Category Archives: Outings

Abby’s Trip To Canada – Part 1 (Montreal)

Posted on September 10, 2019 | 2 comments
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Abby, “Mom, hurry up!  We need to get on the road before it gets dark!”

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on this blog, but lots of things happened the last few months that kept me busy: my mom fell down and had to have surgery; Cynthia’s mom passed away; my mom stayed with us for a while; a few doggies stayed vacationing with us; and Abby, of course, helped out big time.  Because of that, we decided to take a well deserved vacation.  Where did Abby go?  Montreal, Canada.  By the way, we left at 1pm so I don’t know why she was so concerned about leaving before it got dark.  Drama queen!

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Abby, “Mom, let’s cross the street now.  Come on!”

So, where was Abby, in the above picture? The Latin Quarter, Montreal.  After breakfast, we headed out the door to do some sightseeing, take pictures, and enjoy ourselves.

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Abby, “Mom, I am so tired!  Thanks for dinner.  Good night.”

Our days in Canada were certainly enjoyable, but by the end of the day we were all really tired, and Abby was the first one to get in bed.  Smart girl.

 

 

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Posted in Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training, Walking

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Abby, A Cute Working Dog

Posted on April 9, 2019 | 2 comments
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Abby, “Mom, did you put some cookies in my back pack?”

Abby is a working dog, and if you ask her she’ll probably tell you that she needs a raise in the form of more cookies and human food.  One of Abby’s task is to carry her own gear.  Yes, people, there were a few cookies in that backpack.

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Walking with my pack. Prince, yours truly, Champagne, and Abby. (L to R)

Abby also helps me walk dogs.  The funny thing about it is that she gets a little confused when the weekend comes around because that’s when we are off.  Yes, she is a hard working girl!  In order to fulfill your dog’s needs give her a job, she’ll thank you for it.

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Posted in Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Nutrition, Outings, Training, Walking

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How To Prevent Dry Skin On Your Dog

Posted on February 19, 2019 | 2 comments

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Dogs, just like us humans, tend to get dry skin specially during Winter.  There are many things that I could recommend such as: changing his food, running a humidifier, making sure he is drinking enough water, etc. to avoid dry skin, but do you know what?  This is the one thing, above all, that will keep your dog from having dry skin: brushing him once a day, at least.  Yes, that’s it!  Brushing him once a day.  Very simple.

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings

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Our First Snow Storm In New England

Posted on January 22, 2019 | Leave a comment
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Abby, “Moms, I am loving all this snow!”

We got our first snow storm this past Sunday, and when Abby went out and saw all that snow, do you know what I think she was thinking, “Yay!  Play time!”  Do you know what I was thinking? “Oh boy, time to shovel all that snow.  Again!”

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Abby, “I am exhausted!”

Yes, Abby took a nice long nap after playing outside.  She certainly has a hard life!  Before I forget, she also watched the game, Patriots vs. Chiefs, and we all were glad to see the Pats win!  Waiting anxiously to see the Patriots play in Super Bowl LIII.  Go Pats!

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training

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How To Live With A High Energy Dog

Posted on January 18, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Many of the pictures I post of Abby happened to be of her sleeping the day away, but what I failed to mention is that my sweet Abby is a high energy dog, and in order to get her tired I have to do different things.  Ironic, after my Alex was gone, I was seriously thinking about getting a senior dog.  Instead, I got Abby.

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These are some of the things I do to get her tired:

  • Walking – depending on the dog’s age, weight, health, etc., it could be anything from 30+ minutes.  When the weather gets too cold we do shorter walks
  • Running – I get on my bike and she runs right alongside me.  It takes time to teach a dog how to do this, but it’s worth it
  • Kayaking – when the weather gets warm, we take her with us kayaking.  And yes, she does wear a flotation device
  • Shopping – yes, you read it right.  There are stores that do allow dogs.  The ones we usually visit are: Home Depot, PetSmart, Pets Unlimited, Christmas Tree Shop, etc.  This is great when the weather is either too hot or too cold to walk outside
  • Behavior and Training – I am starting to teach her how to sit without saying anything or making any hand signals.  Only eye contact

If you do not fulfill your dog’s needs, he will drive you crazy, and chances are that he will end up back in a shelter and/or a breeder.  Having a canine companion is a lot of responsibility, but who says it can’t be fun too!

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, senior dogs, Training, Walking

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Dog Walking And Really Cold Weather

Posted on December 11, 2018 | 2 comments

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I love to walk, that is no surprise to those who know me, but when the weather gets really cold I keep in mind, and you should too, the following:

  • Puppies and senior dogs should take short walks
  • If your dog is shivering, doesn’t want to leave the house, etc., this is a clue for you Not to take him for a walk.  Yes, you heard me right
  • Short-haired dogs like Abby need a sweater and/or jacket when outdoors
  • Always check your dog’s pads and nails
  • In extreme cold weather, take your dog to do his business and bring him right back

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Once you are back home with your dog, remember to provide him with a comfortable warm bed, and a sweater.  Abby always wears a sweater when we are home otherwise I’d have to take her out to pee once every 2 hours!

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, senior dogs, Walking

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A Tired Dog Is A Good Dog

Posted on December 4, 2018 | 5 comments
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Alex, “Moms, this feels good!”

When a dog gets sufficient mental and physical stimulation, she will be well behaved and balanced.  The majority of the “issues” pet parents encounter with their canine companions is due to a lack or inappropriate amount of mental and physical activity.

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There are many ways to exercise your dog, these are just some suggestions: running, walking, swimming, kayaking, etc.  However you decide to exercise and stimulate your dog with, please start slowly.  How do you exercise/stimulate your dog?

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Posted in ACL Injury, Breeds, Dog Equipment, Dogs, foster dogs, Nutrition, Outings, senior dogs, Training, Walking

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