Tips for Surviving the Mighty Texas Dog Walk

Posted by Paul - April 3, 2012 - Blog, The General Dog Community, Tips for Owning and Training Dogs

The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is coming to Austin this weekend and it should be a great event! While everyone is out to have a good time and enjoy the day, here are a few tips to help make the day safe, happy, and fun for you and your dog.

It is going to be packed! The Mighty Texas Dog Walk usually has around 10,000 dogs and they will all be converging in a relatively small space. This can be very stressful for some dogs and this environment is not always the best place to introduce dogs to each other. It’s hard enough to introduce dogs while on leash in a normal social situation, it may be better to just spread out here.
Not all dogs are friendly! This goes along with the statement above about spreading out, but keep an eye on your dog and don’t assume every dog out there is going want to play with your dog.
Clean up after your dog! Do yourself a favor and grab a bag for your dog and while you’re at it, grab another one for someone else.
Expect some dogs to be stressed! Large events like this can be very stressful for even the most well-socialized and adjusted dogs. If you see your dog showing signs of stress or panic, make an adjustment. So instead of walking in the middle of 10,000 dogs, it may be better for your dog if you fall near the back of the pack and walk with more space between you and the other participants.
Don’t let others feed your dog! This is very important if your dog has any food allergies or cannot have certain types of treats. There will be a lot of vendors with treats, food, and other delicious items for your dog to sample, but make sure to keep an extra eye out if your dog has dietary restrictions.
Be aware of weather conditions! The weather in Texas is usually great in April, but it can still be a concern. There will be watering stations along the walk, but consider bringing your own water if your dog doen’t share well with others or if they need to be watered frequently. Also be sure to reach down and feel the temperature of the street; if the sun is intense the pavement will heat up and cause the dog to potentially burn their pads.
Enjoy the walk! The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is a fun event that benefits a great cause. Please consider donating to the Texas Hearing and Service Dogs to help them out!

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dog park, events, local

Tricks Class is Coming Back!

Posted by Paul - March 28, 2012 - Blog, Unleashed Unlimited Training Services

Trick training is back! Teaching your dog new tricks is a great opportunity to kick back and have some fun and by exposing your dog to new instruction, you’re actually making it easier for them to learn new things later down the road.

Our trick training class is a hands on class where you are going to be working with your dog and teaching them some fun tricks. Because this is a fun and laid back class, all ages and levels of obedience are welcome to participate – there are no prerequisites for Tricks 1!

Please visit our trick training page for a complete list of the skills that will be taught, details and class times (all of this session’s classes will be held at our Leander dog training center), and sign up information. If you’re not local or can’t make it to this class, don’t forget about our trick training dvd. Hope to see you out there!

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programs

2012 Most Popular Breeds

Posted by Paul - March 4, 2012 - Blog, The General Dog Community

The American Kennel Club recently announced their annual list of the most popular dog breeds in America. The AKC’s 2012 most popular dog breeds list is very similar to the 2011 and 2010 most popular breeds list, but with a few changes.

The Beagle and Golden Retriever have both gained ground on the Yorkshire Terrier, knocking the terrier to the 5th spot and the Poodle and Dachshund switched spots. But with all of the shake ups, once again, the Labrador Retriever tops the list for the 21st consecutive year!

Take a look at the AKC’s 2012 publishing of the most popular dog breeds.

10. Rottweiler

9. Dachshund

8. Poodle

7. Boxer

6. Bulldog

5. Yorkshire Terrier

4. Golden Retriever

3. Beagle

2. German Shepherd Dog

1. Labrador Retriever

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breeding, facts

Dog Boarding Just Got Awesome?

Posted by Paul - March 1, 2012 - Blog, The General Dog Community

We recently stumbled across a new site called DogVacay. The company allows anyone who wants to host dogs in their home to apply for a listing. It’s up to the homeowners to set their own price, allows them to choose their own schedules, and even select what type and size of dogs they are willing to host. Dog owners can book nights directly through the site and DogVacay takes a small percentage of the transaction. Sounds great, right?

The idea of leaving your dog in someone’s home where you know they will be cared for does sound better then a loud concrete kennel. The basic concept of this service is very similar to having your friend watch your dog while you go out of town for a few days. However, there is one major change – you’re not leaving your dog with a trusted friend, you’re basically leaving your dog with a stranger. Although there is an “interview” process and the choice is ultimately up to the dog owner, does anyone else see a list of potential problems here?

Here’s a quote directly from the site: “Dog Vacay allows you to find a real home to board your dog. It’s better than a kennel where Spot will be stuck in a cage all day. Home boarding gives your dog individual attention, fun with a small number of well-socialized dogs, and supervision from a responsible pet owner – at a price that doesn’t add up to more than your vacation.” Exactly how well socialized are this person’s other dogs? What is this person’s definition of supervision? Is it truly better then your dog being in a kennel?

There are already a large group of pet sitters out there, is this really more then just a directory of pet sitters, or is this a directory of “unqualified” people calling themselves pet sitters? What do you think… will this service make it? Would you use it?

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internet, product review

2012 Mighty Texas Dog Walk

Posted by Paul - February 14, 2012 - Blog, The General Dog Community

It’s that time of year again – get ready for the 14th Annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the event, the Mighty Texas Dog Walk is a gathering of dogs and their owners for a 3 miles stroll through downtown Austin in attempt to bring the Guinness World’s Record for “Largest Dog Walk” back to Texas!

Not only will they be attempting to break the largest dog walk record, but this year the Mighty Texas Dog Walk will also be trying to set the record for the largest hairball, the most dogs sitting at the same time, and the most dogs wearing the same bandanna! Now if breaking those records wasn’t enough to convince you to sign up for Austin’s Mighty Texas Dog Walk, the fact that all proceeds will be benefiting Texas Hearing and Service Dogs should push you over the top. Be sure to check out their website and learn more about the great things they do.

The Mighty Texas Dog Walk will be held in Austin on Saturday, April 7, 2012. To find out more about the event, be sure to visit the Mighty Texas Dog Walk website!

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events, local

Extra Class Added – Intro to Agility

Posted by Paul - February 10, 2012 - Blog, Unleashed Unlimited Training Services

Agility is back at Unleashed Unlimited!! We just posted a new extra curricular class that is always a good time and a great confidence booster for all the shy dogs out there – Intro to Agility.

Our obstacle and confidence course is an entry level class designed to expose you and your dog to all of the agility equipment and lay the foundation for safely and confidently maneuvering over the course. If you ever wanted to get into agility or find a fun way to build confidence in your fearful or shy dog, this class is a great first step!

This class starts on February 26th so be sure to clic k here for more info about our Intro to Agility class including a preview video, schedule, sign up details, and more.

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Intro to Agility

Posted by Paul - February 8, 2012 - Blog, Unleashed Unlimited Training Services

This class is already full. Click here for an additional class.

Agility is back at Unleashed Unlimited!! We just posted a new extra curricular class that is always a good time and a greatconfidence booster for all the shy dogs out there – Intro to Agility.

Our obstacle and confidence course is an entry level class designed to expose you and your dog to all of the agility equipment and lay the foundation for safely and confidently maneuvering over the course. If you ever wanted to get into agility or find a fun way to build confidence in your fearful or shy dog, this class is a great first step!

This class starts on February 21st so be sure to clic k here for more info about our Intro to Agility class including a preview video, schedule, sign up details, and more.

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agility, programs

What’s the Deal with Humping?

Posted by Paul - February 2, 2012 - Blog, The General Dog Community, Tips for Owning and Training Dogs

Whether it was one of your own dogs being the guilty party or another dog doing it to yours, we’ve all seen two dogs hump each other at some point. Yes, it’s embarrassing and obnoxious, and it’s not something you want to encourage, but what does it all mean?

There are a lot of theories floating around out there about mounting and humping, some think that it’s sexual, humping is dominance, or it’s mainly done by intact males. While some of these and other theories can be correct in some cases, the most common type of humping/mounting that I see on a daily basis is redirected excitement that usually ends up in play.

While mounting and humping may be a way to start a nice game of chase, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t obnoxious or shouldn’t be interrupted out in public. You definitely don’t want to be the owner of that dog that is constantly mounting and going to town on every dog at the park, telling them to come would be an important management skill to have in this case. It’s extra important in situations like these to be able to interrupt it because some dogs will instantly turn and correct a dog for mounting them. But around a group of well-socialized dogs with no behavior issues – why not let them go?

Start to observe your dog a little closer when it comes to their humping. You may see them do it in times of high excitement or as a way to get another dog to play with them. While it isn’t appropriate in all situations, humping is not a sign of a bad dog.

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body language, dog park, training advice