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Building an At-Home Dog Agility Course

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How to DIY Dog Agility Equipment

Dog Agility Equipment
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It’s super simple to create your own dog agility equipment for your home. All you’ll need is your imagination, a few PVC pipes, broom sticks, laundry baskets, lots of super yummy treats and your dog. If you’re not the handy type, you can certainly purchase dog agility equipment. However, DIYing your own agility equipment for dogs is super fun. 🙂

Dog Agility Training

Dog agility has been around for years, and it’s a blast! Both handler and dog must complete a dog agility course in the shortest amount of time without knocking over any equipment. The handler points her dog in the right direction, and the dog soars over, under and through agility obstacles in seconds. It’s amazing to watch, participate and teach. I look forward to teaching dog agility classes every week!

Great for Shy Dogs

While agility is a super fun and active sport, it’s also great for timid or shy dogs that need to build confidence. When a timid dog is able to have fun crawling through an enclosed dog tunnel, his life changes for the better! He learns that things really aren’t as scary as they seem. The timid ones eventually soar through the agility course alongside the gregarious dogs!

Popular Dog Agility Equipment

For the most part, dog agility requires a few standard obstacles, depending on a dog’s skill level. It’s important to keep things super simple in the beginning until your dog builds confidence and is comfortable enough to walk on obstacles off the ground. I recommend the following dog agility equipment.

Just as a reminder, make sure all dog obstacles are on a non-skid and soft surface, such as grass. For indoor versions, you should add soft rubber non-skid rugs on both sides of or under an obstacle.

RELATED: 3 Reasons Why You Need Non Slip Socks for Dogs

Jumps

Easily the funniest part of dog agility training and one of the most popular parts of dog agility equipment are jumps. Everyone enjoys watching her dog fly over jumps. There are so many different types of jumps, and most can be made with everyday household items.

How to Create Jumps

If you’re on a budget, you can purchase two plastic laundry baskets with multiple holes on all sides and a broom. Push the broom through both laundry baskets, and move both baskets toward the end of the broom. Voila, you have a jump! Always start on the lowest level (i.e. broom stick on the ground). Once your dog aces jumping over a low broom handle, you can move the broom up gradually.

Never force a dog over a jump. It’s important your dog learns how to jump over an agility jump on his own. Try tossing a treat over the jump, so your dog is forced to walk over the broom to get the treat. If your dog goes around the jump (smart dog!), try luring him over the jump with a treat. Additionally, while we want to challenge our dogs, always keep safety and your dog’s abilities in mind.

Ladder/Cavalletti

An agility ladder is a bit different than a regular ladder in that it’s placed flat on the ground instead of against a wall. By placing a ladder on the ground, your dog learns to pick up his feet as he walks over each rung. For this dog obstacle, you can use a regular ladder placed on a soft non-skid area.

Cavalletti refers to single pole jumps that are slightly off the ground. It’s a common term in the horse world.

How to Create a Ladder

If you want to get super fancy and raise the height of a ladder rung for cavalletti, create an agility ladder with PVC piping. You can also use the above jump idea as inspiration by purchasing 10 laundry baskets and 5 wooden poles (or brooms), and set them up as a jump.

Move the jumps close together with a six-inch or one-foot gap between each jump (larger gap for bigger dogs). Always start with the poles on the ground. Once your dog progresses, move the poles up the laundry baskets in small increments. Don’t forget to lure your dog over each rung. Better yet, place one treat between each rung. This will slow your dog down, so he doesn’t walk on the rungs instead. 🙂

Dog Tunnels

I’ve never figured out how to make a DIY dog agility tunnel that lasts more than a few sessions, so I recommend purchasing an agility tunnel. Once your dog becomes addicted to running full blast through a tunnel, a DIY or cheap option will shred in minutes.

High-quality dog tunnels usually cost more than $100. These are made of super durable material, can expand from short to long and can take a beating. If cost is an issue, the HDP 18-Ft Dog Agility Training Open Tunnel is a great buy for under $40. It can be purchased on Amazon. Just make sure to shorten the tunnel when teaching your dog to go through it.

Dog Tunnel Training Tips

Teaching your dog to walk through a tunnel can be tricky. When dogs balk at agility equipment during class, it’s usually the tunnel. Please, never force your dog through a tunnel. Shorten the tunnel and grab lots of yummy treats. Toss treats through the tunnel, so that your dog must step through it to eat the treats.

You can also ask a friend to stand on the other side of the tunnel opening and call your dog through it. Expand the tunnel in small increments once your dog willingly and happily walks through the tunnel.

Where to Store

A dog agility tunnel is super addicting! When not in use, fold the tunnel up and store in an area where your dog is unable to reach. Trust me, if you keep a dog tunnel available in your backyard at all times, your dog will likely be running through the tunnel instead of pottying. As for indoor tunnels, I leave ours out in the formal dining room (that’s what formal dining rooms are for, right?). We were woken up by the sound of our dog gleefully running in and out of the tunnel at midnight. 🙂

Dog agility is fun and very addicting—I’m just warning you!

Vegetables for Dogs: Why You Should Add Veggies to Their Meals

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The Importance of Vegetables for Dogs

Vegetables for Dogs
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You’re not the only one who can and should eat your veggies. Dogs benefit greatly from eating vegetables as well. Nutrient-dense foods, such as whole fruits and vegetables, provide dogs essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals and much needed fiber. Additionally, vegetables for dogs will keep illness and even cancer at bay. So it’s important to add a simple, yet delicious mix of vegetables to your dog’s daily meals.

Should You Add Vegetables to Kibble?

The simple answer is yes. All dogs and puppies should have access to fresh, raw vegetables every day. Even though certain brands of dog food kibble already contain fruits and vegetables, most vital nutrients are lost when food is cooked at high temperatures. By adding small amounts of fresh veggies, you’re restoring vitamins and antioxidants back into your dog’s food. The great part about topping off your dog’s food with vegetables is it won’t cause upset tummies.

If you’re still hesitant about adding vegetables to your dog’s daily diet, there’s research that explains how adding vegetables good for dogs to their meals has proven to keep illness and cancer away. There’s a study pertaining to bladder cancer and Scottish Terriers. (This dog breed is more likely to develop this type of cancer than any other breed of dog.) Research shows that adding certain vegetables to a dog’s diet decreases chances of cancer.

Below is a short video with specific facts pertaining to the importance of fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet as well as cancer prevention tips from Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM. You can check out the full video discussing functional foods for dogs here. It’s about 15 minutes long and packed with great information.

Which Vegetables are Good for Dogs?

Vegetables good for dogs include cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli), green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange vegetables. How often you feed your dog vegetables matters just as much as the type of vegetable you use. In a study, it was found that “in order to have a positive effect, vegetables had to be fed [to dogs] at least three times per week” (Dawson & Lounsbury, 2005). The power of vegetables for dogs amazes me every day!

How to Incorporate Veggies Into Your Dog’s Meal

You can feed your dog broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and yellow squash raw so long as they’ve been pulped in your food processor. Feeding your dog raw vegetables is ideal. Before you do, make sure to clean and rinse vegetables to remove dirt, pesticides and any seeds. For super tough vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and squash, bake them on a low temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour and remove any tough skin once cooled.

Interestingly, dogs have a hard time digesting vegetables, especially cruciferous varieties due to the tough outer membrane that protects vegetables. By pulping veggies in a food processor or blender before feeding to your dog, you actually break down the membrane, making it easier for your dog to utilize all of the nutrients. Once a month, I purchase and pulp enough vegetables to last about a month. I store extra portions in the freezer. Pulped veggies last about 5 days in the refrigerator, so portion and freeze them as needed for your dog’s size.

I add 1 teaspoon of pulped vegetables to my dog’s food every day. I recommend 1 teaspoon per 25 lbs. For example, my Rottweiler eats 1- 1½ tablespoons per day. Believe it or not, my dogs eat their vegetables first. If your dog’s unsure about eating pulped vegetables, add a bit of low-fat, plain yogurt on top of the veggies. That should entice picky eaters. 🙂

Pulp some vegetables for your dog today!

Pet-Safe Natural Weed Killers

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Natural Weed Killers That Won’t Harm Your Dog

Natural Weed Killers
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It’s summer, which means weeds and grass are sprouting up in unwanted areas everywhere. I’m always amazed where weeds will pop up and grow. I’m from the South and I’ve personally witnessed weeds growing out of water gutters hanging from the rooftops many times. Not only do weeds pop up everywhere, but they’re also next to impossible to remove permanently. You think you’ve killed the weeds, but you see their return the following week.

So it makes sense that people grab the cheapest and most effective weed killer possible. No one wants to fight weeds every day. However, are chemical weed killers safe? We all know the answer, and they’re not. What’s an alternative to fight pesky weeds on your lawn? Pet-safe weed killers. While natural weed killers weren’t very effective in the past, they’ve come a long way, baby!

Chemical Weed Killers Are Dangerous

Many years ago, I pledged to never use chemical weed killers again. Not only are synthetic chemicals extremely harmful to our water supply, but they also expose our precious dogs to toxic chemicals every time our pets play or potty on treated lawns. Several studies have shown that dogs will excrete synthetic lawn treatment chemicals in their urine even when pet owners have followed chemical product instructions carefully. In addition, several studies have linked weed-killing chemicals to cancer in dogs.

RELATED: 1 Simple Way to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Backyard

Now, let’s think about this for a minute. Weeds are harmless to humans, yet we pour chemicals on them. Weeds don’t sting or bite us; we kill them because they’re growing in and around our lawns, gardens and flower beds. I understand weeds can and will take over an area and smother other plants, and they can also be unsightly, but should we really increase our risk of cancer just because weeds are pests? Maybe we need to rethink a few things.

Natural Weed Killers That Are Pet-Safe

Thankfully, there are several natural weed killers on the market that won’t harm our dogs or our earth, yet still kill weeds. Yes, there’s a bit of a drawback using non-toxic weed killers. For example, you must spray or pour natural weed killers more often than chemical versions and only during specific times of the day. However, I think it’s worth it to reduce potential poisoning and cancer risks in pets and their owners.

10%-20% Vinegar

Over the years, I’ve tried a ton of natural weed killers and I’ve found good strong vinegar works the best. Spraying vinegar directly onto weeds works best on warm and dry sunny days, so I spray it around noon. Some gardeners swear adding dishwashing liquid, salt and citrus oils will boost the effectiveness of vinegar’s weed-killing power. I didn’t notice a difference when I tried it, but I’m sure it’s still worth a try.

Regular grocery store vinegar doesn’t work. You need the strong stuff. Head to your nearest lawn supply store, Lowe’s or Home Depot for the good stuff. You’ll need 10%-20% vinegar (don’t dilute it). Ask a sales associate to recommend a specific sprayer based on the area expanse you’re needing to treat.

It may take a day or two before you notice weeds welting, so it’s best to spray vinegar when rain chances are low. Keep your dogs away from the area until the vinegar dries and please wear protective eyewear. Vinegar is an acid and will blow back into your face on windy days. Oh, and be prepared for the smell. 🙂

BurnOut Weed Killer

If you’re having issues finding strong vinegar in your area, you can purchase it online or buy other non-toxic weed killing products. BurnOut Weed Killer is made of strong vinegar and clove oil, which many lawn experts claim boosts the effectiveness of vinegar. Clove oil also masks the vinegar’s unpleasant smell. 🙂 Just remember to follow this product’s directions carefully and understand it may take a bit longer to work its magic than chemical weed killers.

The Old-Fashioned Way

Pulling weeds out by hand, then covering the area with several layers of plastic or newspaper gets rid of weeds too. Now, this method will take more time than simply spraying weed killers, but it works just as effectively.

Many years ago, we had a large shaded area that only grew weeds. I fought this weed-infested area for an entire year. I even poured salt on the weeds since many articles promised that nothing would ever grow in the area again once I “salted the earth.” Well, we had weeds within a week. Finally, I caved in and pulled all the weeds out by hand. Then, I layered newspaper and landscaping plastic material over the area and covered the paper and plastic with gravel. Guess what? No weeds and the area finally looked neat and tidy. For small clusters of weeds, I use strong vinegar. 🙂

Enjoy summer, but keep poisons out of your yard. Your dog will thank you!

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What is Calming Dog Food and Should You Use It?

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Calming Dog Food to Help Your Anxious Dog

Calming Dog Food
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Animal behavior is picking up momentum in the veterinary world, and it’s about time. Vets and their staff want to create a friendly, fun environment for clients and their pets. They’re finally addressing the huge elephant in the room: dogs hiding under the exam table. While reading an article by leading veterinary behaviorists, I learned that a new prescription calming dog food has hit the market that promises to calm a stressed, anxious and nervous dog.

Hum, does calming dog food actually work? Well, it looks like it.

What is Calming Dog Food?

While many veterinary practices are incorporating force-free veterinary exams now, they’re also addressing anxiety, stress, fearfulness, separation anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats. One way to address these issues is by prescribing calming dog food. Calming dog food contains ingredients, such as hydrolyzed casein and L-tryptophan, which promote calmness in dogs.

Over the last five years, several companies have created supplements to reduce dog anxiety and stress. One such company that began offering dog calming products is Royal Canin Veterinary Diet. Its Canine Calm dry dog food, which is only available through your veterinarian, is chicken-based and contains dried hydrolyzed casein and L-tryptophan.

You’re probably scratching your head and wondering if this calming dog food and its special ingredients really work. It seems, per the research and high reviews, that this dog food is very promising for anxious dogs.

Which Dogs Would Benefit From Calming Dog Food?

If your dog is anxious, fearful, afraid of loud sounds and/or constantly stressed, then I’d ask your veterinarian about calming dog food. From my understanding, it’ll take a few weeks to see results, but some pet owners claim results only within a few days.

Do understand, this calming food isn’t a magic potion. It won’t completely cure your dog’s fearful and anxious behavior, but it may reduce it quite a bit. I’m a firm believer in some help is better than no help, so I recommend you give this food a try. In addition to a food change, your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary behaviorist for prescription medication and a professional dog trainer to begin behavior modification protocols.

How Much Does It Cost?

Unfortunately, calming dog food is outrageously expensive. A 4.4lb bag will cost you around $27 and an 8.8lb bag costs $51. It’s completely affordable if you share your home with small dogs. For large dogs, it’ll probably cost $100-$200 per month to feed them this prescription dog food. If price is a concern, ask your vet about Solliquin supplements. They have the same calming ingredients plus a few extra ones too.

I’d love to hear from pet owners who have used this calming dog food! Please drop me a note in the comment section below. I’m extremely interested in hearing your personal experiences. ;o) 

How to Prevent Scorpions From Stinging Your Dog

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Keep Scorpion Stings at Bay With These Tips

Scorpion Stings
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It’s that time of year in blazing hot south Arizona where scorpions come out to play. Bleh! This is our first summer in Phoenix, and we’ve already been formally introduced to a poisonous bark scorpion. Unfortunately, the experience was too up close and personal for my taste, leaving my husband with a scorpion sting.

It started last night. We found a bark scorpion in our bed at 1:00am when it stung my husband. That nasty creature was less than a foot away from my small dog and a couple of feet from me. The bark scorpion obviously strolled right past a snoring Rottweiler while it headed straight for our bed. My husband jumped out of bed claiming a scorpion stung his thigh, which caused me to stand and scream in the bathtub with both dogs until he found it. I’m surprised the police weren’t called.

My hubby is okay and I’ve resisted the urge to burn the house down, and yes I haven’t slept since. Fortunately, deep breaths, bright lights, a frantic voicemail to my pest control guy and a Xanax decreased my sudden thoughts of things crawling all over my body and face.

How do we protect ourselves and our dogs from scorpion stings?

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How to Prevent Scorpions From Stinging Your Dog

Scorpions are nocturnal; they search for food and water at night. It seems scorpions live everywhere too. While most scorpion stings feel like broken glass in your skin, they’re not poisonous except for the bark scorpion. Apparently, June through August is prime scorpion time, and we had our formal introduction in July.

Seal Cracks and Gaps

The best way to keep your dog safe from scorpion stings is to keep your dog inside and scorpions outside. Small cracks in your home and gaps in weather stripping near doors and windows are beacons to scorpions. To check for gaps and cracks, have someone shine a flashlight along your windows and doors at night while another person stands outside t0 look for light peeking through. Scorpions are able to flatten themselves like a credit card, so seal any and all cracks and gaps tightly.

Hunt Them at Night

Bug sprays and powders won’t affect a scorpion. If they do, it would take 7 to 14 days for it to penetrate their extremely durable exoskeleton. Now, sprays and powders will keep other pests away that scorpions love to munch on. Some of our neighbors hunt scorpions at night with black lights and a shoe because scorpions shine brightly under black light. Around 10:00pm, we usually hear gleeful “I got ’em” comments coming from several homes in the neighborhood. Many neighbors and pest control companies swear this is an effective way to prevent scorpion stings. Maybe I need a black light and one of my old shoes too.

Hire a Pest Control Company

We do have a pest control company that sprays regularly. They’ve walked our property before showing us cracks and gaps that need to be sealed. Although, somehow, a scorpion still got into our home. While I totally believe in natural products and living a chemical-free life, I made an exception for the pest control company. After chatting with our holistic veterinarian, she recommended pest control chemicals if we’re dealing with bark scorpions. Another reason I hired a bug guy is because bark scorpions can scale walls and walk along ceilings. They can go anywhere they want to basically.

What to Do if a Scorpion Stings Your Dog

When dogs are stung by scorpions (or wasps and bees for that matter), your dog will likely yelp, whine, paw or rub at the sting site. Scorpion stings hurt. Many years ago, my dog was stung by a scorpion in our Texas home. He yelped and began limping immediately. Fortunately, I saw the scorpion scurry away. However, I managed to kill the scorpion, put it in a plastic bag, and bring it and my dog to our vet’s office immediately. I say that I’m thankful for seeing the scorpion because I was able to rule out what actually caused the sting.

If a bark scorpion stings your dog or cat, bring your pet to a veterinarian immediately. She’ll likely inject a Benadryl-like medication into your pet. If a scorpion stings your dog overnight, call your veterinary emergency clinic immediately. She’ll likely ask you to bring your pet in for an injection too.

From chatting with our vet, we learned that not only can bark scorpion stings cause pain, but the sting site can also become quickly infected. When my husband was stung by a bark scorpion, the pain lasted for more than 12 hours. He was nauseous for a couple of days, but luckily the sting site didn’t become infected.

For other types of scorpion stings, watch your pet closely for the next 4 hours. Most large dogs recover well from scorpion bites, but reactions are more common with small dogs and cats. If your dog or cat has trouble breathing, struggles to stand up, can’t walk properly or looks distressed in any way, get your pet to your vet immediately.

Good luck out there, and I hope you never see a scorpion. As for me, I need to call my bug man again. I need reassurance after writing this article (scratch, scratch).

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