News & Blogs for Dogs

This week is National Walk Your Dog Week!

Dog ownership is amazing; the bonds that are created, and all the snuggles imaginable! There are also a lot of responsibilities of owning a dog, including making sure they receive enough exercise each day.

Just like people, dogs need to MOVE!

They are high energy animals for the most part, and even those breeds that don’t quite look like they should be running a marathon, (Bulldogs I’m looking at you!) they still need to get out and exercise their joints and lungs each and every day.

It is recommended that dogs get an average of 1 hour of exercise a day. This could be leash walking, taking your dog to the dog park, or going for a swim.

Most people enjoy walking their dogs. It’s a relaxing thing to do, usually in the mornings and evenings; a way to unwind with your furry friend. Hiking through the woods, beach walks or just walking on the sidewalk, it’s good for all of us.

Where do you like to walk your dog??

Today is World Rabies Day!

This day focuses on raising awareness and educating people on the importance of rabies prevention.

Check out https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day for more great info!

 Talk about no personal space!! 

I'm sure more than a few people can agree with this!

Summer is heating up!

Many would say we are in the "Dog Days Of Summer", but do you actually know the meaning of that saying?

The "dog days of summer" is actually the dates from July 3-August 11 in which the "dog star" Sirius in the constellation Canis Major, rises with the sun and is the brightest star in the sky.

Some feel that the combination of the brightest luminary in the day (the sun), and the brightest star in the night (Sirius) is responsible for the extreme heat that we feel during the height of the summer.

AWESOME!

This summer has been throwing us some serious heat waves and everyone’s feeling it.

Your dog is no different, and if anything, is even more susceptible to the effects of the hot sun.

Could you imagine wearing a winter coat all summer?! Dogs also can’t sweat like people do to reduce body temperature. They have sweat pads on their feet, but otherwise, they use panting as a way to let heat evaporate through their tongues.

Here are some tips to help keep your pup cool so you both can have fun in the sun!

• Bring along a collapsible water dish and water so your dog can have a drink wherever you go. It is SO important for dogs to stay hydrated, just like people.
• Offer an ice pack or damp towel for them to lie down on to reduce body temperature.
• Replace some of their kibble with canned food: Canned food contains more water than kibble, so this will help them to stay hydrated.
• Stay close to shade or bring a sun shade so there is a way out of the direct sun.
• Avoid hot pavement. It would burn your bare feet to walk on hot pavement and it’s the same for dog’s sensitive pads. Use booties to prevent any heat burns if you have to be on the roads.
• Limit exercise: Going for walks is fine, but if it’s blistering hot out, don’t go for long runs, agility training, etc.

*If you have a brachycephalic dog (short-faced dog), try and keep them out of the heat altogether. These dogs have an increased risk of breathing issues on a regular day, so a short walk on a hot day can be detrimental. Lying around in the A/C is best for these squishy pups.

The city is a busy place, and if you live in an apartment or condo you likely will be going for a lot of walks with your dog. 🐕🏙️

All that hustle and bustle can be distracting for your pup and can cause your walks to be wrought with leash pulling. Teaching your dog how to properly walk on a leash is something that will benefit you (and your arm), your dog, and the people around you.

Here are some tips to help teach your dog to have good leash manners on those busy streets:

1. Start before it all begins. If you expect your dog to walk controlled on a leash, they need to be in that state beforehand. If your dog is bouncing around, doing circles and jumping at the door, there’s less of a chance that they will be able to calm down when that leash is clipped on. Stand still with your leash at your side until they have all four feet on the floor. Don’t clip the leash until they have calmed down and can stand in front of you. Don’t open the door until this happens either.
2. Choose what method works for you AND your dog: there are many methods of leash training out there: some are reward based and some are more disciplinary. Do your research and find what fits your duo.
3. Utilize head halters. Products such as gentle leaders are a fabulous tool to help your dog learn to walk on a leash. It utilizes pressure points on the head and nose to reduce pulling and is something that your dog can easily get used to and is great for dogs that can’t have pressure on their throats for medical reasons. You DO need to do some training with these products though for them to be effective.
4. DON’T make your leash training your dog’s main source of exercise. These sessions should be short and concise to keep your dogs attention. It doesn’t give your dog enough time to release their energy (which is what we DON’T want on a leash walk), so make sure to set aside a separate time for off-leash play/running/etc. This will also help your dog relax on their leash walks since they don’t have excess built up energy.
5. Walk at a quick pace. Going for a brisk walk with your dog will decrease the chance of them catching a whiff of a delicious smell or getting distracted by something. It also reduces the likelihood of them wanting to stop and eliminate on everything in sight!

Keep training fun!

Your dog thrives on interaction with you and this is a great opportunity to bond and learn something new together. If you get frustrated or things just aren’t going great one day, take a break and try again another time. ❤️