Posted by Sue, on May 18th, 2012
Having only ever been owned by very independent, outdoor cats, I have never really given much thought to walking a cat with a collar or harness and lead. However, I recently received some advertising for what looked like a very practical cat harness and I found myself thinking about the practicalities of actually using it.
In my recent article, indoor cat or born to be wild, I discussed the growing trend for people to keep cats permanently indoors, and examined the justifications for doing so. Although I didn’t reach a firm conclusion for myself as to whether or not I would ever consider keeping an indoor cat, I did come to appreciate the reasons others do and, if you do, then I can also see huge justification for teaching the cat to walk on a leash so that you can safely explore a little of the outside world together too.
After some research I found this very comprehensive and seemingly practical guide on how to go about successfully training your cat to walk on a leash: Leash training your cat
The article makes what seems to me to be a very valid point about taking your time and showing endless patience – with a timely reminder that if you do enter into a battle of wills with any cat, you are almost certainly going to lose… I think maybe my dog has definitely got some cat in him somewhere!
It also makes a very good case for using a harness or a walking jacket rather than a collar to ensure your cat is not being pulled around the throat. We have come up with a couple of options for you to consider:
   
If you do decide to train your cat to go walkies, or you already have a cat who puts Fido to shame on the leash, please get in touch and tell us your stories.
Posted by Lou, on May 14th, 2012
My puppy is now 7 months old and I wanted to find a new fun way of exercising her but also to improve on her training and stimulate her mind, so we joined a puppy agility class. It’s also a good source of exercise for me!
Our first lesson was last week. When I arrived, I must admit that I thought we would just be having fun running around through tunnels and over jumps, but the first weeks’ focus was purely on the commands needed in order to move your dog around the agility circuit.
We learnt how to keep her focus solely on me (no easy task when there are other dogs around I can tell you!) and how to make her stand and wait from a distance until I give the command for her to come to me. We were also asked to practice these commands at home, which we have been doing and she now seems to have become quite a pro! From experience at basic puppy obedience classes it is clear when owners don’t practice with their dogs outside of classes; often owners would bring their dogs along for one hour per week, not practice at home and then get frustrated with them when they couldn’t carry out the commands at class the following week.
I have to say that I was really pleased that the trainers take agility seriously in terms of training as it not only helps when it comes to the physical agility, but it is also extremely useful for me to apply when we are out on our walks.
This week’s lesson is going to be where we start to practice on the equipment, and I’ll post an update again next Monday to let you know how we get on. We can’t wait to get back to class on Tuesday!
Posted by Lou, on May 7th, 2012
 With a number of different classes available for us humans to tone our bodies and build our strength, flexibility and co-ordination, it’s not surprising that there are now classes out there for our dogs too.
Most of us are familiar with different types of exercise and enrichment for our dogs, such as agility, flyball and advanced obedience, but something I’ve recently discovered is Kinetics.
According to dog trainers, Kinetics helps dogs build their core muscular strength and balance in order to utilise their bodies to their full potential. Not only do the classes help your dog use muscles that they may not be using often, but they are also mentally stimulating.
Classes typically consist of a series of balance exercises that promote spatial awareness, co-ordination and strengthen deep muscles.
Although Kinetics is suitable for any dog, it is particularly good for young dogs to help them build strength and flexibility, dogs that are involved in competitive sports and those that have suffered from muscle injuries.
Neither Sue nor I have taken our dogs to Kinetics classes, and to be perfectly honest, we don’t know anybody else that has either. So, if any of our readers have either taken their dogs to these types of classes or know somebody that has, we’d love to hear what you think!
Posted by Sue, on April 6th, 2012
A few months ago, I wrote a piece about Dog Scootering. As a result of this, one reader, Jan, got in touch to tell us about her experiences scootering with her dogs locally in Berkshire. Jan and I have exchanged a number of emails since and, as a result, she has called my bluff and I have finally got around to ordering a scooter and harness for Kodi and me to try. We’ve been out several times now and are definitely starting to get the hang of it! However, in case you’d like to know more about this fun sport from someone who actually knows what they are doing, Jan has kindly written a bit about her experiences:
Dog scootering with Jan Morries
Dog scootering is an activity similar to dog sledding in that the same type of harness and gangline are used for both, but instead of pulling you on a sled the dogs are hooked up to a scooter. Unlike a dogsled, a scooter is normally run with only one or two dogs and is not dependant on snow. Northern breeds, eg. Siberian & Alaskan Huskies & Malamutes are primarily used in sledding (although a team including Poodles has completed the Iditarod race), whereas most breeds, including the Northerns, can be run with a scooter. Of course, the smaller the dog, the more help it will require over certain terrain.
Returning home from a wonderful 4 day dog sledding trek in Northern Finland, where we each drove our own team of 6 Siberian Huskies, I started looking for something that would give me a similar buzz and, having heard in the past of Dryland Mushing, which includes scootering, I immediately started researching it. On accepting that I don’t live in a snowy region of the UK and that I don’t own a Northern breed either, I realised that I had to work with what I had: a willing 14 month old Border Collie called Roo. As she was a suitable age to start pulling, I didn’t delay in ordering a book on scootering, plus an X back harness, and our ground training started.
Roo, I feel, was partially responsible for getting me hooked on this sport due to her ability to enjoy and master most things I ask of her and she took to scootering so readily my interest was well and truly fuelled.
She caught onto the commands quite quickly, so then came the slightly more expensive bit of the equipment; the scooter. Once this had been delivered and assembled the real fun began, starting with short runs to the park, where a reward ball game took place. It then progressed onto forest tracks with longer distances being covered. Having read more than once how addictive this sport can be, it didn’t come as a great surprise that once I was a bit more experienced and felt more in control I wanted more strength and speed, so dog number two arrived, a lovely German Shorthaired Pointer/Lab cross, and Roo helped train her beautifully. Yes, running them together is faster, although it can also be a bit scary at times, but it’s well worth it!
So if anyone out there has a dog that just wants to run or a dog that needs to get rid of excess energy but cannot safely be exercised off lead, and if you enjoy a bit of a workout – take a look into this pastime. All you need is a dog that loves to run, a scooter, harness, gangline, and optional helmet, gloves, plus knee and elbow pads (it can hurt a bit if you fall). You also need reasonable balance and some basic training, and you’re away.
If you’re out and about in Berkshire and pass a middle aged woman, probably mud splattered, being pulled about the forest tracks by two or maybe even three dogs (yes, I have another new puppy in training now too!) please feel free to stop me and have a chat.
Jan Morries
Posted by Sue, on February 20th, 2012
 Another crazy new idea from America or a great new tool to help with stimulation, training and relaxation for your dog?
Well, what else can I say? Here’s the website link. Have a look for yourself and see what you think: Dog TV.
I know for a fact that Kodi will watch TV sometimes, especially if he hears an interesting sound that he recognises like a squeaky toy, for example, so it’s no huge step to accept that, if the content were to be aimed specifically at him, he’d probably give it a go. Besides, let’s face it, anything that can help break up the tedium for some dogs of a long day alone waiting for their owner to get back home from work must be worth considering. Also, looking at some of the Dog TV trailers on their website, it appears to be a lot more interesting than many of our current ‘human’ channels too – we say, bring it on!
Question: If dog TV were to be launched in the UK, would you consider it for your dog? Let us know your thoughts.
Posted by Sue, on December 16th, 2011
Christmas is the time of year for visiting with friends and relatives. Unless you are going to leave your cats and dogs in kennels, you will probably be planning to take them with you, normally by car. Car journeys, especially longer ones, can be very stressful for your cat/dog and therefore, also very stressful for you! Here are our top tips for a safe and happy journey:
One good option to keep your pets safe and secure, and essential for most cats, is a well-ventilated crate or carrier. Check it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in and that he/she is already used to going in it happily before setting off on a long journey. Make sure the carrier is secured inside the car so that it can’t slide about.
If you have a car where the back seats fold down to create a large boot space, your dog may be OK riding in that. Don’t forget to fit a dog guard to stop him/her sliding onto the floor when you brake or, more seriously, flying through to the front should you have to stop suddenly. If he is going to ride on the back seats, he will need a safety harness which is clipped to the seat belt in the back of the car to keep him secure. You can also get these for cats, but ensure your cat is comfortable with being strapped in this way, and that he/she won’t panic or struggle, before you consider a long journey.
Try to feed your pet several hours before you set out and take them outside to the loo before you set off.
Be especially careful not to over-feed prior to a journey if your pet is prone to travel sickness. Cats, particularly, can be susceptible to travel sickness, which is often related to anxiety. Open a window to ensure your pet does not become over heated, drive smoothly and stop more frequently for rest breaks. If your pet is seriously travel sick have a word with your vet about giving him something to help him relax during the journey. Alternately, if the problem is less related to anxiety and more to do with true motion sickness, a digestive supplement may help.
If you are spending any length of time away, don’t forget, food, bowls, leash, plastic bags, bed and a few special treats, plus a favourite toy or two to keep your pet occupied.
Don’t be tempted to allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window because it is possible for him to be injured by flying objects and he may also get dust and debris in his eyes.
Don’t forget to take plenty of water with you for your pet to drink on route, and plan your journey in advance to be certain there are several suitable stopping places along the way where your dog can stretch his legs and attend to the call of nature.
Make sure your pet is microchipped and is wearing a name collar and tag, just in case he gets away from you and wanders off.
Remember – Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a stationary car can quickly become death trap while, in cold weather, hypothermia is also a real possibility.
Happy motoring!
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