|
Hound
in the Dumps Capture the follies of training fido with this Bad Dog Tumbler set. Four pint glasses depict a lovable pooch doing the exact opposite of the commands being barked: rolling over for "Sit," curling up for "Fetch," taking off for "Stay!" and sitting proudly for "Come." Celebrate your dog by raising one of these pints and toasting those early training days. Comical enough to amuse a kid, but classy enough to serve dinner drinks in, this set of glasses might be the most versatile in your cabinet. More Barware More Gift Ideas for Animal Lovers
|
Not recommended if you are not 100% comfortable on your skates!!! Pet Store | Human Store | Dog Rescue |Creative Canine | Dog Links Perhaps you sniffed out Francis rollerblading with me in the June 2005 issue of Dog & Kennel Magazine as part of an article on rollerblading with your pet. He hopes all doggies have a good time inline skating and reminds dog owners who skate, as always, to stay safe!
What you need: A pair of good, sturdy inline skates, knee, elbow and wrist pads and a leash/restraint for your dog that restrains from under the armpits, rather than the neck. I cannot stress enough the difference the right leash will make, especially as you are starting out. I recommend:
Note
on the safety equipment: A long lead is to your advantage as it will give you room to zag when your dog zigs in search of some scent on the other side of you!! Your dog should be trained well enough to understand some sort of stop or slow down command, such as "Heel" which you can practice with him or her as you go. Also, be sure to bring enough water for you and your dog! If it’s hot, keep the run very short or sad as it is, leave the dog at home. A tired or overheated dog WILL NOT move and it won't be fun for either one of you to be pulling a reluctant dead weight who would rather lie under a tree. I live in So. CA, and in the summer, we usually skate after 5 PM for this reason. Also, running on pavement can be hard on your dog’s joints, and if it's hot, the pads of his paws could be sensitive or crack. If he shows discomfort, stop. I would generally skate on a bike path that had grass on either side of the path, and let Francis run on the grass since the ground has more give than blacktop. He actually learned the command "Grass" and every time when at that point, he'd cut over and just break into this glorious run. Pretty hilarious.
Your dog has something to tell you! Enjoy a closer relationship with your dog with Bow-Lingual. This amazing system receives, analyzes, and translates your dog's bark into six emotions. Great gift for your favorite dog lover! How to start: Find a place that is low in traffic (people and cars) for your first outing. To test your control, try skating on flat ground before you attempt to control your dog on a hill. Skate quickly for a stretch, then at the first intersection where you need to check for traffic, have your dog slow down. Asking your dog to sit at traffic lights so you can safely step off of curbs is good training as well. How to handle a downgrade: The proper leash will help a lot with this, but you can teach your dog a "slow" command. Francis understands that "walk" means he needs to walk and that "run" means it's OK to go fast. Your dog should sense that you need him or her to slow down and help you out if you catch the dog's attention on your way down and make it a trip down the hill as a twosome, rather than as you trailing behind your dog.
Francis and I skate together almost every day, and he loves it! The first time I took him out, the concept of a human being able to keep pace with him was THE most exciting thing on Earth. He can run as fast as he wants!! Now every time he sees me put my blades on, he thinks (or hopes) he's coming. In fact, I have have to gently let him down and have a full conversation with him about why he can't go otherwise he just barks and barks or runs to his sofa and sits expectantly looking up with big eyes hoping that that will convince me to take him. Of course I take him every time I can because he looks so cute (and he knows it!!) This can be a great bonding experience for you and your dog. And great for your health and your dog's! Give it a go!! Any questions, feel free to send me email. If
you'd like to read about what other people have
For
more information about in-line skating check out these sites: And
for more information about ways you BIG
DOGS NEED TO RUN To
Auntie Caryn's Home Check
out Francis Blading in |
Fisher Price Learn to Inline Skates
Inline Skating
