There are a bunch of great sports to play with your dog. This weekend my dog Isa and I tried APDT Rally. Rally is a more casual version of obedience competition. The exercises are challenging. You're allowed to talk to you dog and encourage with petting, treats, and other types of rewards.
We took it slow and steady. This is a Level 1 course. Isa scored a 201 out of a possible 210 points. We had a great time together and met some fun dog people.
If you're considering trying a dog sport go to an event and watch. Dog people are almost always happy to talk about their sport.
Chrissy
Christine Neumyer Smith CPDT
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Certified Groomer
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Healthy Ears
So what's a healthy ear? A dogs ear should look and smell clean. It should look almost like our ears. Now I know that you can't look into your own ear but you would recognize an unhealthy looking ear on another person. If your dog is scratching his/her ears, has any sort of "stuff" in his/her ears, or has any redness swelling or heat in their ears please call your vet. These things are ear problems. If your dog usually has these problems please keep working with your vet to help your dog.
ChrissyChristine Neumyer Smith CPDT
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Certified Groomer
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Off Leash Play
Is your dog able and ready to play loose in a safe park? Are you confident that you can get your dog's attention when you call their name? Will your dog come when called? Will you dog let you take hold of their collar? Can you call you dog away from other animals, bikes, or something yucky to roll in or eat?
Are you looking for a trainer who can help you get to that point? I'm Chrissy Smith from Happy Critters.net and I can help you. 978-764-5408
Christine Neumyer Smith CPDT
Monday, November 3, 2008
Nail Care
Not a day goes by when I don't have at least one person ask me about the peticure commercials. "Do you have one?" "Do they really work?" "Does nail trimming hurt?" "Are they really safer?" Very good questions and I'm glad that people ask.
The device is a grinder. I have a dremel with a sanding wheel on it for grinding nails. Its the same thing but it doesn't have the extra guard on the end to keep the hair from getting stuck in it. I personally don't want the guard because it keeps you from being able to sculpt around the edges of the nail. A beginner may want the guard while they're learning.
Grinding nails is just another way to keep nails short. When I grind nails I usually clip the nails first then grind them down just a bit further and take off any rough edges. Sometimes the nails are short enough that I don't need to clip first but that is very rare.
Its important to learn how to trim a nail properly before you try it. You need to know the structure of the nail, how to hold the foot to get the correct angle, and how to use the tool. Its easier to learn on a dog that knows about nail trimming. If you don't know what you're doing and your dog doesn't know either you will have a very frustrating experience. The same is true with grinding.
There are some down sides to grinding. Grinding for too long will heat the nail and can be very uncomfortable. You can still grind into the quick and hurt your dog. The sound of the grinder can be scary for most dogs the first time. You will still need to teach your dog how to be good for nail care.
The device is a grinder. I have a dremel with a sanding wheel on it for grinding nails. Its the same thing but it doesn't have the extra guard on the end to keep the hair from getting stuck in it. I personally don't want the guard because it keeps you from being able to sculpt around the edges of the nail. A beginner may want the guard while they're learning.
Grinding nails is just another way to keep nails short. When I grind nails I usually clip the nails first then grind them down just a bit further and take off any rough edges. Sometimes the nails are short enough that I don't need to clip first but that is very rare.
Its important to learn how to trim a nail properly before you try it. You need to know the structure of the nail, how to hold the foot to get the correct angle, and how to use the tool. Its easier to learn on a dog that knows about nail trimming. If you don't know what you're doing and your dog doesn't know either you will have a very frustrating experience. The same is true with grinding.
There are some down sides to grinding. Grinding for too long will heat the nail and can be very uncomfortable. You can still grind into the quick and hurt your dog. The sound of the grinder can be scary for most dogs the first time. You will still need to teach your dog how to be good for nail care.
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