DOGS AND THE CARNUNDRUM

You know the drill. It’s Saturday morning. You are headed to the dog park, an agility match or Morris K9 Campus with Fido in tow. Since it’s the weekend, you decide to celebrate and treat yourself a little by stopping at your local coffee joint for some java and a doughnut. You rush out of the car leaving your dog locked inside. Unfortunately, it turns out everyone within a 100 mile radius had the same Saturday morning idea. What should have been a 10 minute wait, quickly turns into a 30 or 40 minute wait of impatient foot-stamping, caffeine-deprived rage.

While you may be annoyed, Fido is steaming - temperature wise. Leaving your dog in a parked car in the hot summer months is extremely dangerous. Most dog owners are aware of the cautions of such a habit, but not the extent. The temperature inside your car depends on the outside temperature. According to the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, in a time lapse of 60 minutes, a parked car can reach up to 123 degrees Fahrenheit even if the temperature outside is only as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun’s shortwave radiation quickly heats dark objects like seats and the dashboard. These hot objects then warm the car’s internal air, creating a dangerous hotbox.

While it is unhealthy for anyone to be locked in an overheated parked car, dogs and children are most at risk for suffering hyperthermia because they overheat more rapidly than adults. Hyperthermia is, “an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate.” Even opening the car windows is not sufficient enough to counter the effects of the heat.

To avoid this unfortunate situation, a good idea is to invest in a Wireless Digital Thermometer that reads the inside temperature of your car. Clean Run has an excellent thermometer for car owners with dogs. The sensor accurately measures the temperature of your car and sends it to the wireless receiver. Temperature readings can be sent wirelessly up to 330 feet away. As long as you religiously monitor the temperature readings and make sure the car temp does not rise to an unhealthy degree, it is possible to stop for that Saturday morning caffeine fix.

However, whenever you are in a bind and don't want to leave Fido home alone or stuck suffering in the heat of your car while you run errands during the hot days of the week, bring your precious pooch to Morris K9 Campus for daycare. Your dog will enjoy the cool comfort of our fully air conditioned facility, hydrating water breaks, and best of all, constant play and attention from our staff and other daycare doggie friends!

Sources: National Weather Service Heat Safety

DOGGIE DANCING

Last week we taught you how to connect with your dog in the upcoming summer months by playing fetch with your spunky pal in the warm outdoors. This week, we present another fun-loving alternative that is sure to have you and your pup moving in sync together. Cue up the conga line and step into rhythm, its time for Doggy Dancing! If you and your dog want more ways to have fun together, Morris K9 Campus has got you covered!

What is Doggy Dancing?!

Don’t worry, we haven’t gone crazy, doggy dancing, or musical canine freestyle, is the newest and coolest activity to sweep the dog-nation. Doggy dancing is a modern dog sport that is competed in many parts of the world. However, it is the perfect activity for those who just want to have fun with their dog. Doggy Dancing is influenced by musical kur, a form of the equine sport, dressage, which puts a horse’s tightly controlled movements to music.

Photo Courtesy of FlyNutAA

How Does Our Doggy Dancing Class Work?

Morris K9 Campus will get you started with the very basics. We combine off-leash obedience training with enjoyment and motivation. You will learn to do heeling formations, group formations, pace changes and turns as well as a slew of tricks such as circles, flipping to heel, sit between legs, weave through legs, and jump through arms, legs or hula hoop. Eventually, your imagination will be the only limit to the tricks, turns, and freestyle moves you and your dog will perform in harmony.



Who Should Try Doggy Dancing?

This class is recommended for any dogs that have taken basic obedience or agility classes at Morris K9 Campus or the equivalent at another school, or for owners that want an opportunity to enliven their dog’s life with more interactive activity.

When is Doggy Dancing?

Doggy Dancing will be offered Sunday, July 10 at Morris K9 Campus from 11AM-1PM. Click here to enroll today!

Here's a preview of some steps you and your dog will learn in our Doggy Dancing Workshop.

Does your dog want to dance?!

GO FETCH!

With an abundance of warm days ahead of us, you probably want to be outside as much as possible enjoying the summer season with your fur-baby in tow! Besides the daily walk and nature hikes, you may be wondering how else you and Fido can make the most of the long days of summer together. This is the perfect time to teach your dog the fun laid-back game of fetch! While some dogs, like herding and sporting dogs, find a session of fetch as natural as breathing, others find the concept as bamboozling as rocket science. Don’t fret; if you want to enjoy the simple pleasure of a game of fetch with your four-legged pal, here are some tips to get you started.

First of all, it's crucial to start slowly. If your dog does not seem to have any interest in tennis balls or rubber bouncy balls, try working with your pooch’s favorite toy and if possible stick to one that is a bit more aerodynamic. If you have your heart set on using a tennis ball, try these tips to entice your pup. Take a knife and slice a small slit on one side of the tennis ball. Stick little treats or bits of kibble inside or even try smearing some peanut butter on the side. It may be messy but your dog won’t mind!

Step 1:

Get your dog interested in the ball itself. Even if your dog only sniffs the ball, reward him or her with praise or a favorite treat. Keep working to get your dog interested in the ball and even better, to pick up the ball! Once your dog understands the importance of the ball and that sniffing or picking up the ball results in treats or praise, you can move onto Step 2!

Step 2:
Work on getting your dog to reliably pick up the ball. Motivate him or her by moving the ball around with your hand so your dog must follow your darting movements. Now have your pooch drop it! Offer a treat to get Fido to drop the ball and when he or she does, praise and give your dog the treat. If your dog won’t give up the ball you can always try tempting your dog with another toy.

Step 3:
Throw the ball! Gently toss it a few feet away and say “Fetch!” If your dog doesn’t go after the ball try re-working on Step 2. You can also try leashing your dog, then throw the ball, yell “Fetch,” and unleash your dog. The sudden release of tension can inspire your dog to bound ahead. After your dog grabs the ball, call him or her back to you with the lure of a treat.

It is not unusual for this process to take several weeks, so don’t get frustrated. Eventually, you won't have to use treats to get your canine to play, the game will be a reward itself. Take your time and before you know it, you and your dog will be pros at the game of fetch!

IS YOUR DOG A GOOD CITIZEN?

Your dog is the warm pocket of comfort that nestles by your side as you lounge on the couch, your own personal doorbell, and your excuse to feel young again by rolling on the floor and playing with squeaky toys … so you don’t need us to tell you how special your dog already is! But what if you wanted to take your dog to the next level?! A program called the Canine Good Citizen® encourages every dog to be a winner by promoting your dog to achieve a level of obedience at home and around the community.

What is the CGC?

The Canine Good Citizen® program, often shortened to CGC, was developed by the American Kennel Club in 1989 as a way to foster good behavior in every dog and promote active, responsible owners to guide their dogs and provide a good quality of life by taking care of their health, exercise, and training. The certification process supports the dog/owner relationship by encouraging a strong bond of communication between the two. The owner must sign the Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge before taking the test with their dog. This pledge ensures that owners are responsible for their canine and will take care of them in a number of ways to guarantee the best quality of life for their pooch. The test is then taken with your special pal. Functions that must be performed on the test are the following:

• Accepting a friendly stranger.
• Sitting politely for petting.
• Allowing basic grooming procedures.
• Walking on a loose lead.
• Walking through a crowd.
• Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place.
• Coming when called.
• Reacting appropriately to another dog.
• Reacting appropriately to distractions.
• Calmly enduring supervised separation from the owner.

How Can Your Dog Become CGC Certified?

If you would like your dog to become CGC certified, Morris K9 Campus offers a workshop designed to prepare you and your dog for the Canine Good Citizen® test. We provide you with the A.K.C Canine Good Citizen Program’s Participant’s Handbook, an overview of all 10 exercises on the test, practice of the behaviors needed to pass the test, and a checklist to help you realize when your dog is ready to take the test. The Canine Good Citizen Workshop is being offered on Sunday, June 26 from 11am-2pm. This workshop is recommended for dogs that have completed Level 4 of the Morris K9 Campus training program, dogs who have a good foundation in obedience from another training school and have a desire to pass the CGC test, and students who wish to become better acquainted with CGC and how to pass it. Click here to enroll.

Help your dog be the best he or she can be!

TREADMILLS: FIDO'S NEW FITNESS ROUTINE?

Treadmills: you may hate them with the wrath of Achilles or simply use them to hang clothes on, but there's now an even better use for them! Stop avoiding your treadmill and utilize it for your dog--you won't even have to break a sweat (only Fido will)! Read on for tips to help your fuzzy friend transition to the treadmill.

The Professional

Why the Treadmill?

Why the treadmill you ask? Aside from the snow, rain and heat, juggling poop bags, holding an umbrella or toting boots isn't always ideal. But with a treadmill, your precious pooch never has to miss out on his or her daily walk! In addition, dogs that could stand to lose a few pounds are easier to get onto a treadmill than dragging them out into the elements. Just ask your veterinarian to provide you with some fitness or weight loss goals based on your pet's current fitness level, age and breed before beginning any serious exercise regimen.

The Little Engine That Could

Treadmills are a wonderful fitness resource for high-energy dogs. They provide an extra outlet of activity and allow you to push your spunky pal to the next level by simply increasing the treadmill speed. If your dog gets bored at home and begins to adopt unfavorable habits, it might be time to offer more engaging options for your canine and a treadmill might be just the ticket! For athletic dogs that participate or compete in agility, the treadmill is an excellent addition to your dog's already active lifestyle and will ensure your dog in stays in tip top shape for agility practice and events.

The Treadmill at Morris K9 Campus

Morris K9 Campus is thrilled about our treadmill from Fit Fur Life. Designed with your pet's safety in mind, the Professional, has wire meshing on the sides to ensure your dog stays on track and the added feature of a harness, which attaches to the mesh sides, will keep any dog upright and safe. Fitness at Morris K9 Campus has never been better! Watch for more details in the next coming days!


Let us know how you think your dog would do on the treadmill!