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This month we are running a special on select Planet Dog Toys.  All of the Orbee-Tuff Bones, the Orbee Golf Ball, the Orbee-Tuff Artichoke, and the Orbee Tennis Balls are currently 25% off!! There are no coupon codes to enter, simply add them to your cart and the discount has been applied.  Don’t forget to check out our complete line of Planet Dog Toys.

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Whether you are getting a dog from a shelter or a breeder, it is important that you find the right dog for you and your family.  With all of the volunteer groups, shelters, rescues, and other similar agencies out there, the chances of finding the perfect dog for your family are great.  However, there are some important questions to ask about each dog that you may be considering.

In addition to things like size, energy level, and age, it is very important to know some history or background on the dog.  Although you cannot go back in time and change where they came from or how they ended up in a shelter, you can still learn a lot and use that information to help make your decision.  Here are some common questions that I would ask when considering a shelter dog…

• How did the dog end up in the shelter? Important info here because we can find out if the dog was a surrender, found wandering the streets alone, found in a basement with other dogs, etc.  All of these situations can give us valuable info about the dog.
• At what age did the dog come into the shelter? This is important because if we are discussing a younger dog, crucial interactions with the mother and other litter mates may have been missed.  Things like bite inhibition and early social skills may not be present in this dog.
• How long has the dog been in the shelter? If a 6 month old dog has been in the shelter system for 4 months, it may be safe to assume that a lot of important interactions and social experiences may have been missed.
• Has dog been temperament tested by a qualified individual? The results of these tests are going to give you insight on the dog’s potential behavior around people, children, other dogs, cats, etc.

Gathering as much information as possible is very important.  For example, if a dog has been surrendered because of dog aggression and biting a small child, welcoming this dog into a similar family structure may obviously not be the best idea.  Although I cannot stress enough that quality dog training, socialization, leadership, and exercise can shape your dog into an upstanding member of your family, but it is still crucial to know what you are getting yourself into before selecting a rescuing a dog; I would hate to see that same dog end up back in a shelter for reasons that could have been avoided.

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With the cooler weather and shorter days approaching, opportunities to get our dogs out and about seem to be quickly fading.  Even with the shorter days and cooler weather, our dogs still need plenty of exercise in order to stay healthy, release pent up energy, and have fun!

Nothing replaces an old fashioned walk or jog with you, but teaching your dog to run, walk, or jog on a treadmill is a great way to exercise your dog.  Below are some very basic points to consider when teaching your dog to exercise on a treadmill.

• Consult an experienced trainer if you are not confident in what you are doing.  Mistakes on our part can often make a simple task like treadmill training become a very stressful and daunting task for your dog.
• Consult with your veterinarian to ensure that treadmill training is appropriate for your dog.
• The dog first has to become familiar with the treadmill before running on it.  This may involve having your dog on and near the treadmill for some time before it is even turned on and moving.
• Use solid obedience, your body, and whatever else works for your dog, to guide him on the treadmill and have him become comfortable with it’s movement.
• Start in small steps, both in speed and time; make sure your dog is ready for increased speeds and distances.
• Never leave your dog unattended while on a treadmill.  Supervision is key to everything that our dogs do, this is no exception.

If you are patient with your treadmill intro, you should have your dog up and running in no time!

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This re-posted article comes to us from Brice Cavanugh, of Team Dog!, a dog training company with locations in Chicago and St. Louis.  Team Dog! prides themselves in providing an educational, entertaining, friendly, functional and innovative experience of uncompromising quality that meets the dog training needs of the entire family, building balanced relationships through clear communication.  Brice has written an excellent article on Halloween tips that will help keep our pets and ourselves safe this Halloween.  Enjoy!

Halloween can be an especially trying time for our furry friends, so Team Dog! has put together a list of 13 tips to help you and yours avoid the common problems associated with the most dangerous holiday for dogs!

1.  Make sure that your dog’s ID tag is up to date and secure on their collar…just in case!

2. Keep candy away from your dog! Many candies can be toxic to dogs as well as being a choking hazard!  Wrappers of eaten candies can be of concern as well!

3.  Supervise! Children and dogs should always be supervised together, and this is especially true during this high energy holiday!

4.  Protect dogs from Jack-O-Lanterns, candles and the like.  Besides the obvious problems of getting into a flame, wagging tails can knock over items that can cause big trouble!

5.  Costumes. Many can be chewing/choking hazards, and some dogs just don’t like the constricting nature that most costumes create.  It may be fun for us, but consider your dog!  Make sure that your dog has good peripheral vision to enable them to fully use their senses…

6.  The eyes have it! Costumes worn by humans can take away a dog’s ability to see strangers as they are accustomed to meeting them (in addition to scent).  Hidden eyes can create insecurity in your dog, which can elicit defensive postures and actions.  Let your dog smell your costumes prior to your putting them on, and ease them into this new phenomena!

7.  Don’t take your dog out Trick or Treating with you! Many dogs are balanced and comfortable with this, but many are not.  It is human nature on this holiday to play pranks and scare fellow holiday goers, but your dog may not understand, and therefore protect his family!  Be aware of this!  It is only one day, he will probably be just as content to sleep through it, which leads us to…

8.  Provide a safe and quiet place for your dog. Many dogs look at their crates as a sanctuary (good training!), or a quiet room will serve the same purpose.  Allowing your dog to avoid the craziness of doorbells, strange costumes and the volume of visitors is an excellent way to help your dog through the evening.

9.  Practice your recall! Dog s should come when called, and practicing this skill can be life-saving!  Door bolting is a huge concern when the door is answered and opened dozens of times within an evening.

10.  Holiday decorations, like Silly String™ are fun to play with, for both you and your pet…but they should only be playing with toys designed for them and under your supervision.

11.  Exercise your dog prior to the festivities kicking off!  Having them mentally and physically spent helps them to relax better!

12.  Help your dog through trying times. Reassurance can be helpful, but make sure that you are not encouraging undesired behavior.  Optimally, refer to #8, but if you want your dog out and about, be aware of their state of mind and reward/discourage accordingly!

13.  Have fun! Our pets can be a wonderful part of our celebration, but if they are overwhelmed, the opposite can be true!  There is no need to create a problem that could take weeks to fix just to have a good time for a couple of hours, but if your dog can handle it, then have a blast!

For more great information, dog training tips, and videos, or if you are looking for Dog Training in Chicago, be sure to visit the website of Team Dog!

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