7 Indoor Activities for Cold Days

During the winter sometimes it is harder to spend as much time outdoors as we would like. Whether it is pouring rain and freezing, or just too cold to be out, there are alternatives to spending time with our dogs that do not have to be in the cold elements.

1. Read what your dog is saying. If you wake up and see that your dog is also snuggled in tight, chances are that he is just as comfortable and content as you are in your warm bed. We all have a habit of worrying too much if our dogs are receiving enough attention or getting enough exercise, but sometimes we can learn to relax from them.

2. Kongs, bully sticks, knuckle bones, and other long-lasting chewies are always your friend. You can keep your dog busy and happy while you get work done around the house.

3. Interactive toy games are a great activity for one-on-one time. Watching and helping your dog find a treat through a challenging maze not only gives him something fulfilling to do, but also shines a light on his talents and quirks.

4. Work on obedience commands. Even if your pooch has already mastered sit, stay, down, come, etc., you can still make a fun game out of drill work. Practice back-to-back commands to see how fast he can do them or how long he can hold them before being released. Lots of praise and fun!

5. If you have always wanted a dog who could twirl, roll over, or pick up his toys, bad weather can be your friend. If you would rather not bundle up and go out, but your dog is bored to death, add lots of mental stimulation by teaching your dog tricks.

6. Play Hide and Seek. You can play it to practice recall, get the kids involved, and teach them the foundation to search and rescue. Have one person hide, ask your dog to go find them, and then give lots of praise when he finds them. You can also hide their favorite toy somewhere in the house and have him search. This really gets them using their noses and makes a nice tired dog!

7. If you get cabin fever and want to take your dog somewhere, car rides can be an adventure, even if you do not plan on taking your dog out. Visit your favorite pet store and walk down all the aisles, practicing sit, stay, down, leave it, and come. Tire your dog out and then as a reward he can pick out a treat or toy.

Kersti Nieto
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC
nck9solutions.com

7 Indoor Activities for You and Your Dog

Between the summer heat and storms, many owners and dogs find themselves stuck indoors. Just because the weather is not conducive to outdoor activities does not mean there is nothing to do! Whether it is pouring rain or 100 degrees outside, it’s the time to get creative with indoor activities.

1. Practice basic commands, especially ones that your dog has yet to master. Mental exercise can make your dog more tired than physical.

2. Turn your house into a playhouse. If you have a long hallway, stairs, a covered porch, or garage, use it to play fetch or practice the Come command. Have your dog sit at the top of the steps with your Stay command, go down first, then call your dog. Repeat going back up. Make it a fun and happy game, and you will not even realize that you are getting exercise too! If you have a treadmill, you can acclimate your dog to walking on it.

3. You can play Hide and Seek to practice Come, get the kids involved, and teach them the foundation to search and rescue. Have one family member hide, then ask your dog to go find them, and then give lots of praise when he finds them! If your dog is more motivated by toys, hide his favorite toy and have him find it. This really gets dogs using their noses!

4. Puzzle Toys are a great way to provide mental exercise as well as build the human-canine bond. Check out all the neat toys on the market that can keep you and your dog involved together such as Nina Ottoson Puzzles or Kyjen Puzzles which you can find at one of our own local pet stores: http://www.animall.org.

5. Teach fun tricks. When you have a lot of time inside, it can be a great time to teach your dog some fun commands like roll over, dance, or speak! Remember to always keep it fun and enjoy yourself. The more genuine you are with teaching tricks, the more receptive the dog will be to your enthusiasm.

6. After an indoor mental exercise, you can take advantage of your dog’s calm state of mind to groom them. Having that calm down time gives you the opportunity to check your dog over, brushing them, checking their teeth, cutting their nails, and giving them a good look over.

7. Cuddle together or set them up with a stuffed kong or chewies such as bully sticks to settle down while you relax!

Kersti Nieto
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC
http://www.nck9solutions.com

7 Venues to Socializing your Dog

Socializing your dog is crucial for you to enjoy a well-rounded, well-mannered pooch. Not only will you enjoy the company of your buddy in public without embarrassment, but it will help greatly with mental stimulation, exercise, leadership, and self-control. The more you socialize  your dog, the less of a big deal public distractions will be to her.

Ways to Socialize your Dog

1. Have coffee/lunch/dinner at coffee shops and restaurants initially on your own then with family and friend.

2. Take him to your friends or family’s homes as well as social gatherings (with permission of course). Ask for their rules. If they wish for you to keep your dog crated, then bring a bully stick and water to keep your dog occupied. He will learn to adapt to different situations whether he is crated, leashed, or roaming among folks. Of course, roaming politely at a gathering will be the ultimate goal to be celebrated with a margarita!

3. Take walks in different locations at parks such as Shelley Lake, Lake Lynn, Pullen Park, etc. as well as outdoor malls such as Stonehenge Mall. This will expose your dogs to different distractions such as grocery store carts and doors that open/close,  joggers, bikes, strollers, ducks, playgrounds, bridges, etc.

4. Take your dog to dog-friendly businesses such as pet stores and including your own work place. I have had clients report that they received permission to go into a home improvement stores, video stores, jewelry stores, etc. You can ask any establishment that doesn’t sell food.

5. Take your dog with you on errands, family activities, and, if you are self-employed, to your coffee shop while you work. You can walk him around then keep him in the car while you run into the store (on cool days only of course). Sit on a bench and you both watch the kids play. Work while your dog learns to lounge.

6. Socializing also includes having guests over so you and your dog can practice door manners as well as not harassing your guests. You might have to start with your dog on a leash and even give him a bully stick to keep himself busy, until you can weane him off both as you continue your training step-by-step.

7. If your dog is still rowdy and you need guidance, classes are a great socializing venue while receiving professional guidance so you can get the manners in quicker. Dogs learn to pay attention to you with dogs and owners around. A favorite is the Public Manners class so it’s real life.

And throughout this part of your journey with your canine companion, have fun!

Sylvie Pleasant
Specializing in Manners
Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant
K9 Solutions LLC
www.nck9solutions.com

Friday Canine Friends: Bitsy’s Career

 

Bitsy with sister Amy Beth

Hi, my name is Bitsy Dog Walker but everybody just calls me Bitsy. I was born on Thanksgiving Day in 2007 and came to live with my human family when I was 7 weeks old. My Great Grandma was a Cocker Spaniel and my Great Grandpa was a Poodle and that makes me a Cockapoo.

The first time Dad took me to the doctor she said that I was so smart and confident that I needed a job. That was a polite way of saying I had waaaay too much energy. So Dad called Sylvie at K9 Solutions and started taking me to school and I loved it! When I graduated I heard people say I was the youngest dog that they ever known to graduate from dog school.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up, but Dad knew I liked people so after a while he took me to back to school with Sylvie where I learned to be something they called a therapy dog. After I got out of that school we started going to places where people sit around and wait for me to come visit them. Boy, that’s cool! People talk real sweet to me and hold me and rub my fur and I show my appreciation by doing tricks for them.

A little later we got into a program called “See Spot Read” where children read to a dog named Spot. Spot must be real busy because he never has shown up so the children read to me! That’s like heaven because children are my favorite people! And that’s how I came to have my job!

My favorite pastimes when I’m not working are spending quite time with Mom while she reads, taking long walks with Mom & Dad, playing games and doing dog agility training with Dad.

Friday Canine Friend: Reliable Joy

Yesterday, I left my Japanese Chin Raven out of her crate when I left. So when I pulled up, I could see her through my glass door. She was literally spinning in the air for joy. Spin, run to glass door, spin, run to glass door, spin, run to glass door.

I felt so much joy just watching her in her bliss over my coming home and wondered at how we forget those simple moments of seeing one another–our own family members, friends, most coworkers :), etc. She’s been with me 2 years now and it’s amazing that she can still exhibit so much happiness at seeing me. What a lesson in finding joy in simply meeting each other.

Sylvie Pleasant
Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant
K9 Solutions LLC
www.nck9solutions.com

Friday Canine Friend: Meeting your Dog Halfway

From my sitting spot in my kitchen overlooking my beautiful garden, I can briefly see my neighbors walking by on the street. One morning, I watched as one of my neighbors was walking her quite elderly Bassett Hound. She was using a flexi and as the Bassett walked slowly in a straight pattern (with his nose glued to the ground of course), his human walked in a zig zag so she could go at her own faster pace and get exercised.

I often get excuses from dog owners on why they can’t do certain tasks such as walking their dog properly: too hot, too cold, too tired, dog pulling, dog lunging or too excited, etc. All excuses with solutions.

I  marveled that this person had found such a simple solution to getting her exercise and still incorporate her elderly dog. And I no longer feel that flexis should be outlawed 🙂 With proper caution, that is actually a good use for them.

7 Steps to Eliminating Unwanted Digging

Reasons for Digging

Some breeds such as terriers and terrier mixes have been bred for generations to dig.

Burying bones is a strong impulse for many dogs.

Dogs will dig when they are hot. The cool earth feels good.

Some dogs mimic their owners who are gardening.

Going after moles, voles, etc.

Boredom, frustration, and loneliness.

Recommendations

1.       Burying bones: Do not give your dog bones outside or confine him to an enclosed area.

2.       When hot: Get a kiddy pool or hose him off. Be sure he has shade always no matter where the sun falls.

3.       Mimicking: Leave him in house while you are gardening.

4.       For bored and frustrated dogs, provide plenty of exercise and obedience training. More attention and time with the “pack” is crucial in owning a healthy, stable pet. Make him a part of the family and give him a function.

5.       Get rid of the moles by getting rid of the grubs they feed on. Lowes or Home Depot can help you.

6.       Bury poop into the dugged hole with a thin layer of dirt covering it.

7.       Digging is natural, pleasurable, and wonderful exercise for dogs. Why not compromise and provide them with their own area to dig where holes are acceptable? You can allow your dog to dig under the deck or stairs or fence off his own area. When he digs out of his area, say “no dig” and take him to his own area, get him digging by showing him yourself (it is easiest to get him digging where the ground is soft or a hole is already started), and praise a lot when he does.

Sylvie Pleasant
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC

7 Ideas for Exercising your Dog

Please check out each activity thoroughly and make sure that they are suitable to you and your pets’ needs and likes. Different breeds/individuals have different endurance levels and physical limitations. Also puppies’ bones keep growing for a couple of years so keep this in mind as you buid up their endurance and don’t overdo an exercise. Consult your vet if you are unsure.

1. Power walks or jogging.

2. If you are unable to power walk or jog, walk your dog in Heel position next to you and have him Sit frequenty such as at every mailbox or driveway. You will tire him out mentally.

3. Get a backpack! It will make your dog feel like he is working, give him more exercise, and help slow him down. You can use bottled water, books, ziploc bags with beans, etc. Use 10% of his weight so 5% on each side of the backpack.

4. Swimming.

5. Fetching. And fetching up and down stairs will get your dog more tired but keep growing bones in mind and don’t overdo it.

6. Hiking.

7. If you have trouble exercising your dog, consider a pet sitter who specializes in jogging.

Dogs Reaching out to Others

Dear Sylvie, Kathy, and Staff,

 

I thought you would enjoy my sharing this little “moment” with you. I have been taking Teddy on therapy dog visits to an Alzheimer’s residential facility in Wake Forest for about a year now. On each of our weekly visits, one lady  has consistently been repeating the same phrase, “Please God, please God” and rocking repetitiously in her wheelchair without making any verbal response to Teddy’s presence. Yesterday, as I was leading Teddy around to each resident in the day room for patting (they all love his soft fur and floppy ears), we approached this lady and she looked at Teddy and at me and said, quite clearly, “That’s a nice dog, that’s a nice dog.” Then, when I lifted Teddy up beside her, she reached out and petted his head and said again, “nice dog.”

Just a little moment, but a very memorable one, thanks to all of your wonderful training, encouragement, and support!

Best wishes,

W.F. and Teddy

Friday Canine Friend: Look where you are going

During a consult to teach owners how to have a well-mannered Golden, I was covering the Sit at the Door exercise to reinforce a strong Stay. The owners were sitting on the couch watching my demo. I put the Golden in a Sit and, while keeping an eye on him to make sure he stayed in his Sit, I opened the back door. I explained that I was going to step through the doorway then give the dog his release command to go out the door as well. I turned and ran quite roughly right into their glass door!

My immediate thought was how stupid I just looked so of course with my twisted sense of humor, I died laughing while the owners looked on horrified.

Lesson: Look where you are going or you might just bounce off a hard surface!