Yet Another Reason for Positive Humane Training!

We're big believers in using positive and humane training methods. And today's article from the APDT solidifies (yet again) why...

(click on image for the original article)

Let's Talk Toys

There are tons of great toys out there, but here's a sampling of some of our fav's. And I should add that most of these are favorites because of their durability (I live with some seriously strong-jawed dogs!).

In terms of where to buy these toys, most can be found in your local pet store but I find many online stores offer them at a better price. I'm partial to SitStay.com, but you can always do a Google or Froogle search to check out other stores and compare prices.

The Kong... This is a must-have. Every dog on the block should have one. And if you've got a real power chewer, go for the black one. The Kong is fun on it's own (it bounces in different directions), but it's even better with some goodness stuffed into the center of it. Peanut butter, cream cheese, kibble, pieces of apple and even bananas work well. Many people even turn meal time into a game by filling it with the dog's food instead of feeding them out of a boring bowl. Cool!
Nylabone Galileo... This is designed for large, powerful chewing dogs. It's made of some super-tough virgin DuPont nylon stuff and is supposedly more than 10 times as tough as other nylon bones. I'd have to agree since neither of my dogs have been able to put a dent in the thing. A bunch of different sizes are available, with the Souper Size being the largest.

Nylabone Hercules... Not only is this thing tough, but rumor has it that it helps control tartar and plaque and massages gums. Regardless, it has a cool shape and nubby things that dogs seem to enjoy. Several different sizes are available, the largest being the 6" Souper Size.
StarMark Everlasting Treat Ball... A crazy canine pal of ours named Indie got one of these and it rocks! It's made of some soft yet really durable puncture resistant stuff and inside there's a yummy treat thing. When your dog finally finishes the treat you can get a new one because it's refillable. It wobbles and rolls around and Indie's Mom loves it because it keeps her occupied for hours (NOT an easy feat!).
Everlasting Fun Ball... This ball is made from some durable and puncture resistant material and has opening to put some treats inside. Perfect for giving your dog something to do when nobody's home.
Buster Food Cube... Talk about working for your kibble! This thing is made of really hard plastic and is designed to hold some food inside (dry stuff works best). It's kind of like a puzzle because rather than the food just spilling out, your dog has to roll it around in different directions to get the goodness to come out.
Atomic Treat Ball... A variation of the Buster Food Cube, this bumpy ball can be filled with treats. As your dog rolls it around they fall out.
Busy Buddy Waggle Toy... This thing holds treats and has a flexible middle so your dog can grab it and shake it back and forth. Fun!
Busy Buddy Tug-a-Jug... A fellow trainer turned us onto this and WOW. This thing is wild. Stick some dry treats or kibble inside and watch the doggon' fun begin!
Busy Buddy Twist n' Treat... We have a canine pal named Ripley who was the first dog on the block to get one of these. His Mom liked it because Ripley's like a canine genius (no exaggeration) and always needs a challenge. With this thing, you can unscrew it to adjust the opening and make it easier or harder for your dog to get the goodies out.
Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude... This is the same concept as the Kong (meaning it's hollow inside and you can stuff things inside), but it's shaped like a squirrel! And who doesn't love a squirrel?
Kong Jump n' Jax... Oh boy, if my dogs could talk they'd tell you that this thing is deee-licios with some peanut butter or cream cheese smeared into the ridges. Plus, the ridges are good for cleaning their teeth too!
Kong Stuff a Ball... Stick some treats inside, smear some PB into the ridges and your dog's got himself a tasty bit o' fun!
Hurley Dog Toy... This thing is made of some fancy pliable and durable material called Zogoflex. Whatever. My dog's just know it's a cool stick to chomp on. It even floats! And bonus: the manufacturer promises to replace it (one time only), if it can't withstand your dog's chewing.
Canine Capers IndestructaBALL... Ok, this is like the mother of all balls. Seriously. It's made of really hard plastic and it's not inflated so it can't pop. Plus, it has a screw-out plug that allows it to be filled with sand or water which makes it wobbles and stuff. They come in 3 sizes so there's fun to be had for even the smallest of dogs. And no joke, this is one toy that lives up to it's name.
Bounce-n-Play Jolly Ball... Same kind of thing as the IndestructaBall but only the large sized one can be filled with sand or water.
Holee Molee Extreme Ball... This is a cool ball that you can pack with treats. It's made of 100% natural rubber (so if your dog swallows some, you don't have to worry TOO much), and it smells good because they infuse it with some natural vanilla extract. Ooooo la la. The black colored one is the strongest.
Jolly Pets Teaser Ball... Exactly as the name says, this thing teases you because you it has a smaller ball inside that's like impossible to get out and makes it roll erratically.
Nylabone Durable Bones... This is a pretty tough chew bone with a cool knuckle shape at one end. Plus they're flavor enhanced! Supposedly they're good for dog's teeth and all that too.
Natural Sterilized Bones... If you're giving your dog rawhide, I suggest stopping. Dogs can't digest the stuff and supposedly 99% of it is cured in ether anyway which is pretty gross. Much better are these cleaned, smoothed and sterilized real bones. They're tasty on their own, but treats, cheese or peanut butter stuffed into the hollow middle gives 'em extra appeal.
Fill-n-Freeze Bone... This a fillable, reusable, freezable bone made of some non-toxic durable plastic. Really good for the young ones who are teething or as a treat on a hot day. You fill it with water, juice, or broth, stick it in the freezer until it's frozen and then serve it up. Ahhhh, refreshing!
Otis & Claude Rita Ball... This is a cool ball with a center core you can pack treats inside. It's made of durable, non-toxic rubber and comes in fun colors too. Oh and it floats!
Paw Tracks Tire Biter with Cotton Rope... This natural rubber tire has a nylon rope embedded into it. It looks tough, but I'll be honest, my dog chewed right through both the tire and the rope. So probably a better choice for the not-completely-crazy chewer.
Combat Extreme Bone Tug Toy... Ahhhh, nothing like a good game o' tug! This bone's made of some heavy-duty durable fabric and it has padded integrated handles so you can hang on tight. Bonus: it's got a squeaker. Double bonus: it floats! Triple bonus: it's backed by the company's "Battle-Tested Guarantee" that their toys will outlast other soft dog toys on the market.
Ball in a Box... This is like the Teaser Ball, except it's square. And it's not for the bigs dogs, just the small and medium sized dudes.
Spider Ball... This is like a high-tech version of the Holee Molee Ball. Made of 100% natural rubber infused with vanilla extract, your dog can roll it around and chew on it or beg you to pack it with treats.
Holee Floater... For all the beach bound hounds and pool loving pooches, this flexible, durable 100% natural rubber toy has a flotation device inside!
Booda Bones... These are made from wholesome ingredients (no plastics) and unlike rawhide, they have a high rate of dissolvability. Meaning they won't cause blockages in your dog's digestive tract. Bonus for those pooches watching their waistlines: they're low fat!
Bully Sticks... Last but pawsitively not least, the bully stick. Natural, digestible, low fat and often referred to as "crack for dogs", these things are tasty beyond belief. Just don't ask what they're made of.

Sand, Sun and Doggon' B-Day Fun!

Every year as April 5th rolls around I can't help myself. It's the birthdate of my beloved Hector and that's cause for celebration in my book! Hector L-O-V-E-S the beach so the day always involves a jaunt to Leo Carillo for some fun in the sun. This year it was double the fun because new little brother Curtis tagged along.

The rule at Leo Carrillo is that dogs must be on leash. Personally this works for us because a). Hec's not really interested in playing with other dogs, b). He can be a bit of a grump when strange dogs get in his face, c). He has a tendency to race into the ocean and is not the strongest swimmer so the leash ensures I can reel him back to shore and d). You can still have a ton of fun on a leash!

Tennis balls are always the toy of choice (and let's face it, nothing
else commands this kind of attention from Hec!)......but this year seaweed proved to be pretty darn fun too.

We weren't sure how Curtis would take the water, but the little guy proved to be quite the trooper and headed in with some encouragement from Dad.

After a few hours it was time to wrap it up and head home.
And somebody obviously wished otherwise.

Happy B-Day sweet Hector boy!