Tag Archives: summer

Memorial Day 2019

Posted on May 28, 2019 | 1 comment

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Today we honor those who died in military service, but I also want to remember those dogs that so bravely served our country, and the families that made the ultimate sacrifice and that still remember those long gone, but never forgotten.  Thank you.

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Posted in Breeds, dog trainer, Dogs

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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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Summer Safety Tips For Walking Your Dog

Posted on July 26, 2016 | 19 comments
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“Take my picture already.”

When I lived in Maryland, I would wake up early, around 6am, to walk my dogs every single day.  Once I moved to Massachusetts, I was able to walk my dog a bit later, around 8am, but even like that I always have to remember the following:

  1. I need to walk Abby early in the morning.  I will probably have to start waking up at 6am again because the weather is hitting 90 degrees as of late.
  2. I have to make sure to take water with me.
  3. I need to pay attention to Abby’s body language.  If she starts panting too much, I will stop the walk, find a shaded area, give her water, not cold water for this can shock her instead of helping her, and wet her chest and head.
  4. Once we come back, I always check her paws, brush her, and wipe her off.  This way I keep her clean but at the same time I check to make sure that she is ok.
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Gorgeous dogs.

My last 3 dogs, pit bull mixes, were mostly white therefore they were able to handle the heat better than other dogs.  In the above picture, the white pit bull will probably handle the heat and humidity better than the dark one.  Please keep in mind that dogs of dark color overheat very easy.  Abby is a perfect example of that and that is why I need to pay attention to her body language.

Go out and enjoy a nice walk with your dog, but try to make your walks early in the morning and/or late in the afternoon and pay attention to your dog’s body language.

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Posted in Breeds, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training, Walking

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Memorial Day 2016 -South Boston, MA

Posted on June 2, 2016 | 2 comments
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Abby, “Hello stranger. Pet me please. I could be your best friend.”

Abby, just like Alex, is very people and dog friendly, and of course she was not going to pass up the opportunity of meeting this nice man.  Abby has come a long way in regards to meeting people.  At the beginning, let’s remember she was a puppy, she’d pee every time she’d meet someone new, but that is no longer the case.

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Abby, “Moms, I don’t think that this is a bus stop.”

This past Memorial day weekend, we took Abby to South Boston, MA to expose her to a new environment and to my surprise she did well.  She was relaxed while Cynthia took this picture.  She needs to learn to be relaxed even when we are not right next to her.

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Abby, “Moms, are we going bike riding?”

Abby usually wears a Gentle Leader, but there are times when I change her leash and collar specially when she is so nicely behaved.  A Gentle Leader gives me more control with very little effort.

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Abby, “Mom, more water please.”

A couple of minutes after we started walking I gave Abby some water.  See the Gentle Leader?  This is my second Summer in New England and I love it.  Winter is another story, of course.  Even though the weather here is not as hot nor humid as in Maryland, I still do our outings during the morning in order to make sure that Abby does not overheat.

A million thanks to all those who served and their families for their sacrifices.

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

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Do You Paddle With Your Dog?

Posted on June 26, 2015 | 17 comments
Alex, "Mom, do you need help? You are taking too long. Please hurry up."

Alex, “Mom, do you need help? You are taking too long. Please hurry up.”

We try to include our canine companion, Alex, in as many activities as possible in order for her to enjoy herself, spend time with us, and be a balanced dog.  While in Maryland, we went kayaking in Annapolis and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Before I forget, make sure your dog is wearing a life jacket.

Alex, "Mom, I am really tired. What's for dinner?"

Alex, “Mom, I am really tired. What’s for dinner?”

The above picture was taken after we finished kayaking and Alex was falling asleep.  She looked so tired that you would have thought that Alex was the one doing all the paddling.  No ladies and gentlemen, I was the one paddling with a cute cargo, Alex, of 45lbs.  She did better than any other time.  I was glad because that day the water was choppy and a little windy so we got wet when a couple of waves hit us head on.  Not to worry, the waves were very small.

Alex, "Will I get treats for posing?"

Alex, “Will I get treats for posing?”

Kayaking with Alex is always fun, and if we are ever back in Maryland we’ll make sure to kayak early in the morning or late afternoon in order to avoid excessive heat.  Have a great weekend!

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Dexter’s Energy Level

Posted on July 21, 2014 | 2 comments
Dexter, Bella, and Alex (L to R)

Dexter, Bella, and Alex (L to R)

When we first met Dexter, a handsome boxer mix, I thought that he was a high energy dog, but I was wrong.  Dexter is actually a medium-level energy dog.  Why am I talking about this?  Because your level of energy and that of your future or current dog is very important in order to make the right match.  Dexter does well, during Summer, with a 30-40 minute walk in the morning, and evening, and a small break around noon for 15 minutes.  But, when Winter comes, he needs longer walks.  The first few days, when he comes to stay with us, I walk Dexter the most because he has an abundance of energy, but as days go by I have to use Bella for longer walksn because this handsome boy starts to walk behind me rather than next to me. 

dexenergy2Also, remember that as dogs age their level of energy will decrease.  Alex, my pit mix, so far has been the dog with the highest energy level.  If she were a human being, she’d probably be classified as hyperactive in her younger years.  Well, it only took 10 years for Alex to calm down.  How would you classify your dog’s energy level?  Have a great week.  

 

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

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Hanging Out On My Deck With My Canine Companions

Posted on July 14, 2014 | 8 comments
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Bella, Alex, and Dexter (L to R)

Cynthia, the designated photographer in our home, was able to capture this picture with our 3 canine companions.  Well, maybe it was me taking the picture.  I look at it this way: if pictures look amazing, Cynthia took them; if pictures look terrible, then I took them.  You be the judge of that since I am not too sure which one of us took this photo.

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Alex is asleep. Bella and Dexter are on guard duty.

Dogs with short hair like Alex, Bella, and Dexter usually love to sun bathe, but please do not leave your dogs unattended.  After they have breakfast, I take them out to the deck so they can enjoy the sun and relax for a couple of minutes.  They go out again in the afternoon for a few minutes, usually shorter than in the morning, since we are usually in the basement which is nice and cool and we all want to warm up a bit.  Please, be very diligent with your dogs during this hot Summer and do not expose them to too much heat.  Have a great week!

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

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Too Hot To Walk?

Posted on May 22, 2014 | 12 comments

2hot1The weather is starting to get hot so that means that I have to be up by 6am in order to walk my furry kids.  Why?  Well, some dogs, like Walter, the handsome Aussie, can easily overheat and burn his pads/paws, and even dogs like Bella and Alex with short white hair can get hurt.

The most attention and care need to be directed to dogs that have long, dark hair, seniors, and flat-faced breeds.

2hot2Once we got back from our walk, we went to the deck to get cleaned up.  Walter did not want to pose for this picture, but my girls were game.  I always clean him up first in order to get him back inside right away.

2hot3Once inside, Walter enjoys hanging out in the kitchen where he can find cool tiles to relax on.  Is it too hot to walk?  Yes, it is if you decide to take your morning walk after 9am.  But you can still safely walk your dog as long as you make some changes to your schedule.  Enjoy your walks with your furry kids.

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, Dogs, foster dogs, Humor, Nutrition, Training, Walking

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All Things In Moderation

Posted on July 24, 2013 | 12 comments

I am a firm believer that we can all do things in moderation rather than abstaining from them, and as such we find balance in life.

Sarris, Alex, and Dexter (L - R)

Sarris, Alex, and Dexter (L – R)

Let me start by giving you an idea about our morning routine, and it goes something like this:

  1. Morning walk/run
  2. Morning ablution: brush hair and wipe and inspect paws
  3. Breakfast for humans followed by breakfast for canine children
  4. Treats – I look at it as dessert.  That is why Dexter is licking his lips
  5. Sunbathing – 5 minutes,  by my watch, during the Summer.  Longer during the rest of the year
  6. Nap time

Alex could sunbathe the entire day if I let her, and some pet parents have told me the same about their dogs, but letting dogs stay out in the sun for too long is dangerous, therefore I limit the time we are out on the deck to no more than 5 minutes in the morning during the Summer.

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Alex is always the first one to fall asleep.  Sarris looks like she is about to follow Alex to dreamland, but Dexter, between you and me he thinks he is a guard dog, is still awake.

Alex and Dexter love to sunbathe while Sarris only prefers to do it for a couple of minutes.  By the way, never leave your dog/s unattended anywhere and that includes your deck regardless of the time of day or season of the year.

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Right after we come in, Sarris relaxes in the kitchen on top of these cool tiles while Alex and Dexter go to their bed.  There are times when all 3 of them end up in the kitchen and those are the times when I am so glad that my kitchen is not small.  Because our morning routine takes a while, I always tell pet parents that if they call me or text me I will return their inquiries after I am finished with our morning routine.

Let your canine companions enjoy being out sunbathing, but make sure that you are there to supervise and do it in moderation.

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, Dogs, Humor, Nutrition, Outings, Walking

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