Kiddie Pool Fun for Your Toy-Breed Dogs

by Carrie Boyko

(c) reader's photo copyright on file
Juliet Loves her Kiddie Pool

If you're like many of my readers, you have multiple, toy-breed dogs, or neighbors with pups that like to drop in for some fun. A great way to keep the whole gang happy and busy on a hot summer day is with a kiddie pool. They're perfect for little dogs, so there's no worries about drowning, and even big dogs can enjoy splashing and dunking their floating toys.


Here's a game we played at a dog party once, that you may enjoy trying when you're hosting a group of pups for some water fun:

• Fill up your kiddie pool early in the day so the water can warm up to an inviting temperature for little dogs that chill easily.
• Collect all your floating toys, balls and such and put them all in the pool.
• Just about the time your gang gets bored (where are all the toys?!!!) you can take them outside and introduce them to the new game.
• Using a treat pouch or pocket, stow some kibble or treats to encourage their 'fetching' game. Each time a pup pulls a toy from the pool, treat him and tell him what a good boy he is is for fetching the toy.
• Pretty soon they'll all get the idea and start jumping in to pull the toys out of the pool, and then race to you for their treat. You'll have to be fast, tossing the toys back in, but it's fun to watch their little minds working. This game gets them moving quickly and using their problem solving skills to get toys out and treats as quickly as possible.
• If you're lucky enough to have a friend to man the camera, this could make for a great photo shoot. Snag your neighbor dog's 'mom' and ask her for a little help. She's sure to enjoy the party as much as the dogs do.

© reader copyright on file
Time to Get Out and Dry Off...

A few tips for clean up time:

• Before you start, be sure to have a stack of old towels for drying off soggy doggies.
• Don't just dump the water. Use it purposefully. Bucketfuls are great for watering house plants or your vegetable garden. The last bucketful can be used to wash the car. You get the idea.
• Tip the pool up on its side to drain, and also keep it from collecting all sorts of dirt, leaves and bugs. Next time, it will be ready to go.
• Finally, use an old-fashioned milk carton case to toss the toys into for drying, and place them out of the way of any possible rain. They can come back inside tomorrow for another game--perhaps the Muffin Tin Game? It's one of my Oliver's new favorites.

Before I sign off, here's one final idea. If you're not well-stocked on floating toys, try ice cubes. Most little dogs love to retrieve and eat ice cubes, and this game will have its own reward--no treats required. It's not the same frenzied fun, but it works the same way. Happy tails!

Looking for more water fun? Here's some related reading:

Swimming isn't Just for Lab Lovers

Teaching Your Dog to Fetch
Safe and Happy July 4th Celebrations for Your Dogs


Finally, Tanner has a few comments over at 5 Minutes for Fido. As usual, my boy is looking out for his little buddy Oliver. They're rather like the the Captain and Gilligan!

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The Dog Days of Summer: 10 Tips for Staying Cool Outdoors

by Carrie Boyko

Lazy Summer Days

The walks are already getting scorching hot here in Central Florida. This is the time of year when I wish I lived farther north. I have to take precautions for the heat to assure everyone stays healthy. Here's my plan:

(c) Carrie Boyko

Homemade Cooling Bandannas

have Soft Ice Packs Rolled into the Necktie

• Walk first thing in the morning or after dinner, to avoid the heat of the day. I always adjust their mealtime to eat well before or after. We certainly don't want any chances of Bloat.
• The streets are hot in the afternoon, so on those times when I must take the dogs out during the heat of the day, I take care to walk them on grass or cement sidewalk, which is much cooler than asphalt. Some dog owners even use booties for protection.
• My senior girl, Xena, has a particularly thick, black coat. She doesn't handle the heat so well as her younger housemates, so our summer walks accommodate her by swinging by the house midway and dropping her off. She simply cannot take the 2+ miles that the younger two dogs need, and is generally ready for a cool house and some rest by the halfway point.
• Tanner, my Golden Retriever, has a very short, thin coat for a Golden. This plays out well for him in the summer, as the heat is not much of an issue for him. He'd stay outside all day, if I'd stick around with him. Typical Golden--loves the outdoors. Because Tanner spends a lot of time on the pool deck (by choice) I make sure he gets a swim before or after our walk, to cool him down. Then he gets a good rinse, to wash the chlorine off his fur, and gets a nice rubdown with a towel. 
• Oliver is not as much a fan of the water as Tanner, but even for him, a hose down on a hot day is sometimes welcome. Because he is so small, I am particularly concerned about dehydration, so I quickly whisk him inside for a drink.
• My favorite approach to keeping the pups cool is the ice pack rolled up in their bandannas. I use the soft, pliable, frozen packs and roll them up in a bandanna. Then tie this around their neck to help keep them cool on a hot walk. This is a great tool for summer dog park visits, as well. You can also buy these in various forms. Just hit the link above.
• Besides keeping the water bowl full, ice cubes and other frozen dog treats can be a fun and welcome nibble after a hot walk. Check out your grocer's freezer area for the available frozen dog treats, or try making some of your own. One tip: Be careful where you give them this goodie, to avoid staining carpet or floors. 
• If your dog is not much for eating ice cubes or frozen treats, he may enjoy the cooling effect that the ice cubes have on his water. Dump a handful in his water bowl after a walk and watch him lap up the whole bowl.
• If your dog is an outside dog, the summer heat is of particular concern. You'll want to create a few ways for him to keep well-hydrated: an extra large water bowl--enough to last all day--should be placed in the shade on a raised platform to help keep ants and other ground insects out. Before you leave for the day, drop a pitcherful of icecubes in it to help keep it cool. Also, placing a kiddie pool full of water in a shady area, will provide your pup with a welcome place to cool down, when the temperature rises.
• Finally, all outdoor dogs need plenty of shady spots to get out of the sun. While they may choose a shady area to dig a hole in the dirt for a cooling nap, you can provide a cleaner way for him to stay cool. Depending on your geography and yard layout, you could pick from some of these choices: a dog house with cross ventilation that is placed in the shade, a shade canopy, carport, or even a large shade tree can be the perfect, cooling spot for your dog's heat-of-the-day hideaway. If possible, consider a cooling mat, available from many pet stores or online.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Cooling Mats

 are Great for Outdoor Dogs

One bonus idea before I go. I have a couple of battery-operated 10" fans that will go anywhere. I picked them up at my local discount store; well worth the cost. You can also pick them up at the link above. They have hooks on them to allow for hanging on a dog crate, and include a built-in stand, as well. Using rechargeable batteries, they run for hours without needing a recharge. Perhaps your outdoor Fido might enjoy a cool breeze, if you have an appropriate place to put the fan, out of the risk of rain.

Whatever strategies you employ to keep your pup cool for the summer, you'll be gaining his trust and respect. Every time you offer him your respect and loving care, you'll get it in spades in return. Stay cool!

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"PUPPY SIZE": A Story of One Adoption

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008

Oliver's Adoption Day

This is an excerpt from a story sent to me by a friend. No author or rights are assigned, and distribution was encouraged. Because of its length, I have shared an excerpt here:

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.
The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. "Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.

"No, not size--the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"

...Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find
the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

***************************************

Calling all nature lovers. I have a new guest post up at Central Florida Green Guide on canoeing, kayaking, and tubing the Wekiva River. If you or someone you know has canoed with their dog, I'd love to hear pictures and your story. Write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com Thanks!

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It's Vacation Time for Me...

You guessed it. Summer is here and so is my whole family. Three kids are all home with special friends and we've got lots of plans for family fun. Don't worry, dog play will certainly find its time in our schedule, along with plenty of water fun.

Perhaps some time off will provide needed inspiration for how to build in some site improvements that I've been pondering for a while. Meanwhile, you can check out All Things Dog Blog on its very own Facebook site, where I'm sure I'll be adding little blips of what's going on while I take a much needed respite. If you prefer Twitter, you can catch me at Twitter.com/Learnin2Bgreen.

When will I resume posting? Soon! Your best strategy for not missing anything is to subscribe in the upper right corner of the blog. It's free, and you'll receive only a confirmation email for now. Once you confirm, you'll receive my posts via email when I begin posting again.

Finally, during my vacation, you can catch up on your reading by visiting my archives in the sidebar. You can go all the way back to post #1 and check out anything you may have missed along the way. I hope you get a chance to enjoy this catch up time too. See ya soon!

Maggie the Deep Diving Boston Terrier

Tanner and I think you'll enjoy this video. We're studying it very hard; Tanner would like to do this trick:








Maggie has more videos of her at You Tube, where she dives even deeper. We hope you enjoyed this.

Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Please Play Fetch with Me

After reading a blog post at The Happy Wag, a Roanoke, Virginia pet blog, I learned about Stormy, who hasn't yet mastered the art of Fetch. This post is dedicated to Stormy and all of the rest of his canine cousins out there who would love to learn to retrieve and return a toy to their human best friends.

Fetch is an excellent way to establish your bond and leadership, while building discipline and trust with your dog. A mental challenge is a great way to add to the physical challenge of retrieving the ball or other fetch toy. Learning to bring it back to you, drop it at your feet, and wait patiently for another toss, takes practice. Each of these tasks is a separate skill, and each must be patiently taught separately, before being strung together for a Fetch game. So be patient, Pack Leader, a truly great game of Fetch is well worth the effort of learning it the right way, and much less frustrating for you and your dog.

I highly recommend that all dogs who are able, learn to fetch and return a ball or other toy. The benefits go far beyond the fun factor, not the least of which is that it goes a long way toward establishing you as the Pack Leader. Let's get started:

You may have read the title and wondered how many lessons there can possibly be in a "simple" game of Fetch. Simple for you, maybe. But stringing skills together for a dog requires teaching each one by one, at first. Here are the steps we'll learn in the sequence.

Skills Required for the Ultimate Game of Fetch:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Drop It
• Leave It
• Fetch

These are all basic skills taught in obedience classes. However, they must be exhibited well by your dog in order to play Fetch without you getting mauled or the dog running off with the ball. If your goal is a textbook Fetch game, here are the sequencing skills, in order: (Notice my illustrations are with Tanner in a game of Pool Fetch. There is no difference between pool fetch and fetch in a field of grass. Pick your venue based on your dog's preference, or try both. Tanner's loves them all. Select a toy that your dog is enthusiastic about playing with, and that is suitable for a fetch game. It must have enough weight that you will be able to throw it a fair distance. If, like me, you throw like a girl, invest in a "Chucker" or other, similar throwing aid, which will allow you to throw a ball a good distance. This is especially important if you have a larger dog who needs the distance factor to get some exercise out of this game. Additionally, Fetch toys should be reserved for Fetch games only. Keep them on a shelf, and this will be understood by the dog. The toys belong to you. You decide when the game begins and when it ends. Don't let your dog get obsessive about Fetch.

• Your dog must master a "Sit, Stay". Remember to use plenty of calm verbal praise.


• Step away from your dog and remind him to stay. Don't throw until he is tuned in and attentive to you.


• Maintaining eye contact, the owner throws the toy and gives the Fetch command. The dog usually understands that this means to chase the flying toy. Not much skill involved in this action, except to leap over any obstacles or off the side of the pool:

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Leaps to Fetch

If he runs toward the toy, give verbal praise and encouragement. If he picks up the toy, get even more boisterous with your praise. Begin calling him to you. If this is unsuccessful, extra training in "Come when called" is needed.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Collects His Prize
and Heads Back to Return It

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I'm Almost There...

Can We Do It Again?

• Never, ever discipline a dog when he does not come. Would you come if you were spanked when you came slowly? No, of course not. Always praise your dog when he comes. Use more vigorous praise, petting, treats and other affection when his come is more immediate and successful. Ideally, your dog should come straight to you and sit. This should be your ultimate goal.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Returns the Fetch Toy
for Another Throw

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Sit, Tanner

The next goal is to get the dog to return the toy and drop it at your feet. Praise and a treat are earned when this occurs. If you are successful in getting the dog to come back to you, try this. Ask him to sit. Step toward him and give the drop it command while looking down over him. This establishes your dominance and will usually be respected, if you are seen by him as the leader of the pack. Be prepared to practice this again and again, as some dogs may have difficultly giving up the toy. If they refuse, do not try to forcibly remove it from their mouths. Turn your back and end the game. When he drops the toy, step on it and ask him to leave it. Put him in a sit and place the toy up on a shelf again. End of game. Lesson: Drop it or I end the game. He'll catch on fast to this, if you are consistent.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Drop It. Good Boy, Tanner!

• Eventually, Fetch games can move into advanced mental games like: (1) Start with the "Leave it" command, that asks dog to stay until you give the Fetch command. Throw the toy and have him leave it...a second or two at first, and then with increasing length. As the dog gets better, you can require him to wait longer periods before giving the Fetch command. This is a good mental challenge for him. (2) Give each Fetch toy a name. Practice the game using the name, so the dog learns them. Multiple toys can then be thrown. The dog is asked to Fetch the correct toy by name. This game is lots of fun when your dog has an audience. He gets a chance to show off; He knows the names of his toys! (3) When your dog really gets good at advanced game #2, you can work on this game: Show him 3 toys. Tell him to Leave It when showing 2 of them. Throw all 3 and then ask him to Fetch the last one. This will take lots of practice, but when he gets it, he'll beam with pride. Be sure to use lots of praise, pats and even treats to encourage these skills, until your dog is performing them "for the love of the game". (4) Finally, many dogs enjoy trying to catch the fetch toy before it hits the ground or the water. This is a great challenge and loads of fun for the dog who is motivated to try this. Tanner isn't terribly talented at this game, but occasionally he gets lucky:
  
  

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I Caught It Mom!

• I often allow Tanner one "Take It" at the end of a Fetch game. I extend the toy in my hand and he proudly takes it from me and basks in the sun with it. This is one of his favorite rewards--being able to be in charge of the toy, even if only for a few minutes.

Tanner Relaxes after a
Game of Fetch with "Red"

Be sure to keep these opportunities short. Ask your dog to drop it and leave it and return the toy to its storage place for the next game. This is ample motivation for him to look forward to it again. You're on the right track.

Molly is Here to Help Introduce Her Favorite Charity

Tanner's Friend Molly Enjoys Her Pool

Most people I know complain about the amount of email they get each day. I have to admit something. I get excited about reading mine. Reading my email lately has become my favorite part of the day, second only to checking my posts each morning. Why? I'll give you an example.

Today I received a nice note from one of Tanner's doggie daycare friends, Molly, a chocolate lab. They met at Bow Wow Resort, and have become good buddies. Molly's mom sent the two photos in this post. Molly loves her pool as much as Tanner. Maybe we should get them together for a swimming play date.

Even more exciting, Molly's mom wanted to tell me about AnimalPantry.org in our area which helps provide pet food and other items (leashes, collars, etc.) to families in need. The goal is to help the family keep their dog during tough economic times, rather than having to give up their dog to feed their family. Great concept, huh?!!!

I've requested an interview with the people who started the project, and will bring you more information in an upcoming post. This is just a heads up from Molly and me. Clean out your drawers and pet food closets. Anything you have that isn't needed will be useful to the pantry. They have many drop off locations in the area, and I'll bring you a list of these soon. For now, just collect your pet items that are no longer needed and I'll get back to you with where to drop them off.

Molly Enjoys Swimming

with Two Balls at a Time

Hint: Even extra tennis balls or Frisbees (don't we all have extra ones in the garage?) would be welcome. There are probably lots of dogs who would love to play fetch, if they only had a ball or Frisbee. Wouldn't it make you feel good to give a family a great dog toy. There's nothing like a ball to make a dog AND the kids happy.


Oliver and I ( he climbed right into the doggie drawer!) cleaned out our stuff and came up with a collar (Xena grew out of it), a leash (used, but still useful), tug toys (I make them, so they're free. Check out my post of this at the link and the photo below), 2 funky shaped Kong toys, a couple of balls, a store-bought tug toy that didn't go over big with my guys, a dog training DVD, and a bottle of bitter apple spray. Not bad for starters. It feels good to help another dog. Hope you can too. Check back for pickup locations, or see their site at the link above.



Me and my pack wish you and yours a happy Memorial Day. We'll be out at our local dog park, playing fetch, Frisbee and doing a little pile collecting. Hope to see you there!

If you are new to dog parks, check out my 3-part series on visiting the dog park at Central Florida Green Guide. The links to each post are at the bottom of the blog. Just scroll down. You can't miss them.

Toy Joy and Fetching Fun!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Streaks Through the Kitchen

after Scooping Up a Favorite Toy

Puppies need playtime to burn off their excess energy. Without these activities they tend to get into more mischief and cause more trouble.

We walk or bike most every morning, and afternoons include sporadic times for training, play and swimming. Tanner's favorite game is fetch; fetch in the pool is double fun.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner Fetches "Yellow"

for the 15th Time!

Even Fetch training is a good disciplinary tool, and one which many dogs enjoy. Your dog doesn't have to be a "retriever" to enjoy playing fetch. Teaching your dog to fetch and return a toy to you has many distinct steps, each a skill in its own. Perhaps I'll save that for another post, but suffice it to say, that learning to Fetch is excellent mental and physical activity for an energetic dog to find focus with.

Steps in Teaching Fetch:

1. Pick a toy which your dog is enthusiastic about playing with, and which is suitable for a fetch game. It must have enough weight that you will be able to throw it a fair distance.
2. Dog must master a brief "Sit, Stay". Give verbal praise.
3. Owner throws the toy and with eye contact, gives the "fetch" command.
4. Dog runs to get the toy. If he runs toward the toy, give verbal praise and encouragement. If he picks up the toy, get even more boisterous with your praise.
5. Goal is to get the dog to return the toy and drop it at owners feet. Praise and a treat are earned when this occurs.
6. Eventually, fetch games can move into advanced disciplinary tools like:

• "Leave it" command asks dog to stay until you give fetch command, even after toy is thrown.
• Multiple toys can be learned by name and thrown. Dog is asked to fetch the correct toy by name. This game is lots of fun when your dog has an audience. He gets a chance to show off; He knows the names of his toys!

I'll bring you another post with more detail later. If you want to get started now, write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com and I'll help you out.

Bow Wow Resort--Hang with the Ruff Crowd!

I used to use pet sitters when I had to leave my dogs at home while I traveled or simply was gone for a very long day. While there are some nice pet sitters out there, my preference was always that my dogs be able to be active and to play with other dogs. A few years ago a friend told me how she solved this problem with her dog, Mahon, by letting him spend the day at a local "Doggie Daycare". I have to say I couldn't envision myself taking my furry best friends to "Daycare", but after I visited, observed, and met the staff, I was sold. No more pet sitters for me. My original concept of daycare was way off.

Now my pups have a new home when I'm on the road, Bow Wow Resort. Located on Highway 436 at Bear Lake Road, I am lucky to have it so close to my home. I've also found it to be the perfect solution when I am having a party or other event at the house. There are times when a bouncy Golden Retriever may not be welcomed by my guests. It's understandable that you may occasionally need a dog-free home for a quiet or more formal event. Holiday parties can be difficult to manage, when your counter-surfing, big dog steals the food and runs wild around the house, sharing his excitement with your appalled guests. I've definitely been there.

If I haven't given you enough reason to check out Bow Wow Resort, I can definitely share more.

• Safety is the first thing I noticed, as each prospective guest is interviewed with a series of individual greetings with other guests, to evaluate his socialization skills.
• The facilities are exceptionally clean and the staff, well, let's just say they are the reason I am willing to take my furry family there. My gang feels welcomed and at home each time we arrive.
• Covered outdoor areas and climate-controlled indoor areas for play are all available for your pup's special needs.
• The outdoor play yard has various obstacles and play spaces, a splash pool for cooling off on warm days, shade areas and supervised game time. Tanner loves playing fetch with Ashley!
• Socializing with other dogs is extremely important to canines, who are by nature, pack animals. Doggie daycare provides the opportunity for dogs to socialize and enhance their skills in this area, with supervision to assure that everyone plays nicely. Like me, you may find that your dogs will become better at being friendly playmates in all of their dog encounters, even outside of Bow Wow Resort.
• Bow Wow's staff of dog lovers will make you feel right at home, always happy to provide whatever assistance or special care your dog may need.
• Grooming is offered so that your dog can get his new "do" or a bath while he's away from you for the day.
• Outdoor playtime is not a la carte at Bow Wow. Dogs play freely for the entire morning before retiring for a much needed nap, following lunch. Naps are taken in private rooms; no crates like you find at typical boarding facilities. After naptime, the dogs are again let out to play and explore until you arrive to take them home for the evening.
• Forgot to bring food for your dog? No problem. They'll provide the food or biscuit treats if you don't bring Fido's special chow from home, and there's no extra charge.
• Dogs who are boarding will receive their dinner, a rest period, and then once again have an opportunity to follow nature's call at bedtime--around 9 or 9:30.
• Overnight boarding is available nearly year round, and is quite popular with the dogs. I've talked to many owners who excitedly exclaim, "My dog loves it here!" My pack totally agrees.
• With a staff of 6, I feel confident that all my dogs will get the attention and supervision that they deserve, while enjoying their play time with friends. I leave them there worry free, able to concentrate on my day without concern for their welfare.
• Finally, Bow Wow's owner/manager, Julie Fisher, has years of experience in animal training, having previously been a Sea World whale and dolphin trainer for 18 years. If you need assistance with training, Julie is always there to help.

Now I'll let you in on a little secret. After writing all the reasons that I love Bow Wow Resort, I've realized that there is one thing that overshadows them all. When I pick up Tanner, Xena and Oliver, after a day of playtime with their Bow Wow friends, they are satisfied, calm and yet still ready for anything I have planned in the evening. Whether it be an evening walk or an Agility class, my boys are calm enough to listen and participate, but not too tired to enjoy the activity. This is a wonderful balance that makes the small daycare fees I invest very worthwhile. Tanner and Oliver hope to see your dog there real soon.


Tanner loves Zeus!