running with dogs

How To Enjoy Walking Your Dog

Working with dogs encompasses many aspects of my professional and personal life. From training dogs, running with dogs, walking with dogs, to literally coaching people to a lifestyle they want more of, which usually includes leaving stress and worry behind and developing their passions and relationships, we can learn much from a simple daily dog walk or a quick run.

Dogs have a way of making us aware of developing those moments of pure joy and then building on more of that. At least for me, much of my mentoring and coaching centers around those concepts. And they work!

Karen Palmer Mindful Dog Training — Karen Palmer The Secret To Puppy Love

I bring you a guest post by Karen Palmer who is the best-selling author of “Dogs are gifts from God” and the Ground-breaking innovative energy healing dog training guide “The Secret to Puppy Love” as a Kundalini Yoga Instructor Karen helps people discover the magic within. She has combined all her spiritual gifts to be a Conscious Dog Trainer, and a Non-Profit Business Leader. She is working to bring environmental education, animal advocacy, and kindness to public schools.

It is my intention to bring other philosophies to this blog, we all have our learning styles and what speaks to us internally. Note that my dog and people training may differ from that of my guest posters! 🙂 Please enjoy Karen’s view on walking with dogs.

Karen’s Mindful Dog Walking Tips

How to Enjoy Walking Your Dog

The most important thing to do first is be in a calm state of mind. Please don’t try to accomplish this if you are in a hurry . Your companion reads your energy and your body language and even knows you are thinking about going for a walk.

I suggest you meditate or listen to relaxing music while your friend is in the room with you. This can be for five minutes or up to a half hour, it’s up to you. Create a bond with your pet by petting and massaging up and down the spine. This is very relaxing for both of you. You can download a free meditation you can do with your dog that will help both of you relax at PositivelyPetsAndKids.com

Be mindful as you approach your dog with the leash. Walk your dog slowly over to the door and have him sit and stay as you calmly open the door. Please make sure your dog stays calm watching you open the door; this is setting the tone. Claim the space of the open door and do not let the dog walk through until you lead. Treat for good listening and slowly walk out the door with your dog by your side and a loose leash in your hand.

The walk will begin with you setting the pace you can walk as slow or fast as you would like just make sure your dog is by your side or behind you. Your body language is very important. Keep your shoulders back and your spine straight. This will help your dog understand we are on the walk. If the dog tries to pull, correct by slightly pulling up on the leash and making a sound that your dog responds to. I use the word slow and walk slowly and mindfully.

When your dog is walking perfectly, you can reward him by inviting him to an area where he can sniff. 70% of your dog’s attention is on smelling. That means we only have 30% of their attention so I suggest having a treat in your pocket that smells really good. Enjoy the walk together and be in the moment. Notice the beautiful flowers, the bright blue sky, the green trees. Feel gratitude fill your heart and notice how peaceful your dog is too.

Return to your house and make sure you walk through the door first. Take the collar and leash off your dog and give as much affection and praise as you would like. This is a beautiful way to walk your dog. Your dog will feel peaceful and content and you can go about your day. Dogs read our energy and the more relaxed you are on the walk you will notice your dog enjoying the walk too.

You can find more of Karen Palmer’s writing and philosophy at: http://www.itsalldivine.org http://www.positivelypetsandkids.com http://www.facebook.com/puppyloverevolution http://www.livingonpurposetv.org

DO IT. Ask Me Anything You Want About Your Dog. In Fact, If I Gave You A Genie In A Bottle And Granted You 3 Wishes For Your Relationship With Your Dog, What Would They Be?
Grant Me My 3 Dog Wishes

Wish 1 Wish 2 Wish 3

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*Note: the button will provide a place for your e-mail and then and then it will take you to a calendar to pick a time that works for you so that you can have the best dog ever. Pick it, add the contact info where I can reach you and you’ll hear from me at the appointed time. It’s pretty cool really.

Slam Dunk Ways To Get Your Dog To Listen Without Going to A Dog Training Class

Ok, so you love your dog. But, there’s these things that he does that drive you crazy. Or you just don’t understand why after all this time, the thousands of times you’ve told him, asked him, pleaded with him to just do this one thing and he still doesn’t get it.

Dog One On One Listening Skills

Well, there are reasons for it. Mainly that your dog thinks and learns much differently than we do and we are constantly trying to logic with him.

Here’s a big secret.

Your dog does not have the capacity to logic.

I know, I know. You mean you’ve been jabbering on all this time and your dog heard, blah, blah, blah, blah… ya wanna treeeat? Oh yeah, ears perk up, tail wags. He got that one.

Why?

Find out why that worked and the rest of what you said didn’t with a simple 15-30 minute phone session with me. No charge.

Seriously, no charge.

Grant Me My 3 Dog Wishes

Your Personalized Dog Lifestyle

The way you live with your dog is as individual as it comes. Which is why so many dog training classes don’t exactly work… and why… I’m putting together some new dog lifestyle programs and an dog training ecourse that can be access online and I want to know exactly what you need help with. So I’ve set up a way for you to schedule a consultation with me and get whatever questions you have about your dog answered. Yep, once again. No charge.

You can ask anything. Could be about:

Behavior • Health • Fitness

Whatever dog lifestyle you want to create. Ask me. And no, I’m not here to sell you on a dog training class you don’t even have the time to go to, nor do you want to try that route again. I’m doing this to find some real solutions for dog people who:

Want to have a better time with the dog they love but just doesn’t quite get exactly what you’re trying to get them to understand.

Want to know how to integrate quality dog time in when you’re on a limited time budget.

How to prepare for your dog getting older.

Your puppy is a nightmare, and yet everyone says they love puppies! What am I doing wrong? (there’s one thing that can help this hugely, and it’s way easier than you think, costs you nothing and is super duper good for you too).

You have ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR DOG! Anyway, join me. Ask me anything. It’s a free dog lifestyle session ($75) value. No charge!

DO IT. Ask Me Anything You Want About Your Dog. In Fact, If I Gave You A Genie In A Bottle And Granted You 3 Wishes For Your Relationship With Your Dog, What Would They Be?

Wish 1 Wish 2 Wish 3

Click the button below and schedule your no charge dog lifestyle session with me today. Grant Me My 3 Dog Wishes

*Note: the button will take you to a calendar to pick a time that works for you. Pick it, add the contact info where I can reach you and you’ll hear from me at the appointed time. It’s pretty cool really.

Running with Dogs, Oxytocin and Pair Bonding

How would your life, your work, your dating life, your relationship with your husband, wife or children change if you could get a little surge of oxytocin whenever you wanted?

WHAT? Is that some sort of illegal drug and what does it have to do with my dog?

NO. It’s not an illegal drug.

It’s a hormone, one that is known to clear up anxiety, deal with stress, make you feel good; it creates bonding that rocks. It’s a thing that if you could put in pill form, people would be clearing the shelves, buying enough to not run out. Ever.

What Does Ocytocin and Running With Your Dog Have To Do With One Another?

Connection releases oxytocin. Real connection. And our dogs are one of the easiest things to start connecting with. They have no judgements, they are just simply happy to be with you.

Combine getting outdoors and a little exercise and you’re golden. Oxytocin galore.

Running just 15 minutes 3-5 times a week could make all the difference in the world on how you feel. And let me just tell you, your dog’s life will change dramatically. For the good.

How To Start Running With Your Dog

Heading out the door with your dog ready to put a 5 miler in when you haven’t been running in a very long time, or maybe you’ve never been a runner, isn’t a very good idea.

Just sayin…

And then there’s that thing about how to get your dog to run nicely on a leash when they haven’t done it before.

The best way to start is to experiment with some easy running drills in a field, park or for those who actually get to live in Maui, the beach to start. It’s good for more than a few reasons.

One good reason when it comes to training your dog to run with you is you can run a short distance, then turn and go in another direction, many times. It is a great help in teaching your dog to stay by your side, rather than pull ahead.

Dogs do what works for them or what you let them get away with. If you let them pull ahead, they will. If you let them drag behind, they will. It’s only a game for them, they just don’t know the rules.

Once your define the rules by requiring your dog follow you closely in expectation of a direction change, it becomes clear. This running thing means to hang by you and follow every move you make!

Another good reason to start running with dogs using these steps is it takes the idea that it’s a huge undertaking away.

Start with running back and forth in a park, field, beach or open space. Make it 10 or 15 minutes. Done. It won’t be long and the movement, the fresh air, the quality time spent with your dog and the oxytocin release will have you wanting to up your time and distance to get more of a good thing!

Seriously.

You’ll be ready to move on to longer sustained running sessions on a trail, road or on the beach and you’ll both be stoked about it.

You’ll hydrate more. Drinking 8 glasses of water is the recommended staple to stay hydrated. No one does it. Or very few people.

Also true, dogs may have water out available but most dogs don’t drink enough on their own. Add a run session in and your dog will naturally drink more. You should however, make water available all the time and encourage your dog to drink after every single run session you have together.

So… I’d like to make this really easy for you so that you can have the life you love with your dog by your side.

GO DO IT. And if you have questions put them in the comments below. I’d love to answer them. The fact that you are here now indicates to me that you are committed to have that oxytocin feeling all the time!

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Training Companions | Running with Dogs

Looking to change how you view running or exercise? Choose a training partner you can count on and then those who say they want to go but come up with excuses a lot of the time can fill in as extras!

Studies show training with a companion, training partner, buddy, whatever you want to call it increases your chances of sticking with an exercise program more than two fold. So why not pick a training companion you know you can count on?

Your dog is always ready to go, on your schedule, happy to be your best supporter every single day.

That being said there are a few considerations to take into account when choosing your dog as your running partner.

Veterinary Recommendations

As with you, make sure that your dog is healthy and physically able to run with you. A check at the vet is recommended.

Puppies and dogs less than a year old are still forming bones and ligaments so make sure to limit how much time you spend running or walking your dog from a full training regime. Don’t confuse that statement with refraining from exercise for your young dog at all. This can also turn out to be bad for development and behavioral problems. Just don’t plan on making the puppy a running partner until after reaching a year old.

Running Dog Breeds

There are dogs better built for running than others. The list is long and many times the combined traits of a mixed breed dog are ideal for running. A few breeds that are most excellent as running partners are:

Labrador Retriever
Australian Shepherd
Portuguese Water Dog
Weimaraner
Vizsla
German Short Haired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Labradoodles
German Shepherd Dog
Belgian Malinois
Rhodesian Ridgeback

Keep in mind if your dog isn’t a great runner, walking is highly recommended! You can find many more breeds and information about dogs that make great running partners by subscribing or stay updated on the latest Dog Friendly 5K Fun Run & Events here.

Start Running With Your Dog

Acclimation is key to gaining fitness and avoiding injury. Make sure to start your dog off like you would start yourself in a new program. Start with shorter runs and gradually increase your distance.

More is not always better, especially in the beginning. Long time runners coming back to the game sometimes go with the 1 mile, 2 mile, 10 mile program too quickly. If your dog is new to running “muscle memory” is simply not there. Do the gradual build up and you’ll have a running partner in time that will always be willing to go the distance and be completely healthy doing it.

Trails are a better option to run long term for you and your dog. Pavement can be very jarring and the joints and ligaments do much better with the give of trials and soft surfaces. Check your dog’s paws frequently especially early on in a new training program for cuts, scrapes, or cracks and make sure to keep the nails trimmed. Dog boots are a great option if you are acclimating your dog to new terrain with sharp rocks, hot or cold surfaces..

Use common sense regarding time of day you take your dog running. During warm weather the morning or late evening is best. Cold weather on the other hand may require that you let the day warm up a bit before hitting the daily running route. For those dogs that don’t have a lot of extra fur or aren’t acclimated to the cold, providing a dog coat has become a very stylish option to keep your dog warm.

Hydration is a huge factor for you and your dog. To feel good hydration is a must. Dogs sweat differently than we do, with moisture leaving their bodies through their nose, tongue and paw pads. Ignoring the signs of dehydration early on is easy since the physical signs of sweating are absent. Make sure to bring water for you and your dog.

No matter how much you train or exercise if your nutrition is bad you still are dealing with health issues. Make sure to feed your dog a holistic balanced dog food. The type of food and the amount are as important as a consistent exercise program.

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Jt Clough

Hydration | How Much Should Your Active Dog Drink

How much water do you need to stay hydrated? The blanket answer is 8 glasses. That’s for us humans. What about our dogs? How much water do they need to stay hydrated and what if your dog is overly active?

How Much Water Should My Dog Drink?

Make it simple and it helps to do the right thing. Find out what your dog weighs and figure 1/2-1 oz of water per pound. My Weimaraner is 65 pounds. That means she should have 36-65 oz of water per day.

This is the simple formula. Of course activity and weather can make a difference so common sense needs to be taken into account. In other words, the low end of 36 oz is not sufficient if you have taken your dog out on an hour plus trail hike in warm weather conditions in the 65 lb. example. Make sure to go to the 65 oz end of the formula, especially if your dog has had an all out session, like my Weimaraner tends to do!

Checking for Proper Dog Hydration

Dogs are not able to say they are thirsty and the situation can be easily overlooked by an owner not realizing you have to not only lead your dog to water, but in many cases you need to show your dog to drink it as well.

You can check for proper hydration in your dog by:

Check for a Dry Nose

If your dog’s nose is dry it’s past the time that water should have been consumed. Time to lead your dog to water, and encourage the action of drinking it.

A dry nose is not the only sign of a dehydrated dog. Keep in mind your dog can have a wet nose and still be dehydrated or on the verge of really needing to drink.

Elastic Skin

Skin loses elasticity as it loses moisture. There’s a good reason to stay hydrated yourself as well. Skin without moisture will remain wrinkled. Ewww… maybe a little water drinking could save a whole lot of dog owner botox treatments!

Check the back of your dog’s neck by pinching the skin between two fingers. When you let it go if the skin goes back to laying flat your dog is hydrated. If the skin remains squished or wrinkled your dog needs to get some water intake going as soon as possible.

Checking the Gum Tissue

One can get technical about this or one can think about it in easy terms. When you run your finger over your dog’s gums, if it feels a bit slimy, you have a hydrated dog. If the gum tissue isn’t slimy, your dog needs to drink and is on the dehydrated side of life.

The technical way is by using a method to check for capillary refill time. To do this when your dog is hydrated pull the lip up and press your finger firmly against the gums until the tissue appears white-ish in color. See how long it takes for the gum tissue to fill to pink again.

Now you have a baseline to see if your dog is dehydrated in times of activity. If when you remove your finger the tissue looks gray in color or takes a long time to refill to pink, your dog is dehydrated.

So there you go, you can choose to use the slimy method or the capillary refilling method. Either will help you determine how much water your dog needs.

How To Get Your Dog To Drink

It is true that sometimes you can lead a dog to water and yet they won’t drink it even if they need it. You can make this a habit by enticing your dog to do it, which is a fun way to say: train your dog to drink.

Tricks are the best way to train dogs and ourselves to do anything. After all, if it’s fun you’ll do it, and so will your dog.

Use a treat to entice your dog’s nose to the water bowl, drop the treat in the bowl and as your dog takes a little water in while going for the treat, put the word “drink” to it.

If your dog likes ice cubes you can do the same trick. Drop the cubes in the bowl requiring your dog to drink to nab the “treat”. I use ice cubes as a full on treat and my dogs love it. A very sly way to encourage your dog to drink more water.

Done enough times it will become a habit and you can fade the treat by offering it sometimes and not having it others. With repetition your dog will automatically start to drink. When you say the word at the moment your dog is drinking you are pairing the action with the word repetitiously. You’ll begin to illicit the automatic reaction to drink when you say the word and your dog is in proximity of the water bowl.

Another quick fix for some dogs is to add a little beef bouillon to the water mixture. Lab type dogs can’t help themselves. They’ll drink in the hopes of food appearing!

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As author and creator of 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs, Treading for Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today! Get out and get fit with your dog!