Signs of Spring are in the air! Yes/Maybe?

Ice is off the river......first signs of spring.  Dogs love spring too. They get more outdoor time after being cooped up in the house. More dog park time as well as hikes, runs and more friends to see. Enjoy this time with your dog.

Coyote Sighting in Britannia park!

Although coyotes live in many types of habitat, they typically prefer open areas. This might be one of the reasons we are seeing coyotes along the Ottawa River in the City of Ottawa. 

How to protect your dog from coyotes. 

1. Monitor your dogs when there are outside, even inside fenced yards.

2. Keep your dog on a leash when walking in park areas where there has been coyote sightings.

3. If you do see a coyote approach while walking your dog try yelling at the coyote, act      aggressively and walk back slowly from coyote.

4. Keep a lid on your compost containers and secure your garbage containers.

5. All individuals have to be careful in areas where coyotes have been sighted. Coyotes have not only killed dogs,cats but humans too. 

Charlie Tests Out Hammock Camping

A Hammock Adventure!

Testing out the new camping hammock and Charlie did not want to be left out of the fun. 

Charlie was so happy when he got up and got to be apart of the hammock fun!

Charlie contemplating camping, hammocks, and all the sticks surrounding him.

Dogs hears things that you don't.

A dog hears a frequency range of 40 to 60,000 Hz while a human range is between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Most dogs can hear sounds approximately four times further away than humans.  

Due to this your dog may have a difficult time with many different and loud noises that you find acceptable. 

Instant Meditation

What's happening Man!  Charlie taking a Instant Meditation break.

According to www.nowhealing.com/instant-meditation, you too can do Instant Meditation like Charlie.                                                                                                                                                      
"Now, for two seconds, get in touch with your mental/emotional center – a place of peace. (Don’t feel into it, or try to experience it – just find it and connect to it, at the speed of light. That’s sufficient!)

"Find your spiritual center – your soul  – and connect with it, for two seconds.
And finally, sense your energetic center with its meridians, chakras and auric field.

Now bring them all together: sense your vertical Center, and say the command: “Center.” Stay in your Center, while bringing your focus up, up, up… above your head. Now move your focus up and outward, towards infinity, for a few seconds – at light-speed.

You’ve just made instant, multi-dimensional connection to wholeness. Compare that to how you feel after meditation. Different – yet instantly whole. Check out the full article at https://www.nowhealing.com/instant-meditation/

Charlie's not happy,too many of his favorite trees have been damaged bythe ice.

Charlie sees his friend Maxine in the distance. Charlie has more friends than his pet parent.

Charlie visits Hampton Park Ottawa

Charlie waiting for a walk

Charlie making new friends at Hampton Park Ottawa

Ottawa community News Article. Tails and tongues were wagging on the morning of Aug. 25,2014 as residents and their four-legged friends gathered to open Ottawa’s newest – and biggest – off leash dog run.

Located in Hampton Park, near Island Park Drive and the Queensway, the 9,000-square-metre, fenced-in dog run is located on National Capital Commission land that is leased and maintained by the city. Running alongside the dog run is a newly-opened multi-use pathway, constructed by the city to bridge the gap between Island Park and Kirkwood Avenue for pedestrians and cyclists.

The pathway adds an extra four kilometers of pavement to the city’s cycling network.

Charlie playing chase

Happy New Year from Charlie

Charlie's New Years Resolutions 

1.  Try some new activities this year. I will start with jogging-got to keep my pet parent in shape.

2.  No more rawhide bones. They are toxic and not good for me or the environment.

3.  Make sure I get a hug or two every day.

4,  I will tolerate homemade bandannas more even though I don't think they are very manly.

6.  Show everyone that I can learn a new trick.

7.  Get more massages.

8.  Try to convince my family to let me sniff longer when we are out for walks.

9,   Learn to swim. I'm a duck toller retriever, its about time I learn how to do this.

10. Be Happy!

What Kind of Dog is Charlie?

For any one wondering what kind of dog Charlie is. His scarf today is a BIG hint!

Charlie is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, with a little bit of something else thrown in.  

Duck Tolling Retrievers were first bred in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia in the 19th century, as a hunting dog and to toll waterfowl. Duck Tollers were admitted to the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945 and is Nova Scotia's Provincial Dog! 

Charlie has never been to Nova Scotia himself, but he hears that it is a fantastic place to visit and live. I am sure he would love running along beaches and playing in the ocean.

For more information about Nova Scotia Duck Tollers and to see if they are the right dog for you check out this site! NSDTR Club of Canada

Charlie is Ready for Christmas!

Reindeer Charlie. 

Charlie thinks that he is up for the job as one of Santa's Reindeer but I have my doubts. He is very fast but I don't think he will be able to keep up with all the flying. He might just want in on the job because of all the cookie perks.

All of the presents are wrapped!

Charlie is excited for Christmas. He plans to give everyone lots of love and kisses all day! His wish list is not very long, he would like lots of long walks, pettings, and maybe a new bone or ball. 

Charlie has his own Christmas tree

Charlie has found branch pieces from a Christmas Tree.

My feet hurt!

Purple socks and Bag Balm to the rescue!

Mini-spa for Charlie. His feet are chapped, cracked and sore from all the walking he does. We picked up some Antiseptic Bag Balm from Lee Valley Tools and rubbed it on his front feet. Later we will do the back feet.

Bag Balm is used for sore teats and milkers but good for dog paws too!

Surprise in the dog park!

I love the Christmas tree but Charlie is not impressed. If the tree had dog bones and treats hanging in it he would be happy. Maybe next year.

Charlie's first trip to Bruce Pit

Map of Bruce Pit-Ottawa. A heaven for dogs.

Charlie made some friends

Walking the trail

Final Goodbye

Some info - Bruce Pit 

http://www.pets.ca/dogs/dog-parks/ontario/ottawa/

http://www.responsibledogowners.ca/brucepit.html

Fun Day in the snow

It's snowing outside but you still can do a lot of fun things with your dog. 

1. Play chase in the snow, a game every dog enjoys.

2. Teach your dog to do some tricks. Roll in the snow, play dead. 

3. Let your dog dig,pounce and run through the snow.

Charlie chews his leash off

What to do when your dog keeps biting his leash?

1. One thing that helps Charlie from biting his leash is to give Charlie something to carry or hold in his mouth. Charlie loves carrying balls and sticks,
2. Can also reward your dog with treats throughout your walk when not biting on his leash.
3. Have a pull toy (a rope with a big knot is good). Play pull on a daily basis with your dog.

Is your dog destroying all the Christmas ornaments?

Charlie found the light-up snowman and chewed it to pieces. Started in the living room and finished destruction in the kitchen.

Below are some Christmas tips for you and your dog

1. Arrange ornaments on the tree so they are out of reach of your dog.
2. Don't put Christmas presents under the tree until Christmas morning.
3. Don't use tinsel on your tree, it is one of the most hazardous decorations for your dog's safety.
4. Make sure electrical cords are out of reach.
5. Never decorate with edible items.
6. Use a spray bottle to train your pet from climbing in the tree.
7. Hide electrical cords behind the tree.

Charlie enjoying the sunset

Is it too rough?

Roughhousing is part of the fun of being a dog. It is safe if done in a outside environment with supervision at all time. Dogs will play bite, pull, nip and roll around. It is completely normal. But it can get out of hand, so monitor your dog and other dogs and intervene when necessary.

Keep your dog active in the winter.

Four ways to keep your dog active this winter

1. Long walks are always good. 

2. Try to make mealtimes fun and stimulating. Put treats and wet dog food in a Kong and freeze. 

3. Play find the treat. Hide treats in the house and tell your dog to find. 

4. Look for a winter agility class.