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Use Your Dog's Nose For a Good Workout

Posted by Clare Bristow | 2 Comments

I'm constantly amazed at the jobs dogs are given by virtue of their extraordinary powerful sense of smell.

In today's Pocono Record Dr Marty Becker lists a number of the unusual jobs dogs have - ranging from sniffing out bed bugs to determining which cows in a herd of cattle are in heat.

A couple unusual dogs with jobs I've read about that aren't on the list are:

• dogs being used to alert their diabetic owners that they are about to fall into a diabetic coma. Apparently the dog is trained to detect a fall in their owner's blood sugar level; and
• a dog trained to detect when his owner is about to faint due to a chronic fainting disorder that's linked to an irregular heartbeat.

My dogs love to follow a scent - nothing useful, just rabbits, possums and the neighbors cats - and they are in a world of their own as they charge back and forth through the bush on the trail of a scent, their stubby tails stuck straight up in the air.

One game I play with them is to throw a handful of their dried food into the long grass and send them off to find the biscuits. If I scatter the food over a wide enough area it can keep the two of them busy for up to 20 minutes.

The benefit of this for Fritz and Zoe is that it gives them a good mental workout - mental work is tiring for a dog - as well as a food reward, which always goes down well.

After giving the dogs a short run and 20 minutes nose work, I have 2 tired dogs that will contentedly sleep in front of the fire for the rest of the evening.

If you don't already, try introducing some nose work into your dog's daily exercise routine - he'll love the mental stimulation.

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Michael Vick Dog Chew Toy - your dog's revenge!

Posted by Clare Bristow | Leave a Comment

What better way to express your disgust at dog fighting than buying your dog a Michael Vick Dog Chew Toy?

Better still, buy one for yourself and kick it around the floor for a while.

If you you need to catch up on the story of Michael Vick and his alleged involvement in dog figthing, read Itchmo's excellent posts on the subject.

Can any good come from this sorry tale? Whilst Michael Vick has brought the barbaric 'sport' of dog fighting out into the open, it's unrealistic to believe this will put an end to the 'sport'. Unfortunately it will go on, and dogs will continue to be bred either to fight or be used as bait dogs. Disgusting.

Brought to you by Petsbest.com: You should compare pet insurance rates before you buy.

How to Find a Dog Sitter

Posted by Clare Bristow | Leave a Comment

Using a pet sitter is a great alternative to putting your dog into the kennel when you have to take a trip away from home.

Whether you are traveling to a destination where dogs aren't welcome, your dog doesn't travel well or you travel frequently, using a dog sitter can be much less disruptive to your dog's daily routine than going to the kennel or being left with friends or relatives whilst you are away.

I say can be, because not all pet sitters are created equal.

Petsit USA has a good article on The Professional Pet Sitter, which gives advice on how to find, and what to expect from, a professional pet sitter, and how to spot a hobbyist from a professional.

If you do decide to make use of a pet sitter's services, remember to keep your side of the bargain too:

• make sure your dog is well socialized and is good with strangers;
• your dog is wearing a collar and identity tag;
• you have left sufficient food and other supplies to cover the time you are away plus a few days extra in case you are delayed getting home;
• you leave emergency contact numbers for you and your dog's vet; and
• you have advised the dog sitter of all known medical conditions, any peculiar habits your dog has, and anything else you can think of that will help your dog get along with the dog sitter.

Finally, do a trial run for a couple of nights if you can - it gives you all the opportunity to see if using a dog sitter is the right choice for your dog.

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