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The post Dogster’s Guide to Exercise by Audrey Pavia appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com. We know the importance of staying fit, but did you know fitness is also crucial for dogs? A fit dog is less likely to develop joint issues and behavioral problems. So how do you start your dog on the road to fitness? The answer depends on your dog’s age and current activity level. Here’s how to get your dog going on the path to physical fitness. First, look at his age and current fitness. ©AscentXmedia | Getty Images Puppy time: If your dog is a puppy — under 1 year of age for small to medium dogs and under 2 years for large breeds — you’ll need to be careful about how he gets his exercise. Puppies are still growing, and their joints are not completely mature, so avoid jarring activities like jumping onto hard surfaces. Competitive sports like agility and obedience should be limited to “flatwork”— that is, negotiating obstacles that don’t involve jumping. You also want to avoid jogging with your puppy for the same reason. The constant jolting on young joints can damage his bones. Other than these restrictions, puppies can do just about anything else — and they will. Puppies run, roll and play as part of their development. So give your puppy enough time chasing toys and playing with other dogs while he is still young. This will provide him with much of the exercise he needs. If you can offer a lawn, dirt or other surface softer than pavement, it will be better for your pup. Swimming is a great exercise for dogs, even seniors. Always use a flotation device with your dog just like you would with a small child, like this Dawson Swim Dog Life Jacket. $40.99; outwardhound.com Adult years: If your dog is a full-grown adult but not yet a senior (past 6 years for large dogs, 8 years for small and medium dogs) and has been a couch potato his whole life, you’ll need to start slow in getting him fit. This is especially crucial if your dog is overweight. Too much activity too quickly will not only increase his likelihood of developing joint issues, it will also put undue strain on other parts of his body. Fit for seniors: For a dog in his senior years, first have a vet examine your dog before you begin an exercise program. You want to ensure your dog doesn’t have any underlying health conditions before you start working with him. Based on what your vet uncovers during the exam, she can give you advice on how to get started increasing your dog’s exercise. Develop a fitness plan Before you start increasing your dog’s exercise, come up with a goal. Do you want your dog to lose weight? Are you hoping to make him into a jogging partner? Do you want to go on a long hikes with your dog? Your ultimate goal will help determine the level of fitness you plan to achieve. Once you know where you are going, develop a plan to get there. If your dog is still a puppy, focus on training as you work on fitness. Most puppies don’t need encouragement to move. But they do need help understanding how to behave on the end of a leash. Once your puppy has had all his shots (usually by around 17 weeks), it’s safe to take him out in public. Go on short 15-minute walks every day as you practice your basic training cues, gradually increasing the amount of time you walk each day by about 10 minutes, per week. Keep your dog safe to and from the adventure with gear like the Load Up Harness, an automotive canine travel harness with a universal seat belt loop that attaches to the existing seat belt. $79.95; ruffwear.com If your dog is an overweight adult or a senior, start with short walks of about 20 minutes each day. Gauge how your dog is doing. If he seems exhausted by the end of the walk — lies down, doesn’t want to continue — back off about 5 minutes and see if this makes a difference. You want your dog to enjoy his exercise, and if you push him too hard, he will learn to hate it. If he handles the 20 minutes every day for a week without issue, increase the amount of exercise time by 10 minutes each day, per week. For adult dogs who are not overweight and have no health issues, start with 30-minute walks and increase them by 10 minutes a day for a week. If your dog doesn’t seem overly tired, keep increasing the time by 10-minute increments per week. Even if your goal is to have a jogging partner, start with walking, not running. Your dog needs time to build up his stamina and muscles before you begin to run. If your dog is an adult with no weight or health issues, start jogging with him after at least a month of brisk walking. Keep the jogging short to start with — no more than 10 minutes at first — in the middle of your walk. Gradually increase the amount of jogging you do by 5 minutes each day, per week. Keep an eye on your dog to make sure he doesn’t appear overtired after these sessions. ©LeoPatrizi | Getty images Add variety As you gradually increase your dog’s exercise, add some variation to the routine. Instead of always walking around your neighborhood, take your dog to a local park. Or drive to a different part of your town and walk on new streets. This not only provides variety for you, but also helps your dog become acclimated to new environments and keeps both of you from getting bored. Check your progress After 6 weeks on your dog’s exercise program, determine how he is doing. Does he seem to be able to walk or run a little more each week without becoming tired? Does he act excited when it’s time for exercise? Has he developed any physical issues, like a limp or cracked paw pads? This is the time to determine whether your fitness program is helping your dog become more fit or bringing out any health issues that need to be addressed. If you sense your dog is not becoming more fit but is instead developing problems, make an appointment with your vet for an evaluation. If your dog is enthusiastic and becoming an athlete before your very eyes, continue what you are doing until you have reached your fitness goal. Then stay on a maintenance program that will keep both you and your dog physically fit. Planning on jogging with your dog? There are some great hands-free leashes out there that clip around your waist, like the EzyDog Road Runner Leash. $42; store.ezydog.com. Types of Exercise for Dogs Walking Running (alongside you or your bike; use proper equipment and train your dog before doing this) Hiking Swimming Playing games like fetch and chase Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) Surfing Dog dancing Trick training Skateboarding Dog sports Agility Scent work Rally Fast CAT (coursing ability test) Barn hunt Herding Lure coursing Fresh water is a must when exercising. Products like this Classic Water Bottle that allow your dog to drink from the attached bowl make it easier than ever to do. Also comes in mini or growler size. $25; springerpets.com When to limit or not exercise As long as your dog is comfortable and has the stamina, there is not a limit to how long you should walk him, but monitor his condition throughout the walk. However, there are times when you should not walk your dog or you should limit walking. Don’t exercise your dog outside if it is too hot. Dogs can get heatstroke in temperatures 70 degrees Fahrenheit on up, plus you need to take humidity into consideration. Keep a close eye on brachycephalic dogs and dogs with heavy coats, as they don’t do well in hot weather. Don’t walk your dog if it is too cold. Definitely don’t walk your dog if it’s below 0 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Dogs can get hypothermia when tempera-tures are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, depending on the dog’s size, coat and health. If your dog starts to shiver or puts one foot up and then holds another one up, these are signs he’s too cold. If you have a brachycephalic dog (flat faced/short nosed dogs like Pugs or French Bulldogs), keep walks limited to under 30 minutes. Their flatter noses make it harder for them to breathe. If your dog is a senior or geriatric, keep an eye on his condition during the walk, as older dogs are more sensitive to heat and cold. Also, keep the pace slower and watch for any signs of limping or stiffness. ©LeoPatrizi | Getty images The post Dogster’s Guide to Exercise by Audrey Pavia appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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Amigurumi Crochet Pattern - The Dogster !!!This listing is for a crochet pattern and not a finished item!!! The Dogster: the dark side within every dog. Peeing on your carpet, chewing up your shoes, howling through the night, smelling horribly... :) More photos available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IlDikko Or check out IlDikko website: http://ildikko-crochet.com The pattern is very detailed and contains a lot of pictures. This is an instant digital download PDF pattern (ready to download immediately after the payment). Finished size: approximately 15 cm x 12 cm Language: English language (American terminology) Skill level: beginner Skills required: • magic ring • crocheting in rounds • crocheting in rows • single crochet • double crochet • slip stitch • increase • decrease Materials: • Yarn: Weight: 5 ply Recommended yarn: 100% cotton Catania yarn from Schachenmayr and Brazilia yarn (eyelash) from Schachenmayr Yardage: 137 yards (125 meters) per 50g ball • Crochet hook: 3.0 mm • Tapestry needle • Filling • Scissors • 8 mm black safety eyes • small pebble If you have any question about this pattern, please feel free to contact me! Thanks and happy crocheting!
The post Pug by Dogster HQ appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com. Pug. Photography by Kayla Bertagnolli, as captured at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Pug Quick Facts Weight: 14 20 pounds (6.35 9.07 kg) Height: 12 14 inches (30.48 35.56 cm) The Look of a Pug You definitely know a Pug when you see one. Pugs have a short, stocky, cobby frame, a round head with a flat muzzle and round, dark, bulging eyes. Their wrinkled brows give them a kind of concerned expression, and they have velvety dark ears that fold down. They have straight, long limbs, giving them a sprightly step, plus a single- or double-curled tail at the end. Pugs have a smooth, soft coat that comes in black, silver, fawn and apricot. Photography by Kayla Bertagnolli, as captured at the 2018Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Traits Short stature Stocky build Black muzzle and curly tail Perky and fun Great with kids Tends to snore and snort Ideal Human Companion Singles Seniors Families Playful people What They Are Like to Live With Biggie the Pug won the Toy Group at Westminster in 2018. Photography by Kayla Bertagnolli. Pugs once jaunted around the palaces and lounged on the laps of ancient Chinese royals. And this is exactly what theyll dowith relishin your home. If you happen to be relaxing on the couch, your Pug will rest happily join you. But they are far from lazy. Pugs are alert and attentive, following their owners from room to room and always ready to play. Pugs seem to get along with anybodyespecially those that give them lots of attention. They love being cuddled and petted so much that they can get jealous or troubled when your affections are devoted to someone else. Most Pugs get along with children well, being patient and always ready to play games. Either way, they love being around people and would rather have your company than be left alone. On that note, they are curious and intelligent enough to get into mischief around the house or yard. Good watchdogs with a healthy barknot yappyPugs also happen to be very charming hosts. They will greet usually your guests with a prompt and perky welcome. Things You Should Know Because they have a flat muzzle and are a brachycephalic breed, Pugs tend to snort, snore and wheeze when fluid gets caught under their palate. These situations usually sort themselves out. Their wrinkles need to be cleaned regularly, since they gather debris. Pugs like an ambient temperature. In cold weather, they can quickly catch colds. In hot weather, they can overheat and die. Air-conditioning is recommended. They will do perfectly fine in an apartment, not needing a yard or lots of room to be happy. Make sure to ration their food and give them plenty of exercise or they will become obese, causing a shorter lifespan and other health problems. Pugs are dignified animals and expect to be treated that way. Angry words or severe training could hurt their feelings. Pug History Pugs have murky and mysterious origins. While everyone agrees that this is one of the worlds oldest breeds, no one is sure exactly how old. Some claim that Pugs were shorthaired version of Pekingese and fixtures among royals in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.), while others say theyre actually a small kind of French Mastiff or Bulldog. Today, most authorities agree that the Pug originated in China as early as 400 B.C. The name Pug is also mysterious. It could either come from a pet name for marmoset monkeys or from the Latin pugnus, or fist. Many Pugs were brought to Europe after the British invaded China in 1860. They received AKC status in 1885 and have been popular dogs in America ever since. Read more about Pugs on Dogster.com: Get to Know the Pug: A Lot of Dog in a Little Space! The post Pug by Dogster HQ appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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Você conversa com seu cachorro? Algumas pessoas te chamam de louco por isso? Fique tranquilo, conversar com o cão é uma coisa boa, porque pessoas que - 4 razões para conversar com seu cão
Amigurumi Crochet Pattern - The Dogster !!!This listing is for a crochet pattern and not a finished item!!! The Dogster: the dark side within every dog. Peeing on your carpet, chewing up your shoes, howling through the night, smelling horribly... :) More photos available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IlDikko Or check out IlDikko website: http://ildikko-crochet.com The pattern is very detailed and contains a lot of pictures. This is an instant digital download PDF pattern (ready to download immediately after the payment). Finished size: approximately 15 cm x 12 cm Language: English language (American terminology) Skill level: beginner Skills required: • magic ring • crocheting in rounds • crocheting in rows • single crochet • double crochet • slip stitch • increase • decrease Materials: • Yarn: Weight: 5 ply Recommended yarn: 100% cotton Catania yarn from Schachenmayr and Brazilia yarn (eyelash) from Schachenmayr Yardage: 137 yards (125 meters) per 50g ball • Crochet hook: 3.0 mm • Tapestry needle • Filling • Scissors • 8 mm black safety eyes • small pebble If you have any question about this pattern, please feel free to contact me! Thanks and happy crocheting!
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