Well it’s finally springtime and where I live in the mountains it was a long, snow filled winter. So, I am very ready for warmer weather and I think my two dogs, Maya and Chief, are just as excited. I am a nature lover so all of these activities are going to relate being happy with your pups in the outdoors. Without further ado, my top 5 best summer dog activities (that could also be great in other seasons):

#5 – Biking

Maya and Chief

Make sure when you go biking with your dog you really watch the temperatures, but biking is a great way to tire out your high-energy mutt. You’ll need to introduce your dog to the bike so be careful at first, but if your dog is used to off leash walks it should be a pretty easy transition. If you’re rugged mountain biking, be careful with the types of trails you take your dog on and realize that it’s hard to keep up
with a fast decent, especially in warm weather. However, getting out on a mellow trail and taking a cruise with your dog is a great way for both of you to get exercise at a pace more conducive to four legs.

#4 – Evening Walks

I love a good summer evening stroll. It’s after dinner, my belly is full and happy, and I could use a little movement. Grab your dog and head out for an enjoyable walk. The cooler nighttime temperatures will keep your friends tongue from hitting the ground and the evening chirps and noises are sure to please as always.

#3 – Hiking

Grab some food and water and head out for a hike for the day. Pile you and all your friend’s dogs in the car somehow for an afternoon of smelling flowers and chasing bugs. While our canine friends love to chase balls and roam around, they love nothing more than following us on an adventure. Go buy a dog backpack and fill it with water and supplies for the day. I really love the packs because while my dogs are extremely well behaved they have plenty of excitement and I feel wearing a pack slows them down and keeps them closer.

#2 – Camping

Set out for that hike with gear for a few nights or head out on a car camping trip. While you hang around the fire your dog can sniff out their surroundings and keep plopping their favorite toy in all of your friends’ laps, encouraging them for one more throw. As is normal with an active day, you’ll be tired early, but when you crawl in your tent you might find your buddy has passed out before you, taking up all the room!

#1 – Swimming

Well I don’t know about you, but swimming is one of my all time favorites and my dogs go absolutely crazy for it. It’s hot and they can’t sweat as much as humans do; what could sound better than a dip in the water? Not only is it refreshing and fun, just as it is for people, but it’s also an amazing workout that is very gentle on their joints. So, grab a stick, ball or whatever they love and chuck it into the water for my #1 summer dog activity!

What does your dog need to be for all of these?

Well behaved! A happy, active dog has to follow the rules to come along so you need to be sure to take the time and energy to train your dogs, especially when they’re younger. Expose them early to rides in the car, water, being off-leash and responding to voice commands so that they can earn your respect and have more responsibility.

About the Author
Cooper is passionate about his dogs, fitness and blogging. When he’s not playing with his dogs Maya and Chief he writes about Sono Bello, cooking, and a myriad of other topics. He’s also active with Sono Bello on Twitter and Sono Bello on Facebook.

If you are like a lot of dog lovers you love to take your dog with you to all your activities, including your vacations. Those that love camping and hiking have a great start on a year round way to involve their dog in their adventures. Depending on where you are camping and how accessible your campsite is there are several considerations to keep in mind. The following four tips can help you make your next camping holiday with your dog fun and enjoyable for you both.

Choose your food wisely

Depending on the size of your dog hauling dog food into a campsite in a backpack can be a hassle. The great news is that many camping supply stores and some pet food stores now sell dehydrated dog food, all conveniently sealed in individual service waterproof types of packaging. This is good option for dogs that are routinely fed kibble and those that are on raw foods diets, just make sure that you are choosing the best quality product. Many of the dehydrated dog foods are made by smaller companies and use only human grade ingredients, which is always a benefit.

Pack a first aid kit

A dog first aid kit doesn’t have to be elaborate but it should include bandages, antibiotics, scissors, tweezers and antiseptic spays. Adding medication for insect bites, skin allergies and wound treatment is also a good idea. Although you can’t plan for everything having the basics is important to deal with any emergencies that may arise. Often the same ingredients in your personal first aid kit can double for a dog, but there are small, waterproof and very compact dog first aid kits available online, at pet stores and often through your vet.

Bring a tether or leash

The last thing you want is your dog taking off at night or in the day after a bird, squirrel or larger animal. If your dog is very good at staying with you off leash, you may not have to worry as much during the day when you are awake and interacting with him or her, but at night it is a good idea to have them secured in some fashion. You may want to just keep them in the tent with you, or consider a simple, safe ground or line type of tether close to your tent.

Build up to long hikes

If your camping trip involves long hikes, start working with your dog well in advance to build up the dog’s stamina and exercise tolerance. Also remember that indoor dogs have softer pads than outdoor dogs and long walks may cause tenderness of the feet, leading to problems when you are miles away from home. If you have an indoor dog that’s not used to being outside you may want to consider buying a pair of the soft, durable lace-on boots available which can be used to give your dog a bit more protection over rough, sandy, gravel or rocky ground.

Article by Ben Clark; check out Petflow for natural dog food delivery on great brands like Blue Buffalo dog food online!

Like many dog owners, I grew up with dogs and the only times I ever saw their teeth were when they play-bit each other racing across the yard. Like humans, though, dogs need their teeth brushed in order to have optimum health.

Does your pup have bad breath? Studies show that almost all dogs with bad breath suffer from periodontal disease. Take a look at your pup’s canines. Are they yellow or even brown by the gums? That’s plaque buildup. Left untreated, a bacterial infection there can enter the bloodstream and from there spread to your pup’s kidney, liver, heart, and brain.

To help ensure that your best friend has a long and fruitful life, take the time every day to brush his teeth, as you would yours. The process is very short and painless with the right tools and training.

What You Need

Never use your toothpaste or brush on your pup’s teeth. Dogs don’t spit and your Crest isn’t edible.
Go to a local pet store and find a suitable toothpaste and toothbrush. Most dogs aren’t terribly finicky about foods (unlike my cat, but that’s another story), so the flavor of the toothpaste shouldn’t matter.

Most importantly, your dog needs to trust you. This is especially difficult for dog owners who have not instilled discipline in their pups and for dogs that have been abused in the past. If my formerly bossy and aggressive pit bull rescue can do it, however, so can any dog!

What To Do

The following is a trust exercise you can do with your dog at any time and comes recommended by
many dog trainers. You may need to do this multiple times over a week or so before your dog becomes comfortable, and it is difficult to do without a healthy relationship with your pup.

Start out sitting on the floor with your legs spread. Have your dog come sit between your legs. Tell her to lie down.

When she’s on the ground, gently tip her over so she’s on her side, and then slide her closer to you so her head is kind of nestled on your lap. Bring your legs together to cradle her while you turn her slowly onto her back.

Squeeze your legs firmly (but gently) against your pup’s sides and squeeze her arms together if your dog begins to resist. Slowly push and pull her front two legs back and forth (the left one is back when the right is forward, etc) while squeezing your legs until she relaxes.

Many dogs have difficulty trusting people with their bellies. An unwillingness to perform this move indicates either physical pain of mistrust and/or dog dominance. Be very careful if you’re working with a dominant dog and practice putting her on her back until she is comfortable. My rescue pit, despite a history of neglect and abuse, got the hang of it in one day, so it shouldn’t be a problem for most patient dog owners.

Prepare the toothpaste on the toothbrush. Let your pup smell and lick it if she’s never had toothpaste before. Reapply as necessary.

Place the brush at a 45* angle to the gumline and gently brush back and forth, focusing on the back teeth and canines.

Since my pup likes to lick the toothbrush, I carefully close her mouth when brushing her canine teeth. Otherwise, it’s a difficult and ridiculously futile process. Generally, you don’t need to brush the inside surface of the teeth since movement of the tongue keeps most of the plaque at bay.

If your dog begins to resist, set aside the toothbrush and repeat the squeezing and arm-moving exercise.
When you’re done, release your pup calmly and reward her with a treat.

_{Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching music scholarships as well as special education scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.}

Keeda encountered a kangaroo up close for the first time and, of course, felt the need to chase it, going “deaf” to my calls (aka ignoring me) in the process. She first bolted after a female kangaroo with her joey. We didn’t know where she went at first and I was starting to get worried, straying to look for her. Then I get a call from C saying Keeda is back with him.

Apparently he was standing there, keeping a lookout for her and suddenly hears these long “POOF — POOF — POOF” stamps against the ground. He sees the two kangaroos leaping through the bushes. There is a crashing, rustling sound behind them and whaddaya know – it’s Keeda, chasing after them.

When I got back there Keeda was so tired and out of breath that I thought she learned her lesson. We gave her water and moved on, on the lookout for any more kangaroos in case she takes up the chase again (though I was hoping she was too puffed out after the first time).

Unfortunately we didn’t see the big male in the bushes until after he moved. And Keeda was off again. This time I was really scared. This was a huge male, muscly and tall. I immediately went after Keeda, calling after her, but alas she was already gone. I chased after them, but they were too quick and disappeared from sight within seconds. Then everything went quiet. I was calling out to her with no response and then I hear this high pitched whimpering and yelping in the distance. My heart sank and I thought “This is it, this kangaroo turned around and clawed or kicked her to death.”

Keeda post-chase

I kept calling and searching for her, but by this time she was silent and I was fearing the worst. I came upon a little cliff/hill top and see Keeda trotting toward me, seemingly unhurt, puffed out more than before. She came up to me, nuzzled my leg, and crashed in the shade under a bush with this panicked look in her eyes. I checked her over, running my hands over her paws, legs, ribs, back, everything, and thankfully found no blood or tenderness. She drank a full bowl of water and we had to sit there and wait for her to get her breath back again.

C said he suspected the roo may have leapt down this little cliff-edge/sharp hill slope type of thing and Keeda may have followed. The drop was too high and sharp for a dog of her size and she may have fallen down, which is when she would have yelped. I’m not sure if this is what happened, but I suppose it’s possible. Thankfully after 10 minutes or so Keeda seemed good as new (if more tired) and we continued our hike at a slower pace, me making sure Keeda was always nearby and didn’t have a chance to chase after more kangaroos. I thought about putting her on the short leash I had with me, but by this time she was so puffed out and I doubted she’d have the energy to chase after a kangaroo again. Besides, she would never catch one and needs to learn that it’s a fruitless (and potentially dangerous) exercise eventually.

Keeda and I on the hike

Either way, after the male roo chase incident it was a good hike. However I noticed the ground was too warm and suspected Keeda wouldn’t have been too comfortable. Thankfully there were always large patches of shade on the trail with cool ground where Keeda could trot along comfortably, but if that shade wasn’t there she certainly could have burnt her paws. Next time I’m definitely either buying her dog boots for this reason or perhaps we will stick to the dog beach in the summer and do most of our hikes in the fall and winter, when it’s cooler.

Has your dog ever encountered a kangaroo? How did he/she/you react?

Stay safe on your hikes – watch out for kangaroos!

Some photos from the trip:

And a couple of videos:

Need ideas on gifts for dog lovers around the holiday? Why not consider a book or magazine subscription for that dog lover in your life? We compiled our five favorite picks that would make great holiday gifts.  These selections are sure to entertain and intrigue readers of all ages.

1.   Dog: This hard cover book is a perfect selection for the little one in your life who loves dogs. The book is complete with 20 colorful pages of different types of dogs. Each page also offers children an opportunity to learn about texture and there are tabs to lift and pull throughout the book offering interesting surprises. Also find words associated with pictures, like ‘wet dog,’ ‘shake,’ ‘lick,’ and more.  The reading level on this book is baby through preschool.

2.    Dog Fancy: A yearly subscription to this monthly magazine will keep any dog lover entertained with information, tips, news on health, trends and more related to dogs.  Regular departments in the magazine include Readers Bark Back, Newshound, Clean Dog Clean House, Canine Travel, Natural Dog, Best Behavior, Checkup, Haute Dog and Features.

3.    Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family–and a Whole Town–About Hope and Happy Endings: This book is written by a senior editor of The New York Times.  The story is heartwarming leaving readers feeling good about people, life and dogs. The situations this family goes through are ones many should be able to relate to.  It’s a story about a family in New York City with a son who pleaded for years to have a dog.  Living in New York City, the parents did not see it as an ideal situation to have a dog.  However, after the mother (author) was diagnosed with breast cancer, the family decides having a dog will do good.  It would help keep their son busy and not ponder over the medical issues faced by his mother.  All goes well with the welcoming of puppy Huck to the family until he escapes while the family is on vacation.  The story continues with the family desperately searching for Huck and speaks of how a New Jersey town also helps take part in the search for this pup.

4.    Doggie Knits: Sweaters & Accessories for Your Best Friend: Know of a dog lover who’s also into crafts? This book is the perfect pick.  With chills in the air this book will help dog lovers create crafty garments to help keep ‘Fido’ warm and toasty through the season.  The book offers patterns, how to’s, knit-to-fit instructions, and photos of dogs dressed in gear.  Reader can get crafty with knitting dog hats, sweaters and more.

5.    Dog-Friendly Dog Training: A healthy relationship is much easier to establish with a dog when it is well-behaved.  Help that dog lover in your life build a even stronger bond with their pet by offering them this book. This second edition provides easy-to-follow illustrated instructions and takes a humane and dog-friendly approach.  Learn about housetraining pets, establishing appropriate behavior and manners, and teach dogs tricks like roll over and more.  The book offers proven methods and goes into explaining why the approaches work.

About the Author:

Wendy Lau is a freelance writer based in New York City, a guest blogger for An Apple a Day, and a writer on earning your nursing degree for the Guide to Health Education.

Here are some things you should keep in mind when considering whether your dog is ready to run its first race:

Ask the organisers if it’s ok

You might not really care what other runners think about you bringing your dog to a race, but it’s important to check with whoever is organising the run not only out of respect, but to make sure that you don’t get asked to remove your dog from the race on the day. Personally, I think that asking the organisers of the race if it’s ok for you to participate with your dog is the responsible thing to do. They are holding the event and they should be able to decide whether or not they want a dog there.

I emailed the Western Australian Marathon Club (WAMC) this morning asking them to allow us to participate in their upcoming 4km New Years Eve Run. I’m patiently waiting for their reply and really hope that they say yes, but if they don’t agree I’m not going to push it and will respect their decision.

Don’t bring a troublemaking dog to a race

If you know you dog is going to be overly boisterous and cause trouble or inconvenience the other runners at the event, teach it to run politely next to you before entering it in a race.

Keep your dog on a leash during the race

You must have control of your dog throughout the entire race. Keep your dog on a leash and make sure that it doesn’t venture out too far and poses a risk to the other runners. You don’t want someone to trip over the leash and hurt either themselves or your co-runner.

Monitor your dog

You and your dog may run the same distances as the race every day, but if your dog is running in a crowd of people with new smells, sights, and sounds it can become excited and tire out faster or just become overwhelmed. Keep an eye on your dog throughout the race to make sure that it’s not looking unwell. If your dog starts to look fatigued, too nervous, or overwhelmed – pull out of the race.

Start toward the back

When I run Fun Runs by myself I normally start somewhere in the middle. If WAMC allows me to run with Keeda in the event I mentioned earlier, I will start toward the back – closer to the prams and slower runners to make sure that the faster runners aren’t inconvenienced by having to run around me and my dog. Once you’re a bit farther away from the crowded starting line and the crowd thins out if you’re finding yourself wanting to pick up the pace you can always overtake and work your way up anyway.

Keeda did very well – she heeled perfectly, got along with other dogs, sniffed, and just had a great time. We finished the 5km distance in no time and then it was time to check out the various booths and tents that the Million Paws Walk sponsors and RSPCA set up. There were so many great stalls set up. Keeda and I browsed and attended a dog behaviour seminar at the Vetwest booth. I was wearing my 1 Fit Mutt shirt and got quite a few questions about what it is I do and about the site.

In the end we strolled over to the stage and found that there was a dog show contest happening, with the presenters announcing different categories for people to enter their dogs. We got there toward the end and I entered Keeda in the Weirdest Looking Dog category just because I wanted to go up there and parade around with all the other entrants . Entry cost $2 and that was my last bit of cash so unfortunately it meant I missed out on the next category – best trick. If we’d known that one was coming up I’m sure we would’ve won, Keeda has some great tricks up her sleeve .

Anyway, overall it was a great day, although I’m not happy with the online registration costing $15 at first, but when I went to register online this Friday the price jumped up to $20! I did read that registration would be $20 on the day, but Friday was not the day of the walk and it just seemed like a bit of an underhanded tactic.

I’ll be drawing the winners of the two dog books from those who contributed to the RSPCA through the 1 Fit Mutt fundraising page at the beginning of next week, so keep your eyes peeled and thank you so much to everyone who’s contributed.

Check out some photos from the 2010 Perth Million Paws Walk below:

We keep hearing more and more stories of animal cruelty, like the puppy who was dumped in a drain, a poor mutilated dog whose four legs had been cut off, and so many other cases of animal abuse. Videos like the following (warning, this video is highly disturbing, it depicts horrible abuse. I couldn’t stomach watching all of it) illustrate all too well how sick and disgusting some people are.

Sitting there and talking about how shocking and horrible it is won’t help these dogs – taking action through supporting organizations who actively fight animal cruelty will.

All contributors to the RSPCA Million Paws Walk through 1 Fit Mutt go into a draw to win free dog related literature. The prizes are:

The Dog Owner’s Manual by David Brunner
Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats by Bradley Trevor Greive

If you’re going to run with your dog, you’ll need to invest in a pair of good running shoes. In fact, running shoes will likely be your biggest expense when you’re starting to run. You can seriously mess up your feet, ankles, and/or knees if you run in shoes that are too old or don’t suit you. Just as it’s important to watch over your dog and make sure it’s handling the running, it’s important to watch over your own health as well.

When buying running shoes it’s really recommended that you see a podiatrist or a specialist running shop and get them to recommend a type of running shoe for you. No, Athelete’s Foot is not a specialist running shop. In my area, for example, we have Runner’s World – check out running forums and such for a good store in your area (I’ve put together some resources and good communities to check out when getting into running at the end of this post).

Anyway, personal stories aside, here are some general tips about running shoes:

• Running shoes last approximately 400-600km. This does not apply to all running shoes, some may last hundreds of kilometres more and others may last less. When you start getting up in the km in your shoes pay attention to any new joint pain you may have, whether your shoes start or feel “flat”, new muscle soreness or tension, or anything else of the sort. If you pay attention to your body you should be able to feel when it’s time to get a new pair of running shoes. Don’t go just by the look of your shoes – your shoes may still look great, but the cushioning on the inside could be completely worn away. How quickly your shoes wear out will also depend on your weight and how hard you are on your shoes.
• Just because a pair of shoes feels good to walk in does not mean it will be good to run in. Some shoes may feel great to run in, but absolutely horrible to walk in. This is why so many runners have dedicated running shoes and never use them for anything except running.
• Start off slow when breaking in a new pair of running shoes. You don’t want to risk injury by launching into a super long run in shoes you haven’t run in before.
• When you find a great type of shoe to run in, stick to that shoe. You don’t have to try a new model each time you buy a new pair of shoes – keep using what works.

Some useful online resources for the beginner runner (or any runner, for that matter):
CoolRunning
The Runners Guide
Runner’s World Forums

Do you have any tips or experiences to share about running on your own or with your dog? Please leave a comment below!

Don’t Chain Your Dog Up

If you’re going to keep your dog outside, don’t chain it up to its kennel and expect it to be ok. Dogs need to have space to move, run, play. If you’re going to keep an outside dog, make sure you have a fenced yard that’s big enough for your dog’s roaming needs. How much space your dog needs to roam will depend on its breed, size, and overall energy levels.

Give Your Dog Attention

Your outside dog will need plenty of attention from you and other members of your family. You may need to dedicate even more “strictly dog time” than you would if your dog was an inside pet. Inside dogs often get human contact throughout the day even when their owners aren’t directly playing with or paying attention to them as they go about their chores. No such luck with outside dogs, unless you’re gardening all day. Dogs are social animals. Your dog needs to know that it’s part of your pack/family and to do this, it needs to get attention from its pack-mates.

Make sure your dog has shelter

Your dog will need to stay cool in the heat of summer and warm in the cold winter. It will need to stay in the shade when it’s scorching and stay dry when it’s raining. Never keep a dog outside without sufficient shelter. Get a high quality dog house and furnish it with warm, comfortable blankets. Make sure your yard always gets enough shade throughout the day. Also make sure that there is more cover in your yard than just the dog house. If it’s raining all day, your dog will get either bored being stuck in its dog house all day or sick staying out in the rain.

If your dog is sick or if the weather conditions are unsafe, bring it inside

I know, I know, your rental doesn’t allow indoor dogs, your partner is allergic, your cat doesn’t get along with your dog – everyone has their own reasons for keeping a dog outside. But if your pet gets sick or if the weather is extreme enough to cause potential illness or harm to your dog, find a way to bring it inside no matter what your reasons. Assign a room for your dog to stay in and stay there with it if you must, but get your dog into the house where it’s safe. Your partner can stay in a different part of the house for a while, you can vacuum up the fur and get the carpets cleaned if it’s a rental issue. Whatever it is, your first priority is taking care of your pet. There is no excuse to leave a sick dog out in the cold on its own.

Go for daily walks, runs, or bike rides

Go for a walk, run, or cycle with your dog every day. This will get your dogs some exercise and allow the two of you to spend some much needed time together.