The bond between human and animal is one of the main reasons we make the decision to bring a pet into our lives. The allure of that timeless connection is powerful. It is an easily attained friendship that enriches our lives and nurtures our hearts. Our pets bring warmth and unconditional love to our homes, but it is their fiercely loyal companionship we value the most.

Building a bond with a puppy or young dog is a fun and enriching journey. There are many ways in which we can weave the bonds of friendship with our furry family members.

The very first step to creating a foundation for friendship with your puppy or young dog will occur during your first interaction together. Before you interact with your new dog you want to give her the opportunity to come over and investigate you. Allow her to smell you and get comfortable with your presence, doing so helps her to understand that you are not a threat and that you are respectful of her space. She will appreciate not being overwhelmed by you and having the chance to check you out before you touch her. This process is often very quick and easy with puppies, but may take a little longer the older the dog is.

Once your new furry friend has sniffed you and exhibited signs of being relaxed around you, you can begin the interaction. Start with calling her over to you in a calm, happy voice and tell her how good of a girl she is as soon as she shows interest in you. When she comes over to you, you can then offer her a treat or pet her on the chest. Once you two have met and become comfortable with each other, pull out a toy and engage her in some play. This first meeting will establish that you are a respectful friend she can trust and have fun with!

Bringing your new puppy or dog home is when the fun really begins, since most of your bonding will occur once she is a member of your family. The important steps to take in building a strong bond will be the seemingly small, insignificant things you do for your dog every single day. By feeding her, walking her, taking her outside to potty, training her and playing with her during the day you will teach your dog that you are the source of all the good things in her everyday life.

When it comes time to feed your dog, engage with her before she gets to eat. Have her sit and wait while you prepare her meal then ask her to lay down and wait as you set the food in front of her. Give her a release command to signify that she may eat and do not bother her until she is finished eating. This exercise teaches her to respect her role in your family while building trust during a structured routine. She also learns that you will not create stress or take her food once you have given it to her. This level of trust is important when building a bond between yourself and your dog. If you dog believes she has to defend her food from you or eat it very quickly before you take it away it will negatively impact your bond.

Training is one of the best ways for us to establish a very strong connection between ourselves and our dog when it is built on a foundation of communication, trust and understanding. Working with our dogs and teaching various obedience commands helps us learn how to communicate effectively with each other, and also teaches us to trust one another. Dogs were bred to have the desire to make their human companions happy, so by working together and communicating effectively we fulfill this need-to-please in our dogs.

Play is another major factor in bond building and is very enjoyable for both canine and human! Playing games like fetch, tug-of-war, chase and the "find it" game will strengthen your bond and help make you the focus of your dog's happiness and excitement. Don't be afraid to goof around and laugh, your dog will appreciate the incoming positive energy from you!

Touch and one-on-one quiet time is one of the most powerful bonding tools we can use. For dogs that enjoy being touched, cuddling on the couch or laying by your side while being stroked can boost the bond in a big way. Dogs communicate through touch just as they do with body language. Use petting, massages and ear scratches to share mutual affection with your furry friend. Watch for cues to ensure your dog enjoys this sort of attention since stress can be counterproductive to bond building.

Your dog can make the perfect exercise partner and doing these fun activities together will strengthen your bond of friendship. Many dogs, once they reach physical maturity at around two years of age, make excellent running or jogging partners! This form of exercise is a great structured activity that relieves boredom, drains energy and gives your dog a job to do. Consider activities such as hiking, cycling, camping, walking, swimming, soccer and skijoring to include your dog in. Your dog will feel closer to you when she is included in your exercise routines.

The little things in life can also strengthen the bond between you and your dog, so consider taking your dog with you to run errands if weather permits it. Dogs always benefit from the extra time out of the house. If you have some gardening to do outside, you can give your dog something healthy to chew on so that she can just hang out with you while you work.

However you decide to go about strengthening to bond between you and your dog, remember to take time to appreciate and love your canine companion for all the joy and love they add to your life. Sharing mutual love and respect is the secret to a powerful connection that will last a lifetime.

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Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

This article will be featured in the Animal Wellness magazine!

There is no better sight than that of an obedient and respectful canine companion following its owner's command out in public. The understanding and clear communication between handler and dog is a sight to see, something highly valued and unfortunately quite rare these days.

So how does your average pet owner achieve this level of obedience in their pet? The answer is simple: time and effort! You need to put the work in to enjoy this level of trust and reliability in your dog. The result, however, is more than worth the time.  The product of spending the time to properly train and reinforce obedience is a well trained, reliable companion you can count on to behave appropriately and follow orders willingly.

We achieve this level of training first by establishing a good foundation in obedience.  Start in your home and in your backyard where there are minimal distractions. Teach the basic commands and ensure your dog understands what is expected of him when you give the verbal cue. Once you can be certain your dog understands what the commands mean, you then move on to adding distractions. Try training outside in a quiet park or in a parking lot that isn't busy. Over time, as your dog succeeds, add more distractions. A busy park or the pet store contains a higher level of distractions. Only move on to these higher levels of distractions when your dog is consistently succeeding in the previous and current phase of training.

Don't rush. Rushing your dog through training can create issues and be frustrating for both you and your dog. Move forward only when you both are ready for it. Be patient and set your dog up for success.

Be creative with your distractions. Have a friend train their dog close to you and yours, or train outside of a busy dog park. Use other dogs and owners to your advantage by training wherever dog owners take their pets. Training near other dogs and very exciting, stimulating situations allows your dog to learn how to ignore those distractions and focus on you and your commands. It teaches them to work under pressure and understand that no matter what is going on around them, they must always obey your command and behave appropriately.

My own dog, Hunter, is currently at the stage where we work with the highest distractions surrounding him. Although he is still a work in progress, I trust him 100% in public and can rest assured that he will obey any commands given to him. That is the result of time and effort, and I am happy to say it took me less than a year to get him there! He is currently only 20 months old and is very trustworthy and reliable.

It is so very worth it to proof your dog's obedience. There is no better feeling than being out in the world with your dog and having them do as you ask when you ask it. Regardless of what is going on around them,  you have established a powerful working bond and clear communication between you and your dog.

Lead and they will follow you.

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Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

We love our dogs so very much. One day in the distant past, they worked their way into our hearts to become furry, four-legged members of our family and they never looked back. Their dedication, unconditional love and unmatched companionship has earned them an important place in our lives. It is no wonder so many of us do everything we can to make our dogs happy and healthy.

What is the key to a long and healthy life? The answer is actually quite simple! We must nourish the body, the mind and the spirit. To nourish the body we must provide a species-appropriate and highly nutritious diet. For the mind, we must provide fulfilling experiences and good mental and physical exercise. The spirit is nourished with experiences that build the bond between dog and human, and the foundation of training (or work) that creates a fulfilling relationship built on communication and trust.

Diet and nutrition is the first vital step towards health and longevity in our dogs. We must act as an advocate for our animal companions, providing them with species appropriate nutrition with which they can thrive. High protein, grain-free diets are ideal. A raw food diet is the most nutritional food, followed by freeze-dried diets, homemade diets and lastly high quality, whole food kibble diets. Click here to learn more about the best foods to feed your dog.

An important part of nourishing the body includes keeping harmful chemicals and toxins out of your dog. A minimal vaccine protocol is ideal for all dogs, especially dogs with immune system disorders, allergies and other serious medical conditions. Monthly de-wormers and heartworm preventative are harsh pesticides and chemicals going into your dog on a regular basis, these treatments put a great deal of stress on the body and immune system. Consider a natural de-wormer twice a year and look into homeopathic heartworm preventatives.

To nourish the mind we need to provide our dogs with fulfilling and enjoyable mental and physical stimulation. These experiences that remove excess energy and relieve boredom help bring calmness and balance to our canine companions. Physical exercise can include long walks, hiking, playing ball at the park, playing with other dogs, biking, jogging, running, obedience training and training in dog sports. Mental exercise comes from training, thinking games in the home, and giving your dog healthy items to chew on and interact with. Nothing makes a dog happier than a long off leash hike in the forest followed by a healthy elk antler or raw marrow bone to chew on at home.

It is the powerful bond we share with our dogs that nourishes their spirit. A dog requires a sense of belonging, trust and companionship to really thrive. We create these feelings in our dogs when we have a one on one training session, or when we share the couch in the evening after a long day, or when we take a long walk together and stop to play ball at the park. Nourishing the spirit is all about our bond with our dogs, relishing in the companionship and unconditional love our furry family members have to offer. The experience of the unconditional love exchanged between human and dog is remarkable, it creates balance and happiness in not only them, but also within us.

The path to a long and healthy life involves nurturing every aspect of your dog's being and simply enjoying life together, living every moment to its fullest.

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Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Some days all we can manage is taking our dogs for a quick walk around the block and the rest of the day will have to be spent inside. Whether you're sick, working long hours or the weather is utterly monstrous outside; Some days we just can't get our canine companions out for enough physical exercise.

There are lots of ways we can keep our dogs busy inside the house and rotating these ideas will keep things exciting and entertaining for our pets. From toys, to long lasting treats, to interaction with us we can find a way to tire them out for a day without needing the great outdoors.

There are several very cool puzzle inspired toys to offer your dog on days where you can't get them outside enough. The toys I am about to discuss are thinking toys, which means even though they are fun to play with, they require the dog to think about how to play with them. This mental stimulation is the key to tiring your dog out when they need to stay indoors for the day.

The Tricky Treat Ball is a very popular, fun toy with many craters all around it and one hole to put treats and cookies inside. As the dog plays with the ball and pushes it around, treats fall out. Dogs can roll the ball, pick it up and shake it, toss it around and roll around with it to get the treats inside to fall out. Since the inside of the toy retains the scent of treats, this toy can keep dogs interested for a long time!

The Kong Wobbler is another fun puzzle toy, which encourages the dog to bump and knock the toy around in order to get the treats out. Once they figure it out, they can be entertained with this cool toy for quite awhile! Not only is it a treat puzzle toy, but it is also simply fun to play with! Dogs love batting it around, nose bumping it and making it roll!

Kong also has it's famous classic kong toy, which is a red or black rubber toy with the center hollowed out. This toy is best used when a liquid or pureed food is stuffed inside and frozen. Take peanut butter and yoghurt or cottage cheese and some broken freeze dried liver treats, fill the kong and freeze it! Freezing the kong will keep the dog working at the toy for quite awhile! This is a great opportunity to get some healthy probiotics in your dog while entertaining their nose and bellies!

Toys aren't the only way to entertain your dog inside the home! Consider long lasting chew treats like dried beef tendon, dried beef trachea, bully sticks, elk antlers, Himalayan cheese, or raw knuckle bones.

The best kind of mental stimulation can come from training, so teach your dog a new trick or work on formal obedience in the house. Spin, shake a paw, formal heeling, perch work and similar complicated exercises will be both rewarding and entertaining!

There is a game called "find it" that you can teach your dog and use to entertain each other on a day indoors. You will take one of your dog's favourite toys and put all of the others away. Keep your dog in another room and hide the toy, then release your dog and tell him to "find it". The goal is to teach your dog to use his nose and eyes to find the toy, and the reward for doing so is either a treat or playing with you and the toy. Start off with very easy finds, where your dog can easily see it and get it. Then reward your dog immediately, making the reward fun and intense so that he knows if he finds it he will get a really exciting reward.

Even though we may not be able to provide our dogs with adequate exercise outside every day out of the year, we can always find ways to provide mental stimulation and a light version of exercise that will keep them happy and balanced. While there is no true equal substitute for physical exercise outdoors, we can make those days we are stuck inside the home enjoyable for our canine companions.

Don't forget to like K9 Instinct on Facebook to get new blog updates!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Our dogs don't really have a voice in this world. What happens to them is mostly beyond their control. What they do with their time, what they eat and how they live their lives is decided for them by their human companions. This is precisely why we, as their human companions, must act as their advocate and voice in this world. When it comes to their health and happiness we are directly responsible for them. We need to make the right decisions on their behalf to the best of our ability, and when we falter we must learn and do better the next time. Even if we don't always know what the right choice is, the love we have for our pets will inspire us to try our best; and that is what counts.

When it comes to making decisions for my own dog Hunter, I do it from a place of love, understanding, respect and knowledge. I do extensive research on topics like nutrition, health care, training, socialization and proper exercise in order to continuously make good decisions on his behalf. Since he doesn't get to decide which food to eat on his own, it is my job to determine what he is biologically designed to eat and what kind of food he thrives on. I did the research, got the hands on experience and watched him flourish on my choice of a raw food diet.

Health care can be a touchy subject for many dog lovers, but with research and your veterinarian's advice you can determine the best health care routine for your pet. Learn all you can and make your own decisions based on the opinions you form from your research and experiences, and do not let your veterinarian or any sole individual tell you how to do things. In my experience, learning from a variety of sources and forming your own opinion is the path to success in decision making.

Learn about holistic medicine and natural, alternative forms of treatment. Consider a minimal vaccine schedule, and using all natural parasite protection. Think about nutrition and the ingredients you are feeding your dog, and don't feed them something you wouldn't eat yourself. Learn about the intricate language of dogs and why they do the things they do so that you can better communicate with them and understand them.

Our beloved canine companions rely on us, and what they give us in return cannot be measured. The constant, unconditional love of a dog is the very reason we fight for them. The years of devotion and companionship they provide is why we love them so hard and fall to pieces when they leave our lives too soon. Dogs need a voice in this world, and every dog lover should make a stand to be that voice.


"My goal in life is to be the person my dog thinks I am."

Want to learn more about nourishing your dog's body with proper diet and nutrition? Visit my dog nutrition consultation page or contact me.

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Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Socialization is a vitally important part of raising a dog. Socialization should never be missed, as a lack of socialization can cause serious problems for the dog later in life. Behavioural issues, fears, anxieties, aggression and the lack of ability to deal with stressful situations all result from poor socialization.

So what is socialization? Socialization is the act of safely exposing puppies and dogs to different, strange and potentially stressful situations in a way that always provides a positive experience. Socialization sets a puppy or dog up for success when dealing with the world and the many experiences he or she will be exposed to during their lifetime.

The key to successful socialization is exposing your puppy or dog to new and strange situations and always making it a positive experience. As the handler you should make sure you control as many of the situations as possible. You want to provide only positive experiences when possible, and should negative experiences occur you should find a way to make it positive.

Socialization is an on-going thing, but the critical time for exposure and learning is between the time you bring your dog home at 8 weeks of age to 16 weeks of age. You should expose your puppy to a wide variety of dogs, people, children, equipment, footing, and more.

You should be sure that any dogs you expose your puppy to are friendly, predictable and healthy. Any bad experiences with aggressive or very rough dogs can create aggression or fear in your puppy. The goal is to teach your puppy that dogs are positive experiences, and that there is no reason for fear or aggression on their part. Safe exposure to dogs also promotes the hope that your dog will not see other dogs as a threat, meaning you won't have to worry about bad behaviour in the presence of other dogs.

When exposing your puppy to people, choose large crowds and friendly faces. Make sure that nobody causes your puppy any harm, fear or panic. Let your puppy experience gentle handling by strangers, play with strangers, treats from strangers (provide your own treats!), and petting. Expose your puppy to children that are under control and able to handle or pet your puppy safely and gently. Never overwhelm your puppy or stress your puppy out, but apply age-appropriate socialization with people.

Take your puppy to a playground with equipment and take him through the tunnels, down the slides, up the slides, all from the safety of your reach. Play on the equipment to expose your puppy to different surfaces and textures, while making sure your puppy doesn't fall or have the chance to panic and hurt itself. Walk your puppy over hardwood floors, sand, carpet, fencing laid on the floor, bubble wrap, plastic bags and other unique surfaces.

Remember to keep the exposures fun and positive, while keeping your puppy safe and excited about trying new things. Make sure you control the environment as much as you can to ensure safety. All positive experiences, that's what socialization is all about! When negative situations arise, remove your puppy promptly and create a positive experience with some play and bond building.

It is important to make sure that you never praise your dog when he or she is exhibiting fear, insecurity or other bad behaviour. By offering praise and attention, to reinforce bad behaviour and bad responses. Ignore negative responses from your puppy, and reward once the desirable response is present.

Never forget that your puppy feeds off of you, so be sure to always remain calm and positive. Calm, happy voice should accompany a gentle hand. This reassurance will set your dog up for success!

To get you started, here are some ideas on places you can take your puppy or dog for socialization. Please make sure your puppy has the appropriate vaccines first!

• Farmer's Market
• Public Park
• Downtown City
• Train Station
• Pet Stores
• Any stores that allow leashed pets
• Parades and Festivals
• Car Rides (Weather permitting)
• Dog Socialization Play Groups
• Houses of accepting friends and family
• Visit apartment buildings and ride the elevators
• Walk around the outside of the mall

One of the keys to raising an amazing family companion or working dog is proper socialization and the result is a solid, reliable dog who trusts you and can be taken anywhere and asked to do anything.

Here is a video of my working German Shepherd, Hunter, preforming some obedience in a new location with many strange objects. His confidence and capability is a result of both genetics and great socialization.

We have all seen them; the owners that chase their dogs around relentlessly, begging their fleeing pet to "come" and "sit" and "stay" while the animal play bows and dodges them effortlessly. The frustration we see on their faces and mirror on our own reflect the problem that is prevalent in our modern world; Many dogs have no recall training.

If there is one command you and your dog should perfect, it is the recall. There is no other command more useful and potentially life saving than the revered "come" or "here". This type of training is incredibly important for every single dog on planet earth and I cannot stress that enough. Accidents happen every day and you want to be confident that you will have control over your dog in every situation.

One moment you could be walking your dog quietly down the street and the next you could find your dog slipping its collar and in pursuit of a rabbit towards busy traffic. A loud, firm "HERE!" could save your dog's life if he or she is properly trained.

Hiking is an activity every dog should enjoy, it feeds both body and soul and provides the best kind of exercise you and your dog can experience together. Hiking off leash is a privilege that has limitless benefits for a dog but it can only be truly enjoyed by dogs with perfect (or near perfect) recall. While you are hiking, every time you see a person in the distance, you should call your dog to you and leash them up until you are alone again. You should especially do this when you see another dog to keep your own pet safe and prevent fights or negative contact with strange animals. You should also never allow your dog to approach other people or dogs off leash, under any circumstances, unless you know the person and have given one another permission to allow each dog to interact.

The recall is so important and is useful in every situation that involves your dog. There is no excuse not to train this command and the consequences of not training this can be extremely frustrating and often dangerous. It is easier than most people think, as it just requires consistency and effort. There is no need to hire an expensive dog trainer to help you perfect it, it just takes knowledge and effort.

The first step to a perfect recall is an exercise called the "restrained recall". This exercise takes two people, with a secondary handler holding the dog by its leash. The leash should be very long so the secondary handler can follow after the dog and grab its leash if necessary.

The purpose of the restrained recall is to hold the dog back while the handler excites the dog and runs in the opposite direction. A toy may be used if the dog is especially toy motivated. The primary handler will walk or jog away, calling the dog’s name and using their “here” or “come” command in a happy, excitable voice while playing with the toy and doing absolutely everything they can to encourage the dog. The dog should be barking, going wild and trying to run after the primary handler. Once the dog is worked up and trying to chase the owner, the secondary handler should release the dog and follow after for safety purposes. The primary handler should call the dog again, give the recall command, and praise and reward with play once the dog reaches them. Repeating this exercise gets the dog excited and enthusiastic about the recall and teaches him or her that great things happen when they go to their owner.

Once the dog learns the first step and the handler feels confident about the dog coming when called, the second step is to teach the dog to sit and stay. Once the dog is able to sit and stay, the handler will walk away from the dog. Once at a good distance the handler will call the dog and give the chosen recall command. At this point, they should continue to be extremely exciting to entice the dog to come to them. As soon as the dog reaches them, they should offer lots of play and praise. The dog continues to learn that whenever the dog responds to the command by running to the owner, it is rewarded with lots of fun and positive things. Owners should include food rewards for the dogs that are food motivated.

An important note to remember is that an owner should never discipline a dog for coming to them, even if the dog has ignored their commands previously and generated frustration in the handler. Disciplining the dog is counter productive. When the dog finally comes to you, you have the perfect opportunity to reinforce the fact that if the dog comes when called, it will be rewarded. The reward you offer should be greater than whatever "fun" and "exciting" thing kept them from coming to you in the first place.

Training the recall is a lifelong commitment. Once the foundation is set, owners should strive to practice it whenever they can and further cement that obedience. They will find themselves with a well behaved dog that is under their control when out in public. Ultimately, time outdoors with your dog becomes stress free and enjoyable.

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Nothing is more fun than taking your dog on a nice, long wilderness hike! The joy and reckless abandon they exhibit is both inspirational and heart-warming. With an excited wag of their tail, they are able to bound over hills and splash through cool creeks. Unrestrained by their leash (with an exceptional, well-trained recall only, of course!), they can track every tiny creature that crosses their path and chase squirrels into trees. Dogs can leap over fallen logs, chase with one another, and breathe in the vast myriad of scents the natural world has to offer. A hike in the great outdoors is a favourite in every dog's heart.

Like the wolf, dogs are physically designed to travel great distances. Their bodies are made for walking, and so they derive the greatest benefits from this infinity healthy activity. The mental stimulation they receive from using all of their senses freely is unmatched and the physical effort of walking, running and jumping leaves them happily exhausted at the end of the day.

Hiking is beneficial to dog and handler for many reasons. While hiking is a great way to get some serious stress relief and greatly reduces boredom, it is also simply good for the soul. Being outdoors and enjoying nature is the perfect way to spend time together, bonding and enjoying each other's company. The fresh air and tranquility of the wilderness will do you and your canine companion a world of good.

Off leash hiking is one of the most enjoyable experiences a dog owner can have, but it must only be allowed when a dog has a near perfect recall. You need to ensure that you can call your dog to your side to be leashed at any time, for any reason. This is especially important when there are other hikers and dogs on the trail, or if there is something dangerous nearby. It is also important to obey leash laws in any given area. There are many areas where you can safely have your dog off leash, you just need to do your research and discover those places!

To add to the experience, try purchasing a dog backpack for your furry friend to wear. Dogs love to be given a job, and it makes the experience much more enjoyable when you have less to carry. Figure out the appropriate amount of weight that your dog can carry  and allow them to do so. The extra 'duty' will only add to the mental and physical stimulation they receive from their adventure. Make sure never to overburden them, sometimes all they need is a water bottle in each sack and they are set to go!

Hiking has an incredible effect on dogs, and you will see the benefits immediately once you incorporate this activity into your life. They will be happier, healthier and more fulfilled members of your family for a lifetime!

Angel
K9 Instinct