The Christmas Doggie Toy Box

All dogs should have a well-stocked toy box. Well, maybe not all. The ones that have a real job and daily mental and physical stimulation can contently live without it. However, most dogs in our society own a person who’s predominantly involved in human-only activities, which leaves the pooch on the sidelines, and that can lead to a variety of problem behaviors. Dogs that act out often do so to generate stimulation in a deprived environment, and a designated, always accessible – and that part is important, activity center counters boredom; offers mental stimulation.

Size, shape and contents of a proper toy box depend on the dog. Terrier types often like a deep basket filled with many things and a daily surprise they can dig up, for example a few special treats hidden underneath all the stuff or layered in between. Tons of stuff doesn’t mean it'll cost you tons of money. Provided your dog doesn’t swallow cloth, clean rags, holy socks or worn t-shirts, collected from friends and family, work wonderfully.

Very industrious dogs could find several stuffed Kongs in their play corner. In fact, most of their daily food ration might be served that way. I also like to put a few especially smelly treats in toilet paper rolls, fold the ends in to keep them in place and, again only if the pooch doesn’t swallow cardboard, hide them all through the house. That purposeful nose-work challenges even the busiest sniffer, and nicely tires her out.

Large, powerful dogs are often relentless chewers, so their toy box should include a variety of items that fulfill that need. Every good pet store offers advice what is delectable - and longer lasting with ambitious masticators. Bark and Fitz, and Global Pets are examples of a good pet store, and for dog’s sake, I never shop somewhere that actually sells animals, even if I could safe a coin.

Because the idea is to create self-reliant fun, anything in the box should be safe for the dog to have unsupervised. Said that, the wise owner does observe at first, and every time a novel item is added. You want to ensure that she doesn’t gulp down an antler chew, tied in two old cup towels, in one piece.

Does an always-accessible activity basket take the fun out of holiday gift giving? After all, the majority of owners include their furry family member into the Christmas Season, and we certainly belong to the majority in that regard. I say no to that question, and am sure that our dogs agree. With a little ingenuity one can find the perfect present even for the most indulged canine. I googled a bit and found a few things my pooches likely have on their Santi Paws wish list, and yours might be pleased with as well.

Nina Ottosson interactive dog toys are a hit with every dog, regardless of age, size, physical or mental abilities. You can check them out at www.interactivedoggames.com, and many pet boutiques, locally and on line, carry a variety. Don’t snitch it to Davie and Will, but I bought a “Tornado” at www.houndsaroundtown.com they get to gently unwrap on Christmas Morn. Your dog might even make it into the brainy-dog hall of fame, but keep in mind that games are for fun first, not competition.

Or how about home-baked cookies the little darling can sniff for under the Christmas tree. I found a great recipe at www.bullwrinkle.com I modified a little, cause I’m a health geek and white flour doesn’t enter my dogs’ tummies. Here it goes: 16 oz. raw liver finely processed – and you can substitute that with sardines or peanut butter, 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, 8 oz. oat flakes, 3 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in app. 1 cup of warm water, 2 beaten eggs. Combine all ingredients, and for extra nutritional value I toss a handful of dried parsley in it, and add enough water to form a slightly sticky dough. Roll out on baking paper to about ½” thickness, cut out cookies in whatever shape you like, and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. You can fancy it up with bone or fire hydrant shaped cookie cutters, and you can find those at many places, for example at www.thecookiecuttershop.com. Our girls wish they had cat and veterinarian shaped ones, too.

Often overlooked are gifts that make the dog feel better. I found paw pads at www.pupgearcorporation.com our 12-year-old, arthritic Davie might find in her stocking this year. Our house is all matted out, but she still likes to travel with us and those pads might keep her from sliding on other people’s hard wood floors.

A gift that keeps on giving is a book. Not entirely for the dog, but indirectly because understanding canines makes you a better parent to yours. Dogwise.com is an on-line dog bookstore and has many great reads. Too many to list here, but two of my favorite authors are Suzanne Clothier and Patricia McConnell. I also like Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, and each year, the beginning of December, I dig up my copy of “Certain Poor Shepherds”. We sit on the floor, the dogs snuggled close, with me reading the doggie Christmas story to them. Of course they don’t comprehend the words, but they understand the warmth and peace I feel when we’re all enveloped in a special kind of quality time that does not always come about during busier times of the year.

And that’s really it, isn’t it? To give of oneself to loved ones – canine or human. So, it doesn’t matter if you shop for an interactive dog game, sign your pooch up for a fun group class, buy something that makes her feel better, or order a “how to teach tricks” book for your frisky dog - and actually use it.

With that, I wish you all a Peaceful Christmas, Hanukkah and Winter Solstice.

Reflections on Calgary

I am back at work after a fantastic 12-day vacation in Calgary. The highlight for sure was quality time spent with our daughter Yana, especially the trip to my most favorite of all places traveled: World Heritage site Waterton, AB. The weather was great, sunny and warm – a perfect “I wish I could bottle” day.

I did a LOT of shopping - for me, Yana and Mike and the girls.

My friend Doris, who owns Pet Life and Country Paws in Cochrane AB, has an awesome and affordable selection of perfectly sized, nutritious training treats and I stocked up on that.

I found fermented yak milk chews from Nepal at my friend Holly’s natural Tailblazer pet store, and this very funny Australian Shepherd license plate I bought at my friends Kim and Paula's “Hairy Barkers” store.

Both were at the CAPPDT tradeshow. I also bought a book there Steve White recommended, and I will blog about that after I read it.

I like Steve White. He is such an entertaining speaker; approachable and positive, and proves that even police dogs can be trained without pain and intimidation. I attended his communication and chaining sessions on one day, and his tracking workshop the next and really liked that one. His tracking, or trailing, method is completely different than Frans Baars, who was our instructor in Canmore AB a few years ago. I liked his method, too, and gave it a whole chapter in my book, but will explore Steve White’s some more this fall when my planned structured nose work workshop takes place in the HRM.

The CAPPDT conference was well attended, about 200 people and many young and beginner trainers. Some of the more seasoned association members are expressing their excitement about upcoming shock-collar seminars in their area; there appears to be a bit of a philosophical rift within the organization, so I was glad to see so many new trainers interested in a less balanced, and more positive approach to dog training. I’m curious to see the line-up of speakers for next year’s conference in TO, although I don’t plan to attend that one.

I was able to visit with a few canine friends as well, all seniors now. Ramona’s heeler cross Rudy, and Reri’s chow cross Rufus, were overjoyed to see me – and proved that dogs do have long-term memory. Laura’s amazing rescue Lab Bailey is still around at age 13 ½ and I met her new dog Keeper, a 2 ½ year-old German shepherd, who is so goofy and friendly and treated me like an old friend.

Ramona and I spent 5 hours walking her 6 dogs in Bowmont Park, which is a multiuse large area in Calgary’s northwest, along the Bow River. It used to be all off-leash, unofficially anyway, but now only a small, fenced-in space adjacent to the parking lot remains. Calgary officials boast that they have the most designated off-leash parks in Canada, but the fact is that leash freedom on the beautiful trails disappeared, including access to the Bow River where dogs liked to cool off and swim. Of the 139 off-leash parks, most are the typical squares of boring dusty land that are so common in North America.

Bill Bruce, the Director for Animal Services and Bylaws in Calgary, was a guest speaker at the conference. I didn’t see him and chose a marketing session instead, but did listen to an interview clip with him on CBC radio one. Apparently the reported dog bite incidents dramatically dropped in Calgary, and Bill Bruce contributes that to their “Responsible Dog Owner” program that took the place of the “Animal Control” program. In reality it means quick-issued dangerous dog labels and heavy fines, both of which entices owners to take managing their dogs seriously.

The bite levels dropped even though Calgary does not have a breed ban bylaw. I’d be interested to find out how that compares to, let say Toronto, who does have one.

So, I really, really enjoyed being back in Alberta, but am also happy to be here in Nova Scotia. Davie, Will and I are grateful to have Shubie, Point Pleasant and Long Lake parks, the many wonderful beaches, and woodlots in our neighborhood we can enjoy restraint free, just like Bowmont Park used to be.

Of course the prerequisite for off-leash fun is a reliable recall. Before I left I announced a couple of posts on that topic. The first will be up by week's end.