Saying Good-Bye: Was the Heartache worth it?

Louis CK has a funny bit about dog ownership. He jokes about how bringing home a puppy essentially begins a "countdown to sorrow" for the entire family. He's right, in a way. But I've asked many dog owners if they would have traded a second of their dog's life to not go through that unbearable grief. So far it's a unanimous "no way".

A year ago, today in fact, I watched my best friend make the decision. Blazer had been Yvette's companion for 12 years and he truly was one the great ones. It was raw and gut wrenching and I'll never forget it.  It made me swear that I would never ever get another dog and she did the same. Just over seven moths later, Yvette opened herself back up and took the plunge. (meet CeCe)

If she can, we all can. After all, it would be selfish of us not to 'cause we're such awesome owners :) Please see her amazing blog entry about when it's time to let go, and what you can expect afterwards. It has helped many people, so please share it with anyone you know that might me struggling with deciding when the time is right, or someone who is already grieving.

Blazer

Is Day Care Right For Your Dog? Tips for Choosing a Good Facility

A great doggy day care could be a wonderful thing for the right dog. This Whole Dog Journal article will walk you though how to know if it's right for your dog, and how to chose a good facility. If you're considering DDC, this is a MUST read.

There isn't much I can add except to tell you my own thoughts on the subject. I've been dog walking a long time and part of what I love is how happy each dog is to see me when I arrive. Truthfully, they're just as happy when I return them home. Dog love their houses. I don't think I have a single dog on my roster who would prefer to spend the day at DDC than go for a short car ride, run, play, swim, and then spend the rest of the day lounging on their own sofa, waiting to greet their peeps.

Some of my clients have made the switch from DDC to dog walking because at the end of the day their dog was actually too tired; they wouldn't wake up to eat, play with their owner, or go for a walk. Some of you might think that's great, but personally, I like to hang out with my dogs and do fun things together. Dogs require a lot of sleep, and if they can catch their Zs between walks and at night while you're sleeping, you will likely have a chilled out dog rather than a zombie.

I'm not bashing DDC, if I had a balanced, easy-going, confident German Short Haired Pointer, I would probably find the best possible facility I could and save my sanity. And I'm sure my GSP would STILL be up for a walk at the end of the day with me. Because they're nuts :) But again, just like with dog walking, you'll need to asses whether your dog is a good candidate for DDC and be very selective when choosing a facility. I can't stress enough how important the information in this article is.

If you live in the city of Toronto and you need to send your pooch for day care, feel free to contact me for referrals. It's not a service I provide, but I keep my ear to the ground :) And if you're in the market for a dog walker instead, here's how to find a good one.

Pet Food Recalls and Protecting Your Pet

Every time I hear about a new pet food recall, I cringe. I know that my own dogs will be unaffected since I home cook, and that offers relief. But I immediately check the updated recall list to see if any of my dog walking clients will be affected. Yes, I know what almost every dog on my roster eats...I'm like that!

In the most recent case at Diamond Foods, the main concern is for the well-being of the humans in the house, especially the very young or elderly. Not to say dogs can't become ill from salmonella, they can, but they're not as sensitive to it as we are.

So what steps can you take to protect your dogs and your family? Well aside from preparing your own food, education is a huge factor. I strongly encourage all pet owners to read this well-written article which helps identify the major industry players, ingredients, label rules, industry standards, manufacturing processes, etc.

Recently I posted a very short list of commercial products I feel are "safe," which could help you in decision making. But the key really is to arm yourself with the knowledge that will allow you to identify products that are good for your dog.

my dog's food :)

Is Fido in Your Will? He Should Be

Working in rescue I come across so many people trying to re-home pets that once belonged to family members. I'm sure the folks who left them behind assumed they would be cared for. Don't take this for granted. Read this article, have open communication with family and friends and get it all in writing.

On a lighter note, here are some new pictures.

I just can't help myself...

This is a picture we took of  Benny and Ellie, two puppies I walk. 

They're besties who LOVE to face-wrestle. 

Best job ever!

#WoofMeowTweet

In 2009 I started a Twitter account, and since then have not tweeted even once. That is, until today.

I "get" social media and the role it plays in the world of business, but the thought of learning Twitter and maintaining it gave me a headache. I mean if you're a big business dog walker (several employees and an office manger), you might have the time and energy. But I'm not. So between dog walking, replying to messages and emails from clients, caring for my own dogs, nutrition work, maintaining Facebook, and the rest of life (all things I love, btw), there was no way I could add Twitter.

Then along came Katie. In addition to being one of the most wonderful, conscientious dog walkers I've ever met, she loves social media. She graciously accepted the @oh_my_dog password (promptly changed it) and is making this Tweeting thing finally happen. 

Sure it's a long-winded way to say, "we tweet now so please follow us." But it's not like I buried the lead. :)

How to Choose a Great Dog Walker - Some Stuff You Might Not Think Of

It's come to this: Many dog owners are being duped.

A responsible dog owner tries to do right by employing a walking service for their pooch. Sadly, what some don't realize is the service they're hiring isn't all sunshine and rainbows. What you hope for is a group of dogs frolicking in the park, playing chase, resting in the shade of a tree, fetching, wrestling, etc... . Sure, it can be that way. It should be that way. And in many cases, it is that way. But more often than not, it isn't. I could regale you for hours about the crappy dogs walkers I see day-after-day, but that's a different story for a different day.

With this post I want to help unsuspecting owners realize that dog walking has it's duds, just like every other profession. So how do you do your due diligence when hiring a dog walker? Here is a start:

1. Ask the other dog owners in your dog park who they use. Ask if they are happy with the service. I'm amazed at how many people are using a service they have "weird feelings" about.

2. Read your potential dog walker's website thoroughly to see if it feels like a good match.

3. Ask for references and CHECK them.

4. Potential dog walkers should want to set up a meeting in your home to meet you and your dog. During this time make sure your dog and the walker seem comfortable together. Listen to your gut.

5. If you’re considering a service that has employees, ask the owner of the company to bring the employee who will be responsible for your dog’s care to the first meeting. Also insist that you always be informed when staff changes occur. Make sure you will be allowed to contact your walker directly, instead of only having a manager's contact info.

6. Be sure your potential walker has a Dog Walker License form the City of Toronto. This means not only that they are bonded and insured, but also that they must adhere to city by-laws. (Dog walkers who do not use city green space however, are not obliged to have a license. These are dog walkers who use city sidewalks rather than parks.) I'm concerned about dog walkers who don't use public spaces (i.e.: rented hidden, private lockups). I personally feel your dog walker should be comfortable with, and encourage public scrutiny. I also know for a fact that dogs become bored when they visit the same place every single day.

7. Be clear about what type of service you are receiving. If your dog is not supposed to go off-leash, don’t leave this information out. If you want leash-free time in the park, make sure your new walker uses safe, legal off-leash parks.

8. Disclose any and all behaviour issues and personality quirks your pooch may have. When you meet with the potential walker, they should have plenty of questions in this area. If they don't, then likely they don't know much about dogs. Moving forward, stay in touch with him/her regarding any new issues, and positive changes also.

9. You want someone who is certified in PET first aid.

10. Can’t stress it enough: listen to your gut.

11. Especially if you have a puppy, ask your walker if he/she is going to work with your dog on some training basics. If they intend to work with your dog, ask them what training methods they believe in. If the answer doesn't involve the word "positive" (see my post), and instead uses words like "alpha, dominance, Cesar, etc... " then don't hand over your key. 

More on this subject from a local dog trainer. 

Thanks for reading!

Underwater Dogs

In case you haven't yet seen these AMAZING shots of dogs underwater! By photographer Seth Casteel

One Vizsla or Two?

The answer is "two blurry vizslas". Brothers Baron and Finley.

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!