Liberty Dogs San Antonio

08/27/2025

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲:⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝗪𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲⁣
⁣
If your veterinarian has ever suggested your dog could stand to lose a few pounds, you're not alone—and you're facing a widespread issue. Up to 60% of North American dogs are overweight, but many owners mistake a "sturdy" Labrador or "solid" bulldog for healthy when they're actually carrying dangerous excess weight. This epidemic hides in plain sight, normalized to the point of oversight.

I learned this the hard way with my border collie. When our vet mentioned he was "a bit heavy," I shrugged it off as no big deal. Four months later, the wake-up call was clear: "Tator needs to lose 5 pounds." Like many pet parents, I missed the early signs of a problem that could have been prevented with quicker action. That experience taught me the value of vigilance—and the importance of partnering with a veterinarian.

Your vet is your best ally in keeping your dog at a healthy weight. They can assess your dog's body condition, determine their ideal weight based on breed and age, calculate precise caloric needs, and recommend suitable foods. They'll also design exercise plans tailored to your dog's health and identify any underlying issues that might contribute to weight gain. Regular check-ins with your vet provide accountability and help you stay on track, ensuring your dog's weight supports a long, vibrant life.

𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠'𝐬 𝗪𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬⁣
⁣
A healthy weight helps your dog live longer—Purina research shows Labradors at ideal weights live nearly two years longer than overweight ones. It reduces risks of diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues, while boosting energy, mobility, and mental sharpness. Plus, it lowers vet costs over their lifetime.

𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝗪𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬⁣
⁣
The good news is that weight management doesn't have to be complicated. Here are practical approaches that have worked for my own dogs:

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬⁣
⁣
A "diet" isn't about restriction—it's a lifestyle of matching food to your dog's needs. For PJ, I measure 1/3-cup meals precisely instead of free-feeding. For training treats, I use Orijen 6 Fish kibble rather than calorie-dense options. Remember that treats should typically make up less than 10% of your dog's daily calories. If you're using lots of treats during training sessions (yay!), reduce their regular meals to compensate.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝗪𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐈𝐧𝐬⁣
⁣
Schedule regular weight checks with your veterinarian (it's a training opportunity!) or use a home scale (weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding your dog and calculate the difference). Tracking trends keeps Scruffy healthy.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞⁣
⁣
Exercise needs vary by breed, age, and individual dog, but all dogs need regular physical activity. This might mean:

* Daily walks. Remember, when you have a dog, the entire world becomes a Parkour course.
* Play sessions with running and tug (my favorites), and swimming (which is excellent for low-impact exercise)
* Dog sports like agility, barn hunt, or nose work

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠'𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞⁣
⁣
Helping your dog stay at a healthy weight is a gift of more tail wags, fetch games, and years of companionship. My experience with Tator taught me prevention beats correction, so I keep PJ’s weight in check with daily routines. You’ve got this—start small for big rewards!

08/26/2025

08/25/2025

08/20/2025

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝗪𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨-𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝⁣
About 20,000-40,000 years ago, some wolves began interacting with human settlements, likely scavenging for food scraps. Over time, these animals evolved into what scientists call "proto-dogs" - neither fully wolf nor modern dog, but an intermediate evolutionary stage. These proto-dogs with reduced fear responses and friendlier temperaments thrived near humans. Their physical characteristics gradually changed too. By 15,000 years ago, these early canines were noticeably smaller than wolves and had developed the ability to digest starchy foods from human diets.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬' 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬⁣
Living with humans has reshaped dogs' brain structure and function. The modern dog's brain is 20-30% smaller than a wolf's, with reduced areas for independent decision-making and aggression. Dogs show lower reactivity to threatening stimuli, allowing them to adapt more easily to new situations. They've developed specialized neural pathways for processing human voices and facial expressions. During interactions between humans and dogs, both species release oxytocin—the same bonding hormone that strengthens the connection between mothers and their babies.

𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲⁣
Dogs have evolved specialized cognitive abilities for human cohabitation. Even young puppies naturally understand pointing gestures—an ability wolves lack. This skill is truly remarkable; chimpanzees don't naturally understand pointing, yet puppies as young as 8 weeks old do. Dogs also monitor whether humans are watching them and respond appropriately to our emotional states. Some exceptional dogs can learn hundreds of words. Chaser, the border collie, recognized over one thousand different objects by name.

Dogs excel at associative learning, quickly connecting related events in time or space. This enables them to recognize that specific human behaviors predict certain outcomes—like reaching for a leash signaling an upcoming walk. If your house has lever door k***s, don't be surprised if your Scruffy starts opening the doors! He likely learned it from watching you! By observing and imitating, dogs effectively adapt to human households. Their social nature enhances this associative learning, allowing them to rapidly acquire behaviors that earn human approval.

𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬' 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬⁣
Dogs' emotional lives changed to connect with humans instead of just other dogs. According to neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp, all mammalian brains contain seven primary emotional systems: SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF, and PLAY (capitalized to distinguish them from everyday usage). Dogs feel emotions just like we do. The special thing about dogs is they've learned to share these feelings with humans instead of just other dogs.

When frightened, dogs behave like human infants, seeking proximity to their owners for security. They're attuned to your emotions and respond appropriately. If you're feeling down, your dog might cuddle next to you on the couch, offering silent companionship. Your emotional state profoundly influences your dog—they reflect both your anxiety and tranquility. Dogs have even developed specialized facial muscles to create those irresistible "puppy dog eyes" that trigger our caregiving instincts. Keep this in mind during your interactions—your dog functions as an emotional mirror, with a neurobiological emotional system remarkably like your own.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤⁣
Today's dogs possess a unique cognitive profile shaped by millennia of co-evolution with humans. Through selective breeding, canines unable to interpret human cues or integrate into human social structures were filtered out of the gene pool. Modern dogs excel at reading human signals—outperforming even our closest primate relatives—and demonstrate impressive abilities to remember specific events and understand basic numerical concepts.

This specialized human-oriented cognition comes with tradeoffs. Wolves still outperform dogs at solving certain complex problems independently, highlighting how domestication may have reduced some autonomous problem-solving abilities. Unlike great apes, dogs typically fail mirror self-recognition tests, though they likely possess self-awareness based on olfactory cues. Perhaps their most distinctive cognitive trait is their instinctive tendency to look to humans for guidance when facing challenges—a behavior almost never observed in wild animals and one that undoubtedly provided a survival advantage to their ancestors living alongside early human settlements.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲⁣
Dogs have experienced a remarkable evolutionary journey through their life with humans. They've developed extraordinary abilities to understand us, bond with us, and integrate into our world. The transformation from wolf to companion demonstrates dogs' incredible adaptability as they embraced new ways of life. This special friendship between humans and dogs has endured for thousands of years and reveals how social connections can fundamentally shape brain development.

08/13/2025

The Mental Benefits of Exercise for Your Dog

Exercise isn't just good for your dog's body—it's also great for their mind. While many dog owners know exercise keeps their pets physically healthy, they often don't realize how important it is for their dog's mental health too. Your dog needs more than just a quick walk around the block. They need chances to run, jump, and explore. Try to make walks more fun by letting your dog sniff and explore new areas, new places give your dog's brain something interesting to focus on.

Brain Benefits of Different Activities

Different types of exercise challenge your dog's brain in different ways. Letting them follow scents uses their strongest sense and natural hunting instincts. Teaching them new tricks during playtime helps them think more effectively and strengthens your connection. Walking on different surfaces like sand, grass, or hills helps them learn how to move their body more efficiently. Changing up exercise routines keeps their brain active and prevents boredom.

Less Stress, Improved Behavior

Exercise helps your dog in two main ways. First, it gives them a way to use up extra energy that might otherwise turn into stress or anxiety. Dogs who get enough exercise are usually calmer and more relaxed.

Second, dogs who exercise regularly are less likely to develop problematic behaviors caused by boredom. They chew less on furniture, bark less out of frustration, and don't jump on people as much for attention.

When dogs get to do activities that satisfy their natural instincts, they feel more fulfilled and behave more appropriately at home. Regular exercise can prevent behavior problems before they start.

Making Friends Through Exercise

Exercise provides your dog with valuable socialization opportunities. Daily walks strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Organized pack walks with local community groups, like San Antonio Nature Hounds, or similar programs in your area offer a warm, supportive environment where your dog can learn proper social skills while enjoying nature's beauty. Activities like fetch and obstacle courses enhance communication between you and your dog. When your pet meets different people during walks, they become more comfortable around strangers. Group activities allow your dog to learn social skills by observing other dogs.

Enhanced Sleep

Exercise helps your dog sleep more soundly, which improves their mood. Physical activity makes them tired in a good way, helping them sleep more deeply. Regular exercise creates healthier sleep patterns. Enhanced sleep means less irritability and anxiety. Quality rest helps them learn more effectively during training. The mental workout from exercise makes them need quality rest, creating a healthy cycle.

Creating an Exercise Plan

When planning exercise for your dog, remember that every dog is different. Think about your dog's breed, age, personality, and health when deciding how much and what type of exercise they need. Mix up activities to keep them interested while giving them enough physical activity.

Remember that training takes commitment and patience. By giving your dog enough exercise, you're helping both their physical and mental health, creating a happier pet. If your day is super busy (whose isn't?), even a few minutes of structured fetch or tug in the backyard may be just what your dog needs. More ambitious activities like surfing might need to wait for another day.

For help creating an exercise plan that fits your dog's specific needs, contact us today. We're here to help you and your dog have an improved life together through good training and exercise.

08/12/2025