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Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts

Friday, December 12, 2025

Best Gifts for Puppies Reviewed

We recently brought home a puppy and immediately started buying puppy appropriate gifts for the little fellow.

One might think immediately of puppy food and a dog bed when you first get a puppy. Of course, we did bring home a puppy bed and food. However, we immediately realized he needed teething toys. We started with one that we knew would be a wonderful toy since our adult dogs have always loved them. But, let me tell you, one is not enough! He currently has 8 teething toys that he has in various locations. The one he prefers apparently depends on his mood.

For training, we also needed Milk-Bone biscuits, Mini Pure Bits (liver) and Quaker Apple Cinnamon Rice Crisps. Our vet recommended the rice crisps years ago because of their lower calories. A lot of treats are required for training!

A fleece blanket also makes a great gift! My mother purchased our little puppy a Christmas fleece blanket that he received immediately. He loves that blanket! Most often, he lays on it on our leather couch, but he can drag it down to the floor when desired to make a impromptu bed.

We already had a ramp, which the puppy will use as an adult to "walk" himself up into the back our our SUV. It is extremely important to start that training early by placing the ramp against a couch and letting them naturally climb it to get onto a couch. We discovered the hard way that an adult dog may be afraid to climb a ramp regardless of offered treats.

A doorway gate may not "feel" like a great gift idea. However, I assure you, not only are you protecting your furniture and home decor, you are protecting the puppy from cords or falling items after he runs into an end table. I'm sure you get the idea. We can't watch them constantly, therefore, they should not run free through an entire home heedless of potential dangers. Puppies are full of energy and running is exactly what they prefer to walking.

Believe it or not, I would also suggest Johnson's Baby Shampoo for a puppy's gift. Again, that was also recommended by our vet for a puppy.

A few weeks home and these are the "gifts" for puppy that we have found essential. With Christmas upon us, it seemed like the best time to recommend gifts for puppies (or dogs) if they happen to be on your gift list too.

All of the above mentioned gifts are featured below and linked to either a previous review or to a store for purchase.

Puppy Chew Toys Make Great Gifts

As I said, these toys will most likely become what you want to get first and continue to add to the collection over time. You realize quickly that your furniture, bedding, beloved stuffed animals, and even your skin need to be protected from puppy chewing and teething. The best way to prevent damage is to offer a chew toy that is made for that purpose.

35 years ago, our first puppy turned our kitchen chair legs into gnawing posts. While it is funny to recall now when my husband refers to the puppy "toothpicks", it was definitely not funny when it happened.

Of course, you still must train yourself to say "no" since puppies, like any baby, will continue to test your patience and tolerance. Having a desirable option is in everyone's best interest.

With human babies in mind, I bought a few teething toys that can go in the freezer to make a cold chew toy for our puppy.

We have always been familiar with the Kong products and know from experience that they are fabulous. However, my cousin brought Watson (our puppy) a Outward Hound bone. He loves that bone! Therefore, I would highly recommend it too.

Previously Reviewed ~ Kong Wubba for PuppiesClick to Read the Review Outward Hound by Dogwood Jack Durable Dog Chew Toy, Bacon Scent, LargeCheck Price Petstages Cool Teething Stick for Dogs - for Teething Puppies - Freezable for Added ReliefCheck Price KONG Puppy Goodie Bone - Stuffable Toy for Small Puppy - Natural Rubber Chew for Puppies - Toy for TeethingCheck Price

Treats for Puppies

We all like special treats for the holidays. Puppies may not recognize special days of the year, but we do and we like gifting our baby dogs with special treats for special occasions. Milk-Bone brand recognizes our desire for special treats and they make fun shaped dog biscuits just for the holidays. Plus, a Christmas fleece blanket always makes a puppy happy and we appreciate the added Christmas "decor" in our home.

Our adult dogs have always appreciated their annual fleece blankets from their granny. We use them year round in the cars, on hardwood floors, or wherever that little bit of comfort for our puppy is needed. After all, we don't mind a touch of Christmas spirit throughout the year.

Previously Reviewed ~ Milk-Bone Holiday Biscuits Treats for Dogs and PuppiesClick to Read the Review PureBites Beef Liver for Dogs, 8.8oz / 250g - Value SizeCheck Price Christmas Blanket Holiday Fleece Throw Blanket for Couch/SofaCheck Price Quaker Rice Crisps, Apple Cinnamon, 3.52 Ounce, Pack of 6 (Packaging May Vary)Check Price

More Gifts for Puppies

I mentioned the necessities like the gate, the ramp and the shampoo for puppies. For Puppy parents who do not have these items, they would be greatly appreciated. The parents, themselves, may not recognize their importance until they start using them, but time will prove out how much they are truly needed.

Previously Reviewed ~ Indoor Dog GatesRead the Review Comfort Expression Orthopedic Dog Bed for Extra Large Dogs 45x35 Inch, Waterproof Egg Crate FoamCheck Price HerCcreta wigge Dog Ramp for Car 63Check Price Johnson's Head-to-Toe Gentle Tear-Free Baby & Newborn Wash & Shampoo, Sulfate-, Paraben- Phthalate- & Dye-Free, HypoallergenicCheck Price

Pet Related Reviews

Best Gifts for Puppies written by:

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Friday, November 28, 2025

Kong Wubba Toys for Puppies

Our Baby Watson Loves His Wubba

Our older dogs have always loved their Wubbas!

When we recently decided to bring home a 10 week old puppy, my husband went shopping for puppy toys immediately. Much to his delight, he discovered there are Kong Wubba toys made just for puppies. Of course, he brought a small Wubba home for our puppy to celebrate his first day with us.

We have now found that puppies love a small Wubba as much as older dogs love big Wubbas.

Like human babies, puppies are precious, beautiful and easily lovable. Puppies are also high energy and require a lot of playtime, which means a multitude of size/age appropriate toys. If you don't provide the toys, they will find play pretties everywhere around your home. Things like cords, socks, couch cushions, shoes, shoe laces, shirt buttons, or anything within their reach is too attractive for them to ignore.

Keep in mind, puppies, like babies, are teething and they need to be chewing on something constantly. Just looking around my kitchen, you might think I am spoiling our new puppy because he has at least 8 new toys suitable for puppy chewing on the floor. When he tires of playing with one, he will grab a different one and chew until he tires of the feel of it in his mouth. If he gets too bored, toes could easily become his next prey and those sharp, little teeth are truly like needles sticking you in 5 places at once.

His first toy turned out to be his favorite toy. A brand new puppy-size Wubba! It squeaks, it has flappy tails, and it makes the best catch toy.

The Kong Wubba Toy for Puppies

Kong Wubba Assorted Colors PuppyCheck PriceOne of the things I like best about the Kong Wubba is its strong, durable, washable fabric. Puppies, and dogs, play hard. Wubba often end up landing in water puddles or even mud. Puppy toys must be washable.

The small size shown on the right is the perfect size for a puppies mouth. They would not be able to fit the larger Wubba (head) in their mouth for chewing or catching.

The flapper "legs" are shorter on the small Wubba too which allows the puppy more control over his toy and the Wubba is not oversized for him to easily carry.

One note of interest, Watson takes his Wubba to bed with him every night. If he wakes up during the night, he has his favorite chew toy right next to him for night chewing as well as a comfortable companion.

More Reviews for Dog Products

Easy Carry Fabric & Collapsible Travel Dog Bowl Reviewed

BarksBar Pet Water Resistant Front Seat Cover for Automobiles Review

Backseat Barker Dog Bed for SUV or Jeep Review

Ortho Sleeper Comfort Couch for Dogs Reviewed

Indoor Dog Gates Reviewed

Disposable Feeding Bowls for Dogs Reviewed

Frontline Flea & Tick Drops for Dogs and Cats Reviewed

Pet Related Reviews

Kong Wubba Toys for Puppies written by:

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Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Our Pets are Wonderful and We Can Help Them Stay Healthy! ~ A Product Review

When we think of our pets, they are more than just a pet, they are part of the family. Every dog and cat owner knows that they are not pet owners, rather they are owned by their pets. There is a big difference! We love them so much that we treat them like we treat those we love, by getting them "special treats". Unfortunately, like human "treats", animal treats are similar in that they taste good and are usually full of calories that they don't need. Just think of that big piece of Chocolate cake (that most of us don't really need)! Because we love our pets so much, many cats and dogs are now having the same problems that a lot of humans have and that is that they have become overweight!

These are my two Grand Dogs, Mabel in the upper picture and Dougal in the bottom one. Mabel is a soft haired Wheaton Terrier and Dougal is a French Bulldog. These are their puppy pictures and we love them both.

Now I must say that most of these overweight pets are more likely to be in the big cities where their exercise routines are not as robust as a dog in the country. Country dogs can run around without too much of a hassle from cars and other dangers. City dogs have to be kept on a leash for their own protection and the protection of others (both human and animal). City folks can find parks that have designated areas for their dogs to run freely, but that usually means a trip, and it might not be close to home either. If you can for your own health and the health of your dog, make that trip to the Dog Park often.

The best time to start training your cats and dogs about their eating habits and exercise programs is when they are young. Puppies and kittens need more good quality food because they are growing! But just because they are growing doesn't mean they don't need their exercise either. Strong bones and bodies are the result of both good food and plenty of exercise. In that sense they are very much like humans!

Scheduled eating times helps keep both dogs and cats happy. But what happens when your dog is just like a vacuum cleaner and he sticks his/her face into the bowl of food and literally just sucks it all in? It's not a great way for them to eat and they will quickly be begging for more. Mom and Dad or the kids will be tempted to give into their pets wants! Here is where the problem begins. Over feeding is easy to do, the results are not so easy to take care of. No one likes to be on a diet!

But what if there is a way to keep your cats and dogs from being able to just gulp down their food? Wouldn't that be a great way to slow them down, make their digestion easier and cause them to feel full once they are done? It works for humans and it works for our pets too!

There are many different kinds of dog/cat dishes that can help your animal to slow down and still get their daily allotment of food. Just have a look at these wonderful pet dishes that really do help make dinner time not only enjoyable for your pets, but it also makes it more interesting for them as well.

Overeating is thought to be partly due to boredom too! So if there is a way to keep the dogs and cats interested and still slow them down, you have a win-win situation.

JASGOOD Dog Feeder Slow Eating Pet Bowl Eco-Friendly Non-ToxicCheck Price Elongated Design Slow Feeder Cat Bowl, Cute Fish Cat Slow Feeder BowlCheck Price Juvale Interactive Dog Bowl, Spiral Slow Feeder Pet Dish (Pink and Green)Check Price

These bowls make eating out of them a little more challenging for your pets. They can't just stick their snouts into the bowl and inhale their food. They need to work around the ribs and get their kibbles out of the grooves. It just slows them down that much and makes it a little more interesting for them as well. Pet owners are all over these dishes as a way to make their pet's dinner time a little more interesting. Many different varieties of these dishes are available and have literally thousands of reviews from people who have purchased these dishes. That in itself says a lot.

Now I'm going to add another part to the puzzle of overweight dogs and cats. You should always consult with your own veterinarian regarding your pet's overall health. If weight is something that your vet has commented on, then the next thing to do is get a good quality dog/cat food that has high nutritional value, but not a whole lot of fat. I'm sure your Vet will make some recommendations. I also know that you can get good quality dog foods that are not quite as expensive as the ones your Vet might recommend. This is not to be confused with foods that pets need for health reasons other than weight! Some pets have serious medical conditions and you should always follow what your Vet recommends in these cases.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog FoodCheck Price Purina Pro Plan Grain Free Senior Wet Cat Food PateCheck Price Hill's Science Diet Light, Adult 1-6, Weight Management Support, Dry Cat FoodCheck Price Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Dry Cat Food for Weight Management & Hairball ControlCheck Price

These dog and cat foods have high recommendations from pet owners. The Blue Buffalo for dogs is especially rated by over 30,000 pet owners. So you know that it has been tested and found to be a good value and liked by many pets too! Cat owners don't seem to give as many reviews on the foods, but suffice to say that there are over 1,000 pet owners who have rated these foods for their cats.

If you are a pet owner, I hope this review helps you keep your pets healthy and also interested in their feeding routines. Happy, healthy pets, make the whole family feel good and we want our pets to have the best life possible.

Whenever I want to buy something new, I do look at the reviews that have been posted and it usually is a good indicator of how much people actually liked the particular product.

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

How to Speak Dog Book Review

Dixie

Last April we adopted a wonderful 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Dixie. We are really enjoying Dixie and when our grandkids came to visit, they fell in love with her. She is very sweet, but sometimes I wonder what she is trying to tell me. For Christmas this year my daughter gave me a book called How to Speak Dog. This little book is full of ways to give you ideas of what your dog is trying to relate to you by their actions and body language.

In the book you meet, Dr. Gary, a veterinarian and dog expert. Dr. Gary gives you all kinds of training tips and vet and care advice. The book is also full of fun facts, quizzes, hands-on-activities, resources to get more information and dog photos.

How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog LanguageCheck Price

I love the way the dog on the front cover looks just like our dog, Dixie. The book is listed for children ages 8-12 and in fact has won the Children's Book Award from the Animal Behavior Society. I feel that the book is actually great for dog lovers of all ages. I know I have learned a lot from the book.

On the rest of this post, I will have my dog Dixie show you through her pictures some of the different areas of the book. This is only a sampling of the wonderful material in the book.

Body Talk

Dixie- Belly Up

Dixie loves to roll over and lay belly up when I talk to her. She loves to get her belly rubbed. In the book, Dr. Gary says the real meaning of this dog position is submission and trust. She is saying that you are in charge and she's okay with that. In this section Dr. Gary gives a tip that massage feels as good to animals as it does to humans and if they are nervous a good way to calm them down is a back rub.

The chapter on "Body Talk" also contains several other topics such as paw on your knee, full body shake, wiggles away from you and one paw raised. Each section tells what that usually means and gives you some tips. Each topic is two page long.

Read my Face

Expressive Ears

The section on " Read my Face" has topics like the begging stare, ears erect, and teeth barred, pricked ears, licking your face and yawning.

In the photo above you see Dixie's expressive ears. Whenever she is interested in something her ears go up. In the photo above she had been laying on the bed when something outside the window caught her attention. Dr. Gary said that dogs will prick up their ears to hear better. One of the tips on the page says, " Dogs can hear noises that are up to four times farther away than those humans can hear". No wonder Dixie jumps to attention or barks when we don't hear anything.

Telling Tails

There is another chapter in the book just on tails. It contains things like a showy tail, stiff high tail, crooked tail, scared wag, straight tail, tucked tail, and happy wag. Dixie's tail is constantly going. If we say her name, her tail wags even if she had been sleeping. I can really see the "Happy Wag" on her. Dr. Gary says " A wagging tail is a truth-ometer. Dogs can't control when or how wagging happens. The tail is like an electric line connected directly to the brain that transmits how a dog is feeling."

Wagging tail at squirrels.

This is just a sampling of the delightful material in this book. If you love dogs, I know you will enjoy the book. In closing I'll leave you with a few more photos of Dixie.

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Catching Dawn - Book Review

To what lengths would you go to keep a promise to a stranger? To whom would you turn when fulfilling that promise proved to be beyond the scope of what you alone could do?

Catching Dawn starts as a rescue story that becomes a story, within a story, within a story. There is the story of what it means to rewrite your own story as you do everything within your power to help the ones barely surviving.

And then there is the story of how the strays of the world find their belonging, their purpose, their peace.

Nested within those stories are the circular beginnings and endings where the lines blur between having rescued and having been the one most in need of saving.

When Melissa Armstrong is approached by a stranger about helping a litter of newborn puppies born to a dog living on the streets, she is quick to take on the mission. After all, how hard could it be to gather up a nursing dog and her babies?

It turns out that a highly traumatized dog is one of the hardest things anyone could ever attempt to catch. Six months of failures could have been the end of that story (and the end of those frail puppies). Instead, this book reveals how both humans and animals in desperate need helped one another rise above those initial failures.

As a young girl, Armstrong grew up feeling there was something wrong with her that made her unlovable. She felt out of place and knew great loneliness. Her inner stray could relate to the fear and lack of trust displayed by dogs that felt a need to hide and avoid the kind of pain associated with people.

While going to great lengths to catch a dog that did not want to be caught, Armstrong simultaneously found herself catching the things that had proven so elusive during her earlier years: feeling loved, being needed, and discovering the embrace of a real family.

Having been immersed in challenging dog rescue scenarios, there was much that resonated for me in these embedded stories of transformation, friendship, and healing. The writing revealed the beauty and wonder of the truest of relationships. This book reminded me to never take for granted the many gifts offered up by my animals every single day. It deepened my gratitude for how my rescue dogs have helped me rewrite my story.

There are no small promises when lives are hanging in the balance. There are no lengths too great when it comes to living out our promises. Catching Dawn inspires us to be the promise needed in this world.

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Saturday, April 3, 2021

Mothers Day Cards from the Dog

Let's review some Mother's Day cards for a dogmom. As a dogmum myself I have to say that I have never received a Mother's Day card from the dog, but apparently it is something that is increasing in popularity.

I guess it's quite understandable that the dog would send Mothers Day cards as we lavish a lot of attention on our fur babies. A number of people I know have a family of furbabies instead of human children whether by choice or not - why shouldn't they be celebrated?

I came across the idea of Mother's Day cards while looking at Zazzle's selection of Mother's Day cards. If you purchase your Mother's Day cards online through a print on demand site such as Zazzle you will get a great quality card that usually has an option for you to personalize it. There is often a larger selection of cards and you can find a number of original designs. You are also helping a small designer to contribute to their family's income - trust me they do a happy dance every time they make a sale!

There were so many designs to choose from that it was really hard to decide on just a couple of feature so if you don't like the ones below check out the rest here - Selection of Mother's Day Cards from the Dog.

I love this Mother's Day card as it's a very simple design that can be beautifully personalized by adding a photo of your own dog/dogs and even changing the text:

Best Dog Mom | Coral | Photo Mother's Day Card

Another card that can be totally personalized (and a picture of the dog with their mom would be perfect) is this next one. This is one that I personally prefer over the other as I love the I Woof You sentiment!

mother's day pet dog mom photo cute heart holiday card
by mymerakishop

These are only two of the thousands of cards that are available, so feel free to click on the link above these cards if neither of them grab you.

The great thing about Zazzle (besides their amazing card quality and printing quality) is the comprehensive range available so you could even search for labrador Mother's Day cards, pug Mother's Day cards etc.

What do you think of the idea of receiving a Mother's Day card from the dog? I love it and may just have to leave this article open on the computer for my husband to see!

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Monday, July 13, 2020

Wahl Professional Dog Cordless Clipper Kit Review

It can be a challenge to groom your dog at home, but this little clipper can turn the challenge into a manageable task. Slim, lightweight and cordless this is the little clipper that could and will cut the hair or fur on your dog. In my area the dog groomers have been closed for three months and now as they are reopening it is a very long wait list for an appointment.

This is my second Wahl Arco. I had the first clipper for years and it had an unfortunate fall off a table which rendered my favorite clipper unusable. I was very happy to find the same clipper available! I highly recommend the Wahl Arco for stay at home grooming whether a beginner DIY dog groomer or advanced home groomer.

The 5 in 1 Blade

Most clippers for dogs require purchasing different blades for each cutting length. The blades can be quite expensive and novice dog groomers may not know what blade to buy for different sections of the dog. It can be a costly trial and error as one learns to DIY groom.

One of the best features of the Arco is a 5 in 1 blade feature which allows the blade number to be set on a built in dial and the blade length will change without having to switch blades. The number of the blade denotes the cutting length. The higher the blade number the closer the cut. This clipper contains the most popular blade sizes (numbers) 9, 10, 15, 30, and 40. For example on the Fluff, closely shaving his muzzle is blade #30, but the body is blade #9.

The included guide comb blades can also assist with the length of the cut. Simply pop on the guide comb blades and this is a nice safety feature to keep the cut even (vs a stripe- oops!) Luckily for me The Fluff has a high self esteem and is not offput by a few oopsy stripes when I first began DIY grooming.

The clipper is recommended for small to medium dogs. Being a poodle, The Fluff has hair verses fur which means just like everyone else in stay at home mode, the Fluff's hair began to take on a life of its' own.

Rechargeable Battery

Another feature of the Arco cordless clipper is the inclusion of two batteries with a charger. Each battery is long lasting, but there are times it may take two batteries so being able to charge one battery while clipping is a huge timesaver. Each battery has an 80-minute cordless run time and 75 minute charge time

What's Included With The ARCO Clipper?

5-in-1 fine blade set
2 drop-in NiMH rechargeable battery packs
Charging stand and charger
4 plastic attachment guide combs
Blade oil, cleaning brush
Soft storage case
Instruction book

Of all the dog clippers I have tried over the years, this is my favorite. I first began learning how to dog groom when my prior dog had health issues and it was too stressful for the dog to be professionally groomed. This is not to say my skills are anywhere near the skill of a professional dog groomer, but skills good enough to suffice.

Like most novices, I learned via Youtube the tips to groom a poodle. And of course each dog has its' own personality and likes -dislikes when being groomed. And of course it would be typical for the dog to behave better for the groomer then the owner, so it can be a challenge. The Fluff plays hide the paw when trying to clip his feet so it can be a bit like Laurel and Hardy at times, But then again, it wouldn't by DIY dog grooming without a challenge or five.

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Friday, April 24, 2020

Backseat Barker Dog Bed for SUV or Jeep Review

The Backseat Barker SUV Dog Bed

Dog Car Bed for Jeep & SUV - Backseat Barker Review

If Merlin had a middle name, it would be "Go"! He never wants to be left behind. Therefore, we sought and found a wonderful dog bed for our old jeep.

As you can see in the photo, we laid the dog bed directly on the jeep floor. That required us to find a dog bed that was thick enough to really cushion and separate him from the hard, unforgiving surface.

Normally the pillows on each side would lay at an angle. In our case, we wanted the larger size bed so the pillows would stand upright on the side and give him more protection from the hard side panels of our jeep. Merlin likes to stand up and look around even when the car is moving. Protecting our "big dog" is always our first priority.

When we are traveling in our SUV instead of our little Jeep, we simply move the Big Barker to the larger vehicle. Here is a picture of Merlin on his Big Barker bed in our SUV. As you can see, the side pillows tilt to the sides and make a great head rest for our big dog.

Merlin loves his Big Barker

The Backseat Barker Dog Bed for Cars, SUV, & Jeeps

There are several features about the Backseat Barker that would prompt me to recommend it for dogs. First and foremost, the thickness of the orthopedic cushion provides a more comfortable ride for our "big dog".

I left that one side up slightly after Merlin got out, so you could easily
see the thickness of the bottom pad

The size of the bottom bed cushion is perfect for our jeep floor. As you can see, the large 3" thick cushion goes all the way up to the back of the front seats. Therefore, Merlin can stretch out comfortably when he wishes to lay down and still be close to us.

As I said in the introduction, I also love the side pillows! Normally, in a larger SUV, the pillows would be slightly tilted so a pup could use them for propping his head on them.

There are several sizes of the Backseat Barker Dog Bed available. We purchased the Extra Large (61 x 45 x 3) dog car bed so it would fit snugly in the back of our jeep, which has a smaller area in the back than an SUV.

The cover has zippers on the bottom pad and on the pillow sections. That allows us to remove all 3 of the foam pieces and machine wash & dry the cover when needed. According to the manufacturers, the foam can also be washed and air-dried, but that has not been necessary for us yet.

The Backseat Barker Dog Beds come with a 10 year warranty. We all understand the importance of a trustworthy warranty.

One note, like most orthopedic foam, the foam in the beds have a strong odor. We let Merlins' bed foams air out for about 3 days and I washed the cover immediately. After a few days, all was well, no more smell!

labrador retriever standing on a Backseat Barker Dog Bed in the back of a jeep

Big Barker Backseat Barker: SUV Edition (Orthopedic Shock-Absorbing Dog Bed for Back of Sport Utility Vehicles)Check Price Big Barker Backseat Barker: SUV Edition (Orthopedic Shock-Absorbing Dog Bed for Back of Sport Utility Vehicles)Check Price

Monday, February 10, 2020

Dog Agility Reviewed!

It is winter here in the Midwest and I already thinking warmer weather and fun activities in the yard with my pup and dog agility!

A backyard agility course for your dog is fun with a F! Fun for you, fun for the dog and a fun activity both you and your fluffy friend can enjoy.

The Agility Obstacle Course

Dog agility is the running of an obstacle course. The sport originated in the late 1970's in England. There have been many organizations through the years as the sport has evolved; the goal of the organizations were shared, though the rules and obstacles slightly differed.

Years ago when agility was a relatively new sport I enrolled in a dog agility class. The difference between the backyard agility equipment and professional equipment is size. As you can see from the video below of a professional agility competition the obstacles are BIG!

Backyard agility obstacles are smaller, portable and easy to assemble. The starter kits are easy to set up, store and all you need is grass! The agility kits are easily transported so if a backyard is not available any nice sized section of grass will work.

The Beginner Backyard Agility Sets

Staples in a backyard agility kit are the jump, tunnel and weave poles.

Tunnel

The tunnel is usually one of the first obstacles to teach your dog. A few treats and encouragement and the tunnel can be easy to master for the confident dog. As with every new activity a little practice goes along way and the dog will give you cues as to how comfortable they are with the tunnel.

I have seen very skittish and less confident young dogs who at first look at the tunnel as a looming foreign object turn into tunnel loving runners with the right encouragement and practice.

Jump

The jump is adjustable and can be set very close to the ground to begin acclimating your dog to the desired height. Dogs who love to run and jump can take to the jump quite quickly. I happen to have a dog who loves to jump so the jump was quickly mastered and the height could be increased.

To teach and acclimate the dog to the jump you can see in the photo below the dog is on a leash and I am gently guiding the dog through the jump with a treat in hand ( why the dog is looking to my hand).

Last Fall we had a few doggie buddies over for backyard fun.

The three Amigos

Within a few minutes of practicing individually we put the medium size dogs sitting at the start line and were amazed as they took off together taking the jump in unison!

It was a race to the treat and the owners.

Because of size, as one of the three amigos was only six pounds, she was an observer while the two medium sized dogs navigated the obstacle course, and we practiced with her separately.

She enjoyed watching and learning from afar however!

Weave poles

Weave poles can be tough! Where my dog took to the jumping very quickly, the weave poles not so much. The poles are set up for the dog to zig zag - weave in and out in a straight line. We are still working on the weave poles, but in the spirit of this is purely for fun, I think the pup and I have decided ... no on the weave poles.

But weave poles are alot of fun to watch. The video below shows a full sized Agility Course and look at those pups weave!

Sit stay box

This is a great exercise , especially for younger dogs, to practice sit/stay and down/stay. The “box” is either a marked area in a box or an actual raised solid box.

The dog either enters the box or jumps up on the box and does a sit/ stay or down/stay for a set number of seconds. If training a young dog, this exercise works right into practicing sits and stays.

Dog Personality

Of course it is imperative the personality and physical capabilities of your dog are of the greatest importance when considering agility obstacles. Dogs of any age, breed or height can participate in dog agility. The obstacles are 'sized' to the dog.

Age: Agility courses are not for puppies as their growth plates must be fully developed. Obviously this varies per breed, per dog. Pre agility exercises such as the sit stay exercise are pup friendly.

Does your dog love to run ? Try new things? Enjoy activity? Loves to figure out a puzzle? Agility may be a great fit.

Is your dog apprehensive to try something new but with proper training enjoys a new activity ? Agility could be a great confidence booster !

Backyard agility can just be plain ole good fun for the owner and pet. No need to compete, just enjoy the obstacles your dog likes and making a home agility course provides great exercise for you and your pet.

Where To Find Backyard Agility Kits

Online is where the kits can be found, this is a beginner kit I like.

DIY ers can also make agility equipment! Here is a good resource in making obstacles for a backyard agility course .

I’ve been lucky enough to have dogs which naturally seem to enjoy agility which makes training much easier!

Whether it is one obstacle or a backyard of obstacles, I highly recommend dog agility for a few hours of amusement, exercise and bonding with you furry friend.

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