Author: Mark S.

  • Winter Care Tips

    When it is cold outside, it may be challenging to get a dog to go outdoors for exercise.  The salt in chemical deicers may hurt a dog’s paws or the wind factor may be too much for smaller breeds.  You have to think of ways to keep the dog happy while in the cold and alternative activities rather than going out entirely.

    Coax Your Dog with Treats

    Some dogs dislike the idea of venturing outside while the air is frigid.  Use treats to keep the dog distracted during the walk.  It will enhance the mood of the dog and actually have the dog look forward to going on outdoor excursions, even if it is cold.  For example, when you take your dog on walks during the winter, pop a few treats into your pet’s mouth.  The dog will eventually associate walking outside with treats allowing it to be much easier to sway the dog to go outside, regardless of the temperature.

    Engage the Dog in Aerobic Activity

    The quickest way to keep your dog warm during winter months is to play off-the-leash exercises.  Play tug, fetch and encourage your dog to romp around with other dogs.  It will warm up the body quick and keep its mind diverted from the cold.

    Increase Indoor Activities

    Enroll your dog in indoor agility classes.  These classes include flyball and other fun activities in heated facilities sharpening your dog’s intellectual skills and body.  It is beneficial to your dog’s overall health.  Check out Florida dog training classes and discover additional classes offered due to it being winter months.  Furthermore, play more games in the house that will expend energy, such as tug-of-war.  It would be a great excuse to further bond with your dog and provide your dog with extra loving attention.

    If your dog is still struggling with the cold, then consider putting a coat or sweater on, especially if your dog is without much body fat.  Invest in a well-fitted coat covering your dog’s back and underside.  Also, do not be surprised if your dog requires supplementary food intake during the winter months.  It exhausts more energy to stay warm, so the additional food may be a necessity.

  • Why Puppy Preschool?

    Bringing Home Your New Puppy

    Bringing home a puppy is an exciting time in one’s life.  The puppy is full of energy, running around, and adorable.  It is impossible not to love those first moments.  But as soon as the puppy starts chewing up the shoes, furniture, and household items, then it is difficult to maintain a joyful demeanor.  A person may easily direct tension and stress at the puppy for not listening.  This does not help you or the puppy to be in such a negative state of mind.  For the beginning should center on bonding, not scolding your puppy.  Thus, why not attend a puppy preschool class and allow an experienced professional teach you the basic skills to create a fun, loving, healthy home.

    Learning the Basics

    When you first bring home a puppy, have you noticed how difficult it is to get the puppy to come when called?  Puppy preschool will teach you how to call for your puppy properly.  It will engage the puppy in coming when being called ensuring the puppy associates the two and delivers successfully.  It makes the experience of owning a puppy fun for both the owner and the pup.

    In addition, puppy preschool will address how to handle the biting and mouthing.  It will teach the commands sit, drop, stay and let’s go.  Florida puppy training instructs on toilet training, mat training, and calming behavior.  The class should cover nutrition, health, vaccinations, and flea treatments.

    Bonding with Your Pup

    It is essential to attend a puppy-training course.  It helps ease your puppy’s transition into its new home and gives an opportunity to build a relationship between you and your puppy.