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By this time of year, many public beaches are closed and summer rules and regulations are no longer in play. This is a great time to take your dog to the beach so she can enjoy the ocean or lakeside, running on the sand, and barking at the wind. The sun is not so hot as it is in summer, and the water is not yet very cold.
Beach fees no longer apply, and the sands are yours and yours alone. So schedule a beach day for your pup and have big fun!
Helen Fazio and her dog, Raja, are world travelers. Visit their blog and follow them on Twitter.
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Communication is how we develop relationships with other people. It’s no different with our dogs — it’s just how we communicate. Training is a great way to bond with your dog and see him in a compassionate light. You can watch your dog grow and learn and take pride in teaching him. And you’ll also be learning from your dog!
Train your dog with positive reinforcement, which is a giving and taking of information — your dog sits when asked; you give feedback with a toy or treat, confirming that he did the desired thing — to make your journey easier and nonconfrontational. If possible, ask all family members to get involved, so you all have a chance to teach, learn, and bond with your dog.
Tammy Reinarz, CPDT-KA and a Professional Member of the APDT, has been training dogs of all breeds in the Central PA area since 2005.
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Dogs love to play, and toys are a necessary part of healthy playtime and exploration. Appropriate toys can help keep a curious dog from ripping apart the sofa or a favorite pair of running shoes.
Choose toys that offer variety, and rotate them to help prevent boredom. Your dog may enjoy a toy that reminds him of you, especially when you can’t be home with him. This could be something as simple as a worn T-shirt or balled-up sock.
If your dog is an aggressive chewer, be sure to provide toys that are hard and splinter-resistant, such as natural antlers or Kongs. Your dog will likely find that the best toys of all are those that require human interaction. Keep safety in mind when choosing toys for your specific pet.
Lauren Hope leads customer service for the online dog shop Fido Dog Treats. |
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Our dogs do so much for us and ask for little in return. They are the ultimate four-legged friends. They may also help in our natural quest for human companionship. Nothing starts a conversation faster than taking your dog on a walk through a crowded spot on a sunny afternoon. Friends and strangers alike can’t resist the opportunity to stop and chat and give a happy pooch a healthy petting.
It goes without saying that it would be wrong to get a pup simply to use it as a social tool. But there is no disadvantage in letting your pet help you make friends during a stroll through the park, neighborhood, or local outdoor event. You can also make friends via the virtual world of canine-centered message boards. Don’t be shy about letting man’s best friend act as your icebreaker.
D.P. Hesano is a co-founder of the online, natural dog supply shop FidoDogTreats.com. |
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As the routines and activities of the fall season start to appear on the horizon, it is important to remember that our dogs need to be given some time to adjust to their new schedules. Our pets typically enjoy those long summer days when kids are home from school, workdays tend to be a bit shorter and your pooch may even get to come along on a family vacation. The extra attention and potentially looser routine may be much different from the more scheduled patterns that begin with Labor Day. Much like a schoolchild that has become accustomed to staying up late, you will want to work your pet back into his or her normal routines and schedules. Also, a pet that has become quite comfortable with large doses of daytime human companionship may need to compassionately relearn how to spend some “alone” time.
Lauren Hope is co-founder of the online pet lifestyle shop FidoDogTreats.com |
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This week we’re talking about great reads for fearful dog parents, and another one of our picks is “Cautious Canine” by Patricia McConnell, PhD. Patricia is an industry-leading professional and in this concise, 30-page booklet, she manages to share a wide variety of easy to understand and implement classical and operant conditioning techniques to help rehabilitate dogs who are fearful.
Easily read in a single afternoon, this booklet makes a great starter book for fearful dog owners as well as providing affordable supportive material to professionals who are offering behavior modification services to clients living with fearful dogs.
Casey Lomonaco owns Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in Binghamton, NY. |
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Not all dogs enjoy water or take to swimming, but all dogs can benefit from a pool’s cooling effects in the hottest part of summer. A shallowly-filled toddler pool with low sides set in a shady corner of the grass can be a wading pool for non-aquatic pups. Cool water on the pads alone gives a hot dog a new lease on summer. Some non-swimmers even discover they enjoy rolling in the water. Even hot, old dogs can learn new tricks.
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
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As many of us enjoy a long day out on the water, our dogs often come along for cruises out on a boat. Although dogs can “doggie paddle” with varying levels of ability, the likelihood of a pooch staying afloat in open water for extended periods should not be overestimated. Should your dog somehow end up in the water unexpectedly, a canine-specific personal flotation device is the best way to assure your pet’s best chance of remaining safe until rescued. You’ll want to consider proper fit, sufficient flotation, durability and quality of construction when choosing a PFD. Don’t neglect comfort and ventilation as an overly snug life jacket will prevent proper canine cooling. Dogs should be introduced to both their life jackets and boats incrementally to prevent unnecessary anxiety.
D. P. Hesano is co-founder of the online dog health-style shop FidoDogTreats.com |
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Doing something as simple as walking your dog may not be quite so simple when summer temperatures soar. In certain regions, peak temperatures may make it unsafe to take a stroll with Fido during the heat of the day. If possible, save your dog’s daily exercise time for the morning and evening when cooler air prevails. If walking your pet is desired or necessary when the mercury is rising, then take precautions to prevent your pooch’s pads from burning on the pavement. If the ground is too hot on your bare feet, then it will be just as uncomfortable to puppy paws. If your stroll will take you out of close range from home, then take along some fresh water to ensure canine hydration. Additionally, special consideration should be given to dogs with health issues as well as overweight and older pooches.
Ricky Zee is a pet health consultant for the online dog health shop FidoDogTreats.com |
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Floppy-eared dogs that love to swim can develop chronic “swimmer’s ear” from water that lodges in the ear canal after a dip in the pool. Because of the shape of a dog’s descending ear canal, it is very hard for water to drip out. Gently using a cotton ball on your dog’s ears after a dip, then gently turning his ears inside out will allow them to air dry. For dogs who have long fur on their ears, you may even turn the ears open and then rubber band them back behind his head loosely with the rubber band wrapped only on the fur tips for an hour to ensure a good dry out.
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
