Roll over

Start with your dog lying down. Hold a treat in your hand and place it in front of the dog’s nose. Slowly move the treat to the dog’s shoulder. As your dog follows the treat he will lie on his side. Keep moving the treat in the same direction towards the floor on the other side of your dog so he is now with all paws in the air. He will then flip over and when he does say “roll over!” and give him a treat once he gets up.

After about 15 repetitions, ask for a down, then ask for the “roll over” in a nice upbeat voice and wait. If he does, tell him he is a great dog and jackpot. If he doesn’t, lure him without a treat in your hand and then treat him.

Remember this is just a trick, if your dog doesn’t seem comfortable doing it just stop and try something else, training should be fun for you both.

Summer is coming and with it the Texas heat. These are a few ways to keep your dog tired and happy even through those hot months where long walks might not be an option.

Having your dog run around with other dogs is great exercise. Day care, boarding or having a sleep over with other dogs will keep your dog socialized and tired. In most cases dogs will tire our other dogs much more effectively than we can as humans.

We love to play the recall game indoors. Not only does it get your pooch moving, it will also polish his response for coming when called. 

Two people are needed for this game. The first person calls the dog “Lola, come!” in a very happy and upbeat voice, as the dog runs to the person he or she gives the pup a treat. Then the second person calls her, as the dog turns to run towards the second person he rewards the pup and so on. As your dog gets better at this game, increase the distance between the people, then move to a different room. Always quit before your dog gets bored or too tired. 

Remember the game is the “call game” so if your dog just starts running back and forth between the two people without being called, that is not the game. You should wait to call her back and then she gets her treat. Your dog will speed from one location to the next and have an awesome time. 

You can also play hide and seek with your dog. begin by pointing to a family member or friend and say his/her name. When your dog looks at your friend say “yes” and you or your friend  can give your pup a treat. Repeat a few times then have your friend move a few feet away. As your dog catches on that he must find this person make it harder and harder. The reward doesn’t always have to be a treat it can also be verbal praise or a toy. In no time you’ll be able to use this game to find family and friends around your home.

If you have a dog that retrieves you might also enjoy having them retrieve objects. Start with a ball or one of his favorite toys. Then have him retrieve other stuff for you like keys or your shoes, this will make the game a little harder for the dog and because we are making him think, he’ll tire out even faster.

Instead of feeding your dog from a boring bowl in the kitchen, try separating her meal into several little tupperware around your home. We like to hide a few in a room and have your pup search for his meal. Now instead of just sitting there and wolfing down her breakfast she needs to run around from one location to the other to find her meal. This works great for dogs who eat too fast and for those who are finicky about what they eat.

Remember that treadmill that is sitting in the garage? Try to see if your pup will go on it. A lot of dogs are very comfortable walking on them. You must start with a very very slow setting at first, get them used to the noise it makes and the movement. Once your pup gets the hang of it you can make it a bit faster. Not all dogs are comfortable with the movement and the noise so be very gentle and if your pup doesn’t like it then try some of our other suggestions for exercise. Make sure you are always watching your dog while he runs.

Crate training your cat

Many cat owners express concerns about traveling with their cats, they are worried that it will be stressful for their kitty. However, cats are smart creatures that can be trained to go in a carrier. After all, don’t we find them climbing into any box or container available?

Begin by purchasing the adequate size carrier for your pet, it can be soft or hard, depending on how you plan to use it. Open up all the flaps and doors and set it in the middle of your living room. This will start tempting your kitty to go investigate it. As your cat approaches the carrier gently praise her. You can also drop some of her favorite treats or toys in there to help encourage her. Leave the carrier out for a few days so she feels comfortable popping in and out of it. Put it away for day or two and then repeat the process so that every time you bring the carrier out, something exciting happens (yummy treats, toys, etc.). Think of a cue that makes sense to you like “go for a ride” or something like that and say it as you bring the carrier out. Just like the sound of the can opening this will get your kitty responding

Now you are ready to close the doors or flaps for a few seconds with your cat inside. Slowly increase the time spent in the carrier to a few minutes, then move carrier with the cat in it from one spot to another. As you feel you kitty getting comfortable you can take her outside, on short car rides, to listen to birds in a quiet park, etc. The idea is to make it a fun experience, so wait a while before doing vet visits or something more stressful. This process is a little long while training but will end up making things much easier if you need to go on a trip or need to get your cat in an emergency.

Be patient and kind with your cat, celebrate every success!

Miniature pigs

There are many varieties of micro pigs that can be lovely pets. It is important to do research on them before you go out and get one. Due to a lack of breed standards many of these pigs can grow quite large; so getting them from a highly reputable breeder is a must if you intend to keep a pet sized pig (under 100lbs) in your home. Looking at the parents and grand parents can give you some idea of size, but since pigs can reproduce way before they reach their full size it may be deceiving.

Just like dogs, pigs will need training, they are very smart and learn quite fast so having a clear set of rules from the beginning is a must. Remember they have hooves! So if you think the nails on a pup can hurt when they jump imagine hooves. Proper training early on will pay off. 

They need limited exercise, but many a pig will enjoy a nice walk around the neighborhood. Speaking of neighborhoods, check your city guidelines in regards to mini pigs. Some cities consider them farm animals and may not allow you to keep them as pets, while others (like Fort Worth) will allow up to two in residential areas. Also important will be to find a vet that can treat pigs, many of our local dog and cat vets are not accustomed to swine.

Pigs are intelligent, curious and playful creatures that can live between 15 and 20 yrs, making them  a true lifetime commitment. They give a lot of love and acknowledgment to their owners. This is a pet that will require your attention, many hours of interaction and mental stimulation to keep them happy. They are friendly towards other pets and children when introduced adequately.

Mini pigs love to eat so it is important to research a healthy diet and stick to it so your pig can enjoy a long life. You will find pig pellets are a good option and you may use fresh veggies and some fruits as treats for training. No chocolate, avocado or salty foods ever since they can be quite harmful to them. They need plenty of water year round and prefer a warm environment. Pigs can’t sweat; if it gets too hot they’ll need to stay indoors or have a wading pool to cool off in the Texas summers.

Piggies also love blankets, they will pull them around the house, lie in them, hide under them and even roll themselves in them, so its important to provide at least one at all times.

These are fun, loving pets that need careful attention and training. Do your research and you’ll have a lifelong friend!

Skillet

Born: 

 April 18^th, 2013

How did you obtain your dog? 

Bought from a local individual

How old was your dog when you got him? 

He was 6 weeks old when we got him

Favorite food:

Anything other than real dog food

Cutest thing your dog does:

Well, it was the cutest before it became the most irritating. He cries out long and hard if someone is in his spot on the couch in our living room. I mean loud and long. And he just looks at you like life is so unfair. 

Smartest thing your dog does:

He can open all the doors in our house. At first, it was just those he could hold, lever down, and push open, but then he figured out how to pull them open. FYI, it is not cute anymore. If the door is not locked, he is busting through and that includes the bathroom.

Fun fact:

Skillet always wants to play. If he looks at you, just feign a move toward him or make a slight growling noise; head down, tail up, and ready to play!