Posts
Dogs eating out: The unanimously approved dog ordinance allows restaurants to apply for free city permission to allow dogs in outdoor eating areas. They must be licensed, leashed and stay off the tables and chairs. They must be provided water, but may not touch human dishes, tableware or servers.
The city is believed to be the first in the state to take advantage of recent legislation authorizing cities to allow dogs at sidewalk cafes and other outdoor seating areas. That's largely because Council Member Lisa Goodman lobbied for the law on behalf of herself and other dog owners. She said the change moves dogs at restaurants from an unregulated situation to one with safeguards.
Los Angeles Times
Seattle Times
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SF Gate
7 Agility Training Tips For The Beginner Dog Agility Trainer
by Richard Syner
If your dog is old enough to run, jump and play, it probably is ready for entry level agility training. However, you have to take in consideration the difficulty level of the obstacle and how physically demanding it would be on your dog. Very old or very young dogs can have limitations set forth by its age. Some professionals do not recommend aggressive agility training before 1 year old due to the stress put on the growing bones and joints. It's a good idea to check with a vet or dog handling professional regarding your puppy's training age.
Here are some guidelines for beginning dog agility training:
1. A puppy can have physical and mental obstacles for agility training because he hasn't yet matured enough to grasp the training principles. An older dog may be limited in agility training because he is unable to perform due to stress on its body after aging.
2. If you are starting agility training with a puppy, then you need to start off small and increase the training as time goes on. Start by allowing your puppy to cross bars, boards or short small diameter PVC pipe that are laid on the ground. Boxes are always a good choice for tunnels since the puppy may not be ready for traditional pipe tunnels.
3. Your puppy may be hesitant at first with the agility training obstacles so be sure you start out making it a fun time playful experience to get him used to the new experience. As his attention span grows and he's physically able, you can take the agility training one step further.
4. Know that a dog is considered a "senior citizen" at around eight years old. Type of breed also factors into the aging process. If you have a small dog, then it will age later than a large breed will.
5. Be sure you take in to consideration your dogs present level of fitness. If the dog is overweight you do not want him starting out on difficult agility obstacles. Health conditions can attribute to poor performance ability and make it difficult for the animal to enjoy agility training. With any dog of any age, you will want to evaluate it specifically for obstacles it may face that prevent excessive agility training.
6. Because dog agility is a very active sport, you need to be aware of the stress it places on your dog during agility training. Your dog may not be able to handle a triple jump, dive into a tunnel, or 180-degree turn. Make sure you monitor your dog for injuries and have it seen by a veterinarian if you notice anything suspicious.
7. Sometimes all it requires is some conditioning to get the dog up to par for agility training. Or, if it has previous experience but hasn't trained in awhile, it might just need a refresher course to get back on track.
Like any sport, dog agility requires major physical work, so your dog may have to build up its endurance just as a human does during sports training. You as the trainer will require a bit of physical activity as well, so be sure your fitness level is up to the demands of dog agility training.
DOG AGILITY TRAINING
About the Author
Richard is a physical therapist and dog lover. Get a FREE Dog Agility Beginner's Course by visiting http://dogagilitytraining.weebly.com/ or check out some great videos at http://dogagilitytrainingvideos.com/ for more info.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How to Teach a Cat to Kiss
By Libeth Maldo
Some will say, "cats don't kiss". What if I tell you that my cat knows how to kiss?
At an early age, the cat's aptitude to learn the things being taught to him can be detected easily while undergoing the basic training on how to use the litter box, where to lie down and sleep, how to use the trap door when entering and going out of the house. If the cat learns these basic activities in a short span of time, you can be sure that he can be trained further to do other tricks.
By doing the right thing, a reward in the form of food is given to a cat to motivate him to strive to learn more. A reward can also be in the form of a soft touch on his head with accompanying praises or a light touch of your cheek to his cheek telling him that you are kissing him for the job well done. The process can be repeated as many as the number of times the cat responds to your commands. The most appropriate time to get your cat's attention is when he is active and alert after he plays with you. His attention is focused on you as he waits for your next action because he expects another round of play. You should take advantage of this moment. Lift him up and say, "let me kiss you". Touch his cheek with your cheek to demonstrate what a kiss is. Then ask your cat to kiss back. Do it over and over again until he can grasp the meaning of the word, "kiss" and can relate to the act of kissing. After several weeks of doing this, test your cat by asking him to kiss you. Your first attempt may be futile but don't be discouraged. The stubbornness of your cat must bring the persistence and patience in you not to give up. The day will come when you will be amazed to see your cat responding to a simple request, "kiss me". You will then feel his nose touching your cheek and hear a light sniff. Counter check his action by repeating your command. If your cat kisses you again be assured that he has mastered your teachings. It is the time to feel that your efforts are rewarded and your love for your cat is equally returned by him.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Libeth_Maldo
Grand Junction Sentinel
No comments:
Post a Comment