Herding

Few things are more satisfying than knowing you’ve put in a good day’s work, especially when you get to do something for which you feel uniquely suited. And herding dog breeds and breed mixes? Made (literally) to herd. People who share their lives with these energetic and intelligent dogs report that no amount of off-leash activity induces a fraction of the blissful tiredness in their dogs that they see after a couple of rounds on the field with the sheep (or goats, ducks, etc.). Given the number of herding dog breeds—the AKC lists 24, but there are more than 70 worldwide—and their popularity as pet companions, it’s not surprising that many people take up herding recreationally.

A sheepdog trial commonly involves using whistles and calls to direct your dog to move three sheep through an obstacle course of slatted panels and a Y-shaped plywood chute into a pen. But there are many different herding events and different courses within each type. Also, plenty of enthusiasts never compete, but simply go once a week to have fun with their dogs.

Interested in herding with your dog? Check out www.fidosfarm.com for more details.

Treibball classes starting soon!!

Treibball (Try-Ball) Urban Herding for ALL BREEDS!

Classes begin in February 2012 Tuesdays @ Fido’s Farm

Come and try out the up and coming sport of urban herding with your dog. THIS SPORT IS OPEN TO ALL BREEDS! The game involves your dog "herding" yoga balls into a goal area. We will introduce you to the sport with videos and basic training. We will begin training your dog to push the ball and go out to a mat to get into position. Are you and your dog looking for a fun activity to do together? Come try it out! For more information - click here!

Work for Food Toys

I know we talk about Work for Food toys A LOT at Happy Dog Institute, but we want you to understand the value these toys have! Not only do work for food toys keep your dog from getting bored while you are away, but they can buy you some "puppy free time". It also develops your dogs problem solving skills and keeps them engaged in the "hunt". Here is a video of Heather's new puppy, Newton, getting his food from the Kong Wobbler. http://youtu.be/2vR_sMfmxLI

Newton also gets Busy Buddy toys, stuffed kongs, raw bones and bully sticks to help with his new teeth coming in but more importantly his mental stimulation. A tired puppy is a happy owner and Heather is reminded of this on a daily basis since she brought Newton home.

Raising a Puppy

Are You Ready For This?

In addition to being joy-spreading, frolicsome, heart-stealing little creatures, puppies are also a great deal of work, and preparation is key to making your puppy’s entry into your life a success all round.

Buy puppy equipment. At a minimum, you will need: Food (everyday meals, chews) and bowls. Puppy crate. X-pen or baby gate. Kong and treat ball. Flat collar, harness for walks. Long and short leashes. Canine toothbrush and toothpaste, nail clippers, dog shampoo, and brushes. A variety of toys.

Set up puppy areas. Create a confinement area (a cozy den for your puppy, despite the penitentiary connotations) for alone time and potty training. The area should be easy to clean and easy to close off with a baby gate. Think kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. Furnish the area with a bed or crate, a water bowl, and several toys.

Decide on routines and responsibilities. Call a household meeting to discuss with other family members who has responsibility for what and when. Agree on set routines and procedures for consistency. For example: Who will be in charge of the puppy’s house-training routine? Where will the puppy be allowed—on the bed? The couch? Who will walk the puppy? Take the puppy to classes? Practice homework?

Find good dog professionals. E.g. veterinarian, groomer, dog trainer, daycare facility, dog walker, pet sitter, etc. Choose and register for puppy class or hire your private puppy trainer to make sure you get a spot with a top professional. Are you getting your puppy close to a holiday? Then plan well ahead for any sitting or boarding arrangements. The best sitters and facilities get booked up far in advance and you don’t want to risk your puppy having a bad experience.

Summer School 2011

Click here to download the full PDF version of Happy Dog Institute's Summer School 2011 Newsletter. Will Work For Food. Does your dog scarf down meals in mere seconds? Then both of you are missing out. For dogs, eating should be work. First of all because searching and hunting for food is natural for canines whose ancestors spent the majority of their time this way. And second of all—and here’s the major benefit to you—switching to a work-to-eat strategy keeps your dog wonderfully occupied during your absences. That means he won’t be splitting apart the couch cushions or getting into the trash or barking up a storm at the squirrels in the garden. In other words, you won’t return home to a stack of written complaints from your neighbors.   Instead of just serving up your dog’s meals, try feeding him in treat puzzles or Kongs that he gets when you’re not home. This way, your dog will spend half his day retrieving his food and the other half sleeping off the mental effort. The result? A calmer, more content dog.   The key to a successful work-to-eat program is to start simple and only gradually increase the level of difficulty. You can go low-tech by hiding your dog’s food under a laundry basket or cardboard box, or inside an empty cereal box. Or you can use interactive food toys like BusterCubes and Kongs.   Kongs in particular are great because you can easily make the food retrieval task more difficult—and more rewarding—by varying the type of stuffing and the tightness of the layers. An easy Kong might contain loose kibble and chicken bits and be plugged by peanut butter or wet food. An advanced Kong might be a many-layered masterpiece that includes Natural Balance cubes, dog biscuits, wet food, and your dog’s favorite table scraps if you indulge him in such culinary delights. For a great selection of "Work for Food" toys, visit the new Fluffy & Floyd's Pet Supply store in Tumwater in the Southgate Shopping Center.  You can also check out their website at www.fluffyandfloyds.com. To download the full PDF version of Happy Dog Institute's 2011 Summer School Newsletter, click here. Summer School: Public Classes We offer a wide variety of classes, including Puppy Manners & Socialization, Basic Obedience (Fun Foundation 1, 2 & 3), a Reactive Dog Class, a Calm, Controlled Dog Class and Beginning Agility.  Click here to check out our class descriptions and current schedule! Did You Know? Hot air. Dogs have sweat glands between their paws, not, as commonly believed, in their tongues. But they do cool themselves somewhat by panting, which allows heat to escape through their breath.   Trifold protection. Dogs have three eyelids. The third one, a thin membrane that can extend across the eyeball, is there to keep the eye protected and lubricated.   Born to run. Like other running animals, dogs have no clavicles and have shoulder blades that are unattached to the skeleton for greater flexibility.   A singular snout. Your dog’s nose print is as unique as the human fingerprint and can be used equally well for identification.

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