Abby and Splash play date at the beach

Splash taught Abby to swim! Now Abby can swim fearlessly like a true retriever!  Abby taught Splash (not previously a fan) that tennis balls are pretty cool!

Abby is very photogenic! 

Dirty dirty dog... 

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Chihuahua beach adventure

No swimming today thank you very much!

Now thats more like it! 

We are determined not to have fun at the beach.

WTF just happened to us!

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Trip to Venice Beach proved shocking

Went on a road trip over the weekend to visit my brother who was in town for business... We met up in Venice Beach...a place he and I used to frequent while growing up. Hasnt changed too much - great place for people watching. What caught my attention wasnt the humans themselves, but the dogs... Why? One reason was they were all so darn cute.. this of course made me miss my little boy Poncho (hubby and I decided to "manage" and left Poncho with lots of interactive toys before we left...made sure we exercised him too so he was sleepy and wanted to nap)... 

Anyway, the other "things" that caught my eye were all the intact male dogs... yep, it seems that neutering is not a common activity in the Venice Beach area...at least all the male dogs I saw. Big dogs, small dogs, purebreds, mixed breeds....you name it, they had their "knick-knacks" intact. Now, being a critical thinker we cant assume all of the dogs and their humans were residents of Venice Beach...maybe they were all tourists? Maybe lived in neighboring communities? Maybe they were planning on taking their dogs to get neutered? Could be many different reasons, so I wont jump to conclusions... As for the female dogs, I couldnt tell if they had been spayed or not...and I wasnt about to start asking. 

I do know this. Spaying and neutering is important. For a variety of reasons. Dogs dont have the "common sense" gene that says "I shouldnt breed because there are so many unwanted pets anyway, and I know its better not to contribute to the problem." Nope, they dont think that way... So its a shame when we as humans continue to think "my dog would never do that" "they know better." Just takes a split second, and before you know it youre a new puppy parent! 

Unless youre a responsible, professional breeder, then having your pet spayed or neutered is the sensible thing to do. Does it make your dog any less "tough"? Heck no! Just ask my own dog Poncho... Hes one rockin tough little guy - still marks, raises his leg, growls and hunts, will attack any stranger that comes to the door that I dont want there... Being intact doesnt = macho... having the common sense and being a responsible pet owner is! 

This years theme for our annual Pooch Parade here in Ventura put on by our local rescue group The Canine Adoption and Rescue League is "Spay & Neuter"! For additional info on spaying and neutering your pets, check out these informative websites: Humane Society, ASPCA, The American Kennel Club, The American Veterinary Medical Association. 

Joan

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Out and About at the Beach Dog behavior and proper etiquette

I received a request from a writer for the AKC regarding "tips for taking your dog to the beach". I applaud them for publishing such great information. I say, the more responsible dog guardians are, the more places we will be allowed to bring our beloved four legged friends - We have so many wonderful beaches here in Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Summerland, Carpinteria etc... it would be great to keep those places dog friendly!

Some general guidelines that can help promote a safe and happy time with your dog out at a beach or park are:

• Use leashes if they are required, and it is stated as such. If it’s an off-leash place, keep your dog off-leash as well. Leashes can cause frustration, fear responses, and even fights. If you aren’t able to take your dog off leash, don’t bring them – Unless you’re sitting stationary “camped” in one place and you’re managing their environment. 
• Clean up after your pet. Carry proper elimination bags with you. 
• Bring your dog to public places if they are healthy. If your dog is sick or injured, ask your vet what the best form of exercise should be.
• Monitor your dog and their behavior. Getting caught up socializing with friends can result in your dog wandering off on their own, or getting into an altercation. 
• Spay or neuter your dog. Unaltered dogs tend to wander more, listen less, and are often targeted more often by other dogs. Plus, they don’t have much common sense when it comes to reproducing. The last thing you want is to come home with a pregnant dog, or be the owner of the expectant father. 
• Learn to recognize dog play versus bully behavior. Is your dog being asked to play? Targeted by a bully? Is your own dog wanting to play? Or being a bully themselves? 
• Be careful of humans wanting to say hello to your dog, or your dog wanting to go say hello to others. This goes double for younger kids. Not all dogs do well with kids – either afraid, or wanting to play. 
• Bring dog friendly snacks and plenty of water to fulfill those doggy biological needs. 
• Make sure your dog is up to date on all legally required vaccinations, and that they are licensed.
• Make sure you and your dog are up to speed with those much needed behaviors you learned in your manners classes. This includes: coming when called, "leave it", loose leash walking, greeting politely, and dropping things when asked to (rocks are fun to pick up and chew on). If you need help with those, you can attend one of our classes where we teach all of these behaviors. 
• If your dog enjoys going in the water, make sure they know how to swim. 

Again, Id like to emphasize, the more responsible dog guardians are, the more places we will be allowed to bring them. Please dont be that one person that ruins it for the rest of us! 

For additional information on training services for you and your dog, please contact us. 

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