Decatur Canines

May is here and the temperatures are staying warmer, which means doggie swimming!

Swimming is a GREAT way to exercise your pups. Its easy on their joints, you can swim together, and it can be a much needed alternative to their winter routine. With my dogs, one is a natural swimmer. She has webbing between her toes  and she is fearless when it comes to the water. She’d rather swim after a stick than run after one any day. My male dog, Daemon, however will get in the water only up to his stomach and prefers running to swimming. But he’s always game for a trip to the lake.

If you have access to water and a safe swimming area try taking your dog for a leisurely swim. Make sure you are trying it out in an area where you can stand, as some dogs can get panicky and try to climb on you. Swimming is especially good for older dogs who have a hard time moving around.

With clients who give me permission and have tried swimming with their dog, I will happily take pups swimming for their exercise!

One of the beautiful things about dogs and swimming….they don’t worry at all about bathing suit season.

Haha, once again Mother Nature shows us who is in charge! As I mentally prepare for the warmer weather, the temperatures continue to fluctuate! However, I think that my dogs are pretty happy about the chilly temps. They are “cold weather” dogs, for sure. Often, though, I’ll find them laying in the blazing sun panting their brains out and loving every minute of it. Dogs are versatile like that.

As the hot days of Spring and Summer approach I am giving more thought to how that is going to change my daily outings with the dogs I work with. Naturally, like humans, during the hottest months a dog’s stomach will shrink, thus they require less food, more water, and more “waste” elimination. This means I’ll have to make sure to have water on me at all times and remember that my pups will need more access to the outdoors.

Remember, when the seasons change so will your routines! Be patient with your pup if they get tired quicker on hot days, or whine a little more to go out.

Bring on the *real* Spring!

Well, so it looks like I’m not a blogger. I had every intention of being an everyday updater, but I’ve got to face facts. I’d rather be outside or something equally involved than typing on this thing. February was a dreary month…well you guys know that. Luckily, I had the dogs to keep me running (even when I really just wanted to roll over and continue sleeping). Thankfully, March is here and its looking like its going to warm up…sunny and mild this weekend- my dream! I love running in the cold wet days of the Fall, but sustaining it is another thing. I hope all of your New Year’s resolutions are still in full swing! And if not, don’t worry you can start fresh tomorrow, really! As the days get longer, I know I’m looking forward to seeing what other activities I can get myself and my dogs into to keep us entertained, healthy, and engaged. If your schedule is filling up and you need assistance with your dog, I’d be happy to see if I can help!

It’s already February! Not only is it Spay and Neuter Awareness month, but it’s also Doggie Dental Awareness month. So many things to be aware of in February! How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Are you keeping up with your dog exercise?

Don’t worry if you are not where you want to be, its only been a little over a month since you decided to crack down. Believe me, it’s not easy to be 100% dedicated on a daily basis, but there is good news! You can start over anytime! If you had a slow week, just re-commit and begin tomorrow morning, or heck, today isn’t over- go for a walk this afternoon. The point is not to give up. You pup will totally forget about all the lost time as soon as you put his leash on.

It is always hard to stay motivated during the winter months. Especially in Alabama. Warm, cold, rain, sun….its hard to get a routine going when nothing seems routine. But I promise you, if you get it down now while it is difficult, when the weather gets warmer and the days get longer your routine will be, well, routine.

So, good luck out there, and be aware…its only February, don’t let your 2013 get away from you!

Today was the opening of the “Dog Days of Winter” at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens and the Dog-ercize class that I’ve been preparing for for a few months. It went well, and I think we opened the garden’s for the winter business in a fun and effective way. However I was shocked at my 8 year-old girl dog’s anti-social behavior! Its true, we don’t spend time around other dogs, but Daemon seems to adjust quite well around other dogs. I wonder why it is so different with Jo. I was embarrassed, to say the least. Normally, she is sweet and completely submissive. I was rather frustrated when I had to leave her in a separate area while I conducted the class, as I really wanted her to participate as a visual aid and an assistant. I know, from years of being around dogs, that this represents some deficiency on my part, perhaps I need to socialize her more…or not take her to “social” events. In either case, it bears further investigation. Since I am not a trainer, I may have to consult one. Its true, she is well-behaved at home, when we’re out exercising, and around other people….it’sjust when there are more than 5 or 6 dogs around she gets, I don’t know, over-stimulated.

Daemon, on the other hand was a perfect gentleman and a great assistant. Maybe he’s just too old to get worked up over other playful dogs.

At the end of the day, though, we accomplished our mission, we all got some exercise, and my pups are peacefully resting. I really couldn’t ask for more.

I hope everyone’s 2013 has gotten off to a good start. A few weeks ago I posted how busy my 2013 started off, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down!

T-minus two days to Dog-ercize class for the “Dog Days of Winter” at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. January 19, 2-3:30pm.

Color me a little nervous. This will be the first time I’ve spoken to a group of people about dog exercise. Although I am nervous, I’m sure it’ll be great fun!

I’m bringing Daemon and Jo so bring the kids out and visit us! They will also have a rep from Canine Consultants (dog training) and the authors of “Maxnificent: The Polka Dot Pyrenees” will be there to autograph their book which is all about rescues. See the link below!

http://www.thepolkadotpyrenees.com/Home.html

I’m looking forward to seeing some of you this weekend!

So we’re 4 days into 2013 and this year has ALREADY been busy! In addition to breaking in a new pair of running sneakers, I’m breaking in a few new dogs. They are mature, but excited and willing…it should be fun!

For 2013, since we’re all still feeling the pinch, I’ve adjusted my rates; additionally, I have added an “assisted living” discount which is offered on a case by case basis.  Check out the “Services and Rates” page for the full information.

I’m also getting ready for the Dog-ercize workshop I’ll be teaching at the Botanical Gardens in Huntsville on January 19th at 2-3:30 pm.

Here’s a link for the workshop…all the proceeds go to the Botanical Gardens so they can continue offering educational classes and activities to the public!

http://www.hsvbg.org/index.php?mainID=5&subID=28&type=classesCamp&viewMoreType=classesCamp&typeID=177

Come check it out! Meet Daemon and Jo. We’ll have fun with our pups, talk about dog weight, foods to avoid, and how to stay consistent with exercise all year long!