Guess what pet lovers? There’s a fab new YouTube Channel completely devoted to our furry friends. The masters of everything lifestyle are today launching their brand new channel – EHow Pets. Just like Pretty Fluffy, EHow Pets will be all about living your best life with your pets.
Here’s a sneak peek of an upcoming video featuring the lovely Victoria Stillwell…
Can’t wait for more! To subscribe visit the EHow Pets Channel on YouTube.
How many tricks can your dog do? Shake hands? Roll over? Sit? Well today you’re in for a treat as we have Dr Katrina Warren, celebrity vet and author, sharing the secrets of one of her favourite tricks featured in her brand new book Wonderdogs Tricks & Training.
Most of you will probably know Katrina as the former co-host of Harry’s Practice, or for her role on Animal Planet’s Housecat Housecall. But most recently Katrina has teamed up with renowned trainer, Kelly Gill, to bring us all their tips and tricks of the trade. Based completely on positive reinforcement techniques, the Wonderdogs Tricks & Training handbook starts with the simplest of tricks – such as sit, drop, stay – and works all the way up to counting, spelling and advanced TV/Film tricks. Dogs love to learn and reward training is a great, fun way to spend time with your pooch, and bond, while also improving their behaviour and providing the mental stimulation they often crave. Wrapped up in a handbag sized book, this guide is perfect for training your dog the basics plus a little razzle dazzle for fun – no dog owner should be without it. Suitable for puppies right up to old grandmas like Soda, this book proves you can teach old AND young dogs new tricks! And to get you and your pooch started today, we’re going back to the Wild West for a trick called ‘Bang!’
THE TRICK: BANG
This is where you point your fingers like a toy gun at your dog and say ‘BANG’. Your dog falls to the ground and plays dead. This trick is a modified fun version of ROLL OVER, but far more impressive because you progress to teach your dog to do it from the SIT position so there is a lot of movement. This is one of Flynn the Wonderdog’s favourite positions, he even likes to sleep like this. He also knows that small children like to pat him on his chest while he’s in this position.
WHAT YOU NEED
• A dog who knows how to SIT, DROP and STAY
• Treats
HOW TO: WONDERDOG STEPS
1. Begin with your dog in the DROP position and reward him with a treat.
2. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose. Slowly move your hand towards his shoulder with his nose following and reward him with the treat. Repeat and eventually your dog will find it easy to lie on his side. Reward him for being on his side.
3. Now hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose, and slowly move your hand towards his shoulder, then continue to move your hand over his back until he is lying on his back with his legs in the air. You may need to help support him in this position to start with. Say ‘BANG’ and then reward him with the treat.
4. Keep practising until your dog naturally rolls onto his back from the DROP position when he hears you say ‘BANG’.
5. Start including a hand signal of fingers pointing like a gun.
6. Once perfected from the DROP position, commence from the SIT position. Go slowly as he needs to SIT then DROP then ROLL OVER.
7. The final step is asking him to hold the position when he is on his back with his legs in the air. This is just a matter of asking him to STAY when in this position. Be sure to reassure him with verbal praise.
8. Always release your dog from being ‘dead’ with an ‘OK’.
9. Once your dog has mastered the trick, you can progress to teaching him to respond from a standing position, always using the same hand signal and verbal cue.
HANDY TIP: The key here is to take your time and not expect your dog to put it all together at once. Do several sessions just learning to ROLL OVER before you consider progressing. Even the smartest dog can get confused when asked to do several movements at once.
Voila! And just to prove that this trick CAN be done at home, here’s a pooch I prepared earlier…She’s only a few more fun-filled training sessions away from a gold star:
Wonderdogs Tricks & Training is available now at all good book stores. Copies are also available through the Animal Welfare League with profits from those sales going towards animals in need. Click here to buy and help a pooch at the same time! Happy Training!
I’m super excited, because today on Pretty Fluffy we have Amy Tressider, the founder of Happy Paws Fitness, here to tell us the best way for you and your dog to fit and healthy this year. So stop watching the Gilmore Girls, get off that couch and GET ACTIVE!
STEP ONE: PREPARE
1. Consider your dog’s health before embarking on a new exercise routine.
Think about whether your pooch has any health issues that you may need to take into consideration for exercising i.e. Arthritis, old injuries, hip or knee problems – says Amy, ”If your dog has any of these problems you are better off exercising on soft surfaces rather than pounding the pavement. You also have to take into account breed health problems - for example Pugs, Bulldogs, Frenchies etc should not be exercised in the middle of the day due to their breathing capabilities.”
2. Define your Dog’s Fitness Levels & Ability.
There’s no use asking your Teacup Chihuahua to keep up with you on a mountain bike trail. Look at your dog’s age and breed and set some limits for your exercise routine. “If you are unsure, ask your vet,” notes Amy.
3. Fuel your Dog for Fitness.
Think about the last time you felt motivated to do a spin class after a McHappy meal. Without the proper diet, you’re basically asking your pooch to run with their tank half empty. “Food/fuel is a really important tool to making sure your your dog is ready to exercise; whether you feed a raw diet or a biscuit diet, make sure what ever you feed has real ingredients, the less preservatives and chemicals the better – a rule of thumb is if you cant pronounce it or it has a number after or before it you don’t want it in your little mate’s body.”
STEP TWO: CHOOSE YOUR EXERCISE
Walking. Nothing beats a good old fashioned dog walk! Says Amy, “If you can, walk towards an off leash park where your dog can have some free time between the leash walking. Aim to walk for an hour and their off leash time can be 10 minutes. If your dog isn’t ready to be off leash yet the treat can be walking slowly through the off leash park so they can take in all the smells and sights.” For an added bonus consider mixing up your dog’s walking routine. “You can also do some shuttle runs with your dog – pick a start and finish, run one way then the other; this is a fun game in which you and you and your dog can race each other.”
Running. A great exercise for both you and your pooch, but make sure you don’t tire your dog out too soon. Amy offers this advice, “You may need to include some walking if your dog gets tired. It’s a good idea to be able to run in the direction of a park with a water bowl so your running buddy can hydrate while you’re out.”
Swimming. Great for dogs with joint issue or weight problems, swimming is the perfect summer activity. “You can look up dog friendly beaches in your area, take a ball, water & sunscreen,” says Amy. But be careful – ”Some breeds can over exert themselves, some may chase seagulls or ducks or just swim too far chasing their own splashes. Keep an eye on them as some may need a forced rest.”
STEP THREE: START SLOW
If you’re new to exercise or getting back into it after a few years, don’t go too hard too soon – for the sake of your dog and your own health. Set goals that are achievable for your first week and go from there. “Set off on a 20 minute walk, allow your dog a rest after 10 minutes if they are struggling,” advises Amy, “and then perhaps for week two you can add 5 or to minutes to your walk.”
And don’t forget to have fun! Exercise needn’t be a chore – and with your best friend by your side it should be part of the day that you look forward to enthuses Amy, “You want to make it fun for both of you so set off with a positive and confident out look, your dog will feed off your energy and you will both feel better.”
STEP FOUR: EVALUATE
Before you start any exercise, evaluate your dog’s weight and overall health. Make a note of it. This will give you a clear starting point to come back to as you continue to document your dog’s health and/or weight loss as the year continues.
How to Assess your Dog’s Weight
AMY’S TOP PICKS FOR GETTING FIT WITH YOUR DOG
Toys. My top tips would be never throw sticks as these can splinter in their mouths, get stuck between their teeth and cause all sorts of nasty problems. The humble tennis ball is also nasty; the fibres get stuck between the dogs teeth and can be corrosive over time. The up side is there are special dog tennis balls that don’t puncture and don’t have the harmful fibres, there are also stick replicas made of rubber so you can avoid the vet after your park play. There are also many floating toys on the market so if you are heading to the beach remember to pack floating toys otherwise you may be going for a swim.
Collars. Flat nylon collars with sturdy buckles are best for exercising your dog, you need to make sure there are no tears or weak spots. If your dog gets a fright near the road you want to know that he or she cant get away.
Leads. I prefer flat nylon leads for exercise, I like them to be soft on my hands, and not too long that my charge can get too far in front of me. Slip leads are also in my equipment kit, especially if a dog slips its collar; you can make a slip lead from your regular lead by threading the clip through the handle in emergencies.
Harnesses. Some dogs have to wear harnesses for medical reasons, there are non pulling harnesses that can work really well if fitted properly. The only down side to harnesses if used inappropriately is that they can make your dog even stronger. Always make sure your dog’s harness is fitted correctly because if they are not, your dog may be able to back out of it. And keep an eye on their under arms and rub points as they can cause hair loss, redness & discomfort (usually when fitted incorrectly).
Head Halters. These use the same principle as a halter on a horse, when the dog pulls in the wrong direction they are put off balance until they come back to you. There are many brands on the market, do some research before you decide on which one is best for you – the simple designs are easier to use. This would be one of my favourite pieces of exercise equipment, and while dogs often take a little while to get used to this method, once they do, it make for a very pleasant walk or run. Make sure your halter is fitted by a professional, some also come with a DVD so you can make sure you are using it correctly and never correct or check your dog when it is in a head halter as you can do damage to their neck.
Tags. Make sure your dog wears a tag with your details on their collar. If your dog goes missing who ever finds them can call you straight away.
Poo Bags. Make sure you have a supply of waste bags with you, everyone hates stepping in one and the fines are getting more and more pricey!
Happy Paws Fitness is a unique initiative, combining Doggy Daycare, Puppy School and Personalised Fitness Programs to ensure they meet their ‘Pawlosophy’ of “A dog that can run, play and behave like a dog is a happy dog.” If you’re keen to find out more information or want a personalised health and fitness program for your pooch, please visit the Happy Paws Fitness Website.
IMAGES: Happy Paws Fitness
I’ve got a very close friend who doesn’t like dogs. Crazy. I know. Well, not really. When she was little a very big dog ran at her and knocked her down. She cried. The dog ran off. I don’t know any more details than that. Yet while she luckily doesn’t bear any physical scars from her encounter she still still carries around the emotional ones.
You see my friend grew up in a dog free household. Her encounters with dogs were few and far between…and then some big old doofus came and went all WWF on her. So as a result she doesn’t like dogs, and definitely doesn’t trust them.
{What do you mean you don’t love me?}
Which for me is like being friends with someone from another planet. You see, I was basically raised by wolves. I still remember being told that my grandparents would sometimes let their Irish Setter sit at the dinner table with the rest of the family. (Ooh yes… my heritage is a big ol’ bag of crazy – and for the record NO Soda does not sit at my dinner table!)
But back to my story – what was I to do when my friend first came to visit? I couldn’t really ship Soda off to the kennel every weekend, so we started slow. I welcomed my friend into our house while Soda was happy ensconced outside with a meaty bone. (I swear aliens could land and take over the earth and Soda would have no clue if she was outside eating a bone). Then next time I got Soda to sit when my friend arrived, and the time after that I even got my friend to throw some treats for her. Before long my friend saw that Soda, whilst being a human vaccum cleaner, was also very friendly and loving. Nowadays when my friend comes over she even manages to let Soda sit beside her and gives her the occasional head pat.
It was a learning curve for me. Just because I love dogs, doesn’t mean everyone else does. If someone ignores your fluffy, or shows fear towards your dog…don’t take it personally. You never know anyone’s history and who knows? You dog might just be the first one they end up liking.
Have you ever encountered a friend that didn’t like your dog?
