Register Here (registration required to get the location of the walk.)

Our sister company, Bones and Company is now offering:

• Monthly bath and tidy.  Price ranges depending on the size of the dog.  He or she will be picked up for a group walk, bathed/dried/brushed/nails clipped & ears cleaned and then dropped off back at home.  Check the website for more information.
• Christmas boarding- $40/night with a minimum 4 night stay.  Book early as space is limited.

Studies show that dogs who use their brains and bodies in useful ways (police or protection work, talent dogs in Hollywood, herding sheep, assisting disabled people) have far fewer behavioural problems than the family pet, whose intellectual and physical needs are sometimes pushed aside. 

APDT Trainer Trisha Shanks knows that a fulfilled dog makes a wonderful family pet- calm in the house, manageable on the leash, and comes when called at the off leash park.  Behaviour problems are one of the top reasons families surrender dogs to shelters.  You need to put your dog to work- practicing commands, using his mind and body in new and challenging ways, and giving him lots of love and praise (and even a little bit of dried liver) when he figures things out for himself.

Even though your dog's basic needs are covered, such as food, water, shelter, love, and that overflowing toybox in the corner, some if his primal needs might be being ignored.  Taking the Level One, Two or Offleash class with For Dog Sake might be just the thing to continue your dog's education this Fall.  He will make new friends, learn new things, and get to spend quality time with you, his favorite person.  Click Here for more information on how to register.

When the reported temperatures are higher than 18 degrees celcius, follow these eight rules for the safety and comfort of your dog:

1. Unless your car is moving with windows down or air conditioning on, 10 minutes is about the longest a dog can be left waiting.  The breeze generated by windows down will help, windows up with air conditioning on is even better.  If you HAVE to leave the dog unattended, leave the windows down and PARK IN THE SHADE.
2. Hydrate your little friend.  There are plenty of products created for keeping your pal hydrated on hot days, such as Gulpy, our favorite.  Cold tap water, or frozen tap water left to melt in your backpack are very refreshing to your dog when he is thirsty.
3. Walks on the leash are best coordinated to mornings and evenings.  Why not take your dog for an early-morning, pre-work walk while it's still cool out and get your blood flowing in the nice, sunny hours before you need to get off to work?  That way, your dog has her exercise in early and has the entire day to process her thoughts from the walk.
4. The long, hot days of summer also mean your dog could use water time!  Consider buying a shallow kiddie pool from your local Canadian Tire or Toys 'R' Us.  Pass on the blow-up type, and go for molded plastic.  Put in a few inches of water from the hose.  Some dogs will go in willingly, others need to be coaxed.  A ball or cookie thrown into the middle might be enough to encourage some water play- always supervise to make sure your dog can get in and out of the pool easily.
5. If you have an in-ground pool, above-ground pool, stream, or water feature, please ensure your dog either doesn't have access or knows EXACTLY how to get in and out.  Just because a dog knows how to jump into a pool or pond doesn't mean that he knows how to get himself out.
6. When taking your dog to the river, lake, beach, seaside, etc. for the first time, no need to force.  Some dogs take to the water like fish, especially if they are bred to retrieve.  Throwing the ball or stick a few inches in will ease them into the water experience slowly, eliminating the trauma of old-school techniqies such as dropping them in from the wharf.  If water is a good experience, and fun with no pressure, your dog is much more likely to feel safe and really enjoy herself.  Some dogs are not natural swimmers, and if they just never seem to want to swim, don't push it.  It's not a big deal, and not worth freaking them out about it.
7. Watch for broken glass and other dangerous articles which could harm your dog.  Splash stepped on some glass left behind by rafters in the Elbow River last summer, and had to get 2 layers of stitches costing $500 and taking her out of the game for 2 weeks in August.
8. Wildlife dangers which increase in summer include ticks, fleas, and porcupines.  Dogs should be supervised when off leash, and if you find a tick, try following these general instructions to remove it.  If you don't succeed, a visit to the vet might be in order.  Porcupine quills should be removed by a vet unless you just have 1 or 2.  The danger of leaving a bit of the quill inside to become infected is very great.

Now you can set aside 2 weekends and achieve the same results of the folks who come twice a week.  How?  Doggie Boot Camps. 

If your evenings are too booked up to book one more thing, try a Friday/Saturday/Sunday class.  Take a month or 2 and practice what you learned, then come back and complete the second half.

Join 7 other dog owners for a fun, informative, casual weekend of learning, laughs and results.  You will work on basic commands like Come, Heel, Stay and Wait, plus learn a couple of tricks, and get lots of information on what really works in dog training- how do they learn, and does the breed or age really play an important role in how much a dog can learn?  I will show you how to raise your expectations of your dog and communicate to him how to behave, so that you are both on the same page and nobody loses.  I specialize in giving every owner the confidence and the tools they need to achieve amazing manners and results with their own dogs.  Our grads are welcome everywhere, from family gatherings to the teller window at your local bank!

Sign up today.

Bones and Company is the latest incarnation of Trisha's pet businesses.  Trisha and her staff will walk your dogs, feed your cats and even move in to hold down the fort while you are away.

Visit us now to take advantage of special grand opening pricing today!

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS...

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years.
Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me
up as punishment. You have your work, your
friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words,
I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me,
I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me,
remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose
not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or
uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be
bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right
food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart
might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old.
You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me
please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't
make me face this alone. Everything is easier for
me if you are there, because I love you so.

This got me to thinking, how would it be possible to create a dog-friendly outdoor fitness class?

Enter Random Acts of Fitness.  Founder Jeff Funnekotter loved the idea when I approached him, and we set about to design and offer dog-loving, fitness-concious Calgarians an option.  While the class is focused mostly on a complete body workout, your dog will be sprinting alongside you and waiting patiently while you work your abs.

I can't tell you how excited I am to get started.  A recent injury has put my fitness level even lower than it was and it's very discouraging to not be able to keep up with the dog family, giving them the exercise I know they crave.  By the end of the bootcamp season, I expect to be in dynamite shape with a bevy of happy pooches panting their way to the water dish.

Inspired by Thank Dog Bootcamp in Los Angeles, we aim to be the next new thing to explode on the fitness scene.  Think you want to join us for an hour of sweating your buns off while making your dog's day?  Click Here to be one of the fittest dog owners in Calgary!!

Click here to read the FAQ.

Unless you have the time, inclination and desire to get out there with your tools, garbage bags and face mask, why not consider hiring a Dog Poop Pick Up Service?  Yes, they do exist.  And yes, they are affordable.  Take Poooh Busters for instance.  They offer a weekly pick up service for yards of any size with any amount of dogs in residence.  If you don't need weekly service, you can pay a little more and get a one-time service for spring clean-up, special occasions or moving.  But it seems to me that weekly is the way to go.  I mean, if someone is going to come for a very affordable price and take care of the "picking up" so I can spend more quality time with my dogs, I say money well spent.

Contact Roland and Erin today to see how soon they can get started- 403 462 4351.