talk”® and “Cat Chat”® on the Martha Stewart channel of SiriusXM satellite radio, have teamed up to educate vacationers on the many challenges associated with pet travel and how to better prepare yourself and your furry friend.

CHALLENGE #1: Ensuring Your Establishment is Pet-Friendly
SOLUTION: You may be surprised to learn that finding a pet-friendly hotel is easier than ever if you know where to look. The Internet is a great place to start for the most up-to-date and timely information. There are also many websites that have comprehensive lists of pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds. Stop by an AAA office to pick up their localized pet guide. Extra tip: when staying in your home-away-from-home, feed pets on the tile bathroom floor to help with hotel cleanup and always tip the maid for a job well done.

CHALLENGE #2: Knowing What to Pack for Your Pet
SOLUTION: Packing for a pet is much like packing for a child — you must prepare for every occasion. Make sure your dog has a collar listing your mobile number not your home number. Microchips are another surefire way to ensure a pet’s safe return if lost. Prepare your pets’ normal food in plastic bags, as switching their diet can result in stomach upset. For those packing lightly, freeze dried meals are available and easy to pack such as Grandma Lucy’s raw dehydrated premium foods sold in the natural section of PETCO. Always pack towels to cover the back seat of your car or rental car, as well as plastic bags to pick up after your pet regardless of local laws. Water is also critical, so bring portable water bowls and plenty of water. You can find PETCO brand foldable bowls at your nearest location. Simplify things by creating a pet travel kit with food, treats, favorite toys, any medicines and health documents.

CHALLENGE #3: Inconsistent & Confusing Pet Travel Airline Regulations
SOLUTION: There are so many things to consider when traveling by air and information is often confusing and ever-changing. Tracie says, “beginning your journey with a pre-approved pet carrier always helps to ensure your airline travel runs smooth.” PETCO and Sherpa have partnered with American Airlines to create the ”Guaranteed on Board” program, which includes universally approved pet carriers that come with all the necessary information for airline pet travel. To avoid confusion at the airport, plan ahead by making a reservation for your pet. Most airlines only allow a small number of animals in the cargo area and an even smaller number of animals inside the cabin. If your pet is traveling in the cabin with you, they must fit comfortably under your seat in a pre-approved carrier and not be taken out for the duration of the flight. Additionally, make sure you have your pets’ health certificate, pet passport for international travel, and proof of age. Always check with your individual airline before taking off so you have the most up-to-date information.

CHALLENGE #4: Dealing with a Nervous Animal
SOLUTION: Just like humans, pets become anxious when put in new situations. “Before traveling, get your pet acquainted with their carrier or take them in the car to a place other than the vet,” Tracie suggests. The more familiar your animal is with their surroundings, the more at ease they will be. Most vets agree that you should not give your pet a tranquilizer before they fly. Your pet is more likely to deal better with their anxiety without tranquilizers. Additionally, less food in the animal’s system is less likely to upset his/her digestive track making the animal feel more at ease.

CHALLENGE #5: Ensuring Pet Safety
SOLUTION: A recent survey from petrelocation.com stated that 80 percent of those traveling with their pet say the safety of their pet is the most important thing when planning their travel arrangements. While driving in your car, Tracie suggests a dog seatbelt or a barrier. ”’These products can be found in a major pet store like PETCO, and can help keep your animal contained and comfortable in the car.” Try PETCO’s adjustable auto safety vest harness. Additionally, make sure not to leave your pet in the car for an extended time. Even leaving your pet in the car for a short amount of time on a hot day can be lethal. When traveling by air, Tracie suggests ”not letting your pet travel in the cargo area of a plane unless necessary.” Although the cargo area is pressurized, its temperature often relates to the temperature outside the aircraft, which can be very hot or very cold.

About PETCO
PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 1,000 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at www.petco.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $60 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support about 6,200 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

About Tracie Hotchner
Tracie brought the keen eye of her background as an investigative reporter to every aspect of living with a dog, resulting in THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know. Tracie has established herself as a foremost pet wellness advocate in the United States and her encyclopedic book covers everything from medical issues to training, nutrition and problem solving. Tracie did it again for cat lovers with the all-encompassing THE CAT BIBLE: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know. Tracie also has a “mini-empire” of weekly live radio programs, all of them dealing with dog and cat wellness issues. She is the host of both CAT CHAT® that airs Wednesday nights on the Martha Stewart channel of SiriusXM satellite radio and her first show, DOG TALK® on NPR station WLIU 88.3 FM from Southampton New York won a prestigious Gracie Award in 2010 for Outstanding Host of an Entertainment/Information show on public radio.

Source: PR Web

10 Simple Steps to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint

Dog Service Network — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:27:46 +0000

PETCO has partnered exclusively with green social networking company, Greenwala.com, and renowned pet expert and radio personality, Tracie Hotchner, to help reduce your pet’s environmental impact.

San Diego (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 16, 2010 — From the 8 billion pounds of kitty litter heading to landfills each year to the effects of a pet’s carnivorous diet, pet parents should be aware of the substantial carbon footprint left by pets. To address this important matter, PETCO has developed an exclusive partnership with Greenwala.com, the leading online resource empowering people to go “green”. With the help of both Greenwala.com and Tracie Hotchner, author and host of NPR’s Gracie-Award winning show, “Cat Chat” on Sirius Radio, PETCO has compiled a list of simple ways to reduce the environmental impact of pets.

“When you consider the carbon pawprint of your pet, it also makes you think about some of the ways our own actions are affecting the environment,” said Hotchner. “I encourage pet parents to take this opportunity to make changes in their behaviors and purchases to help take all of us into a new era of environmental responsibility.”

10 Steps to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint:

1) Go Bio-degradable and Sustainable to Clean up Poop — Who wants to populate the landfill will plastic bags full of dog do-do? And are you aware that cat-litter made from clay is mined much like coal? Use bio-degradable poop bags when walking your dog and aneco-friendly cat-litter in the kitty box. Look for PETCO’s Natural line of litters made of corn, paper and pine pellets.

2) Think Adoption First — The HSUS estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3-4 million are euthanized. Find the perfect addition to your family at one of PETCO’s monthly in-store national adoption events where local shelters match pets in need with parents.

3) Spay or Neuter Your Pet — Over 70K puppies and kittens are born every day. We are already at crisis mode in terms of homeless and abandoned animals. Thanks to the economy, this has only gotten worse. Help decrease the number of homeless animals in the United States by spaying or neutering your animals. Not only does it help control animal over-population and homelessness, but it also has been demonstrated to provide long-term health and behavioral benefits for pets.

4) Use Natural and Organic Pet Food — Your pets should eat the same quality foods you do. Natural, organic and holistic pet foods use proteins that are raised in sustainable, humane ways and do not contain hormones. They are preserved with natural vitamins. In addition, these healthy foods create less waste for you to clean up at the dog park. Look for the labels and see that they are full of vitamins, and nutrients and free of pesticides, and any attempt to bio-engineer the product. Check out the following high-quality brands; Halo, Blue Buffalo, and Wellness — all available at PETCO in their ‘Healthy Living Naturally’ sections.

5) Use Organic Grooming and Cleaning Products — Make cleaning product choices that are as safe for the planet as they are for you and your pets and children. Many pet shampoos and cleaning supplies use plant-based cleansers and natural bio-cultures to remove pet stains and odors. These products are completely non-toxic for pets and people, including natural flea removers. Look for Simple Solution Natural Cleaners and Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Totally Natural Pet Shampoo both available at PETCO stores and www.PETCO.com.

6) Use Organic and Sustainable Pet Accessories (Bedding, Collars and Leashes) — We humans spend a third of life sleeping. Well so do most dogs. We obviously want to be comfortable so look for organic cotton and sustainable bedding to help give your dog a sound sleep. While you are at it, you can also look to get collars, leashes and PET bottles made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers without herbicides or pesticide as well. Bison branded collars and leads are made from recycled plastic bottles from landfills that are melted and spun into fibers that are woven into strong material. PETCO Naturals line of cat feeding bowls have been produced from fully compostable corn and their dog and cat toys are made with safe, natural vegetable dyes and non-toxic organic materials.

7) Avoid Pet Toys with Harmful Toxins Such as Lead — When looking for pet toys do the same thing that you would do for your kids and that’s to read the label and avoid toys with lead in them. Lead in products are equally as harmful for pets as they are for humans. In fact, the best thing to do is to get creative and create toys from recycled items that you have laying around the house.

Be Active and Live a Healthy Lifestyle — Get out and get active. Not only is this a great tip for humans, but it is absolutely the best thing to do for your dog. Don’t have a dog, then let your cat run around outside but make sure there is a cat enclosure. In fact, if you want to get out with your dog, go to a dog park to play with other dogs because usually the vegetation around the park can handle your dog jumping around looking for the ball that you threw a little too hard. However, when in doubt always leash your dog, since accidents can happen.

9) Planet-Friendly Manufacturing — Choosing natural and organic based products is important. However, it’s just as important to support brands that incorporate sustainability into their everyday business practices such as packaging, ingredient sourcing and recycling. Most companies proudly share their eco-conscious efforts on their websites where you can easily find it.

10) Be Committed to Your Pet — The worse thing a pet owner could do is not be committed to them once they own one. Owning a pet is a big responsibility and not just to have fun or because it is the latest trend/fad or it was in the latest pet movie. Yes pets are fun for all ages, but they need care like a child and if you are committed to your pet it will be easier for you to also implement the other tips above.

About Greenwala Inc.
A green social networking and media company, Greenwala is an online community made of people who help others live a greener lifestyle by sharing their knowledge, green experiences and actions with friends, family and the world. Greenwala members can read expert articles, post comments and blogs, enter and vote on socially conscious contests, join or start groups, find new friends and earn points that benefit socially responsible non-profits. Learn more at www.greenwala.com. Follow company activities on Twitter at Twitter (http://twitter.com/greenwala and http://twitter.com/chiefwala) or on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/greenwala).

The Reasons Behind a Panting Dog

Dog Service Network — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:32:06 +0000

By Alex De La Cruz

Have you ever ask your self the question, “why do dogs pant?” Or did you ever wonder the reason behind it? Well, humans don’t pant so why should you bother yourself regarding a panting dog? Actually if you have that curiosity you have already ask that question but you just did not bother to find nature’s explanation. If you are stricken by intense heat what do you do? Maybe you will fan yourself, enjoy a cool smoothie, plunge into the pool or any sort of refreshments. As for the dogs they can’t do those things. They just pant and that is the reason behind a panting dog.

Dogs need to hang its tongue outside its mouth not to create a funny expression but to cool it self. By doing that it allows the air to moisten its tongue and let the air flow in to its body. The blood vessels in the head start to get cool and later on its whole body. It is very important for your dog to maintain its normal body temperature so that it will not die of heatstroke. During hot summer days your dog becomes restless because it is having a hard time of controlling the heat inside its body. It would be helpful if you would bring your pet to a cooler area.

Even a small space under a sturdy oak tree would be perfect. On the other hand if you do not have a shady area you can allot some space inside your house for your pet. Make sure that you place him or her near the electric fan or air conditioner. You can also try bringing your pet to the nearest park. Most parks have abundant trees so finding an area under it can be relaxing for your pet. As for you, you can bring a book or laptop to keep you busy while your pooch is snoozing off. One very important tip that you have to remember during summer is to provide your pet with plenty of water.

Water keeps them cool so make sure that you check whether it still has plenty of fresh water in its bowl. Another option is giving your dog a bath or just spraying it using the garden hose would be fine. However do not attempt to do this under extreme heat because your pet might get sick. A sudden rush of cool water over its stricken hot body is not good. Hot temperature is not the only reason for a panting dog. Sometimes feelings make them pant beyond normal. Whenever your dog is excited it tends to jumps up and down so fast that it cannot catch its breath or when it feels stressed.

On the more serious side, a dog pants due to some health problems. Diseases in the heart and lungs cause your dog to pant. Sometimes when they pant beyond normal it seems like they are going to run out of breath. When this happens it would be advisable to get your pet to a vet so that its condition will be check. Early check ups often times detect serious illnesses. So to keep you from worrying about your pet’s health condition better have it check early on.

The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_De_La_Cruz
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Reasons-Behind-a-Panting-Dog&id=1861009

Dog Parks: Pros and Cons

Dog Service Network — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:49:41 +0000

By Paul Owens

Dog Parks. What a great idea! Imagine being able to take your buddy to a big, open field and letting him or her safely play and run around with dozens of other dogs. What a great way to provide exercise, especially for those rambunctious, high-energy teenagers that often become destructive and “self-employed” at home when they have nothing else to do. How many of us have come home to torn sofa cushions, shredded plants, neighbors complaining about incessant barking, etc.?

Dog parks can provide a wonderful opportunity for your dog to learn appropriate dog-to-dog behavior with dogs of all ages, sizes and temperaments. In addition to all these benefits, dog parks often offer us humans a chance to get out of the house and spend some time socializing and meeting new friends.

Most people who take their dogs to dog parks are respectful, polite, responsible, and look out not only for their own dog, but for other people’s dogs as well. After all, if one dog gets hurt, everyone is affected. And most dog parks are well maintained, clean and safe. With so many benefits to taking your dog to a dog park, are there any disadvantages?

Not a month goes by that I don’t hear from one of my clients that his dog or his neighbor’s dog was hurt at a dog park. And in 99% of the cases, it all had to do with the attitude of the human. A well-known actor (this is L.A. after-all) brought two of his dogs to a park and as soon as the dogs entered, they zeroed in on a Lab who was resting underneath a picnic table. Within seconds, cries and growls filled the air. People rushed to help the Lab who sustained multiple puncture wounds. When the actor finally arrived at the scene, he simply declared, “Hey, dogs are dogs, they were only playing.”

On another occasion, a woman came directly from a rescue with her new 80 lb dog and wanted to see how he would behave around other dogs. The dog attacked a small, blind Pekinese and caused several thousands of dollars in medical care.

In other cases, dogs are hurt because of how they play: some dogs are much more physical than others, resulting in unintentional injuries. Others never learned appropriate dog etiquette because of the lack of proper socialization when they were young. As a result, their pushy behavior often results in misunderstandings that trigger fights.

In addition, not every dog likes to visit dog parks. Older dogs sometimes care less about being around other dogs and are perfectly content interacting only with their humans. Well-intentioned as some people are, they can facilitate problems because they fail to read their dog’s body language, which is telling them, “Get me out of here!”

So what should you look for? Visit a park before you bring your dog. Talk to people. Safe parks all have one thing in common: a good park is one where people will not put up with aggressive dogs and they look out for one another. Make sure there is a separate area for small dogs. How clean is the park? Is water available? If you find yourself stepping over mounds of feces, it’s a good bet that park isn’t for you and your dog. See if the park has a ranger that oversees activities. This is rare but really says a lot about safety.

Once you’ve chosen a dog park, don’t bring food or your dog’s favorite toys as that often causes problems. Notice how other dogs are behaving and if play becomes to rowdy, interrupt it before a problem arises. If your dog seems fearful, leave the park.

Know your dog. If your dog displays aggression or fearfulness, don’t take your dog to a dog park. You can work on behavioral problems with a trainer but in the meantime, you can take your dog for walks or jogs, play fetch, hide-and-go seek and “find-it.”

There are wonderful dog parks out there that benefit both people and dogs. To find them, do a little investigation, use your good common sense, be responsible and keep a watchful eye. You and your dog can have a lot of fun!

Paul Owens is the author of “The Dog Whisperer” DVD and the book, “The Dog Whisperer, A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training”. He has been Certified by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. Paul is the Director of Raise with Praise, Inc. Dog training. For more information, visit http://www.DogWhispererDVD.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Owens
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Parks:-Pros-and-Cons&id=78522

New Year’s Resolutions – A Healthier Dog

Laura — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:19:51 +0000

By Laura Garber, CPDT

With the holidays behind us, we’ve all packed on a few extra pounds, even our beloved canine family members. So, as you determine your own New Year’s resolutions, make sure that you consider making some healthy resolutions for him as well. Fortunately some of our everyday tricks make for a great workout and, given the cold and inclement weather outside, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s plenty you can do inside!

Indoor Activities
“Take a Bow” or “Downward Dog” (a “doga” pose): The bow (front legs on the floor, standing on back legs) is a natural stretch, one that dogs will often do when they first rise from a nap. It’s a great way to start out an exercise session. Some dogs will easily go into a bow position by luring as if for a “down” but doing it from a stand rather than from a sit. Other dogs go directly to the down, whether from sit or stand. If this is the case, then you’ll have to shape the behavior. Starting from a stand, take the lure just a few inches below your dog’s nose level, so that he has to tuck his neck down a bit to follow the lure. Say “Yes!” and treat. When this is repeatable, try moving your hand a few inches lower but still not entirely to the ground. Again your dog will hopefully tuck his head even lower but remain standing. If he flops down to the floor, then go back to your previous stage and inch down the hand signal more gradually. At each stage where he’s tucking his head, maybe even bending the front legs, but remain on his back legs, say “Yes!” and give a treat. Even jackpot him for each new criteria he achieves. Before you know it, your dog will be bowing pretty as can be!

Tug: Tug is no doubt one of your dog’s favorite pastimes! Fortunately, it’s a great strength-building exercise as well as a fun bonding activity that we can do with our dogs. By holding the tug at head level, your dog is working out his rear legs. By tugging at ground level, he’s working out his front legs. Caution: It’s important that you do not jerk the tug toy quickly from side to side or up and down, as this can cause injury.

Variations on “Shake”
“SHAKE”: Shake is more than just a trick. It helps your dog get more comfortable with people touching his paws. It’s also a great strengthening exercise for your dog’s shoulders. With your dog in a sit, hold a treat above his head and off to one side. By rocking him to the side, often he will pick up the opposite front paw to reach for it. Mark it with a happy “yes!”, grab the paw with your other hand, and open the treat hand to reveal the treat. After he is consistently offering a paw, say the verbal command “shake” or “give paw” in front of it. By switching sides, you can train a “left paw” and “right paw” behavior.
Strength training: Once your dog has gained fluency, give the hand cue from higher up so that he has to lift his paw higher. Start with 5 repetitions each side and gradually increase to 20 repetitions, cuing from both the front and the side. Do this exercise every other day, with the day off in between to allow the muscles to mend.
“HIGH 5″: Just change the position of your hand so that it’s ready to receive a “high 5” when your dog does the “shake” behavior.
“WAVE”: Now give the cue for “shake” but instead of keeping your hand stationary to receive your dog’s paw, move it horizontally in front of him. This will cause him to lift his paw a little longer and perhaps even make another swipe to meet your hand. Especially reinforce the extra jabs in the air.

Back Up: Backing up is a great workout for the core and hind leg muscles. The easiest way to shape the back-up behavior is to hold a treat at the level of your dog’s chest with you facing him and then walk towards him. Let him nibble the treat along the way to keep him interested and playing the game. As he becomes more fluent, you can reduce the physical cueing necessary to effect the behavior.

Sit-Stand-Sit: The rear legs are often the first to weaken as your dog ages, so it’s important that you keep them strong. Moving your dog between a sit and stand can accomplish this. By holding a treat above your dog’s nose and moving it back over his head, you effectively push his butt down into the sit position. Now put the treat at nose level and pull it forward just enough to lure your dog to a stand in a single step. You want him to be pushing off with his rear legs for maximum benefit and not pulling himself forward with his front legs. Note: If your dog uses more than a single step to rise to a stand, it’s likely that he’s used his front legs rather than his hind legs.
For a greater workout, do this while facing uphill. Alternatively, face sideways on the hill, first one way, then the other, to target each side individually. Start with 3 to 5 repetitions, then gradually increase to 10 or 20 repetitions. Do this exercise every other day, with the day off in between to allow the muscles to mend.

Stand-Down-Stand: Moving from a stand to a down and back again is a great workout for the whole body. Hold a treat at your dog’s nose and push back and down, causing him to fold into the down position. Now put the treat at nose level and pull it forward just enough to lure your dog to a stand without moving forward.
As with the Sit-Stand-Sit exercise, increase the difficulty of this exercise by doing it while facing uphill, or by facing sideways on the hill, first one way, then the other, to target each side individually. Start with 3 to 5 repetitions, then gradually increase to 10 or 20 repetitions. Again, allow a day in between for recuperation.

Rollover: For the benefit of working your dog’s core muscles, do this exercise in both directions. Once in a “down” position, notice which hip your dog is settled on. Lure his nose around the opposite shoulder and, as he twists his neck, he will roll first flat, then on his back, and then onto the other side. If he has trouble doing the whole movement right away, reinforce approximations. For greater challenge, do several rollovers in one direction, then back in the other direction, or do the rollover up an incline.

Sit Pretty: Sitting pretty is a great workout for the core muscles and aids balance. From a sitting position, lure your dog into a beg position by pulling a treat back and above his nose. As he becomes more fluent with the behavior, start putting the verbal cue in front of the hand signal. Build duration in the time he remains in position. For increased difficulty, cue him to give left paw, right paw, or both paws at once. Also lure him to turn his head and upper body by leading his nose with a treat, first one way, then the other.

Crawl: The crawl is great for working out a dog’s forelimbs, trunk and rear limbs. From a “down” position, drag a treat along the floor just in front of your dog’s paws. Mark and treat for any slight forward movement with a paw. Gradually start to mark for more and more movement forward (as long as your dog never stands up to come forward). When your dog is fluently offering the behavior, put the verbal cue “crawl” in front of the hand signal. To encourage crawling, you can use props such as a low table or poles across chairs. You can increase the distance of the obstacle course or the number of repetitions as your dog gains endurance.

Spin: “Spin” is a propriaceptive exercise, one that challenges body awareness through limb placement and balance. With your dog in front of you, hold a treat at your dog’s nose height. Lead him around in a tight circle, first in one direction, then the other. If you’d like, you can precede the hand prompt with the verbal cue “spin!” once the behavior is coming fairly fluently. To increase its benefit, this is an exercise you can do on a variety of surfaces, such as gravel and grass.

Outdoor Activities
Digging: Some dogs are unabashed diggers. The dachshund, for example, was bred to dig in search of rodents. Digging is actually a good source of exercise – it’s a great workout for the forelimbs. So, rather than trying to inhibit the behavior completely, it’s better to reach a compromise by giving your dog a designated digging area or sandbox in which to exercise this instinctive behavior. In order to attract the behavior to the designated area, dig a shallow hole and lightly bury a ziplock baggy of treats. As he digs to reveal the baggy, open it up and produce a treat for him. As he progresses, plant the baggy slightly deeper in the dirt. You can use a heavier dirt medium or pack it more tightly for added challenge.
You can also bury stuffed puzzle toys in the soil for his search and recovery. Make sure to supervise so that you can discourage your dog’s wandering to other parts of the lawn. For building a canine athlete, do this exercise 3 or 4 times a week.

Retrieve: Playing a hearty game of retrieve has always been great exercise. You can expand on its efficacy by throwing uphill to work your dog’s hind limbs, and retrievals through water are a great full-body endurance workout.

Walkies!: Taking your dog for a walk is not necessarily beneficial if the walk is a slow saunter as he sniffs p-mail and leaves his own. In order to get cardiovascular benefit and build endurance, you want your dog to settle into a trot gait. Start your walk at a clip fast enough so that your dog needs to trot to keep up. After he’s settled into this gate, you can often slow your own speed and he will continue on at a trot.

Canine Sports
Sports such as agility, flyball, and winter skijoring are great sources of exercise for dog and human alike. Consider signing up for a class at a local training facility.

A Word to the Wise
Remember that outdoor activity is still an essential component of any exercise regimen, giving your dog a change of scenery, which is mentally stimulating, as well as burning physical energy. Consider your dog’s athletic program with the same caution and care as you would your own. As with any exercise regimen, start gradually. And consult your vet about whether there are exercises you should avoid because of your dog’s physical limitations.

Have a healthy, happy New Year!

* The DVD “Building the Canine Athlete” by M. Christine Zink DVM, PhD and Laurie McCauley DVM is a great resource for building strength and endurance in your canine athlete.

LAURA GARBER, CPDT, is a certified dog trainer and behavior counselor living in Hoboken, NJ. Her company WoofGang, LLC is committed to deepening the bonds between dogs and their people through positive training and behavior modification techniques, and it is these same topics that inspire her writing.

Is It Okay To Leave Your Dog Outside?

Dog Service Network — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:15:20 +0000

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) suggests that pets all pets should stay indoors with their family. However, don’t mistaken this to mean your dog should never be allowed to go outside. The HSUS recommends that your dog spend time outside when supervised and under control.

Leaving your dog outside for long periods of time (especially if chained up) can be stressful for your dog, which could lead to problems:

Emotional & Behavioral (i.e. aggression)
Physical (i.e. not being able to escape weather conditions such as extreme humidity or freezing cold)
Safety (i.e. can be stolen, abused, or killed)

If you still choose to have your dog left outside, make sure you leave your dog proper shelter, food and water. Proper shelter is important in case of inclement weather conditions or dangerous temperatures occur.

Source: “What To Do About a Dog Who’s Left Outside”, HSUS.org; Retrieved on December 6, 2008 from http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/animal_abuse_and_neglect/what_to_do_about_a_dog_whos_left_outside.html

Implementing Pet Safety In Your Backyard

Dog Service Network — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:44:48 +0000

When your dog is left in your backyard, you can never take too high of a safety measure when protecting your dog from possible harm and / or injury. It’s better to be safe than sorry when leaving your dog in your backyard.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends you take the following safety precautions:

Before letting your dog out into the backyard, make sure the fence is closed so your dog can’t wander off. Also make sure to frequently check on your dog to make sure it’s not injured from another animal that may have entered your backyard, etc.

Dogs can get easily distracted. When your dog is outside of a fenced area, keep it on a leash at all times so that it cannot wander off away from home or run into traffic.

Make sure your dog doesn’t eat any food that may have been lying around, because it could be tainted or infected with bacteria.

Be aware of plants that can be poisonous to your dog.

Get a microchip implanted in your dog in case it ever wandered off.

If your dog is allowed on your driveway, make sure there isn’t any antifreeze or engine fluid on it, to ensure your dog doesn’t consume any of it.

Source: American Kennel Club (AKC)

Hazardous Plants To Dogs

Dog Service Network — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:42:58 +0000

Were you aware that dogs eat certain types of plants, it can make your dog feel sick or can be even fatal? Here are a list of some plants that can be hazardous to your dog:

Plants:	Symptoms the Plant May Cause:
Almond	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
American yew	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Angel’s trumpet	Can cause various reactions
Apricot	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Azalea	Can cause various reactions
Balsam pear	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Bird of paradise bush	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Bittersweet woody	Diarrhea and vomiting
Black locust	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Buttercup	Can cause various reactions
Castor bean	Diarrhea and vomiting
China berry	Convulsions
Coriaria	Convulsions
Daffodil	Diarrhea and vomiting
Delphinium	Diarrhea and vomiting
Dologeton	Can cause various reactions
English holly	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
English yew	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Foxglove	Diarrhea and vomiting
Ground cherry	Diarrhea and vomiting
Horse chestnut (Buckeye)	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Hydrangea	Can cause various reactions
Indian tobacco	Diarrhea and vomiting
Indian turnip	Diarrhea and vomiting
Japanese plum	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Jasmine	Can cause various reactions
Larkspur	Diarrhea and vomiting
Lilies	Can cause various reactions
Kalanchoe	Can cause various reactions
Loco weed	Can cause various reactions
Lupine	Can cause various reactions
Marijuana	Hallucinations
Matrimony vine	Can cause various reactions
May apple	Can cause various reactions
Mescal bean	Can cause various reactions
Mock orange	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Moonseed	Can cause various reactions
Moonweed	Convulsions
Morning glory	Hallucinations
Mushrooms that are also toxic to people	Can cause various reactions
Nightshade	Can cause various reactions
Nutmeg	Hallucinations
Nux vomica	Convulsions
Perriwinkle	Hallucinations
Peyote	Hallucinations
Philodendron	Can cause various reactions
Poison hemlock	Can cause various reactions
Poke weed	Diarrhea and vomiting
Privet	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Rain tree (Monkey Pod)	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Rhubarb	Can cause various reactions
Skunk cabbage	Diarrhea and vomiting
Soap berry	Diarrhea and vomiting
Spinach	Can cause various reactions
Sunburned potatoes	Can cause various reactions
Tomato vine	Can cause various reactions
Water hemlock	Can cause convulsions and various other reactions
Western yew	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Wild cherry	Abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Wisteria	Diarrhea and vomiting

Source: American Kennel Club (AKC)

Getting Your Dog Café-Ready

Laura — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:43:03 +0000

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I share my life with a German Shepherd Dog named Trista. From the very start of our life together, I trained her to hold a good down-stay. For those first weeks and months, we actively practiced everywhere: at home, on park benches, in sidewalk cafés. The first stages required frequent food reinforcement, or reward, to keep her attentive and working. As she became more consistent, I spaced out the food rewards, relying more on verbal encouragement. And with more time, she accomplished fairly long stretches with no attention from me at all.

Developing this behavior in your dog just takes careful, thorough practice with gradual progression. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial that will help you get your dog café-ready:

Teaching your Dog To Hold the Down (an Implied Down-Stay)

Some dogs tend to pop up out of the down once they’ve collected their treat. The way to work on this is to give little morsels, one after the other, in quick succession as long as your dog remains in the down. If your dog gets up, mark with an “uh-uh” and the treats stop. Ask for a down again and start treat after treat again. Little by little, increase the time between treats, using soft verbal encouragement to bridge the gap between treats. Periodically allow your dog to break the down with the release word “OK!” and encourage him to get up, but don’t give him a food treat. This way he’s learning that being in the down is rewarding, getting up is not. Gradually work on you being able to stand between treats without your dog getting up. Also do the exercise while you’re in a seated position.

A Tip: When working on sedentary exercises like these, it’s best if your dog has already had a bit of exercise and is ready for some quiet time. When he’s fresh first thing in the morning, he’s going to be raring to go and in no mood for holding a down-stay.

Next Steps: Proofing

Duration: Remember to build on duration gradually… don’t expect him to hold the down for a half an hour right from the start. Start with 5 or 10 seconds, gradually increasing it. If you notice that he’s frequently breaking from the down before you’ve released him, you may be expecting too much of him; cut back on duration. Set him up for success.

Distance: Start incorporating some movement into the exercise. These are really exercises in proofing a stay without the use of the word: With your dog in a down, back away a step, then come back to treat. Turn a quarter turn, then a half turn so that he sees your backside, then turn back and come back to treat. Step to the side; do a little hop; walk part way around him – but build gradually. Again, set him up for success!

Distraction: At this point, you should be able to stand or sit with your dog beside you, giving occasional treats and bridging with some verbal encouragement. Change venues: practice in different rooms of the house, or in the hallway of your apartment building.

A Tip: With each jump in difficulty, you need to reward your dog more frequently.

Taking It On the Road

With your dog’s meal in your pocket, take a walk together. Periodically find a place to stop, ask your dog for a down, and start feeding him his kibble. After a short time, say “OK, let’s go!” and resume your walk. For a hungry dog, the stops along the way will be a very welcome snack. Sit on a park bench, a neighbor’s stoop, anywhere you can find a spot. Start with quieter byways and build gradually to streets more active with people, dogs, and traffic.

A Tip: Remember that the outside world is way more distracting than your nice quiet home, so reward very frequently. If necessary, mix something really yummy in with his kibble, or use something altogether better.

Travels with Trista

These days I take Trista everywhere, on trips across the country involving boat ferries, horse-drawn carriages, motels and shops that allow dogs and, of course, sidewalk cafés. She can go so many places with me precisely because she is a pleasure to be with and around: she lies quietly beside me, bothers no one by soliciting attention or making noise, tolerates the unexpected with grace, and seems happy just to be included. And our relationship is deepened precisely because of the mutual respect we have for each other and because we can share so much together.

With patient, thorough work, this is the life you can share with your dog, too. He is a café companion in the ruff!

LAURA GARBER, CPDT, is a certified dog trainer and behavior counselor living in Hoboken, NJ. Her company WoofGang, LLC is committed to deepening the bonds between dogs and their people through positive training and behavior modification techniques, and it is these same topics that inspire her writing. Write her with questions at Laura@myWoofGang.com. Reprinted with permission by WoofGang, LLC

Before Visiting The Park

Dog Service Network — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:24:53 +0000

If you’re a dog owner fortunate enough to live near a dog park, you know they are fun places for your dog to play with other dogs. Summer is a great time to visit a dog park for fresh air, healthy exercise, and socialization for both dogs and people.

Dr. Sheila McCullough, formerly a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says that before visiting a dog park, owners should recognize risks associated with interactions with other dogs and take precautions to minimize these risks.

One risk is the spread of infectious disease. To minimize your dog’s risk of getting sick, make sure all its vaccinations are current. “Dogs that are very sick do not usually feel well enough to run and play at a dog park,” says Dr. McCullough, “so serious infectious illnesses may not be a major concern. Common sense should tell a dog owner to keep a dog at home if it is coughing or vomiting or has diarrhea.”

Another hazard is injury from dog bites and dogfights. Serious fight injuries can be fatal. The best way to handle bite injuries is to prevent them, and the best way to do that is to train your dog well. Make sure your dog always comes when called and is well-behaved when interacting with other dogs, new people, and children. Some parks have separate fenced areas for large dogs and small dogs, which may help keep small dogs from getting accidentally trampled or bitten by larger dogs.

For your own safety, never get in the middle of a dogfight. Even if your dog is loyal and obedient, it may not be aware of who or what it is biting when engrossed in a fight. Putting any parts of your body between fighting dogs will not stop them, but may send you to the emergency room.

Neutering your pet has benefits to both health and safety. According to Dr. McCullough, “In addition to extending a dog’s health, neutering reduces male territorial instinct.” She reminds pet owners that that a female dog in heat will inevitably cause confrontation between intact males. Even the gentlest male dogs, if not neutered, can be uncontrollable when a female in heat is nearby.

When playing in the hot sun, your dog may not notice that it is getting overheated. “Be aware that even though it’s noon and 95 degrees, your dog will want to play Frisbee,” advises Dr. McCullough. Make sure your dog takes breaks in the shade, gets plenty of water, and does not play for long periods in the hot mid-day sun.

Dog parks are wonderful places to enjoy a summer afternoon with your pet and to get healthy exercise and socialization for both of you. Taking precautions can help make your visits healthy, positive experiences.

If you have any questions about vaccinations your dog should have before visiting a dog park, or other questions about ensuring a safe day at the park, contact your local veterinarian.

Kim Marie Labak, Information Specialist
Reprinted with permission by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=500

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