News & Updates
January 2017 Group Classes
Back to School Group Dog Training Classes
New Group Classes and Location
Pet Fest 2016
Pawapalooza!
Boone County Animal Shelter will be hosting their 3rd annual Pawapalooza event on October 4th from 10am – 6pm. There will be a lot of activities and vendors there, including lure coursing (see an example here – DSCF3484), kids activities, a band, a DJ, a silent auction, goody bags, prizes, an evening K9-5K Glow run, and more.
We are heading up the Costume Contest and Dog-a-Thon Games at the event. Take a look at the flyer for categories and see what you might like to enter. Here is an explanation of the different dog games:
Doggy Dash – Handler will have to call their dog to them past a finish line and ask them to sit. So we are looking for a fast recall and a fast sit.
Best Trick – Bring the best trick you have to the event!
Backwards Walk – Dog will walk backwards past the finish line, handler can be in front of the dog.
Tennis Ball Walk – Handler and Dog will Loose Leash Walk past the line with the Handler holding a 1/4 cup measuring cup with a tennis ball past the line. We are looking at your loose leash walking skills with balance.
Musical Hoops – A la musical chairs but with hula hoops instead. Handler and Dog will walk around the hoops while music is playing. Once music stops, handler finds a hoop and asks their dog to sit OUTSIDE the hoop. Dog must remain sitting until the last person has found a hoop.
Bob for Hotdogs – A la bob for apples but with pieces of hotdogs instead. Hotdogs will be in a bucket and we will time how many hot dogs pieces your dog can get in a minute.
All these games will involve two or more people, so it is important that your dog is friendly and social to people and dogs. Prizes will be awarded for each game. These games are for fun and to promote the human-animal bond. We hope you will join us there. We would definitely love to see some of our past and current clients come play!
Fall Dog Training Classes 2014
We are taking registrations for our new fall classes at the Boone County Animal Shelter.
We are offering:
Enduring Adolescence for Basic Manners – 6 weeks
Circus Trick Dog – 4 weeks
Holiday Manners – 4 weeks
Please see flyer for more information
Fitness In Tandem Walking Program (F.I.T.)
We are excited to announce that we will be teaming up with Dr. Kristi Baker of Veterinary Medical Center of Independence and beginning a new fitness class WITH your dog! Fitness In Tandem (F.I.T.) will be an 8 week fitness class, comprised of walking and exercise throughout different parks in the area. The goals of this class is to get you and your dog fitter and healthier together. Studies have shown the benefits of exercising with your dog. Forget the Treadmill, Get a Dog explains several of these studies – everything from fitness to cardiovascular health to better moods and stress relief. Partnering with your dog for exercise also tends to increase motivation and enhance the human-canine bond.
Please join us this Sunday for our informational session. You are not required to call ahead of time, just helpful for a count for us. Refreshments will also be available.
Please see the flyer for more details.
Ways to Beat the Heat!
This week is incredibly hot and humid for many areas of the country. It is especially important that we keep ourselves and our dogs safe through hydration, knowledge of heatstroke symptoms, and most importantly not overdoing it if we have to be out in the heat.
With weather like this, it can easily lead to restless dog syndrome as your dog may not get his or her normal daily walk or outside time. The good news is that there are other forms of exercise for your dog. Most people do not think about mental stimulation as “exercise” for your dog, but believe it or not, this can wear out your dog. Have you ever noticed how your tired your dog is after an hour of dog class or if you take him or her to a brand new environment? The majority of dogs are very tired afterwards, because all the stimulation and thought processes have mentally worn them out. It takes a good amount of brain power to get through these types of events. And if you have a worried/stressed dog, it can be as little as 5 or 10 minutes in these types of environments.
What are some ways we can beat the heat?
Interactive toys can be great as your dog has to figure out how to get the food out. Depending on the difficulty and the level of your dog, this can take some time.
Here, we have Zoey with a Busy Buddy Bone toy, and Cali with a Kong Wobbler.
Another fun interactive puzzle toy is the Nina Ottossen Dog Tornado.
Tovah demonstrates her skills with the dog tornado in this video.
If you have never thought about a flirt pole, this can also be a good way to exercise and mentally wear out your dog. Typically, flirt poles are used outside, but with a little room, they can be used indoors as well. This also allows you to practice position changes like sit, down, stand; drop/release; take it/get it; and/or leave it.
Take a look at this blog post on 7 Great Benefits of Flirt Play with You and Your Dog.
There are many other ways to exercise and work with your dogs indoors. In this Indoor and Kid Games to Play with your Dog handout, you will find a list of a variety of games and activities you can play with your dog.
So, do not let the heat stop you or your dog from having fun! There are a lot of options out there that do not involve being outside or water.
4th of July Tips
4th of July is upon us. It can be a very scary time for your pet. We have created a tip sheet for you. Please keep your pet safe this holiday.
