Dogs on Treadmills?

It's the winter time, and taking your pets out on long walks just doesn’t seem too appealing anymore. Even though your pets are rarely affected by the cold weather, the possibility of running into rain or snow is a messy situation that you and your pet would not want to be caught in!

Indoor activities that get K9 hearts pumping, like playing fetch with small treats or going through fun obstacle courses, are great, but indoor exercises are limited. These activities just never seem quite adequate enough. So have you ever considered walking your dogs on your treadmill?

There is a misconception that walking dogs on the treadmill is dangerous, but treadmills are actually relatively safe for pets. In fact, there are even treadmills designed especially for dogs, although normal treadmills are just as efficient. As long as a few simple rules are followed, walking dogs on the treadmill is a great cardio workout for dogs.

Some important tips to remember:

• Don’t tie your dogs to the treadmill. You should allow your dogs to walk off the treadmill at anytime.
• Don’t hold any treats or toys in front of your dogs while they are walking, as this could be extremely distracting!
• Don’t let your dogs walk on a treadmill right after a nice long nap in their crate. Dogs are groggy after a long nap too!
• Do start at a slow speed. Let your dogs adjust to the treadmill for a while before increasing the speed.
• Do put a pillow or a towel behind and next to the treadmill.
• Do stay close by and keep a watchful eye while your dog is exercising on the treadmill.
  

With a combination of fun indoor activities and ten minutes of steady walking on the treadmill, your pets will be in tiptop shape for the rest of this cold winter! Try it and share your stories with us!

For your enjoyment and as a confident booster, check out these fearless dogs taking a stroll on the treadmill!

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Puppy Training: Pads vs Crates?

No matter how you train your dog, the inevitable fact remains that you will have to clean up after them when they go potty. Some pet owners are immediately drawn to using puppy pads or training pads because it seems like an appropriate target that will teach a new puppy to go potty. However, puppies can very easily "miss" the pad or mistake a rug for a pad.

Properly house training a puppy extends beyond just your own home. What if you bring your puppy over to another home? A puppy pad trained pup may find a rug or a piece of furniture so exciting that it will soon be too late to catch him and stop him before it's too late. Overall, the puppy pad becomes a very confusing mechanism since it makes it okay for the puppy to go potty indoors. After learning how to go potty inside, it is difficult to correct if you ultimately want to teach your puppy to go outside for potty.

Training pads are appropriate to use as an aid for puppies if they haven't completed their shots yet, or for dogs who are ill or in recovery who aren't able to go outside. For training purposes, pads are of great use, but if your goal is to properly housebreak your puppy, it is best to ditch the pads for crate training.

The crate provides more than a durable and environmentally friendly alternative, it is also something that dogs are intrinsically drawn to: a den-like environment. They want to be in their own sheltered space when they are winding down and catching a snooze.

The crate can be also be used as an aid in potty training. Quickly, your puppy can learn where each appropriate potty spot is. A crate where your pup sleeps, eats, and plays would not be as enticing to soil. By creating these associations, your puppy can understand the message you are sending to them.

Overall, puppy pads can have a negative affect if used as a crutch in potty training. Pads should only be used when there is a vulnerability involved and your dog cannot be let out to go potty. Crates not only double as a cozy den for your dog, but it can also be a positive association in properly potty training and housebreaking your dog.

Whichever method you choose, it is important to stick with it. Most dog owners have a difficult time because they try too many methods, take too much unsolicited advice, and end up with a confused dog who doesn't know any better. Remain consistent and use positive reinforcement.

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Adopt a Dog Month

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month to encourage adoptions not just this month, but throughout the year and to raise awareness on shelters which are filled with homeless pets with uncertain fates.

In struggling economic times, people are on tighter budgets. Unfortunately, this has resulted in many people giving up their pets, not realizing that pets are an essential part of their family. Pets do not care whether you are rich or poor. Their needs are simple yet they become such an integral part of who you are as a human. Compassion and loyalty are just a few of the many gifts a pet can give to you that unfortunately in this day and age, we lose touch with.

PetFinder is an excellent source to start looking for your pet. You can search by breed, size, and age to narrow down the search results. You can also visit your local shelters and rescue organizations and meet your potential new companions.

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Swing Dog

This is absolutely adorable! Look at that grin on his face!

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Famous People Lookalike: Jo-Jo and Mark Twain

My initial reaction was Jo-Jo looks more like Albert Einstein, and then I found that picture of Mark Twain. The resemblance is uncanny!

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