Building The Incredible Athlete
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How Much Exercise Is Enough?
Majority of the population are under the assumption that to have a well behaved dog you need to just exercise the &#$% out of him or her and they will be so tired, they can't do bad behaviours.
True..... to a degree.
Think about it for a second. What happens if you were to jog a mile today? If you've never jogged before, you'd be pretty tired, right? But what happens a couple weeks down the road of jogging 1 mile every day, you're no longer exhausted from it, you could probably go another half mile before feeling fatigued, am I right? YES.
When we constantly run our dogs or walk them for 1.5 per day to try to tire them out, you're always going to have to do more and more to tire the dog out. Soon, a 1 hour walk that use to tire your 6 month old puppy out is a breeze for the 1 year old version.
You are building an incredible athlete! You are basically training your dog for a marathon when he or she is 2 years old. Why would anyone (that is not a runner) want to do this? You're just going to constantly try to keep up with your amazingly fit dog and dedicate more time trying to tire him or her out. And what's going to happen when you can't keep up with a 4 hour walk per day? Your dog will be so physically fit and use to being able to expel all this energy that your house will become a track field. Not fun for the floors.....
You're probably thinking, "this lady is crazy, she's telling us not to exercise our dogs." This is not the case, sorry, you still must exercise your dog.
Lets give a nice example here of a client of mine:
They have a very active dog and they did thorough research on the breed and were told that the dog needed TONS of physical exercise and room to run all day. So they gave it just that, they were dedicating 3-4 hours of purely physical stimulation to the dog, and constantly trying to tire the dog out as she grew older. They were joining dog sport clubs such as Flyball, just trying to keep her sated from destroying their house.
1 year later, they met me. They tell me how much exercise they give this dog, and I'm looking at the crazy dog bouncing off the walls and running inside while I'm there, the owners say "we've already been out two times today (1.5 hours already!!!!!) This was 3pm. They looked absolutely exhausted, I would be too.
I explain to them happily that they no longer have to take her to fields and run her until she drops, you should have seen the smiles on their faces, priceless.
I instructed, as I tell many of my clients, don't think of your dog as a physical vessel, your dog has a brain and that needs to be exercised no matter what the breed is, smart or dumb. We worked with the dog for 30 minutes on simple cues and tricks, the dog dropped on the floor and went to sleep 5 mins after we finished tricking.
The problem was, the owners never thought to utilize the dog's brain. Yes, your dog has a brain! He isn't just a cute furry thing. When you pair physical exercise with mental stimulation such as games, tricks, obedience cues, playing and interacting one-on-one you are training the dog's brain much like you train your muscles and the dog becomes tired without putting tremendous stress on the joints/muscles.
Try this tomorrow and you'll see the difference.
If you have a active dog - 2-3 twenty minute walks per day (not runs, or ball fetching), maybe once or twice a week a trip to the park to let them run around and feel the wind in their fur. Pair that with 2 fifteen minute brain sessions (obedience, tricks, brain games). You will have the same results as taking your dog out for hours on end throwing a ball.
Non active dog - cut it in half.
Tips: On walks, utilize their brains by training cues and commands such as heel, sit, swing to one side or the other, impulse control game with the leash (tug and leave it).
Trainer Recommended!
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The Best Of The Best!
This post is to help everyone determine what are the top notch products to buy for their beloved pooch. Here I will go through as many as I can think of and the good thing is you can buy most of these products at any pet store.
KONG: A Must For Any Dog Owner
If you don't know what a KONG is, you need to do some reading! This (almost) indestructible pet toy is a life saver for many dog owners as it gives the dog mental stimulation and independent play time trying to get the goodies out of the hollowed out middle.
I myself put a tiny bit of peanut butter in it most days for Luna and she sits there for about 30 mins licking it out. If I want her distracted for longer periods of time I will put rice with some soft chewy treats and a little peanut butter to seal the top then freeze it overnight. This provides extra long entertainment, but a little messy.
You can buy KONG and their full line of products at almost any pet store price ranging from $5 - $20 CAD depending on size.
These naturally made bones/chews are GREAT for puppies and dogs with sensitive tummy's. I always recommend this product for any dog who is a destroyer of furniture, why you ask? Dogs look for HARD things to chew as well as SOFT items, by giving the dog a hard, yet edible so it keeps a dogs attention on it longer then a huge smoked knuckle bone which can be dangerous for a dog to chew on.
The chew that you're seeing in the picture is the ONLY one I will recommend to my clients, why? Because it lasts hours upon hours, it's dense and provides long chewing times for even the most aggressive chewers. Don't be fooled by the other bully bones/sticks that are cheaper, they last you 15 mins. Below is the manufacturer for the Healthy K9 Original Beef Chews and their locations in Canada.Please visit their website to see their retailers http://www.aronpetfood.com/storelist1.html .
Do not leave your dog alone with this if you know he or she is an aggressive chewer!
CHUCK IT: The 'golden' ball for any ball loving dog
Most likely you've seen people out and about throwing this orange blue lined ball to their dog on a field or park as they're quite popular in the doggy world and you can even buy a extension to be able to throw the ball a long distance. These balls are absolutely indestructible, dogs chew and chew on them and they never break!
This rubber ball is a wonderful alternative to tennis balls as we all know tennis ball fibres can wear down your dog's enamel on their teeth and cause pain.
You can buy these chuck it balls at almost any pet store for around $7 -$10 CAD.
This orange contraption is called a treat ball, it dispenses kibble or treats as the dog rolls the ball. The purpose of the ball is to keep your dog occupied for long periods of time by slowly releasing the goodies inside for the dog to eat.
This is a great help for dogs who suffer mild separation distress, it keeps their mind busy as you leave and by the time they're done, they're tired from thinking (it's exhausting trying to figure out how to get the food out!).
You can buy these at any Walmart in two different sizes, large and small for around $5 - $12 CAD.
Do not leave your dog alone with this if you know he or she is an aggressive chewer!
PLUSH TOYS: All Dogs Need A Fluffy Buddy!
Soft plush toys are a must for any puppy owner. The soft fabric allows the puppy to soothe the gums by sinking the little sharp teeth into the fabric and letting it massage their gums.
By fulfilling your puppy's every teething needs (giving something hard, something chewy and something soft) the puppy will be much less likely searching out your clothes or furniture to chew on.
For adult dogs plush toys allow redirection of excitement energy onto the toy instead of you or your belongings. Big doggy's like to throw a plush toy in the air and chase after it, practice their pouncing skills and give you their toy to throw just as much as a young dog.
These toys are available at your local Petsmart
Never give an aggressive chewer a fabric toy without supervision, if they try to eat it the cloth can become blocked in their intestines and possibly cause death).
TUG TUG: Tug-a-War Game Is On!
If you've ever watched my Youtube video's you would know how much I encourage tug games with your dog, (secretly I'm teaching people to create dominant dogs according to many trainers).
These toys are absolutely great for playing tug with a dog and as a regular plush play toy. Each end of the toy has a squeaker that really gets dogs going crazy which is better for impulse control when training the leave it cue. You can even find these that allow you to put a empty bottle in which makes it super noisy and that much more fun for the dog.
You can buy these toys at most pet stores price ranging $7 -$14 CAD.
BEDTIME: Best deal for beds
Most of my clients have these beds but I thought I would share my thoughts on them. They're the BEST!
The middle is filled with fluffy filling and sawdust so it always smells good and a plus is the outside is removable so you can wash it easily.
They come in different colors and shapes (rectangular and round) depending on when you go there.
I first bought Luna's bed from there and we had it for 2 years before I decided to donate it and get a new one even though it still had a good 5 years left guaranteed!
Costco sells these in small sizes as well as large sizes price ranging from $20-$40 CAD. http://www.costco.ca
EQUIPMENT: Leashes, collars, harnesses ect.
Equipment is so important when training a dog, having the proper equipment can make training much easier for you and your dog. When you use improper equipment such as prong collars & shock collars you have a ticking bomb at the end of the leash. Retractable leashes will teach your dog to ignore you.
For walking a pulling dog, I recommend a Easy Walk Body Harness, it's a very humane training tool that causes no physical or mental discomfort to the dog. This clips in the front chest area and actually teaches the dog to walk on a loose leash, and when you pair it with loose leash walking training it goes 2 X's as fast! The concept of this tool is every time the dog pulls, he or she is actually going to be pulled sideways, so the dog learns to ease up as soon as he or she feels tension on that leash. Cause it's not that fun walking sideways!
You can buy this at any Pet Smart and some other private pet stores. Don't be fooled by copy cats, make sure it says Gentle Leader EASY WALK.
The only reason for a collar should be for tags and city license if you don't put it on your dogs harness. I am a person that hates collars and what they represent. I feel as when you put a collar and leash on your dog that you have a master-slave relationship (just my opinion). When Luna was young I did have a collar when we went out with her tags on it just in case something happened and we were separated. Since she was 1 yr old she hasn't worn a collar, only a body harness when we leave home.
Collars can be dangerous for the dog's health and the reason being: when a dog pulls on the leash that is attached to a collar, the pressure being put on the dogs trachea is immense which can strangle the dog, cutting off oxygen to the brain and leading to a collapsed trachea, reactivity, aggression and fears.
If you must have a collar (dogs who door dash or deaf/blind, use a flat buckle collar).
Leather leashes are by far the best! But you can also find great Nylon leashes that are strong and durable but they do get dirty and you will have to clean them.
If you have a puppy, your best bet would be a nylon leash as it's lighter and easier for the puppy to walk with, switch to a leather leash when they're older perhaps.
All leashes are very durable these days so you don't have to worry too much about quality.
For sizes, I prefer a 6ft or 8 ft leash as it allows me to give my dog room to sniff along the side of the road but still close enough to me that if I needed to bring her in quickly, it wouldn't take forever jumbling around a clunky retractable thing.
Read More..
This post is to help everyone determine what are the top notch products to buy for their beloved pooch. Here I will go through as many as I can think of and the good thing is you can buy most of these products at any pet store.
KONG: A Must For Any Dog Owner
I myself put a tiny bit of peanut butter in it most days for Luna and she sits there for about 30 mins licking it out. If I want her distracted for longer periods of time I will put rice with some soft chewy treats and a little peanut butter to seal the top then freeze it overnight. This provides extra long entertainment, but a little messy.
You can buy KONG and their full line of products at almost any pet store price ranging from $5 - $20 CAD depending on size.
BULLY BONE: Natural Chews
The chew that you're seeing in the picture is the ONLY one I will recommend to my clients, why? Because it lasts hours upon hours, it's dense and provides long chewing times for even the most aggressive chewers. Don't be fooled by the other bully bones/sticks that are cheaper, they last you 15 mins. Below is the manufacturer for the Healthy K9 Original Beef Chews and their locations in Canada.Please visit their website to see their retailers http://www.aronpetfood.com/storelist1.html .
Do not leave your dog alone with this if you know he or she is an aggressive chewer!
CHUCK IT: The 'golden' ball for any ball loving dog
Most likely you've seen people out and about throwing this orange blue lined ball to their dog on a field or park as they're quite popular in the doggy world and you can even buy a extension to be able to throw the ball a long distance. These balls are absolutely indestructible, dogs chew and chew on them and they never break!
This rubber ball is a wonderful alternative to tennis balls as we all know tennis ball fibres can wear down your dog's enamel on their teeth and cause pain.
You can buy these chuck it balls at almost any pet store for around $7 -$10 CAD.
TREAT BALL: The Magic Ball.... as some dogs would think
This orange contraption is called a treat ball, it dispenses kibble or treats as the dog rolls the ball. The purpose of the ball is to keep your dog occupied for long periods of time by slowly releasing the goodies inside for the dog to eat.
This is a great help for dogs who suffer mild separation distress, it keeps their mind busy as you leave and by the time they're done, they're tired from thinking (it's exhausting trying to figure out how to get the food out!).
You can buy these at any Walmart in two different sizes, large and small for around $5 - $12 CAD.
Do not leave your dog alone with this if you know he or she is an aggressive chewer!
PLUSH TOYS: All Dogs Need A Fluffy Buddy!
Soft plush toys are a must for any puppy owner. The soft fabric allows the puppy to soothe the gums by sinking the little sharp teeth into the fabric and letting it massage their gums.
By fulfilling your puppy's every teething needs (giving something hard, something chewy and something soft) the puppy will be much less likely searching out your clothes or furniture to chew on.
For adult dogs plush toys allow redirection of excitement energy onto the toy instead of you or your belongings. Big doggy's like to throw a plush toy in the air and chase after it, practice their pouncing skills and give you their toy to throw just as much as a young dog.
These toys are available at your local Petsmart
Never give an aggressive chewer a fabric toy without supervision, if they try to eat it the cloth can become blocked in their intestines and possibly cause death).
TUG TUG: Tug-a-War Game Is On!
These toys are absolutely great for playing tug with a dog and as a regular plush play toy. Each end of the toy has a squeaker that really gets dogs going crazy which is better for impulse control when training the leave it cue. You can even find these that allow you to put a empty bottle in which makes it super noisy and that much more fun for the dog.
You can buy these toys at most pet stores price ranging $7 -$14 CAD.
BEDTIME: Best deal for beds
The middle is filled with fluffy filling and sawdust so it always smells good and a plus is the outside is removable so you can wash it easily.
They come in different colors and shapes (rectangular and round) depending on when you go there.
I first bought Luna's bed from there and we had it for 2 years before I decided to donate it and get a new one even though it still had a good 5 years left guaranteed!
Costco sells these in small sizes as well as large sizes price ranging from $20-$40 CAD. http://www.costco.ca
EQUIPMENT: Leashes, collars, harnesses ect.
Equipment is so important when training a dog, having the proper equipment can make training much easier for you and your dog. When you use improper equipment such as prong collars & shock collars you have a ticking bomb at the end of the leash. Retractable leashes will teach your dog to ignore you.
For walking a pulling dog, I recommend a Easy Walk Body Harness, it's a very humane training tool that causes no physical or mental discomfort to the dog. This clips in the front chest area and actually teaches the dog to walk on a loose leash, and when you pair it with loose leash walking training it goes 2 X's as fast! The concept of this tool is every time the dog pulls, he or she is actually going to be pulled sideways, so the dog learns to ease up as soon as he or she feels tension on that leash. Cause it's not that fun walking sideways!You can buy this at any Pet Smart and some other private pet stores. Don't be fooled by copy cats, make sure it says Gentle Leader EASY WALK.
Collars can be dangerous for the dog's health and the reason being: when a dog pulls on the leash that is attached to a collar, the pressure being put on the dogs trachea is immense which can strangle the dog, cutting off oxygen to the brain and leading to a collapsed trachea, reactivity, aggression and fears.
If you must have a collar (dogs who door dash or deaf/blind, use a flat buckle collar).
If you have a puppy, your best bet would be a nylon leash as it's lighter and easier for the puppy to walk with, switch to a leather leash when they're older perhaps.
All leashes are very durable these days so you don't have to worry too much about quality.
For sizes, I prefer a 6ft or 8 ft leash as it allows me to give my dog room to sniff along the side of the road but still close enough to me that if I needed to bring her in quickly, it wouldn't take forever jumbling around a clunky retractable thing.
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