PAWPRINTS

Archive for August, 2009

Summer is a great time to get involved in outdoor activities with you furry pal. 

This article was recently posted on our website All About Dogs and Cats

Dog Sports – Two Popular Canine Sports You & Your Athletic Dog Will Love

To involve your dog in sports requires preparation and research. Get familiar with the type of dog you have, his physical abilities, and his interests.  Knowing these, it will be easier to decide on a good activity for your dog. It will help if you also enjoy it, since you both will be participating. Go to a variety of events to watch other dogs and owners to understand what each sport entails.   

Chances are good that there are dog sporting events close by, and it’s best to participate in one that is close to home. You can always find other sports or activities later. Further, many dog owners participate in more than one activity.  Below is a short list of popular dog activities:   

Agility: This is a popular activity that gained recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) in which the owner instructs his dog through an obstacle course of ramps, tunnels, climbs, jumps, and other challenges.   Agility is a fun sport in which dogs and owners overcome challenges together. The dog’s performance is judged by his speed and accuracy through the course. Obedience and instruction is a requisite, since the dog is off the leash and must read and obey the owner’s body signals and verbal commands through the course.   

Obedience Trials: The dog exhibits his skill of performing a predefined set of actions that his owner or handler calls out.  This means the dog and owner must work as a team. Dogs and owners are scored on precision, accuracy, the owner’s movement, and the dog’s level of cooperation and compliance.   The AKC obedience competitions have three levels: beginners (Novice); intermediate (Open); and advanced (Utility). The team must complete requirements for each level before. Examples of exercises are: Recall (Come), Drop on Recall, Heel, and Sit.

Article written by Christine Plant of Oh My Dog Supplies,  the best place to buy  small pet carriers online.

Summer is too short.  Enjoy it with activities you and your best friend can shareAll About Dogs and Cats has many interesting articles for both dog and cat parents. Come visit us at www.allaboutdogsandcats.com

Throughout the summer months, when pets and their parents engage more often in outdoor activities, run-ins with rabid wildlife tend to increase, along with the risk of contracting rabies. It is essential to keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.

ASPCA veterinarians advise that all dogs and outdoor cats be vaccinated against rabies. Because cats can occasionally experience serious side effects to certain types of rabies vaccines, the decision to vaccinate a strictly indoor cat is best left to a veterinarian and the cat’s guardian. Although in many parts of the U.S., vaccinating cats against rabies is required by law, ask your veterinarian about the new feline rabies vaccine, which has been designed to be safer for cats.

Read more about dogs and rabies

Read more about cats and rabies

Learn everything you can about your  pet at All About Dogs and Cats