I gotta say when we requested to clean the Port of Dubuque area I thought we might be in for picking up lots of poop since we frequently see dogs walking in that area, but it wasn’t the case. I only found 2 piles. In comparison, I bet I picked up 5000 cigarette butts. And most of the cache were within 10 feet of the proper receptacles for disposal.

Just in case you think it’s no big deal because they are “bio degradable” you might want to think again and read this.

Simple message folks, take some pride in your community, whether you make the mess or your dog does…Pick it up and dispose of it properly. Raise your kids with the same mentality. It is really easy, just a matter of getting into the habit.

Thanks for all who joined the effort. We’ll see you again next year and in the meantime, me and Tom will keep “getting the trash”

Woof!

The mission statement for BART is “to empower firefighters and other emergency personnel with the training, knowledge and equipment necessary to safely and effectively address the needs of animals encountered in emergency situations, in order to help preserve human health, safety and well being.”

The course discusses the importance of the human-animal bond and points out to first responders how, if possible, their response to helping the animals in emergency situations also saves lives. A high percentage of humans in emergency situations will refuse to leave the scene or will return to the scene and place themselves in danger if their pets are in jeopardy.  I know I would probably be one of those persons that would try to “go back in” if my dogs were in danger. Of course this makes the job of the emergency personal even harder and puts them at risk too.

The course not only educates about the value to human life if intervention is possible, but also covers animal first aid. And the main emphasis is on basic safety techniques for capture and restraint of pets. Not always an easy task when an animal is frightened and in a life threatening situation. I was very pleased to be invited to attend and it got me thinking about how prepared am I IF something sudden required me to evacuate my home in a matter of minutes?

The idea of PPP when required to leave your home was mentioned. This meant take your Purse, Prescriptions, and Pets…but what would I need for my pets if I had to be away for a few days or heaven forbid, my house burned down?  What essentials would I want for a few days and how could I gather them quickly?

My solution was to devise a “kit” that I could grab on the run. Here’s what’s in it:

Extra leashes

Roll of poop bags

Gallon zip lock baggie of dry kibble (which I intend to switch out each month to keep fresh)

Collapsible dog bowl & bottled water

Vet – vaccination Records (so in case I have to check them in at a kennel I have a copy available)

A couple chew toys (to help keep them occupied since I imagine life would be turned upside down for a bit)

None of my dogs are currently on medications but if they were I’d add a weeks worth of their meds as well. I bought a small tool box and put everything inside. If you don’t keep ID tags on your dog I’d also suggest you put in ID tags and attach them as soon as you are all clear of the danger. If you are separated you want them tagged. I love this product for easy on and off access of dog tags.

None of us like thinking about those events that seem unthinkable…but fires, tornado’s, flash flooding, chemical spills…they are all real and they happen to real people everyday. Being prepared is always better than being unprepared. So in an emergency I would grab, my purse, my pets and my toolbox. (and probably my I-pad)

If anyone has other tips they’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you.

You can read more about BART’s story here. As the partner of a firefighter and as an animal lover, I applaud Dr. Olsen and her team of volunteers for starting such an important organization.

Dr. Christine will discuss the phases of an animals movement and provide instruction on how you can do stretching and strengthening exercises at home to help keep your dogs in optimal condition and feeling good. If you have a senior dog, one who has orthopedic problems, a canine athlete or just want to know how to help your dog maintain better flexibility this workshop is for you. Animal chiropractic and acupuncture has been helping many of our behavioral cases as well. If your dog struggles with OCD problems, fear or aggression issues, come join us to see if this holistic healing modality might help.

If enough interest is generated through this workshop Dr. Christine has offered to instruct a 4 – week course dedicated to teaching you a variety of stretching and strength exercises so lets have a good turnout!

Please RSVP by April 6th to insure your seating.563-588-3039 This workshop is open to anyone interested. You do not need to be a That’s My Dog! client in order to attend.

Yolanda Lane and Diana Korenak completed our 10 day course on the basics of remote collar training. Yolanda is located in West Virginia and Diana works with Canine Life Skills in St. Louis. I’m proud of the work both gals did while they were here. In addition to working with the dogs they brought to Dubuque with them, they got lots of hands on and observing with our students and clients.

Congratulations Yolanda and Diana, I look forward to watching you both continue to grow your skills and levels of success.

Our next E-cademy session is scheduled for June. If you are interested in attending, please contact Robin@ThatsMyDog.com

(sorry for the “spooky” dog eyes in the photo – I am NO photographer!!)

Yesterday was Diva’s 2nd birthday. As you can see, she celebrated in style. :-0

She received lots of good wishes on our Facebook page, had a game of frisbee, worked on a few tricks we are learning, got adjusted by Dr. Woodford and celebrated with a nice meaty bone at the end of the day. What she didn’t get were lots of presents, a cake or a party. Not that I’m opposed to those things, but rather I encourage dog owners to remember what’s important to a dog.

If your dog could write their birthday “wish list” I’m willing to bet it would look something like this:

For my birthday I want:

- to get off the beaten path. How about finding a hiking trail, nature preserve or wooded park to explore. Your dog experiences much of their world through their sense of smell. Allowing them the opportunity of sniffing earth, twigs, leaves and all the smells of critters who live there is to give your dog the joy of “being dog”.

- A nice meaty bone from the butcher. No need to cook it (in fact you should not cook it. Cooking creates dryness and splintering) The bone can be fresh or direct from the freezer. Your dog is a carnivore. Long before we began creating and marketing dog food, canines ate flesh and bone. This type of feeding (raw feeding) is becoming more prevalent today as consumers become more educated about the poor quality of many commercial dog foods.

- A message and relief for my achy body. Our dogs get sore and out of alignment just as we do. The difference is, they can’t as easily tell us when a shoulder aches or a hip feels tight. It is not uncommon for behavior problems to have under lying health problems attributed to years of wear and tear on the canine body. A periodic visit to a DVM Chiropracter or message therapist for stretching and adjustment can do your 4 – legged athlete a world of good.

- A little time and attention and someone to throw the ball. Your dog craves your attention, but there are better ways to give it than just sitting on the couch together. A game of fetch, frisbee or time spent learning a new trick is the kind of stimulation that dogs need in order to remain mentally healthy.

- Something to chew on. When your dog is home alone or hanging out by themselves they can get bored just like you and I. We might read, watch television or do a puzzle but our dogs have fewer options. They might sleep, bark, dig, pace or chew…so providing interesting toys they CAN chew on is one of the best ways to insure less mischief when boredom sets in.

I’ll confess that Diva might still get a little “bling” in the form of a new leash or collar.   But the reality is, that’s more for my enjoyment than hers.

So whether today is your dog’s birthday or just another day…remember that your furry friend is a dog, not human. When  we consider their needs before our own emotional ones…well, then we are really loving them the best we can.

Happy Birthday Diva. I hope the day was pretty much like all the others we spend together.

and if you want to see his “other” costume you have to check out the That’s My Dog! Facebook page.

But he won’t be celebrating with over indulgence of food and drink. Given the huge rise in pet obesity in recent years, we think we’ll celebrate with a good romp in one of our favorite parks instead!

Stop by the booth to grab a few quick training tips, check out some cool toys to take home for your pooch and be sure to ask Ms. Diva to show off one of her favorite tricks. If you feel like you need a little help improving your dog’s manners you can also sign up for a FREE training evaluation.

There will be food vendors, and lots of other cool stuff to see and do. The event is held at the Grand River Center the Saturday 10am – 6pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm.

Hope we see you there!

Woof!

Just in case you are wondering what I might mean by “cold”…it is 3 degrees Fahrenheit today. (but with wind chill “feels” like -9)

Taking the dog for a walk is certainly still possible, but it is for those who are less faint of heart than I.  (actually I am just a wimp about the cold) So this post is for my kindred spirits who spend January and February dreaming of palm trees and balmy temps while they slack on their duties of taking the dog for a walk.

The problem with slacking on the walk responsibilities is that the dog gets B-O-R-E-D and a bored dog tends to make their own fun!

So here are 3 ideas for taking that pent up energy and giving it an appropriate outlet.

1. Toys: Toys give the dog something to do. The usual course of action is to chew on them (or shred them, if you pick the wrong type) When you buy toys purchase things that are designed to be chewed on. Things that are made of hard nylon or hard rubber tend to be the most durable and they clean up nicely in the dishwasher. To prevent your dog from getting bored with the toys, pick things of unusual shapes with varying ridges and bumps on them. And then rotate the toys so that 3-5  are available in the doggy toy box while the rest are hidden in a closet or drawer. Switch the array of toys every couple days and your dog is more easily convinced they are “new” treasures to be enjoyed rather than the same old stuff.

and speaking of stuff…buy the cool toys that let you stuff food inside. The double bonus of chewing on a toy until it releases some yummy morsel will keep most any dog busy for an hour or so. Get creative and go beyond just the dried dog biscuit, learn how to stuff!

2. Move it: If you aren’t going to head out for a walk, there are ways to get the physical activity inside, it just takes a little more creativity. Practicing your dogs skill at heeling inside the house can really sharpen things up. You can maneuver all sorts of tight turns around the furniture or try the challenge of going up and down the stairs while maintaining the heel position.

Another option is to teach your dog to walk on a treadmill. It is a little scary the first time or two for a dog just learning, but most catch on very quickly and once they get it….they love it!  A friend of mine helped develop training protocols for one of the dog treadmill manufacturers. Here are some instructional videos for dog treadmill ideas.

3. Make em’ think: Ever had a long day at the office? No physical activity but your exhausted at the end of the day? Yep, that is what we call being mentally drained. Your dog can have it too and it is a good thing because a tired dog is easier to live with, right?!

It is very simple to give your dog something to think about by adding in obedience commands to your normal routine. Have your dog DO something frequently. Have him sit when he comes up and nudges you to be petted, or have her do a few doggy push ups (sit/down/sit/down/sit) when she follows you into the bathroom OR  have him go back and forth between his place (bed/rug/crate) and you a few times during each television commercial break. (like those sprints we had to do in gym class, remember?)

Thinking burns energy. When is the last time you taught your dog a new trick? How about each time you wait for the microwave to pop your bag of corn you spend those 2:15 minutes teaching the dog something new to do? It is easy and if you need ideas check out this fun book of tricks.

……now if that doesn’t help motivate you…..then come join us for our upcoming Tricks Class or sign your dog up for Doggie Day School. They will come home tired and then you can just snuggle together on the couch.

A friend in Canada sent this photo of her interpretation of her dog’s Dogtra training collar. I thought it was a great representation of what proper remote collar training can do for a dog and for the dog’s owner…increase everyone’s freedom and sense of security.

I’m looking forward to spending some time with my friends from Dogtra next week as I help them host the trade show booth at the Shot Show in Las Vegas. I am sure I will come back with news about new products and certainly with a few stories of visiting old friends.

I am thinking the idea of calling it the Freedom Collar really fits!

What do you think, Has the proper training you’ve gotten with your remote collar improved the quality of life you have with your dog?

(I LOVE how the little one seems to be doing his “Happy Dance!)

Have fun keeping the paws off the counter.

Bacon Bits

6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
4 eggs, well beaten
1/8 cup bacon fat
1 cup water
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk powder
2 cup graham flour
2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup cornmeal

Mix ingredients with a strong spoon; drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies on baking sheet in the oven overnight to dry out. Yield: about 4 dozen dog cookies.

Frozen Yogurt & Peanut Butter Treats
1-32oz. container of vanilla yogurt
1 cup of peanut butter

1. Put the peanut butter in a microwave safe dish and microwave until melted.
2. Mix the yogurt and the melted peanut butter in a bowl.
3. Pour mixture into cupcake papers and freeze.

and if you’re trying to avoid the kitchen entirely, do Fido’s gift shopping here.