All Things Dog Blog

Join me at the DogTread Game Day Walk Event

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 11:13 PM PST

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Easy Boy...Take it Slow Today

Those of you that know me well will not be surprised to find me jumping into a "walk your dog" event. Jt Clough is sponsoring this Super Bowl Game Day event and blog hop at her site, and it's just my cup of tea.

If you get involved in Jt's event, she's even offering a free book on 5K Training and Running with Dogs. Check out her 4 step plan and get your blog hop post up on her site before February 5. After you get into this hop, might as well try another one--a photo post. All Things Dog Blog is hosting the Super Dog Sunday Blog Hop. All you need is a football-themed photo post to link up and get tons of traffic. Need help? Here's my Help Page for this event. Better get hopping!

What about me? Well...here's the thing. I'm recuperating from a little injury while on vacation. I'm still taking it a bit slow though, so as not to injure my already weakened leg. So here's my program.

Tanner, my big guy, is a 70-lb. Golden Retriever. He's a live wire, for sure, eager to meet and greet anyone and everyone we pass. I've found that using a backpack on him has been a useful technique during this time. While walking with a backpack on, a dog must concentrate more carefully on his job. If he gets too boisterous, or even walks with a sway, the backpack will also swing, causing a bit of annoyance for the pup. The backpack is exactly the approach I needed to 'give him a chill pill' while we walk during my rehab.

If you've never used a backpack with your high-energy dog, I'd love to share a few tips from my years of experience:

Start by adjusting the fit snugly to your dog, for the least amount of sway.
Select a small package of beans, rice or other lightweight, conforming bags of 'payload' for your Fido to carry. Start very light--just a pound or two--to allow your Fido to get used to this new appendage.
Place these in the pockets of the backpack, weighting each side evenly, to keep the backpack from sliding to one side.
When you strap it on the first time, be sure to first prepare yourself mentally. Tackle this job with a strong sense of leadership. No coddling allowed! Take off on your walk with a 'no-nonsense, everything is fine' attitude that will convey the message that all is well. If you act like nothing is different, Fido will tag along happily, adapting to the change without much ado.
Don't allow any 'stop and smell the roses' stuff on this walk. Choose one spot where you'll allow Fido to take care of the business at hand, and then move on consistently for the rest of the outing. You're on a mission to get some much needed mental and physical exercise, that will find Fido ready for a nap when you arrive home in a half hour or so.
Too much time? Okay, so you could make the first walk with the backpack a bit shorter; give him a chance to get used to it. Gradually add on 5 or 10 minutes to each walk and you'll soon have him in great physical shape, while you're enjoying a peaceful, bonding time with your pup.
I like to end each backpacking session with a nice, rewarding rubdown. Dogs love massage, and your Fido will enjoy a special one if you take a few tips from All Things Dog Blog's Dr. Pat. Check out her post on Dog Massage (It's the next post as you scroll down) for some tips on getting started. There's no better way to have your dog eager to take his backpacking walks, than if he knows he'll be getting his just reward when he arrives home. Happy tails!

Thinking about picking up a backpack for your Fido? Here's a place to get started, with all sizes and styles:

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Ask the Vet, with Dr. Pat:Getting Started with Dog Massage

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 09:01 PM PST

by Pat Bradley, DVM

Relax and Bond with Your Dog
through Massage

Dear Dr. Pat:

I have seen some articles about dog massage that are interesting to me. My Jake has been showing signs of arthritis and is taking glucosamine for this. What I want to know is if some massage and stretching would be good for him. It seems like I have heard that is good for people with arthritis, so why not dogs? If so, any thoughts on how I could get started?

Thank you, Jennifer M.

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What a great topic, Jennifer! It's a wonderful idea to do massage and stretching with your dog. There are many proven benefits of massage, including decreased muscle pain and stiffness. And of course, I love anything we can do to strengthen the human-animal bond during the last years of life, when more physically demanding activities may not be possible.

I think a picture is worth a thousand words when it comes to massage. Luckily, the internet has countless free videos illustrating dog massage techniques, made by people with varying degrees of skill and knowledge. I like this site about massaging your animal, not only because the massage therapist has obvious training, but also because there are separate short videos for each body part. Having material broken down into parts always helps when we're learning something new. Other websites such as The Lang Institute of Dog Massage in Colorado sells videos that are more in depth, and even offer onsite workshops.

One of my favorite forms of bodywork is "TTouch", or Tellington Touch, named after Linda Tellington Jones. Linda's books and videos are filled with heart-warming and inspiring stories of the animals she has helped through the use of her bodywork techniques. I highly recommend that you check it out – it's not only easy and safe to practice at home, but can be very effective for many physical and mental conditions.

After one short workshop with Linda, I returned home and immediately put it to use in my vet practice. I was able to turn a tense horse into putty with just a few minutes of TTouch, making it super easy to do my exam and treatment without the use of tranquilizers. Needless to say, this totally convinced me (and the horse's amazed owner) of its value.

Who knows, you might find that you and Jake like one of these techniques so much, you'll want to get certified so you can offer it to others. But giving massages may result in a body ache or two for you, so don't forget to go get a massage for yourself!

Thanks for writing,
Dr. Pat

Have a question for Dr. Pat? You can reach us at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. For a personal consultation about your pet's needs, visit Holistic Veterinary Services.

Dr. Pat's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian