Please Play With Your Food - a guest post by Katie

The following post is written by Katie, Christine's recently added right hand dog person at oh my dog! 

When I first brought Sandy home from the SPCA, one of her great “pre-programmed tricks” was bringing me her food bowl when she deemed it feeding time.

"Will do tricks for food"

Nowadays, however, she never gets to practice her trick (unless it’s on the cat bowls that she steals) because we have gone bowl-less. Sandy receives all of her food through food dispensing toys or training, and having had dogs who could tear supposedly indestructible toys in to small, edible pieces, we have been around the block and back with many products. Here’s a run down of what to look for in a food dispensing toy and some of our favourites:

Before You Buy

Make sure you know the answers to the following:

- How hard/enthusiastic of a chewer is my dog

- What level of engagement do I want from a food toy

- How much kibble do I want this toy to be able to hold

**It should be noted you must take extreme caution leaving your dog alone with any toy, and NEVER an untested one. You should monitor their interaction with it until you are certain they will not chew off any pieces.

Sandy's stoic approval of a Planet Dog toy. See the "treat spot" on top.

For Easy Chewers:

If you just want to keep your dog busy through the day, you may be fine with any number of products, from the line of stuffable Kongs to any Planet Dog toy that has a “treat spot”. Basically most toys that can have kibble/canned food/peanut butter/food-item-of-choice in them and licked out by a dog. This is great for lots of dogs, and can keep them busy for hours. Both products mentioned have a lifetime guarantee, and Planet Dog also donates money to Therapy & Assistance Dog Programs, which makes them one of my favourites to purchase products from (read more about the programs they support here). 

From here on in, however, we are going to cover food dispensing toys instead of food stuffing toys. 

The Tricky Treat Ball is a good food dispensing toy as your dog has to engage with the toy by pushing it around to get the food to come out. This product is straight forward, good for dogs who have no background in getting food out of toys, and can keep a dog busy, but is made of a softer plastic and not recommended for dogs who chew on their toys.

For Medium Chewers:

Smarter Toys makes a product called IQ Treat Ball. It allows you to pick the size of the opening the kibble passes through, so you can start off with a bigger opening and then increase the difficulty once they get the swing of things, or depending on how big/small the kibble is. It’s middle-of-the-road thinking for dogs, a good intro food dispensing ball, and the plastic casing can be chewed in to by heavy chewers (we have the teeth marks to prove it), so only recommended for dogs who don’t get carried away with their toys, but it can still withstand a beating.

Canine Genius makes a great toy, Leo, which can be bought in multiples and connected together or used on its own. It’s a pretty difficult toy depending on the size of the kibble and how you use it – lots of options here. I really enjoyed this toy…until my dog got frustrated and chewed the top off to get to the treat inside. That one was my fault, as I stuffed it with peanut butter and soft food instead of kibble that would be easier to dislodge. A lesson I learned so you don’t have to – food dispensing toys are to dispense, not to stuff.

For Hard Chewers:

There are only three toys that have survived the jaws of my ferocious chewer: The Everlasting Fun Ball, the Buster Cube, and a newer addition, the Kong Wobbler.

My favourite recommendation is the Everlasing Fun Ball. I own two that I purchased in 2008 and are still seeing active duty. It is a malleable ball, apparently made from “elastomer-type material”, and can be very challenging, depending on the size of kibble.

The Buster Cube is the recommendation for dogs with brains that will chew things in to pieces. Again, not recommended to leave alone with your dog if that is their habit, you don’t want ingestion of any of the pieces.

The Kong Wobbler is great because it comes in varied sizes and the odd shape makes it awkward for a dog to put in their mouth. I've seen comments that dogs are able to open it up, but we haven’t had that happen yet. There are a few different products similar to the Wobbler on the market, just make sure your dog can't fit the top in their mouth and the material is a sturdy, hard plastic. 

(Extra Tip: If you are looking for some brain teasers Nina Ottosson makes some suburb interactive toys, but most are not the kind you should be leaving your dog alone with.)

My best recommendation for Hard Chewers is to make sure the toy is in proportion to the dogs’ head (therefore they cannot easily fit it in their mouth) and made of hard plastic - if you can knock on it and not squeeze it, that’s what you’re looking for.

An additional note: Remember that the rate of reinforcement for your dog to interact with these toys needs to be such that they don’t get frustrated and walk away. If kibble is too big to be released, your dog will get little to no pay off, alternatively if the kibble is too small it will all tumble out with next to no work - both cases completely defeating the purpose of the toy. You want your dog to work AND be rewarded!

**update** Whole Dog Journal just published this great article about some of the best interactive dog toys!

Hope this helps!

Commercial Dog Food: "Recommended" Products

As you may know, I'm certified in canine nutrition and completely obsessed with the subject. Because this is common knowledge among those who know me, friends and clients often ask me which commercial pet foods I would recommend. The truth is, if I had it my way, every single dog in the world would be consuming a fresh food diet; either cooked or raw. Alas, I know this simply isn't possible for everybody. Not yet, anyway. So now I'm writing this all down once and for all.

If you're feeding commercial food, please consider canned food, or at least some portion of canned. Your dog's intestines and kidneys need the moisture, and generally, they contain higher quality, more bioavailable proteins than dry food. Canned food is a bit more expensive than kibble, so if you have a large dog, you'll likely prefer a combination. But do whatever you can to provide moist food.

My recommended canned foods are:

Go! by Petcurean 

Organix by Castor and Pollux 

Shredded and Gold Recipies by Fromm

My recommended dry foods are:

Holisic Blend by Holistic Blend

Carna4 by Carna4

Go! by Petcurean

Orijen and Acanca by Champion Pet Foods

And that's really it folks. Please keep in mind I'm not saying each of these foods is suitable for every single dog. They're each different, just like each dog is unique. You'll need to figure out which one or combination works for you. (Don't be shy to ask for 'sample' or 'trial' packs at your friendly, local pet store.) Remember, unless you know your dog to have an "iron gut," transition very slowly when switching food.

I chose the above products based on quality and where they're made, also because they're readily available in Toronto. Specifically, you can find these in our neighbourhood at Helmutt's Pet Supply, Timmie Dog Outfitters and The Dog Bowl.

I should also mention these shops do offer ready-made raw diets such as Tollden Farms.

I hope you find this information helpful.

My real, true recommendation is real, fresh food. If you're ready to switch to a home-prepared diet, I would love to help!

One Vizsla or Three?

The Answer is "One", and his name is Finley.

A Cute Thing Happened on the Way to the Park

Owen and Elly (brother and sister), snuggle up for the car ride to High Park.

We do have a LOT of fun!

Off-leash Dogs in Toronto: One Bad Apple

So here's the thing. Those of you with well-trained dogs who stick close-by and come when called, feel you've the right to let your dogs off leash in any park, at anytime since your dogs don't disturb others.  Well, you don't. BUT if it were only you guys behaving this way, no one would complain.

It is those with less obedient dogs who've ruined it for the majority. And it is mostly they who have created dog haters in our city.

I detest our Mayor as much as the next person, but I want to point out he's not "going after" all off-leash dogs, just off-leash dogs in non designated areas.

Think of Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto with it's massive leash-free area, AKA "the bowl". At any given time, you will see dozens of dogs scattered around the non leash-free zone. Most of them will be acting appropriately and sticking to their corner with their people. But at least 6 of them will be out of control, 200 feet from their owner, running through the playground and charging up to on-leash  DINOS, children and picnickers. The closest to my own heart however, is the DINOS. Someone with Dog(s) In Need Of Space, has every right to use green space that's intended for the public, including leashed dogs.

Here's a list of off-leash parks in Toronto. Here's how to request an off-leash zone in your park. And here's a list of parks that have already had applications denied, and the reasons why.

That's my 2 cents.

Utah Loves Water

If there's a body of water, Utah will be in it. Above at the Bluffs, Lake Ontario. 

And below in a puddle at Trinity Bellwoods.

Positive Training is Best: Give Your Dog a Chance to Show You How Great He Is

I'm asked all the time by followers of Cesar Millan and believers in force-based training, why I think positive reinforcement training is better. I'm not a dog trainer but I know the answer.

I often say: "Think about the way guide dogs are trained, or search and rescue dogs, or cancer detection dogs. That's the kind of dog you want, and that's the kind of bond you want." It's that simple. You want a dog that trusts you and respects you. None of those dogs were trained through force or "dominance". They each learned their craft through positive reinforcement. I promise that you will not fix anything by pinning your dog to the ground or poking it in the neck. Think about it: A leash reactive dog begins to growl at another dog in the distance and you two-finger poke him in the neck. What's the message being received? "Every time I see another dog, you startle me with a poke in the neck, so I guess I need to be on my guard from other dogs and from you."

Why not try conditioning your dog to look to you for guidance when another dog is approaching? And teach him that seeing another dog, means that something great's about to happen? 

I know this works because I've done it with my own 10 year old terrier. We work on this a lot. In the past few months we've closed the distance which we can pass another dog without a fuss, to a sidewalk's width. Not every single time, but most of the time. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, and I swear to DOG, he's happier these days than he's ever been. And don't forget how positive reinforcement helped Cami emerge from her shell and allowed her to finally be a "pet".


How about the guy who "alpha rolls" his dog? You'll likely notice that his pooch has poor recall. It could be he's leaned that when he does come, he often gets a yank on the collar, rolled and pinned to the ground, or "bah'd" at.  Dogs like stability, and this behaviour from a human is anything but stable. Not only can positive reinforcement training develop a strong recall that could save your dog's life, it'll enhance his life. Dogs crave metal stimulation and really want to know they're pleasing you, both of which this style of training will provide. Which means your dog's personality and all his character will flourish. 

Don't get me wrong, I was just as mesmerized by Cesar as the next person, when his show began airing. But common sense rapidly took over and the bottom line is positive training has been researched for decades, and the methods are based on cruelty-free, scientific findings. For more information about how truly flawed "dominance" based methods are, I refer you this article. Not only is it extremely well written (by a certified trainer), there are numerous additional links to valuable information. 

On TV, watch It's Me or the Dog instead of watching the Dog Whisperer or that other guy who's name I'm afraid to mention. Want alternative reading material on the subject? Look for books by people like Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist (my favourite is The Other End of the Leash).

If you live in Toronto and you need a great training school, there are a few: When Hounds Fly has two locations, and Who's walking Who has four. They're both based in positive training but they use different styles so please read up on their websites and see which one you think fit's you and your dog the best. Always check the credentials of anyone calling themselves a 'tainer' or 'behaviourist' and if you're not 100% comfortable with their methods, move on. 

I don't believe in "Miracles", just taking action: What to do if your Dog is Lost

I've taken part in quite a few lost-dog searches over the years and most have been successful. I'm particularly compelled to step in when I know the owner, know the area, or have no real reason not to help.


I receieved the call yesterday at 5:30, that Miracle, a 3-legged, 3-month old German Shepherd was missing in Liberty Village. It was believed she had been clipped by a car and was last spotted running west on Liberty Street, about a block away from Dufferin. She had just arrived from Turkey on Monday and woudln't know the area, or which way to run.


I headed down there with a pouch full of treats and a leash. As I turned the corner onto Jefferson, I muttered to myself  "Aaaand here it is, the haystack."


Knowing she was running scared, I started where she was last seen. You can only go with your gut, and often it's wrong, but just I felt like she was hiding, waiting. So I looked under the cars in parking lots, behind every dumpster, under every construction trailer, and so on. I walked up and down Fraser, between all the buildings and looked in all the stairwells.


"If we don't find this dog, I'm gonna die. I'll do this until it's dark, then tonight we can organize something better for tomorrow. I guess this is what I'll be doing with the long weekend. Thankfully this it's the weekend. OMG where is this fucking dog?"  That's the commentary in my head. Not sure how I turned into a complete lunatic!


Walking up Mowat halfway between the dead end and East Liberty, I peek down a couple of alleys and find nothing. In the third alley, I see a guy locking up his business and as I approach to ask him if he's seen her, I catch of glimpse of these giant, pointy ears in the sun. Double take, yep, that's a scared puppy curled into a ball, wedged between two concrete walls (photo below). THIS THE MOST UNREAL MOMENT YOU CAN HAVE ON A SEARCH.  It's the moment you visualize before rounding every corner and before looking under under every "rock."


So what's the point, other than I feel awesome 'cause for once I found the needle in the haystack? There is a lot you can do if your dog goes missing (or a friend's dog, or even a stranger's dog) :


1. Try not to "lose it." There's plenty of time for that after you find the dog. And we all know that when   you're hysterical, you're pretty much useless.


2. Mobilize immediately. We found Miracle 1.5 hours after she went missing partly because we acted right away.


3. Place an ad immediately on your local Humane Society website, Animal Services site, and on the Helping Lost Pets site.


4. Download this document from Cause 4 Paws. The information can be overwhelming, but the more you do, the greater the odds. The information contained here was complied by many different searchers and animal rescuers, then written by C4P in clear and understandable format.


5. Personal tip from me: Before you leave your house add the following to your checklist: your phone charger (if your phone dies, someone will let you juice it up for a few minutes), and some toilet paper (if you're a laaaaaady).


6. Don't give up and don't wait. Miracle was found in under two hours, but that's not usually the way. Larger, 4-legged, street savvy dogs, can remain on the run for much longer.


When you hear through your grapevine of a missing dog, please consider assisting with the search. Even if you can only spare one hour, every bit helps. And dawg forbid, if you should ever find yourself in the same position, hopefully the people you helped with be there for you.

Below is a photo of the "gutter" she was hiding in. Right there on that trash bag. You can see how easy it would have been for everyone working in the area not to notice her.

Miracle resting at home after returning from the vet. No bruises or scrapes.

Cami the Husky from Attawapiskat: Positivity and Consistency Reign

When I got a call from Jonathan, a potential new client who had just adopted a dog from Moosonee Puppy Rescue, I was a bit skeptical it would work out. Nevertheless, I agreed to meet with them just because he was so nice and Cami, their new dog, sounded like a lovely gal. 

No one is completely sure of what went on in Cami's past, but it's believed she lived mostly outdoors, tied to a porch. She was rescued with her litter of pups and that's about all we know.  Dogs who've had this kind of start in life are often difficult to integrate into city living and into a dog walking group, as they often come with a lot of "baggage." They can be very fearful of loud city noises, aggressive around food, or lack the social skills needed to get by in a dog-park setting. (don't get me wrong, sometimes they're perfect.)

Upon arriving to meet with Jonathan, Eryn and Cami, we were all pleasantly surprised that Cami greeted me a the door. Until this time, she was still shy and kept her distance from guests.

We talked for a long time about the structure of my walks and how I would help Cami acclimate to life in the city. All the while she laid between the three of us soaking in the affection and belly rubs. 

After the first week, I didn't really know if Cami was benefiting from the walks or even enjoying them, but she wasn't miserable and I knew Jonathan and Eryn badly wanted her to get out during the day and interact with other dogs. I stuck with it. On each walk, she would go off on her own and sniff the perimeter of the park and then eventually plant herself someplace and look off into the distance. I would approach her at least 20 times on a walk and offer her a small treat. She took about 8 out of 10. If there was another dog too close, she refused the treat, or if there was a strange noise coming from somewhere, she would spit it out. 

One day, a couple of weeks in, Cami played with a dog who was not in our group and it warmed my heart. I knew in that moment she was having fun and, there was hope. As the weeks went by, I continued rewarding her for things like making eye contact and just for "being."  She was however, still completely ignoring me when I called her to "come." But she wasn't running away from me and she was happily getting into the car when it was time for her walk ... I thought, she can't be hating this so I'll keep trying.

Then about 3 or 4 weeks ago, Cami began playing with Gus, a dog from OUR group. My heart nearly exploded. Especially since Gus's owner doesn't think he really plays with other dogs :) From then on, I made a point to walk them together as often as possible. The first few days was just wrestling and bouncing, but then it really started! Cami began running big wide circles, and Gus couldn't resist chasing. A week later, Rueben, a 4-month-old Ridgeback joined the gang. For whatever reason, they welcome him into their play sessions, encourage it even. They're like the three musketeers, still.

Here's where it gets really good: About 2 weeks after Cami started really enjoying her walks, I thought "this is a good time to start trying out her recall again." From a large distance, no response. So I began to close the gap. Finally from about 2 feet away, "Cami come" actually worked. I know, you're thinking "who cares!?" I CARED :) 

Once I had her happily coming in for a reward from 2 feet, I gradually increased it to 3, then 4, then 5.... and now, from across the park! This process took about 4-5 walks. 

And here's where it gets totally awesome: Not only is she happy to come when called, she follows the pack as we move around the park and constantly "checks in” on her own. She's loving it and she likes me and the rest of the dogs! Which is good, 'cause we adore her.

What brought Cami around and gave her confidence? A loving home with loving, patient, calm, owners and positive conditioning. Never doubt the power of positivity. 

Here are some photos and video of our favourite husky before and after. 

Then

Now 

Video Then:

And NOW!!!

"You can't save every animal in the world, but for the ones you do save, it IS the world." - Anonymous 

Grass Angels X 12

Grass Angels are like Snow Angels, but without the Snow

Lola

Owen

Dunja

Ginger

Joey

Lucy

Marvin

Owen again 

Penny 

Rusty 

Utah ('kay that might actually be goose-poop rolling...)

Violet

This Business of Dog Walking

Hi! I'm Christine, and I walk dogs in Toronto. I started oh my dog! in September 2003 and I've never looked back. I keep my service area and the size of my company very small so that I can provide not just a professional, punctual service, but also a personal one. 

Dog walking just isn't like most businesses. I don’t just come into your home each day – I leave with a member of your family. I’ve never taken this for granted. I know that becoming a part of your dog’s life means becoming a part of yours, too.

When I became a dog walker I was already a “dog person;” meaning I knew about dogs, grew up around dogs, loved dogs and had a dog of my own. For many dog walkers it might stop there. However, I became a dog nerd and fully embraced the life. I read up on canine body language and calming signals, positive reinforcement training, and nutrition. I regularly attend seminars on training, diet, health, and have completed a certificate course in canine nutrition.  And perhaps the most important part of my education, I let the dogs teach me. After all, they are constantly communicating.

I literally learn something new everyday and recognize that each dog is different, just like their owners.

Yup, that's me: Dog Nerd.