NEWS & ARTICLES:

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

PET PALS DOG CLUB

All dogs and owners who attend dog and puppy classes have automatic membership to PET PALS DOG CLUB.

No charge to join.

Plenty activities to keep you motivated in dog training and always learning more.

You'll get information on calendar of activities - via e-mail-  that Adriana is planning for 2010.

Next group get together will be mid November.

Opportunity to meet some people you did classes with, your dog to continue making doggie friends, socialising, dog owner guidance and plenty of action and interaction.

Fun times guaranteed !

VET VISITS

Last Saturday I had to take my pet to the vet and it was a very busy morning at the clinic so we had to wait for a while. While there I observed how owners handled their pets while waiting for their turn to come. Dogs particularly can get stressed out and restless if left to wait long with nothing to do. 1 important exercise to teach your dog is 'to settle' for short periods of time. You start practicing it on your dog mat at home and put him on a drop position and gently start massaging him with very gentle and light hand strokes - along his body and to speak calmly with him to help him relax. They have sensitive spot areas like the inside of their ears. And reward your dog for accepting your touch. Don't pat him if he cries tough, otherwise you will be rewarding him for crying. The challenge is to try to distract your dog so he doesn't have a boring time there.

If at the vet clinic you have enough room in between each customer you could bring your dog mat and to practice this while there and maybe bring your dog a chewy or a favourite toy- but not a squeaky one because that would arouse the other dogs and not a ball - but only if the clinic does have space in between people. If it is a very small space a mat and a toy or chewy isn't a good idea. You don't want dogs fighting over toys or food. So if it turns out a long wait it's better to tell the vet nurse you are popping outside for a little while so your dog can have a little walk and distract himself. But please stay close by to clinic so vet nurse can find you when your turn comes. Dogs crying at a clinic is not a good experience for none of them and your dog soon will associate the vet visits with stress and you don't want that. So please be pro-active and help him. If you have a puppy you can start dropping by the clinic to introduce the puppy to a new environment before he is even due to a visit. Always reward calm behaviour if you puppy/ dog is calm while at the vet because that's your ultimate goal.

EQUIPMENT 

A word about Extended/ Retractable leads

I am not fond of extended leads. I see many people walking their dogs on the street with them. And most of the time dog is far ahead of its owner and not close by to owner leg where it should be. A dog walking well ahead of its owner is already pulling on the lead. If being ahead takes your dog to where he wants to be, your dog will do whatever works for him. And pulling becomes rewarding for him. Apart from being allowed to stop and sniff whatever he wants. Your dog can develop bad habits. If you are a bit slow on operating the retractable lead your dog could come into other people's, dogs and incoming traffic path. So summing up, extended leads aren't suitable for walks. I would recommend a dog lead of around 1.2m - 1.3m range for your street walk and while at the off leash park or at the beach if your dog isn't trained on 'Recall' - as yet and cannot go off leash, then a

3 m long lead to practice 'Recall' exercises while there is much more suitable.

ENVIRONMENT ENRICHMENT TOYS FOR YOUR DOG

Very good website with great variety of dog toys that offer mental stimulation for your dog.

Let your dog have fun in the backyard !

www.aussiedogs.com.au