While living in Canada you are likely to experience snowy days in the winter. With snow comes extra preparation and care to protect your furry friend. Just as us humans need to use caution in cold weather for ourselves, so too do we need to for our pets. Just because it is snowing outside does not mean we can neglect …
8 Pumpkin Benefits for Your Dog
Pumpkin doesn’t just make for a cute halloween costume, it is also a delicious flavour many people enjoy especially during the fall. While you are enjoying the taste of pumpkin this fall, why not let your dog in on the enjoyment too! This is why… Pumpkin Benefits for Dogs: 1) Pumpkin can ease digestion and help with controlling diarrhea For …
Why use Positive Reinforcement to Train Your Dog?
What is Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement occurs when a desirable event or stimulus is presented as a consequence of a behaviour and therefore that behaviour is repeated. For example, in dog training, if a dog pees in his designated area outside the owner says “yes” and rewards the dog with a treat. The dog repeats this behaviour because he knows …
Travelling with a Dog
As a pet lover you don’t always want to leave your dog at home when you go on vacation, you often want your dog to join you. Whether it be to take a road trip involving dog friendly excursions like camping or hiking, travelling by plane to visit family in another province, or just simply because you can’t bear to …
Dog Treats Recommended by Good Heels Dog Walking
There are lots of dog treats on the market, so how do you choose which ones to purchase for your dog? There are many factors that you may consider when deciding on what treats to give your dog. These may include: quality of ingredients, perceived taste, size, whether it can be broken down into smaller pieces, etc. Some treats are …
6 Reasons to Sign Your Dog up for Group Walks
Socialization and exercise are important for a happy, healthy dog. If you are unable to provide your dog with the exercise and socialization opportunities he or she needs then a group dog walk with a professional dog walker may be a great option for your dog. If the idea of group dog walks is new to you or you are …
How to Prevent Heat Related Illnesses in Dogs
Warm, sunny weather has us wanting to spend lots of time outdoors. As dog owners we love spending this time outdoors exercising with our dogs. With hot weather comes too extra safety precautions that you need to be aware of in order to keep your dog safe and prevent heat related illnesses. Ways You Can Help Keep Your Dog Safe …
Durable Dog Toys Worth Buying for Your Dog
Dogs love to play with and chew toys. There are lots of dog toys on the market but not all toys are durable or safe for all dogs to use. As a dog owner I have purchased many toys for my dog, a goldendoodle who loves to chew. I know how frustrating it can be to purchase an expensive toy …
The Importance of Walking Your Dog
Exercise is an important part of giving your dog a happy, healthy life. Taking your dog on regular walks is a great way to give him the exercise he needs everyday. There are many benefits to walking your dog and I have outlined many of these benefits below. Physical Health Benefits Taking your dog on regular walks will help to …
5 Fun Indoor Activities to do with Your Dog
Do you find that your dog gets less exercise when it is rainy outside? Do you worry he is not getting enough exercise but you also don’t want to spend an hour outside in the rain? Worry no longer! Next time it is a rainy day, try out one of these fun training games that will exercise both the mind …
How to Prepare Your Dog for the Dog Park
A dog park can be a great place to take your dog for both exercise and socialization. It can also be a scary place for a new pup. It is important to properly prepare your dog before taking him or her to an off-leash dog park for the first time. The following are a list of ways to prepare your …
How Do Dogs Communicate With Each Other?
Dogs use body language to communicate with other dogs. They use their head, eyes, eyebrows, teeth, wrinkles, ears, tails, hackles and body position to display emotion and intent to other dogs. These signs can be very subtle and change very quickly. Why is it Important for Humans to Understand How Dogs Communicate? It is important for us as humans to …
Vancouver Dog Friendly Off-Leash Parks
Now that the temperature outside is getting warmer and the sun is out more often I see a lot more dogs out and about with their owners. One of the places that lots of people take their dogs to is local off-leash parks. Allowing dogs to go off-leash gives them freedom to run around and explore on their own. Dog …
8 Dog Walking Equipment Essentials
Safety is Top Priority At Good Heels Dog Walking Services safety is our number one priority when client’s dogs are in our care. An important aspect of keeping dogs safe is using proper equipment. By ensuring we select high quality, proper fitting equipment that is appropriate for each individual dog we can maintain a high level of control while minimizing …
Teaching Your Dog to Heel
What Does it Mean for a Dog to Heel? The “heel” cue means that the dog must walk directly beside the person walking him, not in front or behind. The dog must stay with the person walking him at all times, keeping at the same pace and only walking when the person is walking. Why Would I Want My Dog …
Loose Leash Dog Walking 101
Dogs Love to Pull. You Can Train Them Not To It is in a dog’s very nature to want to wander around, explore and sniff things while outdoors. When a dog pulls on the leash to try to sniff things it can be very frustrating for you as the owner. Being able to train your dog to be good …
Hypothermia & Frostbite in Dogs: How to Recognize, Treat and Prevent
Spending time outdoors in cold weather can not only be dangerous for humans but also for dogs. Two common cold related injuries affecting dogs are hypothermia and frostbite. It is important to know how to recognize these injuries and what to do when you have. It is also important to know what you can do to prevent them from occurring …
Canine Clothing: A Fashion Statement or a Sensible Purchase?
Canine Clothing is Popular in Vancouver Walking along the Vancouver seawall on a Saturday afternoon in December, you spot a man walking with a pug who is wearing a winter jacket and snow boots. You whisper “awww” out loud, but think to yourself “I bet his girlfriend made him dress the dog like that, poor dog, I bet he hates …