I wanted to let everyone know that I will not be posting any more blog posts on this blog. I switched my website over to another host that supports Wordpress, so I am now blogging over there! New blog posts are already up!
I am also holding my first Contest for a chance to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate!
Head on over to Talented K9 Dog Training for more details and more posts!
This is just a quick note to let everyone know that the Dogs and Babies blog has moved. The blog contains excellent articles by dog behavior consultant and dog/child relationship expert Madeline Gabriel. If you have children and dogs or are expecting a new baby with a dog in the home, we recommend that you check out the information in this blog. Here is the link to the new location: http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/blog/
Alfie is a Entlebucher Mountain Dog who has his own blog. Youll find his blog full of humor and there is always something fun to read. His blog is beautifully done, you can see he put a lot of work into it. Youll find facts about his breed, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog along with Alfies very own shop where you can get cool things with his picture on them.
Have a dog related blog you would like me to check out? Post a link to it in the comments below and Ill check it out! Perhaps your blog will be featured next!
Doggone Safe has announced the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge for 2012. It challenges its presenters to visit schools and educate 50,000 children about dog safety in a single month. The Challenge is to celebrate Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 20-26, 2012). Non-profit Doggone Safe has more than 800 presenters in 17 countries, 11 Canadian provinces and 43 states in the USA.
Dog bites to children are considered to be a serious public health problem by public health agencies and veterinary medical associations worldwide. Statistics show that most bites are by the family dog or other dog known to the child. “Experts agree that public education has an important role to play in reducing dog bite risk to children, and the Be a Tree program is one of the ways Doggone Safe is contributing”, said Teresa Lewin, vice president and cofounder of Doggone Safe.
Doggone Safe administers the “Be a Tree” dog bite prevention program for school children. The program is delivered by Doggone Safe presenters, veterinary technicians, dog trainers, dog behaviorists, public health nurses, emergency medical services personnel, animal control officers, police officers, teachers and humane educators. Presenters use a teacher kit which contains large format photographs showing dog body language signs, games and activities. Program sponsors can purchase supplementary branded learning materials such as coloring books, paint sheets, a story book, a poster, stickers, bookmarks and fridge magnets. Over 700,000 children worldwide have experienced the Be a Tree presentation since 2004. Through the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge, Doggone Safe aims to increase this by almost ten percent.
“I love ‘be a tree’ (and ‘be a rock’). Its the best of its kind. This information has to get out there”, said Jean Donaldson – Internationally recognized dog behavior expert, award-winning author and director of the Academy for Dog Trainers.
For more information about the Challenge, to become a sponsor, to book a presentation for your school or to register as a presenter please visit the Doggone Safe website at www.doggonesafe.com.
We Need Your Help! Here are some ways you can help
Do a presentation. If you are a Be a Tree presenter, please join the Challenge! Talk to your local schools and organize one or more presentations. We have a letter to the principal and letter to the teacher that you can download, edit and use to explain the program.
Become a Be a Tree presenter. Click here for more information. The Be a Tree Teacher Kit Plus PowerFlashPoint Show are now on sale for $70 (thats $30 off!) from now until the end of May.
Buy from Canada
Buy from the US
Buy from Elsewhere (note delivery can take up to 4 weeks)
Send out our press release. Download our press release and send it to you local media. If you are a presenter and have your own business, you can download and edit the press release template to help promote your business and get some media attention for yourself and Doggone Safe.
Blog about the Challenge. If you have a blog, please copy this blog post, use one of our prewritten articles or write your own article about the Challenge.
Share on Facebook and Tweet about the Challenge. Here is a link to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DoggoneSafe. Like our page and then share the post about the Challenge.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful, kind, and supportive comments on our new addition! Rule, as she has been christened, says thank you.
Today Im participating in the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop, hosted by Rubicon Days, Tenacious Little Terrier, and Cascadian Nomads. Januarys theme is "National Train You Dog Month", and as always, any positive-based training posts are accepted.
I debated on doing a sort of "Plans for 2016" training post, but quickly dropped the idea in favor of something Ive been really enjoying lately, and something that I feel is invaluable to those of us with active dogs, or any dogs, really!
Whats that, you ask? Fitness, and how to keep your dogs body strong and healthy!
2015 was my year of getting fit and healthy. I quit sugar in late December of 2014, and aside from yogurt, peanut butter, and natural sugars like fruit and honey, havent had any since then. Ive kept up with yoga 4-7 days a week. I started running and walking, and have been consistently doing 5 to 10 miles a day. I quit gluten, Im careful with getting enough sleep, and eat incredibly healthy.
I had one small cold in October, but was otherwise 100% healthy. In the years before, Id be sick 5+ times a year. My moods are stable, my skin is clear for the first time in my life, I feel amazing, and I am so happy. I cant imagine its much different for our dogs!
Having a fit and healthy dog has always been a top priority of mine. The vast majority of dachshund owners do not exercise their dogs, leading to overweight dogs and more back problems than you can shake a stick at. I refuse to have that for my Doxie girls, or Pike or Rule. Aside from a good diet, exercise is one of the best tools for a healthy dog. These are some simple, fun training activities you can do with your dog to help increase strength, balance, flexibility, and overall stamina.
Disclaimer: Know thy dog. These exercises are preformed by young, healthy dogs with no medical problems. Be careful!
Parkour
Something Ive become a little obsessed with lately is Parkour for dogs, or "Barkour", as it is sometimes called. Parkour training is a way of using your environment as an obstacle course, involving climbing, jumping, running, vaulting, ect. Its the same thing for dogs!
I like it because you dont need any fancy equipment (Im cheap!), and anywhere you go can offer different challenges for you and your dog. Everything from trees to fences to picnic tables to playgrounds can be used! You can even earn titles in the sport from The International Dog Parkour Training Association. I may try both Nola and Rule for these soon.
I only started the girls on this about a week and a half ago, but already theyre picking it up and loving it. Its Nolas favorite time of day!
Some cues used in the below photos:
Paws Up! (front feet on object)
Up! (jump onto object)
Pretty (sit pretty/beg)
Stand (stand on hind legs)
Climb (self explanatory)
Up on here (walk along an elevated surface)
Working on climbing on cue! #positivedogtraining #dogtraining #smartdog #climb #dailydog #dachshunds #dachshundnola #dachshundsofinstagram #dogstagram #dogsofinstagram #trainyourdog
A video posted by @dachshund_nola on
Climbing over an obstacle
Were working on going under, too!
Climbing up
Climbing down
Up on a bucket
Up on a cinderblock
Increasing difficulty by having her back feet on the bucket, and her front on my leg.
Climbing
Standing up on a cinderblock. Bonus core and rear workout!
Shes such a happy dog!
Balancing on a narrow board
Paws up
Jumping off
Using a tree to show off "paws up!"
Now the other side!
Rear end awareness on a hunk of lumber.
Paws up
Balancing on a narrow walkway
Tandem paws up!
And again!
Stretching
Any athlete, human or canine, needs to have warm ups, cool downs, and stretches. Warming up literally warms and ready the muscles and sinews for activity. Cool downs allow the body to work out lactic acid, prevents stiffness and soreness, and lets the heart and respiratory rate to return to normal. Stretching helps to maintain flexibility and fluidity, allows blood to better circulate, and greatly reduces the risk of injury.
I do all three of these with the girls before a Parkour session, before a run or long walk, before an intense play session (especially tug), and before working on physically demanding tricks.
For cool warm ups and cool downs, Ill have them do a few sit/down/stand/repeat drills, a quick brisk walk and/or backing up or other rear end awareness exercises. It only takes a few minutes, and helps to get the girls into a training mood.
For stretching, I follow the things listed here. Theyre easy to put on cue!
Conditioning: Poses and Equipment
There are a few great poses your dog can learn to help build muscles. Sit pretty (or beg) is fantastic for building core strength. I do this one a lot with Nola; having a strong back and core reduces the risk of back issues. Standing on the hind legs builds both the rear muscles as well as balance. Holding positioning, or changing position, on some kind of balancing equipment not only builds balance, but also overall strength.
Two great resources on Facebook are Canine Conditioning and Body Awareness, and Structure in Motion - Too!
Im a sucker for dog gear of all kinds, and fitness and conditioning gear is no exception. Currently we only have a FitPaws donut, but this month Im planning on ordering several others, including:
Paw Pods
Balance Disc
Peanut
Wobble Board
Since Im cheap, Ill be buying the human version of these (and perhaps having my dad make a wobble board). Half the price and just as sturdy!
Nola and Rule also do 3-5 miles of walking and about a mile of running a day with me, in addition to play, with both me and all the dogs together. Those two are both high energy dogs, while Pike and Olivia lean more towards moderate and low, respectively.
Keeping your dogs in good body conditioning also greatly reduces the risk of injuries. Nola and Rule score as 4s on the Purina body condition chart, where Pike is a 5 and Olivia a 4. Its hard to see on Pike and Liv due to their coats, but you can see it well on the smoothies.
My Four Dogs is a fun and informative blog. Read stories about her four dogs, along with reviews and other things youll find helpful such as; How To Get Rid of Fleas.
I really enjoyed their latest post about her German Shepherd Lizzie on their canoe trip.
Definitely a blog worth checking out, so dont miss out!
*Maya, if you would like a picture of one of your dogs on here instead of a random pic, please email me one along with who to credit for it.
Today we are featuring Snoopy! See him at Snoopys Dog Blog. Told from Snoopys point of view, youll find his blog very fun to read. Today is...
Join him, especially if youre a dog and have your own blog!
Not only does Snoopy have his own blog, but he also has his own book! Snoopy will teach you all about getting into Mischief.
Hi, my name is Snoopy. I’m a Young Bearded Collie Therapy Dog who lives in California. I have what’s called a blue coat and matching blue eyes (you can see when my fur isnt covering them). I thought it would be fun to share my special moments as I grow up, did I mention I like a Little Mischief?! :) I hope youre having a fun day :)Snoopy
Doggone Safe has announced the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge for 2012. It challenges its presenters to visit schools and educate 50,000 children about dog safety in a single month. The Challenge is to celebrate Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 20-26, 2012). Non-profit Doggone Safe has more than 800 presenters in 17 countries, 11 Canadian provinces and 43 states in the USA. 
