Indoor games for your dogs

During long, cold winters, dogs and their owners may need a little more exercise. This article shows you some fun ways you can play with your dog indoors.

Some of you may have been told never to play tug of war with a dog. The fear is that it might make a dog aggressive or aggravate any possessive tendencies. Other trainers feel that there is nothing wrong with the game, as long as you follow certain rules:

1)The toy you choose must be long enough to avoid accidental injury. A thick rope with knots in the middle is good.

2)Play tug toys only with a specified toy. Teach your dog a command such as "drop it" or "leave it" before you start playing. (It's a good idea to do this even if you never intend to play tug. That way if he wants to play with your shoe, you can simply ask him to drop it.) Never try to pull anything away from the dog, use your command instead.

3)You must be in control of the game. You decide when to play. Keep the toy out of sight in between games. You should win at least most of the time. When you decide you've had enough, simply say "that's enough" and ask the dog to "drop it." Always stop immediately if the dog gets too excited or puts his mouth on your hand.

Another game you can play is hide and seek. There are two ways to play this game; either you can hide and encourage your dog to find you, or you can hide toys or treats around the house and ask the dog to find them.

If you are to be the target, simply have the dog stay while you go into another room. At first don't go far, and hide in an easy spot. Then call the dog with "Come find me!" or something like that.

Continue to call as long as you need to. Reward the dog for finding you with treats, excited praise, belly rubs ' anything he loves. Once your dog gets the idea, you can hide in more difficult spots, and call less often.

To use treats or toys as the objects to find, start by hiding a treat under or behind something while your dog watches, then exclaim, "Find it!" in an excited voice. Once he gets the rules of the game, have the dog stay in one room while you hide treats in another.

If your dog likes to use his nose, try hiding the treats inside shoes, under rugs, between couch cushions and places like that. For other dogs you may want to put most of the treats in plain view.

Break up large treats so that you are not giving him too many. Toys can be used if your dog has a strong prey drive, or if the he is overweight.

You can also try some brain teasers with your dog. For one, find three boxes of the same size. Have the dog sit and stay, facing the boxes. Place a treat inside or underneath an overturned box.

Release the dog and allow him to find the box the treat is in. Eventually you can begin hiding the treat with the dog facing away from the boxes.

Here's another puzzle the dog can work on. Place a morsel of food on a flat plate. Cover the plate with a towel or inverted foil pie tin. If using the tin, make a small lip in it so the dog can smell the food. If the dog is good at working things out, he should soon at least try to get the towel or pie tin off of the plate to get to the food.

You can increase the difficulty by placing the plate under a chair or other obstacle. Give him a way to get it out, such as placing it on a towel or attaching a rope to the plate. Don't let the dog get too frustrated with these games ' if he's not quite up to it, help him along and let him have the treat anyway.

There are toys that you can buy that will keep the dog busy on his own. A number of toys are now made to dispense treats. These are balls or cubes in which you place small treats. When the toy is jostled or turned over, out come the treats. The dog's dinner can even be fed from these toys so that she isn't overeating.

Other interactive toys available are puzzle toys. These are similar to those made for toddlers. Instead of putting the toy back together however, the dog takes it apart - something many dogs naturally love to do. Most of these are plush toys, and might not be suitable for some aggressive chewers.

These are just a few suggestions, use your imagination and your dog's abilities to come up with even more games you can play indoors.

How to buy nice gifts for your dogs

Most people are accustomed to purchasing gifts for other people. When you are asked to buy a gift for man's best friend, gift giving gets a bit tougher. Here are some ideas for dog gifts for that special canine in your life and the lives of your family and friends.

So, what do you buy for a dog? If he were a person, he would want something that he doesn't already have but wished that he did. Usually dogs are happy with a comfortable place to live, three square meals, and wide open space to run.

Dogs like to be entertained. They are friendly animals with boundless energy and a nose for mischief. Wherever they live, they are the center of attention.

Dogs sleep...a lot. Their own comfy dog bed is an idea. They may like to sleep with their owner in the bed, but the owners may want their privacy once in a while. Make sure that the dog bed is big enough for the breed of dog in question. There's nothing worse than a big pooch trying to get comfortable in a bed built for a dachshund.

Pet fashions are a big hit these days. Any society conscious dog wouldn't be seen without making a fashion statement. In the winter, dogs are decked out in knit sweaters in red, blue, and green. Dogs also wear slippers and shoes to keep those precious paws from getting cold.

And collars? They are more than just a piece of leather that shows ownership. For her, choose a rhinestone studded one. For him, choose one with his name spelled out in spikes. The more unique the design the better dog gift it will make.

Even dogs need time away. For that special canine, give him the gift of a day at the doggie spa. Dog spas pamper your pooch in luxury. He'll be washed, groomed, fed, and given a chance to run free as much as he wants. Some animals have all the luck.

There are also the more traditional dog gifts. Chew toys in various shapes are always popular. Bones that clean the teeth while they chew are fun and hygienic. Dogs can always use flea powder, breath mints, and pooper scoopers.

The newest items I've seen are doggie towels and automatic pooper scoopers. Dogs could probably care less about clean claws and a poop-free sidewalk, but owners will be grateful. Besides, they make such cute gifts. If you can't decide on just one dog gift, buy a large basket and stick them all into it.

To buy a dog gift consider the dog. Choose a gift that is both thoughtful and functional. Just know that whatever you get them, they're going to try to eat it. It's their way of showing appreciation

Fran Gratton a dog owner, former dog trainer and breeder will help you find dog gifts filled with goodies and fun toys for your pets.

Bathing a dog is really fun

We tend to think one of two ways about bathing a dog. Some people think dogs don't need to be bathed more than once a year or so, while others believe in bathing their dog every month.

While bathing is beneficial, it can cause problems if it is done too frequently.

Dogs have natural oils in their skin and fur, just like humans do. Washing too often will cause drying, leaving your dog at risk of scratching and developing sores. Keep in mind that there are some benefits to having natural oils present. For one, they provide protection from skin bacteria.

Make bathing a dog fun for you and your pet, but take care. There are certain things you must watch.

1. Protect your dog's ears. If water and soap enter the ear canal, an infection can develop. This can be temporary but it can also cause serious damage. Infections can harm the ear drum and lead to deafness. There are familiar signs that your dog might have an ear infection. He will shake his head and you will see a constant discharge from the ears.

To ensure this doesn't happen, gently plug your dog's ears with cotton balls. Do not force them into the ear canal. Simply place them securely at the ear entrance to block water from entering. When the bath is over, be sure to dry the inside of the ears as some moisture is likely to gain access. Use a cloth over your finger. If you choose to use a cotton swab, be extremely careful not to enter too deeply into the canal or you could puncture the ear drum.

2. Use a proper dog shampoo as they are formulated specifically to protect your dog's skin and fur. Human soaps can be too harsh and irritating. As well, there is the chance your dog will be allergic to the scents that are added to human products.

3. Frequency of bathing will depend on your particular dog's breed. Longer haired dogs will require more frequent washing than short haired breeds. If you have a Spaniel or other hairy dog, schedule the baths to once every two months. Other breeds can go 6-8 months. However, if your dog spends a lot of time outside, he is likely to become dirty faster. Regulate your baths accordingly.

It's important to start your dog off right with the bathing routine. Be patient and compassionate. Once you scare your dog, it will be more difficult bathing him in the future. Try to make it fun. Dogs love having water sprinkled on them, and running into rivers and lakes.

Set up your bath outside when possible and encourage him to run through it. Use a toy to distract him from the water. When his energy has subsided, begin the bath. You might want to put him on a leash so he can't run away.

Be sure to collect all the equipment first: soap, conditioner, towel and some sort of bowl to pour water over him. Water running out of the hose might be too cold, however water in the bath will have warmed to a comfortable temperature.

Show your dog that bathing is something to enjoy and he will look forward to your next session with excitement.

some nice winter games

Well, it's that time again, it's wet, it's muddy, it's cold
IT'S WINTER!!

Fear not, this month's article is full of ideas for games and things you can do with your dogs, without spending too much time outside!

Now don't get me wrong, our dogs need their exercise, just as we do, but for those days, when you've already been out once and got soaked, the wind is howling, the rain is pouring and you just can't face another trek into the weather (you know the days I mean!) or maybe you have a sick or injured dog that is unable to take exercise for a short period. A good dose of one-one bonding with a large measure of mental stimulation can provide our dogs with some excellent 'brain exercise' which can quite often prove more tiring than the physical stuff.

Hide & Seek

The simplest things are often the best, one of my (and my dogs fave's) a good ole fashioned game of hide & seek. You can get the human members of the household to hide whilst you keep the dog in one room, then release him off to find them, they can call him to give him a clue, especially if he's never played this before, once he gets the hang of the game, try not calling him to make it harder. This is a fantastic game to play with the kids, everyone loves it and ends up falling around in giggles!! Remember, when the dog discovers you... have a big praise party, so he finds it fabulous fun to find the 'prize' you could reward him with a yummy treat or favourite game.

Alternatively you could hide your dogs favourite toy, then let him out and encourage him to find it, again if he's never played the game he might need a bit of help to start with but he will quickly get the idea. As soon as he finds the toy, heap on the praise, and have a game with the toy he has found. If you have multiple dogs in the house, (like mine) this game then becomes a race too, who can find it first!! (I always make sure everyone wins an equal number of times, don't want any tantrums!!)

Fetch

The big fave with most dogs, but not all dogs naturally want to fetch and need to be taught and encouraged to do so. Remember to try lots of different toys for this game if your dog is not a natural retriever, some dogs prefer particular toys over others, for instance, when we play this indoors, my dog would much prefer to fetch a teddy than a ball. If your dog has never played this game, or seems reluctant to pick things up, most dogs will prefer something soft to start with. Clicker training can be highly effective for training a dog to hold things and fetch them.

If your dog is severely restricted in his movement (due to injury/illness) then this is maybe not such a great game until he is a bit more mobile, a good one for that in between convalescing period perhaps.

Name that Toy

This is a fun game to play, and also a cool trick to show friends and family. Start by choosing just one of your dog's favourite toys, and as you show it to him, give it a name, teddy, kong, ball etc. Toss the toy a short distance away and ask him to 'fetch teddy'. If he runs to grab it praise him and treat him, even if he doesn't bring it back to start with. Repeat this many times until you are sure he understands, then toss teddy into a pile of other toys and practise it this way, he has to choose teddy over all the others. Once he can do this reliable, start teaching the names of other toys in the same way. This game can lead in nicely to...

Tidy up your toys

Teach your dog to fetch his toys and put them in a box or basket to tidy them up. Again this is a great game for him to play, very stimulating, great fun and also useful!! Your dog will love being told how clever he is! Once you have taught your dog to tidy up his toys, you can then transfer this learning to other things that could be useful, tidy up the rubbish, tidy up the clothes etc.

Once your dog is reliably returning to you with his named toy, have a basket or box in your hand as he brings it back and hold it out for him to drop the toy into, click and treat him for getting it right and he will quickly realise what you are asking him to do. Practise practise until he is reliably bringing named toys and dropping in the box to get his reward!

Scent Discrimination

This is a great game for all dogs but especially those who 'love to sniff everything'. Great mental stimulation for your dog and something that could turn out to be very useful one day if you drop your keys in the field and you want your dog to help you find them! I have done this... I hadn't taught my dog to scent at the time tho :-(

Why dogs need playing

It has been said in the human world "all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy." Well, it is about the same in the canine world, too. It is important that a dog gets to play with other dogs, not only for fun and exercise, but to develop and to keep its socialization skills.

Play sessions with other dogs is important because if the dog does not associate with others of its kind, it will soon "de-socialize" and lose its ability to interact with other dogs.

Dogs in many ways are a lot like people, they have their preferences as to who they want to play with. Even the most socialized dog will not want to play with every dog it meets.

Some dogs prefer to play with like colored dogs, that have gentle type play styles, some prefer to play with males instead of females, and some prefer to play with young dogs, while others prefer older dogs. There are dogs that love to play with a large group and some who prefer one on one play.

It is important that you are aware of your dog's play styles and you learn this by watching your dog as a puppy playing with other dogs.

What are dog play styles? Well, some dogs like cat-like play (pouncing - using their paws, spinning around the other dog without touching); others like chasing (with playful stalking and taking turns chasing one another.) Larger breeds love to body slam each other (which includes hard bumps, shouldering, pushing into walls and wrestling) and then there is the neck-biting group (lying down with gentle neck biting, also on the face and ears.)

Different breeds have different styles of play. Toy breeds seem to prefer the cat and mouse pouncing type of play, sight hounds love a good game of chase, the working dogs like Newfoundlands and Saint Bernard's love chasing and body slamming. While other working dogs like boxers, Great Danes, Samoyed, mastiffs and huskies like neck biting in their playtime.

How do you know which dog will make a good playmate for your dog? Size matters, the dogs should be similar in size and neither dog should be more than twice the weight of the other.

You need to make introductions gradually. It is important that the dogs meet each other on neutral ground (either through a fence or by walking each dog on a leash.)

If your dog has never been to a dog park it is a good idea is to leave your dog off leash in the holding area until the dogs in the play area have greeted your dog through the fence and have gone back to play. This removes the stress your dog would feel if suddenly a large group of dogs loomed down on him/her and your dog has no place to escape to.

Once your dog joins the group in the play area, keep a watchful eye on the group. Dogs are like children and sometimes playing in a large group ends up with one or more getting mad, upset or hurt. They need constant supervision.

As an owner visiting the dog park with your pet is it wise to keep moving, this keeps the dogs moving and they are less apt to get into a scuffle. It is also a very good idea if your dog and another are playing hard, make them take a ten-second break every few minutes. This keeps the excitement down and prevents any mishaps, as dogs like children get overly excited.

If you notice any sign of stress either in your dog or the dog(s) involved in the play call a halt to the game. Signs of stress can be half-moon eyes, lip licking, a dropped down tail, yawning, and ears pulled back or stiff body language.

It is times like this that you have to listen to your instincts and not to what other people might be saying. Any sign that does not feel right to you is definitely a sign to get your dog and leave. By doing so you may be saving your dog and yourself from a bad situation.

Things to keep in mind:

If you have a small dog it is important that you find a dog park that has a separate area for small dogs only. Medium and large dogs need lots of space to run and play, if your park is not very large, try going at off-hours, if possible.

There are more and more groups being formed for play dates for dogs, you can find a group in your area by going to meetup.com or by doing a Google search in your area.

One of the best things you can do, is make play dates for your dog in your backyard with dogs of your friends and neighbors. Just be certain to supervise and keep things calm.

If you have a puppy, be certain that it has all its shots before taking it to a dog park and when you are there be very watchful, as a bad experience for your impressionable puppy, could create a life long problem with other dogs.

Playgroups, dog parks and backyard romps with friends is a great way for a puppy/dog to let off steam, get exercise and learn social dog manners. It is up to you, however, to recognize your dog's method of playing and to keep that in mind, when introducing him/her to other dogs. It is also your responsibility to know when your dog has had enough and needs to stop playing and go home.

It is all about having fun and as with children, you need to know when "enough is enough" when it comes to doggy playtime.