1. Nature
2. Exercise 3. Color 4. Fresh Air 5. Trees 6. Flexibility 7. Socialization 8. Movement 9. Bonding 10. Training 11. Heart Health 12. Beauty 13. Happiness 14. Grass 15. Calm 16. Change 17. Mood 18. Strength 19. Posture 20. Fun 21. Sunshine 22. Photo 23. Opportunities 24. Joint Health 25. Love 26. Scenery 27. Moonlight 28. Smells 29. Visit 30. Brain Health 31. Exploration 32. Art 33. Flowers 34. Desensitization 35. Surfaces |
36. Togetherness
37. Smiles 38. Behavior 39. Fondness 40. Wildlife 41. Seasons 42. Joy 43. Decorations 44. Outdoors 45. Sky 46. Lung Health 47. Beach 48. Shadows 49. Cuteness 50. Mountains 51. Fire Hydrants 52. Healthy 53. Muscle Tone 54. Water 55. Camaraderie 56. Circulation 57. Investigate 58. Trails 59. Marking 60. Safety 61. Exhaustion 62. Stars 63. Houses 64. Relief 65. Memory Boost 66. Caring 67. Neighbors 68. Terrain 69. Shopping 70. Bone Health |
71. Light
72. Comfort 73. Friends 74. Foot and Paw Health 75. Appetite 76. Practice 77. Travel 78. Patience 79. Blood Sugar 80. Observing 81. Pleasant 82. Refreshing 83. Wonderful 84. Adventure 85. Forest 86. Present 87. Field 88. Show-off 89. Breeze 90. Rhythm 91. Treat 92. Inspiration 93. Stretching 94. Break 95. Healthy Weight 96. Fitness 97. Gardens 98. Free 99. Stress Reduction 100. Self-Esteem 101. Energy 102. Clouds 103. Easy 104. Longevity 105. Blood Pressure |
It's National Walk Your Dog Week but why walk the dog? Here's some reasons:
What's your favorite reason for dog walks?
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Typist: Bethany Earlier this week, the dogs and I were on a holiday decoration viewing walk in a near by Seattle neighborhood and we came across a fun light display that had an interactive aspect. I pushed a button to make a snowman inside the homes front window dance in a stream of bubbles. As I watched the fun, the festive display's home owner came onto the porch to invite the dogs and I up to see the tree and his famous collection of holiday toys. After a jubilant (read: loud) greeting the dogs sat politely at the threshold while the sweet retiree showed off his parachuting Santa Claus, a Deck The Halls Singing flamingo, dancing reindeer and more. I was incredibly happy to have had such a delightful only-in-Seattle holiday experience and I looked down at my three respectfully well-behaved dogs thinking what fantastic exposure this was for them too. Moments like that are such a wonderful gift for my happy, social, and fit dogs (and cat and cockatoo too) and I want to give them more. So yesterday, I sat down and made holiday coupon book gifts for all of my pets. No, I do not plan on teaching them to read. I just want to commit to giving them more marvelous experiences and these gifts of social, mental and physical experiences serve as a reminder of that commitment. A few of the things I wrote on the holiday coupons are:
Obviously, these experience coupon books for the pets are also a gift to myself because I get to experience the gift with them. Building wonderful memories with my pets is what I live for. I love exercise and adventure but it is never as fun without a pet or three or five by my side. There is truly no better gift at any time of year than a healthy, happy pet and every fit dog, cat or cockatoo experience we have is the best present ever. What experience would most like to give to your pet as a gift? Share this post: Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful, But Holiday Decoration Admiring Fit Dog Time's Delightful12/12/2014 Typist: Bethany I love everything about this time of year in Cascadia. The natural light (or lack thereof) in the sky seems magical and I especially appreciate the early sunsets. The skeletons of leafless deciduous trees make more obvious the majesty of the Evergreen State's namesake plants. I love the seasons stormy weather. The wind makes massive white caps on Puget Sound that match the fresh snow on the Olympic Mountains. The clouds blow past and make more breathtaking light or dump copious amounts of rain. I even love the rain. Seriously. Everything feels so clean and fresh when showered and blown off by nature's fall festivals. All of these late autumn spectacles are made even more stunning by people's festive holiday decorations. Nothing can keep me inside! Wind, rain, sleet or snow, day or night, I am out with fit dogs Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley seeking fun holiday displays to admire. I was saddened earlier this week when I read an article about holiday activities to do with dogs that suggested drive through holiday light displays. Road trips are, of course, one of my very favorite things to do ever but why waste time sitting idly in the car to admire holiday decorations when there could instead be much needed fit dog time? I have many, many holiday traditions that I share with my dogs but the one's that involve exercise are all of our favorites. So since the dogs and I spend countless fit dog hours wandering our city from late November to early January seeking fabulous holiday decorations, I thought perhaps we could inspire others to get out and do some holiday walking. Here are season display seeking tips to help get out for fit dog time and enjoy the seasons spectacles despite the weather: You Would Even Say It Glows When going out seeking holiday light displays, be sure to bring plenty of light. I am always sorry when I forget to put clip on collar lights on the dogs. Particularly if we happen upon a popular, crowded holiday display, the dogs are much safer when well lit. It is especially inconvenient when I forget a flashlight or headlamp and have to clean up dog poop by iPhone flash. In an effort to never forget light essentials, I keep the clip on collar lights and a flashlight with the leashes and poop bags. Speaking of poop bags... He Only Paused A Moment When He Heard Him Holler "STOP" The weather is awful. It is dark. The walk is going to be short. But none of these things excuses not being prepared for the possibility of dog poop happening. Absolutely nothing spoils a lovely holiday display more than a left behind pile of dog poop. So remember poop bags and never, ever. ever fail to stop, stoop and scoop! City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks, Dressed In Holiday Cheer There are also a lot of dangerous chemicals on the decorated roads and sidewalks for holiday fit dog walking. I prepare the dogs for inevitable tracking through dangerous deicing pellets by putting a paw balm on them before we leave the house. Don We Now Our Gay Apparel If it is forty degrees Fahrenheit or below, Wilhelm has to wear a coat. He hates it but it keeps him happily trotting along on holiday decoration seeking outings. Since we never know what weather might blow through, Jason and I always prepare for cold and possible precipitation. Although it is very un-Seattle but I have even been known to carry an umbrella. The World Is Your Snowball, See How It Grows Not only is it wise to be prepared for anything while out for fit dog decoration seeking but it is also best to have the house prepared for when you return. If it is cold out, I set the thermostat to heat up the house a bit more around the time I expect the dogs and I will return home. If there is even a slight chance of rain or the ground is wet, I place a stack of rags just at the inside of the door so I am set up to dry wet, muddy dogs. I also get the bathroom ready to have a paw rinsing session if we happen to walk through a lot of dangerous winter street chemicals. Sometimes I plan fit dog holiday decoration outings for specific neighborhood displays. Other times I make a sort of treasure hunt out of our decoration seeking walk (like the day we sought out as many Bumble's as possible, pictured above.) Most of the time, the dogs, Jason and I just weave through the streets searching for hidden gem holiday decoration wonderlands. The dogs not only get much needed exercise but they get to sniff out strange new streets as well as enjoy mental stimulation while posing for photos. Even if I didn't like the weather, how could I deny my dogs much needed exercise and bonding time? Fit dog time should be a year round tradition and holiday decoration display adventures are just one more way to keep our healthy pet commitment going year round. No matter what the weather is like or what kinds of holiday decorations we find, fit dogs are beautiful. What fit dog holiday traditions do you have? Do you enjoy dog friendly holiday lighting and decoration walks? Share this post:
This took what seemed like forever. When dealing patently with three wildly barking dogs a trainers sense of time can get skewed. In reality, Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley calmed down quite quickly. Once the dogs were unflustered and staying focused on me, we continued with our walk. The next day, we returned to the scary spider scene. Luckily, the spider that spooked the dogs was not inflated so I had a great opportunity to practice more focus cue training distraction free. I took pictures, the dogs favorite "trick" and job. They all got lots and lots of treats. When we walked past the moving arachnid a third time which was again inflated. I wanted to test the desensitization training we had done but had to avoid allowing the dogs to be spooked into another barking frenzy. I picked up the walking pace and I praised and treated the quiet dogs as we passed. Before clearing the decorated yard, the dogs noticed the animated spider's head turn. Each dog barked one or two times then regained self-control and focus. This felt like an amazing, fear conquering success.
Check out our other awesome fit dog Halloween adventures: And if you're looking for haunted Halloween fun to have with your pets, here's a great list of Halloween movies with dog and cat co-stars: Scaredy Cats & Spooky Dogs: 13 Movies For Halloween With Dog & Cat Co-Stars Share this post: |
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