Ruff2walk

03/23/2024

Three words to abide by in Dog Training:

Direction
Love
Respect

If you teach your dog direction, love and respect, you will have a happy puppy and owner!

12/28/2023

January one is a traditional day for humans to lose weight and excersize
Same thing for dogs. If your dog has a sausage look with no definition in the waist, time to change up diet and excersize. Check with your vet first. They may prescribe a special diet.
Dogs are lovable whether thin or pudgy, but even a few extra pounds can do damage to your pup's long-term health. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2016 survey, 53.9% of dogs were either classified as overweight or obese by their vet. That means roughly 42 million dogs are carrying excess weight, increasing their risk of health issues for joint injuries or cancer. But don't panic and think crash diet. You'll want to move your furry friend from chunky to hunky. Next step - create a diet plan for your pup with these steps:

1. Define the weight goal. If you've started to notice your dog is closer to chunky than hunky, head to your vet's office. Ernest Ward, DVM, writing for VCM Vet Clinics, notes the importance of not neglecting this first step in your dog's weight loss journey. Your vet can assess if an underlying medical condition is causing weight gain, and, assuming all is clear, the vet can then help you set an ideal weight for your pup.

2. Start slowly. Introduce a change in diet slowly over the course of several days and under the supervision of your veterinarian. Substitute one-quarter of the food you normally feed them with either a reduced calorie food or what your vet recommends. Every few days increase the amount of the new food and decrease the amount of the original.

3. Feed your dog correctly. Your vet should determine the calories your dog should be eating every day for healthy weight loss. Your job is to dole out the proper amount of the right dog food. You might add a little chicken broth to it for taste appeal if they're used to a richer flavor than the new food. Replace dog biscuits with other crunchy, low-calorie bites like raw carrots or homemade healthy dog treats without processed ingredients.
Using their own kibble is also a good reward.
4. Ramp up your walk time. Increased exercise takes your dog toward fitness faster. Dump leisurely strolls in favor of high-pace walks. Playing fetch burns canine calories too! If you're unsure about how much is too much. Depending on the breed and size of your dog can determine what type of a goal your looking at.
Remember stay consistent and no table scraps!

09/30/2022

I wanted to repost an article on why your dog is digging up the back yard. There is a simple solution to this problem!

If your dog is leaving craters all over your yard, it's important to know your dog isn't doing it out of spite or a desire to destroy your landscaping; more likely they're seeking entertainment, attention, comfort, escape, prey or protection.

09/09/2022

It is a wonder time for pumpkin everything for us and for our dog. Pumpkin is great for your dog too!

Here are nine health benefits of feeding pumpkin to your pup this fall and all year long:

1. Pumpkin is not only tasty, but it's a wonderful source of fiber for your pet. That makes it an ideal nutrient for a pup having problems with constipation.

2. Alternatively, pumpkin flesh contains soluble fiber which helps slow digestion and manage diarrhea by absorbing water.

3. Pumpkin also contains Vitamin A, which is important for vision health.

4. It also contains Vitamin C, which boosts the immune system.

5. Save the seeds this year when you carve your pumpkin and grind them up to add to your dog's dinner. They're good for joint health, their coat, and your pup will love the taste.

6. If your plump pup needs to shed a few pounds, adding pumpkin to their food introduces extra fiber which can help them feel full for longer.

7. Pumpkin slows the aging process with its abundant antioxidant beta-carotene.

8. Pumpkin is low in fat.

9. An amino acid in pumpkin seeds, called cucurbitin, acts as a natural de-worming agent and paralyzes intestinal parasites.

Have a happy pup Halloween

08/06/2022

I recommend getting a kiddie pool for your dog for the summer! It keeps them cool and they have a lot of fun!

06/21/2022

Any size dog can be trained! Invest in a good trainer and the right equipment (leash and harness). This is Herk(golden doodle) and Piper(bernadoodle). I have about 100lbs on each side. Wonderful and smart dogs! They just needed direction! I loved training them!

05/21/2022

You ever wonder why your dog kicks back after pooping?

Kicking the hind legs after elimination is known as ground-scratching, and it is a normal dog behavior. This behavior has been seen in dogs and wild canids, such as wolves and coyotes. Many animal scientists think it's a form of communication among other dogs.

Dogs have scent glands in the bottom of their feet that they use to mark their territory. Domesticated dogs don't necessarily need these glands, but their ancestors used them to claim their domain.

Another reason why your dog may be kicking its feet after pooping is because it could be trying to bury its waste. This behavior is more commonly associated with cats, but dogs may try and bury their waste too.

Attempting to stop this behavior by yelling at your dog after pooping could result in your dog becoming fearful of pooping around you and it can damage the bond of trust between you. It may start pooping in the house in an attempt to do it in secret or develop diarrhea due to the stress of being yelled at.

Please, Please don’t yell at your dog. They have no idea why and can trigger anxiety. Just be firm

03/22/2022

This beautiful dog’s name is Cassie. She is my recent training client. She is Aussiedoodle
Her dog parents did great! She needed to learn basics. Basic hand commands sit, stay, down and come. She also learned no jump. There is no age limit to learn dog manners! Remember a dog is a reflection of the owner!

01/11/2022

I have had a recent client lose her pug. It is devastating. Like any bereavement process, it is the same steps you go through with a person. It takes time. If you have another pet in your household please give extra care and attention to the surviving pet family. Animals grieve also. They are so attached to one another.

Here are some tips.

-Try to let yourself feel. You've experienced a loss, and it's OK to let yourself feel all the feelings surrounding it. ...

-Try to practice self-compassion. ...

-Consider talking with someone who can relate. ..

Try a mourning process. ...

-Remove items at your own pace. ..

-Consider finding a way to memorialize your pet.

I have suggested to make a donation to a particular pet organization in the animals name. I am making a pet donation to Pug rescue. My client did adopt her pug from this rescue

I also recommend pet grieving groups. It helps to talk to other groups

11/03/2021

Now that we are close to Thanksgiving. I just want to repost a reminder of the dos and don’ts for holiday scraps for your kitty and dog. I know a lot of us mean well in sharing our Thanksgiving feasts with our furry member of he family. This is part of an article that was written by Dr. Richter from AKC.

Here are the dos:

Sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and beta-carotene,” says Dr. Richter. “Sweet potato treats can be as simple as a dehydrated sweet potato chew.” Just remember not to give your pet sweet potatoes containing any added ingredients.

Potatoes. You get to enjoy both kinds of potatoes, and your dog can have that option, too. However, give only boiled or baked potatoes with no butter, sour cream, salt, or pepper, and serve in moderation.

Apples. Be sure to cut out the core and share

Turkey no bones and no skin. Please do not give your dog seasoned meat

Now the don’ts:

Turkey bones, skin, and gravy
Stuffing
Casseroles
Mashed potatoes
Creamed peas
Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets (especially anything containing xylitol)
Alcoholic beverages
Raisins and grapes
Onions, scallions, and garlic
Ham
Yeast dough
Fatty foods
Foods containing spices

The list was compiled by AKC Dr. Gary Richter MS DVM author of The Ultimate Health Pet Gulde
Enjoy your holiday and I hope this is helpful!

Ruff2walk