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 our dogs’ needs for exercise. You can continue to take your dogs for walks outside in the snow, you just need to be prepared and take extra safety precautions. The following is a list of tips to follow that will help you to care for your dog when taking walks in the snow.

Ways to Protect your Dog when Walking in the Snow:

1. Protect your dog’s delicate feet with doggie boots.
2. Use paw protection balm such as Musher’s Secret.
3. Trim nails for better traction.
4. Keep hair between paw pads trimmed short during the winter months to prevent discomfort due to the formation of ice balls in this area on a hairy dog.
5. Prevent your dog from pulling. Pulling increases the risk of fall related injuries especially when the roads and sidewalks may be slippery with ice.
6. Limit time outdoors. This is especially important for short-haired breeds.
7. Short-haired breeds may benefit from use of a sweater.
8. Stick to snow covered areas whenever possible versus melted snow areas covered in salt. Salt grit can be harmful to your dog’s paws as it contains chemicals which can produce burns on paws with prolonged contact.
9. Avoid areas with frozen bodies of water. The weight of your dog may cause a potential break in thin ice and risk him falling through.
10. Pay attention to signs that your dog is getting cold such as shivering or lifting paws. Head back home as soon as possible to prevent cold related illnesses.
11. Lifting a paw or limping may be due to discomfort from chemical irritation to his paws from the salt. Wipe off your dog’s paw pads and remove any ice balls that may cause discomfort.
12. Wash or wipe your dog’s paws down thoroughly after a walk to get rid of salts.
13. If it feels too cold out for you, then it is probably too cold out for your dog!

Now that you know some useful tips for keeping your dog safe in the snow get out there and have some fun in it!

The post Tips for Walking your Dog in the Snow appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

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 a constipated dog, the high water and fiber content in pumpkin will help add bulk and soften stool. This acts as a natural laxative making the stool easier to pass.
• If your dog has diarrhea, the soluble fiber in canned pumpkin will help absorb the excess water, resulting in firmer stool.
• The fiber content of pumpkin acts as a prebiotic. This helps to stimulate the growth of activity of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Fiber lowers the pH level and provides the necessary nutrients the beneficial bacteria needs.

2) It helps combat dehydration

• Pumpkin flesh is around 90% water. Adding a little bit of pumpkin to a dogs meal can help combat dehydration resulting from moisture deficient processed dog food.

3) Helps to boost weight loss

• Pumpkin is filling in a dog’s tummy. Your dog will feel fuller sooner and consume fewer calories overall.

4) Pumpkin is high in nutrition

• Pumpkin contains carbohydrates, protein, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, niacin, manganese and copper.

5) Pumpkin adds antioxidants to your dog’s diet

• Pumpkin moisturizes skin helping your dog to maintain a healthy, shiny coat.

6) Pumpkin can help to control parasites

• Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin.  Cucurbitin paralyzes and eliminates tapeworms and other parasites from the digestive tract.

7) Pumpkin seeds can help control inflammation

• Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties.

8) It can help with a dog’s urinary tract health

• Pumpkin seed oils contain nutrients that can prevent or lower the possibility of kidney stone formation. They also promote and support general urinary health.

Note of Caution:

• Be cautious not to overload your dog with pumpkin. Too much vitamin A can be toxic to dogs. Too much pumpkin can cause loose stools. The amount of pumpkin needed to provide a benefit will vary from dog to dog. Speak to your vet first before adding pumpkin to your dog’s regular diet.
• Always opt for pure, plain canned or fresh pumpkin with no added spices or sugar. Do not feed your dog pie pumpkin as it contains additives including sugar.

The post 8 Pumpkin Benefits for Your Dog appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

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 that when he pees in his designated area something good happens, he gets a treat.

Why is Positive Reinforcement a Preferred Method to Train Dogs:

Positive reinforcement is a humane way of training dogs. A dog is rewarded for behaviours that he does correctly and not rewarded for mistakes.

Mistakes are not punished in positive reinforcement training, they are simply just not reinforced. If mistakes are not rewarded your dog will make less mistakes because he will be more likely to repeat the wanted rewarded behaviours instead.

Benefits to Positive Reinforcement Training Including:

Dogs will want to offer the wanted behaviour because they are rewarded for it.

• Dogs are food, play or attention driven. If a dog can get more of these awesome rewards then why wouldn’t he want to show you a behaviour that will in turn give him that?

Dogs are given the chance to think about the behaviours that are wanted and to perform them with the hopes they will be rewarded with a treat.

• Positive reinforcement training is a mentally stimulating exercise for the dog. Your dog has to think about the behaviour that he was performing when he got a reward in order to know which behaviour he should repeat to get more rewards. You do not pressure your dog to perform a behaviour rather he is given time to think about and perform it when he is ready to offer it.

Your dog is always given a choice whether to perform a behaviour.

• In positive reinforcement a dog is not punished for not performing the behaviour. Like humans dogs should have the right of choice. They should be able to choose if they want to perform a behaviour and not be given an aversive stimuli, like a shock, if they chose not to perform it. The more humane way to teach a dog to offer a behaviour is to reward him when he does the wanted behaviour so he will want to choose to perform it.

No pain is afflicted on the dog to elicit the behaviour.

• No aversive stimulus is applied to elicit a behaviour eg. choke chains, shock, or leash yank which may lead to stress, fear and aggression.

Communication with your dog will improve.

• You learn to be effective in communicating what you want your dog to do.
• Your dog will learn from you what you want him to do and he will want to do these behaviours for you.
• You will learn to read your dog’s body language to sense he is understanding or if he is getting stressed and needs a break from training for the day.
• It is important for both you and your dog to understand each other and when you do you both will learn a lot from each other and be able to communicate more easily with one another.

You will develop a strong bond with your dog.

• You will be spending a lot of time with your dog and positively rewarding him with treats.
• He will enjoy the time he spends with you and develop more trust and respect for you.
• If you weren’t already, you will now definitely be your dog’s favourite human!

Many different behaviour issues can be treated using positive reinforcement.

• Unlike punishment, that may actually make reactivity and aggression worse, positive reinforcement is a great way to train these behaviours.

It can be used to train any dog.

• Young puppies, adult dogs, and even senior dogs can all learn new behaviours or be reinforced to offer previously learned behaviours by way of positive reinforcement training.
• It can be used to train humans and other animals as well.

The whole family can be involved in the training.

• It is easy to teach all members of the family how to do positive reinforcement training. Children can also be involved by providing treats when your dog performs a wanted behaviour.
• One member of the family should begin by teaching the dog a new behaviour initially and then the rest of the members can be shown the cues and continue to reinforce these behaviours as well.

Positive reinforcement training is fun!

• Training your dog should be a fun experience. If it isn’t then you aren’t doing it right!
• Your dog should be excited to learn and enjoy being rewarded for offering good behaviours.
• You should have fun spending time with your dog and teaching your dog new behaviours.

When you or your dog is bored, stressed and no longer having fun the training session ends.

• When you are training using positive reinforcement with your dog you want your dog to be having fun and not stressed or bored. You also want to be in a good mood yourself when you start training your dog. If this isn’t the case then don’t train.
• During a training session if you or your dog become stressed or lose focus end the session on a positive note with a behaviour that your dog already knows and loves to perform. Treat him for it and end the session. Take the rest of the day off and start fresh when you both are ready to have some fun and train!

As you can see there are many great benefits to training using positive reinforcement. Although there are many methods of training dogs, Good Heels Dog Walking Services only uses positive reinforcement when working with client’s dogs. I highly recommend that you use positive reinforcement to train your dogs as well and choose trainers and other dog care providers who share the same views to work with your dog.

The post Why use Positive Reinforcement to Train Your Dog? appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

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 leave the furry member of your family with someone else while you are away.

Deciding whether or not to bring your dog travelling isn’t always an easy decision and can sometimes be very stressful. If you do decide to travel with your dog it is important to plan ahead, do your research and make sure you have everything organized in order to make the trip go more smoothly. To give you some help I have outlined two of the major modes of travel you would be using when travelling with a dog, air and car, and what you need to know for each before you travel.

Air Travel

What you need to know before flying with your dog

• Check with the airline for any age restrictions for pets. Young puppies are not allowed on most airlines.
• Always make sure, before your book your flight, that the airline you decide to book with allows dogs of your dog’s size. Some airlines do not take pets at all, some only small pets in the cabin and some only in checked baggage. Other airlines accept pets in both the cabin and the checked baggage but size determines where they are kept on the flight.
• Call to confirm there is availability for your dog on your preferred flight before booking your own flights. I find it is easiest to just call and book everything together on the phone.
• If you are visiting another country make sure you look into if there is any restrictions for travelling with a dog.
• Be aware if there is any specific vaccinations needed for bringing a dog to the travel destination. Book a vet appointment and make sure your dog has all vaccinations prior to travel.
• Look into any bugs, eg. ticks, that may be in the area you are travelling to that may be different from your home town. You may need a different medication to protect your dog at your destination. Talk to your vet.
• Make sure you look into any restrictions for the time of year you plan to travel. Some airlines, eg.  West Jet and Air Canada, restrict travel during the winter holiday season in mid December until mid January. Some American airlines have restrictions in the summer time. These restrictions usually only apply to checked pets.
• Look for any restrictions on size of crate or the type of crate needed for travelling with a dog.

How to prepare for the flight

Preparing the crate

-This is only a guide, make sure you check airline specific kennel requirements. See the links above for West Jet and Air Canada requirements.

Outside of the crate:

• Most airlines require that your pet carrier be hard sided. It cannot be soft or collapsible.
• The carrier must be the proper size. Your carrier must be large enough to allow your dog to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
• Typically you will need stickers on the crate with directional arrows pointing to which way is up, your dog’s name as well as “live animal”. Live animal stickers and directional stickers are usually supplied at the airport. I like to have them on the crate before I get to the airport just in case they don’t have them or I am short on time when I get there. I make mine by placing a a piece of duct tape on the crate with the words written in black permanent marker. Nothing fancy, but it does the trick.
• You also want to make sure that your crate has some form of handles so the airport employee is able to transport it easily.
• Make sure the top and bottom pieces are safely secured down. Usually there is spots for nuts and bolts if they aren’t already on the crate.

Inside the crate:

• You must have food and water bowls in the crate but most airlines state that they must be emptied for your dog’s comfort and safety.
• You must line the crate with absorbent material, eg. towel. If your dog is still a puppy or if the flight is long and he may have an accident, it isn’t a bad idea to also have a pee pad under the towel.
• Toys and any food or treats are typically not allowed in the crate.
• For your dog’s safety I recommend only leaving your dog’s collar on him and keeping his harness and leash with you in your carry-on.

Preparing your dog

• Make sure your dog is up to date on all required vaccinations
• It is important to crate train your dog a least a few days before you leave for your trip. If your dog already regularly uses his crate this isn’t necessary since he would already be comfortable in it. If your dog doesn’t typically use his crate, or hasn’t in awhile, it is a good idea to get him used to being in it. Throw treats, food, or a kong with peanut butter in the crate and have your dog stay in there for a specific amount of time. Gradually build up the time he is in the crate for so he is used to being in it longer periods of time.
• It may also be a good idea to take a few drives with your dog in the crate in the car. This will help to prevent any travel nausea and also help your dog get used to being in the crate in the car. This is helpful  if you do plan to take a taxi to the airport.
• If you know your dog has anxiety, motion sickness, or if you are at all worried about your dog being fearful on the flight I would speak to your vet in regards to anxiety meds or the use of over-the-counter meds such as Benadryl to calm your dog down and make the flight less stressful on him.

What to bring

• Pack any travel documents as needed for the specific airline and destination location. I pack these in my purse or carry-on so they are handy for check-in.
• Bring any documents with your dog’s medical history, vaccinations, proof of rabies vaccination, proof of ownership and dog license paperwork.
• Leash, harness, collar-with ID tags/license
• Dog food for the time you will be away (check first to make sure you are allowed to bring that specific protein source to the place you are travelling to. If you aren’t allowed to bring your dog’s food you will need to check to see if any store carries it there).
• Treats (check to make sure the treats you plan to bring are allowed to be brought into your destination)
• Your dog’s food and water bowls and travel bowls if needed for excursions.
• Any other options for anxiety, eg. calming pheromone spray, thunder vest, or a towel that you have used and has your smell.
• Paw pad protection, eg.Musher’s Secret, for snow/cold weather or if you will be hiking on trails.
• Rain coat or winter coat and winter paw covers depending on the season/weather.
• Pet first aid kit
• Your dog’s grooming equipment ie. brush, comb, shampoo/conditioner depending how long you will be away for.
• Toys
• Poo bags
• Flea/tick meds as needed

Before you leave for the airport

• It is best to pre-book taxi a day before your flight or earlier on the day of. I have used Yellow Cab in Vancouver several times and they have been great. Just call, use the app or online booking and make a note that you have a dog with you, your preference as to if he will be in the crate (if you have a preference), size of dog and size of crate.
• Some cab drivers have issues with dogs being out of the crate in the cab. Some cab drivers are ok with dogs out of the crate as long as they are well behaved, stay in the back seat area on the floor or on your lap, and if they don’t shed. If you don’t have a preference then the crate is a safe bet.
• Most airlines state that you should feed your dog within four hours of the flight. I usually feed mine as close to the flight as I can especially for flights 4 hr or longer since he will likely be in his cage for at least 6 hrs. If you know your dog gets car sick I wouldn’t recommend feeding him right before the cab ride. I would recommend taking your dog on a long walk or run for some tiring exercise before leaving home the day of the flight.

At the Airport

• Check your specific airline for when to arrive at the airport to check in. Usually for domestic flights you need to have your dog at the check-in counter 2 hours prior to flight. They usually only let you leave your dog at the oversized baggage 1.5 hrs prior to departure. You will need to be at check-in counter earlier for international flights.
• I would suggest taking your dog on a small walk at the airport once you have checked in since you usually have some time to kill before they will take your dog in baggage. This will give your dog one last chance for pee or poo before departure.
• Some airports have signs on the door saying “keep your pet in the crate at all times in the airport” but most are actually pretty easy going on this and let you take your dog out of the crate on a leash.
• When you leave your dog at the oversized baggage my suggestion for an anxious dog is to face his crate away from you when he is in it. If your dog can’t see you then he can’t see you walk away. This will help to prevent any whining when you leave him to go through security.

Car Travel

Preparations for car travel:

• Just as in air travel, you want to make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccinations
• If you are travelling in the summer it is a good idea to ask your vet if your dog is protected with his current medications from the type of ticks in the destination area. If your dog isn’t on any tick or flea meds it is best to put him on one.
• Train your dog to get used to travelling in the car.
• If you plan to have your dog in a crate: If you rarely take your dog in the car or if it is your dog’s first car trip I would crate train your dog first to using the crate as needed and then crate him several times in the car gradually increasing the duration of the car trip. This will hopefully help prevent fear of car rides as well as car motion sickness.
• If you plan to keep your dog out of a crate: Gradually take your dog for longer and longer car rides building up to the trip.
• If you don’t already have one, invest in a car seat mat or blanket to protect your car interior from any dirt, water or scratches if you will have your dog out of crate in your car. For safety make sure you also use a dog seatbelt harness.
• On the day of travel make sure your dog eats awhile before he gets into the car to prevent throwing up his food if nauseous.
• Make sure to feed your dog water before the trip.
• Be sure to give your dog time to pee and poo as necessary prior to the car trip.

What to bring with you

• Vaccination info, rabies certificate, license and any other pet documents you may need for the travel destination-do your research in advance.
• Depending where you are going you may need your dog’s food and water bowls or travel bowls.
• Pet first aid kit
• Your dog’s regular medication.
• Flea/tick meds as needed.
• Dog grooming equipment-brush, comb, shampoo and conditioner depending on how long you are going to be away.
• Food and treats as needed for the time duration you are going. If you are travelling outside of your home country make sure that you are permitted to bring the food your dog eats to that country as sometimes there is specific restrictions on type of meat source.
• Toys
• Leash, collar-with ID tags/license, harness
• Poo bags
• Towel for drying off your dog if you will be in and out of the car and it is raining or snowing.
• Paw pad protection, eg.Musher’s Secret, for snow, cold weather or if you will be hiking on trails.
• Rain coat or winter coat depending on the season and the weather.
• Blankets or dog bed
• Drinking water

On the Road

• Don’t leave your dog in your car for any reason if it is hot out.
• Stop for pee and poo breaks.
• Stop for some exercise or play if it is a long trip.
• Make sure you look back at your dog often to make sure he is ok and give him some pats for comfort.

I hope this information will help you to be better prepared for travelling with a dog. The more aware you are of the requirements of your travel destination and the more prepared you are in your packing, the less stressful your trip will be and the more you will enjoy travelling with your dog.

The post Travelling with a Dog appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

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 better for everyday positive reinforcement of already mastered behaviours, some better for training new behaviours and some are better for more special/newly introduced behaviours or difficult behaviours. Treat choice is also very dependant on the dog.

I have compiled a list of my favourite treats to give my dog and the dogs I walk with explanations as to what makes them good treats. I have also included some food reinforcers that you can find right in your fridge or any grocery store. Hopefully this will make it easier for you to decide which treats to give your dogs too.

Store Bought Treats

1)Pure Bites Freeze Dried Treats:

Why I like These Treats:

-They come in different meat flavours: chicken, beef liver or lamb liver.

-100% pure meat source.

-Natural, pure and easy to digest.

-No preservatives.

-Made from only one ingredient.

-Low calorie.

-High in protein.

-Ideal for dogs who are overweight.

-They are good for dogs with health issues including: diabetes, GI disorders, allergies or are on a restricted diet.

-Aside from using them as treats, they are great to use as a food topper for picky eaters. Just break down half or a whole piece into flakes and top it onto food. Your dog will love the flavour and will eat the kibble underneath too.

Cons:

-Liver is very rich. If too much liver is consumed it may cause loose stools. It is important to  limit daily intake to the recommended amount and break big pieces down into multiple small rewards.

-Liver treats are better used as a special reward for a new behaviour or difficult behaviour rather than as a normal everyday positive reinforcement.

Where to buy:

-Most pet food stores, local and chain, carry these. They come in a few different sized bags.

2)Dog Delights Beef Tendersticks

Why I Like These Treats:

-100% pure Canadian beef.

-No preservatives.

-Sticks can be broken down into very small pieces to be used for many sessions throughout the day or longer period of time.

-Since you are able to break them down into smaller pieces they are suitable for many different sizes of dogs.

-They are made in Canada.

Where to buy:

-A large bag can be bought at Costco for low cost and lasts a very long time.

3) Zukes Mini Naturals

Why I Like These Treats:

-Small size which makes them great for training.

-Low in calories.

-They come in a variety of different flavours.

-They are made from high quality ingredients including: protein rich meat, wholefood berries, and savory herbs.

-Free from common allergens: no corn, no wheat, no soy.

Where to buy:

-Pet Food & More, Bosleys and Petsmart carry these. I imagine many local pet food stores would carry them as well.

From Your Fridge

-Apples

-Carrots

-Cheese

-Hot dogs

-Diced chicken or any other meat your dog enjoys.

Other:

Your dog’s own kibble

-Kibble is great as an every day reinforcer but not likely a high enough reward to train a new or difficult behaviour.

-Kibble is a safe bet if your dog has allergies, can eat his own kibble and you have difficulty finding a treat you know they will be ok with.

The treats I have listed can be used for training and reinforcing good walking behaviours including loose leash walking and heeling. I hope your dog enjoys these treats as much as mine does! Happy Training!

The post Dog Treats Recommended by Good Heels Dog Walking appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

1) Socialization

• Socialization is one of the top reasons why dog owners decide to sign there dogs up for group walks.
• Your dog will be able to socialize with dogs of different breeds, gender, and sizes.
• It is important for puppies to socialize and have positive experiences with all different types of dogs when they are young so that they understand that new and different does not mean bad and scary. Socializing dogs as puppies helps to prevent behavioural issues that may develop as they grow older. A well socialized dog is a confident dog and a dog that will enjoy new people, places and animals throughout his or her life and less likely to be fearful or act aggressively out of fear.
• Your dog will make new dog friends and will enjoy spending time socializing with them.

2) Learning Good Behaviours From Other Dogs

• Dogs can pick up on good behaviour from other dogs.
• If other dogs in the group are walking on a loose leash close beside the dog walker, sitting for the dog walker or running back to the dog walker when they are called and are rewarded for it then your dog will learn that if he does that behaviour he too will be rewarded for it and will be more likely to perform that behaviour.

3) Group Walks are Fun!

• Most dogs enjoy the company of other dogs and playing with other dogs.
• Signing your dog up for group walks allows him or her to have regularly scheduled play dates with his or her friends. Your dog will love you for it and be a happier, well behaved dog for you in return.

4) Lots of Exercise

• Dogs tend to run around and play more when they are with other dogs. Your dog will be getting a ton of exercise on a group walk.
• Lots of exercise makes for a tired dog who will sleep when left alone the rest of the day. Your dog is less likely to be destructive out of boredom.

5) Under the Care of a Professional Dog Walker

• If you sign your dog up for group walks with a Professional Certified Dog Walker then you know
  that your dog walker will have education in pet first aid, canine communication, dog walking safety and experience with dog walking in general.
• Your dog will be put in a group with other compatible friendly dogs and socializing with dogs that have all their vaccinations.
• You will have piece of mind knowing that your dog will be well cared for when socializing with other dogs.
• Your dog walker will do all they can to keep your dog safe.

6) Experience New Sights and Smells

• Your dog will be taken to parks or trails that you may not normally take them to so he or she will get to experience new places and sniff lots of new smells.
• Experiencing a variety of different sights, sounds, smells and situations is also an important part of socializing a puppy.

As you can see there are lots of wonderful reasons for a dog to join group walks. Good Heels Dog Walking Services provides group walks in small groups of 2-4 dogs. If you are unsure if your dog would be a good candidate for group walks contact us to discuss your dog and schedule a meet and greet. More information on our services can be found on our homepage.

The post 6 Reasons to Sign Your Dog up for Group Walks appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

Ways You Can Help Keep Your Dog Safe This Summer:

1) Exercise early in the morning or late evening

• Exercise more during the cooler hours in the day and less at peak heat times in the middle of the afternoon.

2) Limit the duration and intensity of your dog’s exercise in the hot summer months.

• Break your exercise time down into more shorter sessions throughout the day
• Avoid running with your dog on very hot days
• Decrease your pace as your dog may get tired more quickly

3) Take more rest breaks in the shade to allow your dog to cool down.

• Take lots of breaks from the sun to prevent your dog from overheating
• Give your dog’s paws a break from the warm sidewalk or path by standing or sitting in the cool shaded grass.

4) Take frequent water breaks to prevent dehydration.

• Be sure to bring a full water bottle on your walk or walk your dog in a park that has dog water stations.
• Make sure you frequently stop to offer your dog water

5) Take your dog for walks in places that have a lake, pond or pool to cool off in.

• If there are off-leash beaches or parks with pools or ponds for dogs in your city these are great places to visit in the summer. Your dog will enjoy his or her time with other dog friends and also be able to cool off in the water when he or she gets hot.

Dog in photo is at Charleson Park waterfall in Vancouver

6) Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle.

• Never leave your dog in a hot car. If it is 30 degrees outside it is even hotter in the car. Even if you have the windows open you are still putting your dog at risk of heat stroke.
• Leave your pets at home if you know you can’t bring them with you when you leave the car.

7) Keep your dog’s hair long to provide a cooling mechanism in the summer. Do not shave it down.

•  A dog’s coat is designed to keep him or her cool during the summer and warm in the winter. By shaving your pet you will interfere with his or her natural temperature regulation.
• Shaving your dog’s hair down can actually lead to sunburn since the hair will no longer provide a barrier to the sun.

By keeping these tips in mind and being prepared before you spend time outdoors with your dog you will be able to enjoy your time out in the sun knowing you have done your part to help keep your dog safe.

The post How to Prevent Heat Related Illnesses in Dogs appeared first on Good Heels Dog Walking.

Classic Kong

What I like about this toy:

• Durable enough for average chewers to chew on but not destroy.
• You can fill it with treats or peanut butter for mental stimulation or to give them something to keep them busy when you are away so don’t bark or whine and to prevent destruction due to boredom.
•  A great high quality reward for training if you fill it with peanut butter when your dog does something really good.
• It can be used in training to mentally distract their attention away from a stimulus ie. if a visitor comes to the door you can send your dog to his mat or crate with the kong to distract him and prevent him from barking at the visitor. By the time he is finished eating the peanut butter from the kong he will no longer remember that he wanted to bark.
• You can freeze it with your dog’s treats for extended play.
• You can play fetch with it as well. It has an unpredictable bounce.
• It is made of natural rubber.

Chuckit! Ultra Ball

What I like about this toy:

• Great for playing fetch inside or outside
• It has a high, unpredictable bounce so it is good for mental stimulation.
• Water resistant and easier to clean than a regular tennis ball
• Great for playing in the pool or other body of water
• It is durable
• They come in a variety of sizes for different sizes of dogs
• Made of natural rubber. Non-Toxic.
• Works great with Chuckit! Ball Launchers or can be throw by hand on its own

Kong Tug Toy

What I like about this toy:

• It is very durable for playing tug of war; fun and easy to play with
• You can easily play fetch with it by folding the ends in together to make it smaller

Būmi Tug Toy

What I like about this toy:

• Great toy for playing both tug of war and fetch
• It is durable to chew on
• Lightweight to carry in your dog’s mouth but still tough
• It is dishwasher safe, latex-free, FDA-compliant.

Happy Tails Sport Pet Toy – Ring Toy

What I like about this toy:

• Durable rubber outside
• Floats in water therefore is great for pool, lake, or ocean
• Helps to clean teeth and soothe tender gums when chewing
• Great toy for playing tug of war or fetch
• Certified non-toxic

Kong Pet Stix

What I like about this toy:

• Dogs love sticks so this is a great alternative to the real thing
• Durable yet soft
• Great for playing fetch
• Machine washable

These toys are great for playing fun indoor activities with your dog!

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Physical Health Benefits

• Taking your dog on regular walks will help to prevent obesity. Most dogs love to eat and without the appropriate burning of calories, food can turn into extra pounds. Extra pounds on your dog puts them at risk for health issues such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease etc.
• Regular walks help to improve your dog’s joint health. Exercise helps to build stronger muscles and bones. This will improve joint stability.
• Walking your dog will improve his digestive health and aid in relieving constipation.

Mental Health Benefits

• Walking will help to keep your dog mentally stimulated to prevent boredom.
• Dogs are trained how to walk well on a leash. They are constantly being mentally stimulated to perform good behaviour, such as loose leash walking or heeling, in the chance that they will be rewarded with a treat.
• Dogs love to go on walks, sniff and explore around outdoors. Walks make most dogs very happy!

Behavioural Benefits

• Regular walks can help reduce or eliminate any of your pet’s destructive chewing, digging, or scratching by giving them something else to do to relieve their boredom.
• Regular walks can help to alleviate extra energy your dog may have thereby reducing any hyperactivity, excitability, and even nighttime activity. Your dog will be more relaxed and tired at bedtime especially if he has had a nice long evening walk.
• Behaviours such as jumping on people and all over the furniture can be a sign of pent up energy. Regular walks will help to stop these behaviours from occurring as your dog will be able to expel his energy in a positive way through exercise.

Socialization Opportunities

• Depending where you chose to walk your dog, you may encounter lots of opportunities for socialization. He will likely see and meet lots of different people, dogs and other animals.
• Walking your dog early on when he is a puppy is very important and may help to prevent behavioural issues as he grows up. Under-socialized puppies often become fearful, shy, unconfident, anxious, unhappy, unstable and sometimes even fear-aggressive.

Improved Bond Between Dog and Owner

• Walking your dog regularly helps to improve the bond you have with him. He will love you for taking him on the walk and both of you will enjoy the time you spend together.
• Your dog will likely whine at you to play at home less often if he is exercised by going on walks more often. You will therefore be a lot more happier with him and want to reward him for being a good dog.
• Walking strengthens the trust and respect your dog has for you (the owner) which will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Now that you know the reasons why you should walk your dog, get out there and give your dog a nice long walk to show him how much you care for him!

Safety is just as important as the health benefits that walking provides your dog so make sure you have all the correct equipment before you head out on your walk by reading one of our other blogs 8 Dog Walking Equipment Essentials.

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1)Hide & Go Seek

This is one of my favourite games to play with my dog and I think he would agree it is one of his favourites too! You can play hiding yourself (like in the children’s game), his favourite toys, or even treats.

How it works:

You will need your dog’s favourite toys, treats, and a clicker

If you are planning to hide your dog’s toys and your dog doesn’t already know his toys by name practise playing fetch and getting him to bring a specific toy back to you. Reward him by doing so with a click and a treat and then eventually giving it a name and rewarding him for bringing the specific toy you have called. This way he will know his toys by name before playing hide and seek.

If your dog already knows his toys’ names then start at the beginning of the game.

If you are using treats or yourself (or another person) you can begin the game right away.

I usually play with hiding toys and then when he finds a toy I reward him with play. I find that this gives him the most exercise, keeps him busy the longest and overall he seems to enjoy the time he spends playing it with me.

The game is pretty simple, if you are hiding yourself then have him sit and stay. You hide while he stays. Then you have him come and find you by saying “(dog’s name) come”. When he finds you reward him with a treat, good boy or play for finding you. Repeat this for as long as you want.

If you are hiding treats have him sit and stay while you hide the treats around the house or apartment. You will then say “ok” to allow him to move out of sit and then tell him to go find his treats. Let him explore the house sniffing around until he finds all the treats you hid. Click and say “good boy” as he finds the treats. If your dog has never played this game before start off easy with some obvious locations so he can get used to relying on his sense of smell versus you giving him cues.

If you are hiding toys do the same as you would for treats but tell him to specifically find a certain toy. Reward him if he finds the right toy. I usually start off by only hiding the same toy (ie. Wubba) a few times so it is easier since only one specific toy (Wubba) is always hidden. Then you can progress to hiding different toys (ie. a Wubba, rope and football) in different places and asking him to find a specific one. Reward with a click and treat when he finds the correct toy.

What makes this a good training game?:

• It practises and positively reinforces sit, stay, come and ok (release) cues.
• It teaches your dog to rely on his sense of smell.
• It teaches your dog to learn names for specific objects

Health Benefits:

• It involves mental stimulation
• Your dog is constantly moving around getting exercise trying to find you, treats, or toys.

2)Fetch

How it works:

You will need a toy to fetch with, a clicker and treats

If your dog has never played fetch before then this is a good game to teach him how to play. If he has not played before I would take out a clicker to reinforce him for fetching and bringing back toys so he will learn to repeat these behaviours when you play with him outside as well.

Pick a toy that you can play catch with indoors (eg. a small ball, a stuffed toy you can throw far enough to get a good run in, a tug toy).

Get your dog’s attention to play fetch with the toy. Throw the toy. Most likely he will go retrieve it, if he does and you are clicker training, click when he runs for it and throw him a treat to reward him. Then you want him to bring it back. If he automatically does it great, click and reward him with a treat. If he doesn’t bring it back, say his name and ask him to “come” to you. If he does, click and reward with a treat. Now that he has brought it to you, you will want him to drop it so you can pick it up. If he drops it on his own click and say “good drop it”. If he tries to pick it up again before you grab it you also want to practise “leave it” to have him “leave it” as well. Continue to repeat throws, fetches,”come” “drop it” and “leave it”. You can reward with click and treats but eventually just rewarding with continuation of play will be enough to keep him repeating the behaviours.

You can also add “sits” and “stays” into the mix by having him sit and wait till you throw the toy and not retrieving it until you say “ok go get it”.

I also sometimes encourage him to go faster by saying “come come faster faster” I feel like that makes him get more excited and want to sprint faster to bring the toy to me. Keep in mind that it does take time for your dog to understand what you are asking of him so be patient, keep repeating and positively reinforcing and most important of all have fun with it!

What makes this a good training game?:

• Positive reinforcement training with repetition for retrieving, coming back to you, dropping something, leaving something. sitting, and staying.

Health Benefits:

• Depending how far you throw the toy and how big or small your dog is, this game can involve quite a bit of tiring sprints to fetch and bring back the toy.
• Mental stimulation for your dog to understand what behaviour is being rewarded and repeating them as well as performing the behaviours on cue.

3) 101 Things to do with a Box

How it works:

You will need a box, clicker and treats

This game focuses on the training method called “free shaping”.  You will be rewarding your dog for his natural behaviours. You will reward him with a treat for any behaviour that is associated with the box. There are no cues given from you just simply trial and error from your dog and a click and treat reward to tell your dog he is performing a behaviour you would like to see.

Prepare a box leaving one side open with flaps cut off or turned inside. Put the box on the floor near your dog. If he looks at it click and reward with a treat. If he doesn’t look at it throw a treat into the box and if he looks at the treat in the box click and reward him with a treat. Click anytime he looks at the box. If he only looks at the box but doesn’t attempt to move towards it throw a treat close to it and see if he moves towards it. If he does click and reward with a treat.

Wait until he does something new with the box ie. put a paw on it, put a foot in it, touch it with his nose but only when he does a new behaviour will you reward with a click and a treat, not a repeated behaviour. This will teach him to problem solve and try new things that may result in a treat. If he seems to become frustrated and fails to do new things have him do a behaviour he knows, like shake a paw, and jackpot him with lots of treat and end the game there.

Next time you play you can switch it up by thinking of a goal behaviour, eg. getting into the box. At first reward him for just looking at the box. Reward him a few times for this. Then only reward him for a new behaviour that brings him closer to the goal ie. paw on the box. Reward him for this a few times and then move on to only rewarding for another new behaviour that brings him closer to the goal ie. foot in the box. Only rewarding him for the new behaviour. Then jackpot him when he performs the goal behaviour “getting into the box”.

Have fun with it and feel free to quit anytime you think your dog has had enough. Make sure to always end to session with something positive, ie. a behaviour he masters like “sit” or “down” and give him lots of treats for that behaviour.

Experiment with different goal behaviours to earn him a jackpot, eg. flipping the box, putting it on his head, carrying the box in his mouth and so on.

What makes this a good training game?:

• It is great because your dog is rewarded for behaviours he is learning on his own. This encourages him to problem solve, be creative and experiment with new behaviours in the chance he may be rewarded.
• It is a good training game for working on memory. He has to remember what he has already tried so he knows to try something else to get a treat.
• It is good for positively reinforcing many different behaviours
• It is a great way to learn more difficult behaviours slowly, but effectively, by building up from other behaviours.
• This can be applied to learning a new difficult skill by breaking it down into smaller steps, eg. laying on a mat

Health Benefits:

• It involves lots of mental stimulation for your dog to be able to understand what behaviour he is being rewarded for and to come up with new behaviours to try.
• It involves physical exercise since he is moving into lots of new positions each time.

4) Tug of War

How it works:

Grab a toy you can hold onto and your dog can tug to try to pull away. Play with your dog letting him chew the tug toy while you give it light tugs to try to pull it away while he is chewing on the other end. Introduce cues “leave it” so he lets go and if he listens let him tug on it again. You can also say “drop it” if he ends up pulling it out of your hands to have him practise that cue as well. Reward him with treats when he obeys your cues.

You can also combine this game with Fetch. Play Tug of War for a few minutes and then when you have your dog “drop it”and he “leaves it” you can throw it so he goes to fetch it. If he retrieves it and brings it back play some more Tug of War as a reward. Depending how “play motivated” your dog is, you may need to have him look at you after he leaves it so he doesn’t think that you picking up the toy means it is time to Tug of War again instead of fetch.

What makes this a good training game?:

• It teaches him to allow you to play with his toys without being possessive over them
• It teaches your dog that “leave it” doesn’t mean he was bad and play stops.
• Practising and reinforcing “leave it” “drop it” “look at me” and “come” (if used as a cue to return toy back to you after a fetch)

Health Benefits:

• If fetch is combined then it is good exercise because of the sprints to fetch the tug toy.
• Mental stimulation
• Physical exertion to grip onto the tug toy and prevent you from taking it

5) Put Toys Away

How it works:

You need toys, a toy box (or any other place you want to designate as the area you want your dog to place all his toys in), a clicker and treats

Your dog must know how to fetch a toy before he can play this game.

Begin by playing fetch with your dog with a toy. You want to have the toy box in front of you so that when he brings the toy back he drops it into the box. If he drops it automatically click and reward him with a treat by throwing it into the box. If he doesn’t drop it then you can use the words “drop it” to have him drop it into the box. Click and reward. If he drops the toy anywhere outside of the box do not click and reward just keep playing fetch with him normally until he learns that when he drops the toy into the box he gets a treat.

Once he drops the toy in the box consistently for awhile you can move the box further away from you. Keep moving the box to different areas so you know he knows where he puts his toys. If he stops dropping them in the box you may have moved to the next step too fast.  Move the box back closer to you again until he gets it right every time, then you can move the box further away again.

Next you want to practice having him pick up the toy as it sits stationary beside the box, not after you have thrown it. He should hopefully know that if he picks up the toy and puts it into the box he will be rewarded with a click and a treat. If he doesn’t do it then throw the toy a short distance away and then try it stationary again.

Now you want to add a cue to your toy clean up. You can say “pick up toys”, “clean up”, “tidy up” whatever you want to use as your cue so your dog knows when he should be picking up and putting his toys into the toy box. Say the cue as your dog is dropping the toy into the box. Click and reward with a treat.

Once he masters these steps with one toy you want to teach him he is rewarded only after picking up all the toys. Put out two toys in front of the box. Wait from him to pick up one toy and drop it into the box. Do not reward him. See if he goes back looking for something else to be rewarded for, ie. picking up the second toy and putting it into the box. If he picks up the second toy and drops it into the box successfully reward him with a click and a treat. Repeat this slowly by adding new toys one at a time until you have him putting away all his toys.

If your dog doesn’t catch on to pick up the second, or other subsequent toys throw them slightly to see if that helps draw his attention to the toys. If your dog appears to be getting frustrated at all it is a good time to reward him for doing a trick he already masters, eg. shake a paw, and be done for now. You can play again later or another day.

What makes this a good training game?:

• Shaping behaviour by starting with a new behaviour he has to try himself to be rewarded with a treat.
• Repetition and positive reinforcement to encourage wanted behaviours.
• It teaches him patience to wait and finish the entire task before having a treat.

Health Benefits:

• Expends energy by physically picking up toys and putting them in the box
• Mental stimulation to think what he needs to do to get rewarded with a treat
• Other benefit: Gives him a job to do. Lots of dogs are breed to be work dogs and like having jobs to do. It also helps to prevent boredom which can lead to bad behaviours.

Now that you have learned some fun indoor activities to do with your dog don’t fret the rainy weather instead enjoy your time playing and bonding with your dog.

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