4 Low-Impact Exercises for Dogs With Arthritis or Older Dogs

November 21, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Low-Impact Exercises for Dogs

Dogs need exercise and mental stimulation every day. Though, sometimes, an injury or chronic pain limits a dog’s activity level—almost grinding it to a halt. That’s when low-impact exercise for dogs is hugely beneficial. Below are several great exercise ideas for dogs!

1. Walking

Slow strolls are an excellent form of a low-impact dog exercise. Remember, walks should be nice and quiet until your dog heals or starts feeling better. Start with a 4 to 6-foot leash—keep retractable leashes at home—to control how fast your dog walks.

You should, of course, provide your dog plenty of opportunities to stop and sniff during walks. Sniff stops provide mental stimulation for your dog, but also provides a short break during walks, which may be needed. In the beginning, keep walks under 10 minutes. The following week, walk for 12 minutes and increase slowly. If, at any time, your dog starts limping or suffers from pain, stop walks immediately and consult your veterinarian again.

RELATED: Walking Two Dogs at Once Tips

2. Underwater Treadmill

Seriously, if I could install an underwater treadmill in my home, I would’ve done it yesterday! Underwater treadmills are filled with a predetermined amount of water based on a dog’s height and exercise needs. By adding water during walks, it not only adds a bit of resistance, but buoyancy as well.

Water buoyancy allows the dog’s body to float, yet still move underwater, which relieves pressure from joints and ligaments. Also, warm circulating water provides additional pain control.

Ask your veterinarian to refer you to a canine physical therapist because he or she will have access to underwater treadmills. Check out a few hydrotherapy tips, so your dog learns to love it! Yes, I’m still trying to figure out how to install one at home. 🙂

3. Swimming, If Your Dog Enjoys It

We all know swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise, but there are a few risks that come with it too. Swimming is a great choice for dogs that already love swimming. If your dog hates swimming, he will likely further injure himself struggling to get out of the water.

Think about it this way: If someone throws you into a pool, and you hate it, you swim for your life. Panicking in water causes overuse of muscles, ligaments and joints, which you’re trying to protect from further injury. Life vests won’t prevent your dog from freaking out in the pool either, unfortunately.

If your dog hates swimming, try walking your dog along the shallow end of a pond or lake. This provides resistance, yet is low-impact. Again, your dog must enjoy standing and walking in water for it to work. 🙂

4. Nose Work

I’m completely obsessed with Nose Work! Many years ago, I was introduced to the sport of Nose Work and I haven’t looked back. Not only is it a super fun activity for dogs, but they will blow your mind with their sniffing skills. Additionally, it’s a low-impact exercise for dogs too.

How to Set Up the Game

There are several elements of Nose Work, but I’m obsessed with the very beginning stages. At first, it’s important to teach dogs how to find hidden food in boxes. You’ll need 5-6 small and medium-sized boxes, super yummy treats, and your dog. Hide food in one box and set it down among the other boxes. Your dog will walk over and sniff around to find the hidden treats. This dog game never gets old for your dog, and it keeps his body moving and his mind sharp.

Remember, have fun and choose a low-impact exercise your dog loves!

Barn Hunt: The Nose Sport Your Dog Needs To Try

November 1, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Barn Hunt Overview

Barn hunt has taken the dog world by storm. It’s the newest dog sport that puts your dog’s nose to work. We know dogs have a superior sense of smell, but I don’t think we truly understand the magnitude.

Alexandra Horowitz wrote, “While we might notice if our coffee has had a teaspoon of sugar added to it, a dog could detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth” (Horowitz, 2009). Yes, dogs’ noses are that powerful! I highly recommend “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know” written by Alexandra Horowitz. This book will blow your mind.

Now that we understand the power of our dog’s noses, let’s get back to the barn hunt!

What is a Barn Hunt?

A barn hunt provides an opportunity for dogs to hunt. All dogs hunt, and the major part of hunting is using their noses. During barn hunt classes and trials, dogs are taught to hunt for rats. Before I continue, I must explain that rats are kept completely safe at all times. That’s right. Barn hunting enthusiasts take extraordinary measures to keep rats and dogs safe during hunts.

Many barn hunters keep these rats as pets. These lucky rats live their lives in a massive rat condo, sleeping on the best bedding and dining on premium rat food. As a huge rat lover, I was concerned about their safety during barn hunts, so I was relieved to know multiple safety precautions are used during every class and trial.

How a Barn Hunt is Set Up

During a typical barn hunt session, an area is enclosed and covered in loose hay and hay bales to mimic a hay barn. In the center of the hay-enclosed area, bales of hay are stacked to form steps and a tunnel. Within the mounds of hay, three PVC pipes are hidden. One pipe safely holds a rat, another holds rat bedding and the third pipe is empty. For the rat’s safety, each pipe has multiple air holes for ventilation and thick caps securely fastened on each end.

Once the area is set up, the pet owner and dog enter and the dog’s leash is removed. This is the dog’s turn to shine, as she successfully finds the PVC pipe with the rat while ignoring the other two pipes. Once a dog indicates she’s found the rat PVC pipe, the pet owner says “rat” and pulls the pipe from the hay. If your dog is competing in barn hunt trials, there might be different behavior requirements, depending on your dog’s trailing level. Most barn hunt trails require your dog to run under hay tunnels and jump on top of hay stacks.

Pet Owners Learn to Trust Their Dogs

While doing a barn hunt seems pretty easy, it’s not. Dogs have to learn how to use their noses to hunt and find rats. Teaching a dog to hunt is a learning process, but they figure it out fast! Pet owners, on the other hand, usually get in their dogs’ ways.

As humans, we rely on our eyesight. Upon entering the barn hunt area, most pet owners will scan the area for glimpses of plastic pipes or gaps within straw. It’s normal human behavior to help our dogs succeed, so we instinctually scan the area. But here’s the problem: we’re usually wrong 99.9% of the time. 🙂 So many times, I’ve witnessed pet owners encourage their dogs to check out a specific area when their dogs are circling a totally different area. As you would guess it, the dog was right! In this dog sport, pet owners learn to trust their dogs!

Who Can Play Barn Hunt

Not only does this sport tap into a dog’s hunting instinct, it’s also super fun for both dog and pet owner. It’s an amazing bonding experience between dog and pet owner because they must work together while allowing the dog to do the work. Barn hunt is open to all dogs regardless of size or shape. They just need a nose. Pugs and Shih Tzus are fantastic barn hunters; don’t let their little noses fool you!

Barn Hunts in Your Area

To ensure rats and dogs are kept safe at all times, the Barn Hunt Association (BHA) was founded. BHA sets standards for practice sessions and trials across the US. Check out their website to find a club near you. Of course, you can earn barn hunt titles, but remember that practice is just as fun for your dog!

Always remember to trust your dog’s nose every time!

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Dog Birthday Party Ideas For Every Personality

October 26, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Throw the Best Birthday Party for Your Dog

Every dog should have a birthday, or “gotcha” day, party, because she’s an important part of your family! How you celebrate your dog’s birthday really depends on your dog’s personality. Some dogs enjoy huge birthday parties with lots of noise while others would rather snooze in serenity. Check out these dog birthday party ideas and choose the one that work best for your dog!

Dog Birthday Bash With Oodles of Dog Friends

A huge birthday party for dogs with tons of two and four-legged friends works best for extrovert and gregarious dogs. If your dog is friendly with all dogs and loves every person she meets, then plan a gathering of friends to celebrate your dog’s birthday. If your dog loves people more than dogs, invite two-legged party-goers instead.

Dog Birthday Party Venue

Choose a party venue that provides plenty of room for guests. Many dog training facilities offer dog birthday parties, so reach out and ask about rental fees and agreements. Decorate the area using a fun dog-friendly theme, such as doggie paw prints or bone-shaped designs. Of course, you need birthday hats for everyone, including dog attendees.

Birthday Games for Dogs

Provide a play area for dogs, but only if all four-legged attendees are comfortable playing with other dogs. Or plan games for pet owners and their leashed dogs to play. A few birthday game ideas for dogs include: dodging for tennis balls in a small swimming pool, musical chairs by asking dogs to sit when the music stops, or which dog wags her tail the longest. You can reward game winners with gift baskets of dog treats, cute certificates or even paw-shaped trophies.

Dog Birthday Cake

Don’t forget the birthday cake! For a huge birthday bash, you’ll need a cake for dogs and another cake for humans—unless your human friends enjoy meatloaf cake with mashed potato frosting. 🙂 Ask guests to place birthday gifts on top of a table and ask friends to leash their dogs while your dog is unwrapping gifts. This prevents resource guarding, especially over high value items, such as bully sticks and treats. 🙂

Vacation Destination Birthday

Traveling is certainly fun, especially if your dog enjoys it! Vacation destination birthday parties work best for dogs that enjoy their family and love visiting new areas. For beach-loving dogs, choose a pet-friendly bungalow next to the beach and enjoy a long sandy stroll for your dog’s birthday.

For snow-loving dogs, plan a trip to the mountains and romp in snow for hours. If your dog enjoys a certain member of your family and that person lives far, plan a weekend getaway, so your dog can enjoy quality time with her favorite person for her birthday.

RELATED: 4 Tips for Traveling With Dogs

Quiet Dog Birthday Party at Home

Sometimes, a quaint and quiet dog birthday party at home works best. If your dog is an introvert and enjoys staying home, plan a quiet evening with you and your dog. Of course, you can celebrate with a birthday cake for your dog or you can both enjoy a nice steak dinner together. Play your dog’s favorite game and, most importantly, spend plenty of quality cuddle time.

This is your dog’s day, so plan her birthday around her needs.

Happy Birthday From Dog Training Nation!

How to Teach Your Dog to Release the Tug Toy

October 14, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Teaching Your Dog to Release a Toy During Play

How to Teach a Dog to Drop a Toy — oneinchpunch/iStock

When playing tug with your dog, sometimes your dog just doesn’t want to let go of the toy. It’s very common because tug is super fun! It’s important to know that your dog is refusing to let go of the toy because releasing it means the game is over. It’s that simple. Check out these dog training tips for teaching your dog to release a toy.

Step 1) Keep Tug Toy Still

Dogs tug on toys because it’s fun and you’re tugging back. When you wave, toss or tug on a toy with your dog, it’s a super fun game. When you stop moving the toy, this should tell your dog to release the toy. When the toy stops moving, it’s no longer fun for your dog. Here’s how to teach a “release” behavior.

Start playing tug with your dog for 1-2 minutes.
Hold the toy completely still and wait for your dog to release the toy. In the beginning, this may take a few seconds or even a full minute, but it will happen.
Patience is key here. Continue to hold the toy still even as your dog pulls and bites at the toy.

WATCH: Teach Your Dog the Tug Game

Step 2) Teach Your Dog That Release Means Another Game

The moment your dog lets go of the toy (removes mouth from toy), start moving the toy around to play another game of tug. Your dog will learn that releasing the toy makes another tug game happen. Let’s try it again.

Pull, tug and shake the toy around for a couple of minutes with your dog, then stop moving the toy again. You’ll likely notice your dog releasing the toy a bit quicker this time because he’s learning that stillness means to “release.” The moment your dog releases the toy, make the game start again.

When teaching the release behavior with a toy, there’s no need for a verbal cue. Your dog will learn that stillness is the signal to release the toy. Omitting a verbal cue works quicker because most verbal cues are used too early or too late, which confuses the dog. Toy movement means the game is on! When you stop moving the toy, it means your dog should release the toy.

Game Over

We all wish fun games would continue forever, but it’s not realistic. When it’s time to end a game of tug for the day, just stop moving the toy. When your dog releases the toy, say “all done” while tossing several treats in the opposite direction of the toy. When your dog runs over to eat his treats, put the tug toy away.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

You may also like: Laser Pointer Games are Bad for Dogs

1 Easy Trick to Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

September 19, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

Standing still while someone pokes, prods and examines your body is tough for most dogs. Honestly, it’s tough for little and big humans too. Instead of forcing a dog to stand still, try this super easy dog training tip that works quickly and rewards your dog too!

Use a Peanut Butter Plate

A peanut butter plate is just as appetizing as it sounds! Smear creamy peanut butter across the entire surface of a plate and hold it up for your dog to lick away. When choosing a plate size, I recommend using a large dinner plate, especially if your dog needs to stand for longer than 3-5 minutes. By increasing the surface area of smeared peanut butter, it takes longer for your dog to lick than if you were to use a small saucer. You also want to make sure the plate doesn’t move around while your dog licks it, so choose a heavy plate. If you don’t have a heavy plate, place it on non-skid surfaces.

RELATED: Understanding Dog Nutrition

Check Ingredients First

Before using peanut butter, it’s important to check its ingredients first. Unfortunately, many companies are adding xylitol, which is a low-calorie sweetener. Xylitol is deadly for dogs—even the tiniest amount.

What If My Dog is Allergic to Peanut Butter?

Some dogs and humans are allergic to peanut butter; it’s actually pretty common. I suggest using a thick and creamy food to replace peanut butter. My Bull Terrier is allergic to peanut butter, so I either use cream cheese, squeeze cheese in a bottle or almond butter. If your dog is restricted to a prescription diet, I recommend purchasing several prescription dog food cans and using those in place of peanut butter.

How to Use a Peanut Butter Plate

Ask a friend to hold up the food-smeared plate, so your dog can comfortably stand and lick the plate without lowering his head. If you live alone, I recommend placing a peanut butter plate on furniture; that way, your dog is comfortable while standing still. For example, I’ve placed food-smeared plates on top of ottomans and sofas for large dogs.

For small dogs, place the plate on top of stacked books or even smear peanut butter on washable walls. For baths, I recommend smearing peanut butter on the wall of your shower. After your dog is bathed, rinse off and voila!

Why Use a Peanut Butter Plate

I highly recommend using a peanut butter plate any and every time your dog needs to stand still. By pairing something good, such as a plate of peanut butter, with standing still, you’re teaching your dog to enjoy standing still. And it doesn’t stop there!

When you pair something good during a certain situation, you’re positively changing your dog’s behavior. I recommend adding something positive (peanut butter plate) during baths, nail trims, brushing, ear cleanings, massages, vet exams and weight checks.

Will You Always Need a Food-Smeared Plate?

Maybe or maybe not; it depends on how your dog reacts during specific situations. You may need to use a peanut butter plate during all nail trims because your dog might always dislike them, and that is OK. It’s easier and much kinder to hold a peanut butter plate than hold your dog down.

Please understand that using a peanut butter plate isn’t bribery. Food-smeared plates are an effective dog training tool for teaching your dog a new behavior. Expecting a dog to do something because he’s told to do it is completely outdated. Instead, teach your dog what to do. I promise, it takes much less time.