Rainy Days: Indoor Activities for You and Your Dog

Playing Tug of War With Your Dog

 

 

 

Many dogs love to play tug of war - it is a healthy display of their predatory nature. There has been some debate over tug of war and dogs. Some feel the game causes aggressive behavior and dominance. However, the tug of war is actually mental and physical exercise for your dog. It is also a great way to reinforce the human-canine bond. The most important thing to remember is that there are rules that should be followed to keep the game from going overboard.

1. Before you begin playing tug of war with your dog, you should teach a release command, like drop it. This will help you stop the game if necessary.
2. Choose a dog toy that is designed for tugging. The toy should be durable and flexible. The best tug toys are typically made out of rubber or a similar material and have a comfortable handle that keeps your hand away from the dog's mouth. Here are two good choices:
3. Kong Tug
   Orbee-Tuff Tug
4. Play in a large area without distractions, clutter or dangerous objects. Outdoors is great, but the beauty of tug of war is that it can be safely played indoors if you have a bit of space. Make sure there is room for you both to move about and that there is nothing in the way should one of you back up.
5. While playing tug of war, your dog might get excited and begin growling. This is normal, as the game itself is predatory behavior. However, it is important to keep your dog from becoming overly excited. A low mild growl with tail still wagging is probably okay, but anything more warrants a break. Or, if you are in doubt an any point, take a break.
6. To take a break, stop tugging and use the release command. Take 30 seconds or so to go through basic commands like sit and down. Once your dog seems more relaxed, the game may resume.
7. If your dog's teeth come into contact with you at any point, play should stop immediately. Let out a yelp, say "drop it," then take the toy and walk away for 30 seconds. If your dog seems relatively calm, you can go through the break with commands, then begin the game again. If your dog makes the same mistake two or three times, tug of war should be ended for the day. This is just to remind your dog to be extra careful with her teeth. It is likely that teeth might graze you from time to time due to the nature of the game, but once your dog understands the rules, she will be much more careful.
8. While playing tug of war, it is okay to let your dog win! This builds her confidence and rewards her. However, if she misbehaves, you should be the one who ends up with the toy.
9. Two dogs can play tug of war with one another - if they get along on a normal basis. The game should be supervised and the same rules apply. This will help keep it from getting out of hand.

Playing tug of war with your dog can be a quite rewarding experience. It is mentally and physically stimulating for your dog, and pretty good exercise for you, too. Have fun and be safe!

Dog People vs. Cat People

Dog People vs. Cat People: The Surprising Differences

By Reader's Digest Magazine | Pets – Fri, Dec 2, 2011 4:48 PM EST

(l): © Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Thinkstock (r): © Pixland/Thinkstock

Hunch.com recently polled more than 200,000 pet owners to find out if they were dog people or cat people. The site then crossed those responses with lifestyle surveys and arrived at the following conclusions. Anything sound familiar?

Dog people: 15% more likely to be extroverts
Cat people: 11% more likely to be introverts

(l): © Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Thinkstock (r): © Dynamic Graphics/Creatas/Thinkstock

Dog people: 36% more likely to use a pop song as a ringtone
Cat people: 14% more likely to cling to friends at a party

© iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Dog people: 67% more likely to call animal control if they happen upon stray kittens
Cat people: 21% more likely to try to rescue stray kittens

(l): © Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Thinkstock (r): © iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Dog people: 11% more likely to say they'd support cloning, but only for animals or pets
Cat people: 17% more likely to have completed a graduate degree

© Amazon.com

Dog people: 18% more likely to consider Paul McCartney their favorite Beatle
Cat people: 25% more likely to consider George Harrison their favorite Beatle

(l): © iStockphoto/Thinkstock (r): © Goodshoot/Thinkstock

Dog people: 9% more likely to think of zoos as happy place
Cat people: 10% more likely to send messages on Twitter

(l): © iStockphoto/Thinkstock (r): © Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Thinkstock

Dog people: 30% more likely to enjoy slapstick humor and impressions
Cat people: 21% more likely to enjoy ironic humor and puns

©iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Both dog and cat people:
- Talk to animals of all kinds
- Are equally likely to have a four-year degree
- Dislike animal-print clothing

You don't have to look like your friends, to be friends!

5 Ways to help your pet live longer!

We all want our pets to live long, healthy lives, and we'd all do just about anything to ensure that our cats and dogs can stay with us as long as possible. What five things can you do to keep your pet safe, happy, and by your side longer? We've listed them below, and chances are, you're probably on top of them already.

But one hint may surprise you…

Keep your furry friend indoors
Staying inside, or at least on a leash, protects your pet from all kinds of dangers. Indoor living shields cats from infectious diseases; digestive upset caused by snacking on poisonous plants or other foreign objects; fights with other cats, dogs, wild animals, or mean humans; and speeding cars.




And as pets age, they can't regulate their body temperatures as effectively, making them more prone to serious weather-related ailments like heat stroke if they're outdoors too long.




Of course it's fine to walk your dog, and the occasional (closely supervised) feline foray into the yard isn't the end of the world. But it's particularly important for cats to do their toileting inside; that way, the humans can monitor them for signs of tummy upset, urinary-tract issues, and so on.




Putting a "catio" in your window for bird-watching purposes, and planting cat grass in pots, can bring the outside in, without compromising Fluffy's health.







Watch his weightObesity in dogs and cats causes the same serious health problems that it does in humans. High blood pressure, breathing problems, diabetes, and joint pain. It's not easy to put a portly pet on a diet, but NOT doing so could shorten his lifespan (and from a practical – and more selfish – standpoint, you really don't want to have to give a cat daily insulin injections).




If your dog or cat is on the spherical side, enlist your vet's help to change his diet. Invest in new toys for your cat that will get him more active, and try switching from "free feeding" to controlled portions at specific meal times. Take dogs for longer or more frequent walks, and get strict about table scraps and extra biscuits.




Aging pets who have maintained normal weights for years may start to plump up as their metabolisms slow down. Changing your senior dog or cat's regular food to a formula that's higher in protein and lower in fat may help, and dogs may benefit from "nutriceutical" supplements. Again, consult with your vet.





Don't skip vet appointmentsIt's tempting to bail on the vet if your pet seems healthy, the exams, shots, and treatments can add up to a big yearly bill if you don't have pet insurance. But our pets can't tell us when they don't feel quite right, or whether that diarrhea is a passing thing or a symptom of something more serious. The vet CAN tell you – sometimes just by looking into your dog's eyes! 




As your pet ages, you may need to bring her in more frequently. Every six months, instead of every year for senior-wellness check-ups. Your vet is trained to spot conditions and concerns you can't see, and catching geriatric diseases or cancer early is the best way to find a treatment that time - quality time – to your pet's life.






Dental health is overall healthMost of these tips are common sense, but the importance of taking care of your pet's teeth may come as a surprise. It's the most common major health problem affecting cats and dogs, actually; the bacteria from dental and gum disease can travel elsewhere in their bodies, causing more serious issues.

With that said, we understand that you feel ridiculous brushing your cat's teeth. (And your cat feels even more ridiculous.) But it might seem less absurd if it adds years to your kitty's life. Check your pet's teeth and gums about once a week, if you can. Feed kibble and treats that promote dental health, and keep an eye out for signs of dental or gum disease, including bad breath, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss, and facial swelling. Call the vet if you think your cat or dog is having trouble eating due to mouth or tooth pain.

And yes, brush your pet's teet h using specially formulated brushes and pastes, not "people products." Some pets grow to love the fish-flavored toothpaste; others will fight you tooth and nail. (Forgive the pun.) Even if it's a battle, remind yourself that it's worth fighting bad teeth can reduce your dog's lifespan 2-4 years in some cases.

Spay and neuter your petsSpaying or neutering your pet doesn't just prevent overpopulation. It can protect your pet down the line from various reproductive cancers of the prostate and ovaries, for instance. And some studies have shown that fixed pets live longer than "intact" pets, although scientists aren't quite sure why. 

We all love an adorable pile of puppies, but coo at pictures online, and get your pet spayed or neutered.