With the warmer weather and rain instead of snow, our four-legged friend bring truck loads of mud into the house. Before you become resentful of time spent outside, these three training tips will save you time, money and frustration.

• First – Let’s practice

When you come back from the walk or play ask your wet and muddy dog to sit on the mat outside the door until you dry him with a towel. Have a bunch of “retired” big towels handy in a close container by the door. A cookie jar easy accessible by the entrance will make it very easy for Buster to adopt this new rule.

• A second mat where your canine friend can lay down

The towel will remove the excess water and wipe most of the mud but your dog is still going to be wet. So a mat close by the kitchen or living room where he can see you and feel part of the family will be the next step.

Since you are just coming back from an outing, it should not be difficult to have him lay down quietly until he is dryer. Being banned to the hall way, the laundry room or garage would feel a punishment… and really… he didn’t do anything bad! It sure would take all the fun out of going for a walk and would be quite confusing.

• Third – You decide when Fido is dry enough

The third rule would be that fido will keep laying on the second mat until you decide he is dry enough to join the rest of the family again.

Make that a reasonable length of time so he is not...

Dogs love to lay around in the sun or by a cozy fire. But give them the opportunity and they are ready to jump up and join us in physical activities and learning new things. This is very good for us humans because it gives us an incentive to be active and away from the couch and television.

There is a lot we can do together beyond just basic training. All of it is fun and will help you learn and better understand your dog. In order to perform even at a non competitive level, you have to work together as a team, learn to recognize his body language and how your body language affects his response. You will end up with a dog that is healthier, calmer, more confident and easy to be around.

 Six Activities/Sports You Can Do with Your Dog

1 – Agility

Agility is a great way to keep up with your training in a fun environment. You can get competitive or keep it laid back and just do it for fun. Your dog has to go over, under or through obstacles. Your job is to direct him along the course. Agility will build your dog’s coordination and boost is confidence.

2 – Tracking

60% of a dog’s behaviour is driven by his nose. Tracking is what a dog is all about: His nose. This is a great activity to do with any dogs. But if you have an older dog and want to keep him active, tracking is a sport that will keep him engaged and stimulated with very low impact. Tracking is natural and safe for all dogs with just the right amount of physical exercise.

3 – Free Style Canine Dancing

This sport is gaining more and more popularity. If you want to take your obedience training to the next level and have a lot of fun in the process, then doggie dancing might be for you. It is the equivalent to equine dressage and combine, grace, elegance music with obedience. Team work is a must. It requires a lot of time and dedication but the results can be astonishing.

4 – Running and Skijoring

Dogs are the ideal running or cross country partner. Now this is not for everyone or any type of dogs. Usually working breeds are best suited for endurance work. If you love the outdoors, all you need is a good pair of running shoes or cross country ski, a good fitting harness for your dog and off you go.

5 – Free Style Frisbee

Frisbee is not for every dog either. Here you are teaching your dog to jump up to catch a Frisbee. The jumping can get complicated and hard on the dog’s joints. So choose your dog carefully if this something you want to get involved with. Medium size and thin body type of dog are best.

6 – Visiting Patients in Hospital, Senior Home and Children 

The joy and smile on patients face when you enter a hospital or a nursing home with a dog is priceless. Very few people resist the warmth and cuddliness of a furry friend. Small or large, any breed, they all have a role and a unique way to connect with a patient. Your dog has to be certified as ...

Dogs love car rides. Ears in the wind in the back of a pick up truck, faces hanging out of window, cute little dog on the driver’s lap are just some of the images that come to mind when we think of a dog and a car ride.

driving and texting or talking on your cell phone, dogs can be a distraction and become a hazard when driving. 80% of dog owners take their dog for car rides, only 20% restrain them in the vehicle. It does not mean that Daisy has to stay home when you go for a ride. With a few precautions, she can safely come along in any outings. 

1 - Buckle up Goes for Dogs as Well

An unrestrained dog, even in the back of the vehicle, can go flying through the windshield if you have to break suddenly.

• A 60 pound dog in a car travelling 30 mph will hit an object 10 inches in front of him at 1,200 pounds per square inch.

Depending on the size and type of dog you have, a safety harness, a crate, a booster car seat or a barrier will keep your pooch safe and secure in your vehicle.

• A safety harness is great for short drive because it is easy to get your dog in and out of the car. The harness stays on and you just unbuckle the seat belt. Some models also have a “block feature” where the dog can get up and turn around and lay down the other way but will lock if you have to break suddenly (same system as your seat belt).
• A crate works well when you dog get anxious in a car. a den, it is a safe and secure place. Make sure it is well secured and well ventilated. When the car is parked make sure to let your dog out of the crate or keep the door open. Even in fair weather, a plastic crate can get quite hot
• A booster seat is a good alternative to the crate for a small/medium size dog. 
• A barrier will stop Daisy from coming forward and will keep her safely in the back of the vehicle. If you have to break and she is at the back of the vehicle, the impact can still be very powerful.

2 - Riding in an RV

I would use a well secured crate or a seat belt. Some dogs can get anxious when they cannot see you. So make sure they can see you from their safe spot.

3 – Avoid riding in the front seat

A small dog can get crushed by the deployment of the air bag and a medium size dog can be badly injured. You may not be able to avoid an accident but there are certain things you can do to reduce the impact. Dogs, kids, should ride in the back seat of the vehicle.

4 – Pick up Truck – No Free Ride in the Back

Beside the fact that it is illegal in most states, having your dog riding in the back of a pick up truck can be dangerous. A lot of people will tie their dog to the side of the vehicle. I don’t think it is safe. A spooked dog can do crazy thing. trying to jump off the vehicle for example. I really believe that in the case of a pick up truck, using a well secured, insulated crate is your best and safer bet.

One last point. In case of an accident, your ...

It is said that dogs contribute to the pollution of the Planet as much as an SUV. So as we just celebrated Earth Day, I thought it would be interesting to see if there are ways we can reduce our dog’s carbon paw print.

1 – Train Your Dog

A well trained dog is a free dog. It is a dog that is under control and you can take him anywhere. When Snoopy doesn’t go after wildlife, run all over garden beds or dig in public places and behaves, he becomes a canine ambassador.

2 – Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit

Dogs by nature are active and need to exercise mentally and physically to stay healthy. A dog that lays around all day long is bored, his immune system is weak and he will be more prone to diseases. Keeping your dog active will entice you to be more active too. It is good for both of you. A walk on the leash for most dogs is not enough. You need to be engaged in more stimulating activities such as hiking, running, agility, tracking etc. There are many things you can do together and it will bring the two of you (or family) closer. A healthy dog needs fewer visits to the vet and less medications.

3 – Keep Your Dog Healthy with Good Nutrition

Dog food is a booming industry. You can find anything from very low price to very high end, kibbles, raw, dehydrated you name it, it is available. I am not here to tell you which food to choose because that depends on you, your budget and your dog. But consider this when buying your dog food in pet store or supermarket:

• Cheaper foods may be costing you more you think. It is mass produced with a lot of filler and not manufactured with your dog’s health and the Planet well being in mind.
• Read the ingredients on the bag before buying and pay close attention to the first 5 ingredients. A lot of dog foods are made from fillers and “stuff” you cannot even pronounce. Keep in mind that price is not always a grantee of good quality. Some dogs get sick just because of the food they eat. Processed food always requires more energy and produce more waste than fresh food.
• High end products have better quality food but are often packaged in bags that are non recyclable.

us dogs are what they eat. It does not have to be expansive and you will find that often the market place makes thing a little bit more complicated than it needs to be. You might pay a little extra for premium food or home cooked food but is it worth it if your dog stays healthier and only needs to visit the vet for annual check up.

Dogs use to eat a lot of our leftovers and nothing would go to waste. They were a lot healthier. So where does the notion that dogs should only eat packaged food come from?

4 – Get Recycled Toys or Buy Toys Made From Recycled Materials

Let’s face it – toys are adorable but children, dogs get bored with their toys fairly fast. They have a couple of toys they carry around and absolutely love. The others are in the spot light for ...

Written by Doug Betts 

I don’t have time to exercise … I’ve got kids … I work too many hours … I’m too old … I can’t afford a gym membership … My back hurts … 

I’ve been a trainer for over a decade, and in that time, I’ve heard a lot of excuses why fitness sees just out of reach for so many people. The fact is, however, that for every excuse I’ve ever heart, I know someone who has overcome it. I know of a father who does marathons and triathlons with his quadriplegic son being carried, pushed, or towed the whole way. I know a nurse who works 12 hour shifts and has managed to lose weight through the breakup of her marriage. There’s a story of a high school football player who had a prosthetic leg. There’s even a champion wrestler with no arms and no legs. None of these people have allowed excuses to get in the way of their dreams. 

The other side of the coin is people who turn their excuses around by labeling successful people as exceptions. “Well of course she can lose weight, she doesn’t even have kids.” “He only has a six-pack because he’s 20 years old.” The list continues on and on, but a couple of examples should suffice. 

These are still excuses, but they are hidden in sort of pseudo-logic. When you hear it, it kind of makes sense, and you find yourself agreeing with it. Rest assured, however, it’s just as much of an excuse as saying, “I can’t get fit because ….” 

Here’s a great quote from Richard Bach that really sums up my feeling about excuses:
”Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours.” 

It speaks to the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Essentially, whether you say you can or you can’t, you’re right. Too many people spend too much time defending their excuses. I believe this is to be a way of snatc...

I often hear that such and such breeds are better around children that others and that might be true. I have seen dogs and kids getting along very well regardless of the breed. I believe that both sides need some training and understanding each other to start with. A family dog, Snooki, will have to deal with the kids the moment he gets into his new home. But the grandkids are not always at home. So you are going to need some special training time to make sure both sides gets along without problems.

Training the Kids

Most kids love dogs and want to handle, cuddle and play with the dog. With a few guidelines non should not be a problem. This can actually be a wonderful moment spent together learning about Snooki and get them involved.

Teach the children how to:

Respect the Dog

• No pulling ears, tail or fur. This is not an acceptable way to play with the dog.Teach them some of your basic commands so it is easy for your dog to understand the children.
• Show them how to gently brush Snooki and how to groom him. It is a great bonding experience.
• When he retreats to his bed or crate, explain to the kids that this is a time to leave the dog alone. Snooki needs to rest and wants some quiet time. 
• Some children do not know how to play with dogs and can be rough. They need to be shown some games and how to play…chasing balls or sticks; play frisbee; ‘go look’ games are great games for both sides to have fun.

Learn How Snooki Communicates

• Together watch a DVD about dog body signals and communication (best are from Turid Rugaas) so they understand how dogs communicate. I to follow up with a talk and find out what they understand.

Feeding Time

• Get older children involved in food preparation, if they are interested, and get them to feed the dogs. Now the dogs have to sit and wait and cannot eat until the kids say the commands OK.

~I know there is controversy around this but I have found that it gives the dogs a different view about the children when they feed him. They become more than just a playmate.

• Never leave the children unsupervised with the dog especially when they are very young. 

Teach the Dog About the Children

• Children are rapid moving targets, can be loud and unpredictable. They also love to touch and handle a dog – especially a puppy. When problems occur, it is often around food and toys.
• Make sure that your dog is used to be handled from head to toe, brushed, having someone look inside the mouth, and examine his paws. Now this is not just because of the kids; but when your dog is used to being touched and handled, he is not so protective of his body. This is also helpful if he gets injured.
• Since the grandkids are not around all the time, get Snooki exposed to children. Carry treats in your pocket and let children pet him an feed him treats so he associates children to something good.
• At...