1.Bonding

Spending time together with your dog builds trust, confidence, and love, and creates a feeling of belonging. Playtime can be a great way to show your love and attention for your dog. It creates quality time spent alone with one another. Playing and having fun together creates a bond and strengthens that bond between dog and human.

2. Exercise

This time is great for both dog and human to get in some physical activity. It’s great for the physical well-being and in maintaining musculature and healthy joints in your dog. Helps your dog burn calories as it works out their core muscles and gives them an appetite for their food, this will also combat the problem of obesity. Exercising your dog will help keep their joints lubricated and improves their overall balance and coordination. 15 minutes of vigorous play can be equivalent to an hours walk.

3. Training

Playing is a good time for some basic command learning like fetch, come, and sit. For some dogs; such as my Luna, you will need a lot of playtime to release some of that pent up energy before any type of training can begin. Try learning new tricks or give an agility course a try. You can always find a way to make training fun.

4. Mental Stimulation

During playtime you enable your dog to use all of their senses. It enables dogs to solve problems and to be inventive, which allows theirs brains to develop. Dogs that become bored easily are usually bright and quick learners, they get tired of doing the same thing daily. So help to keep your dog alert and give them something meaningful to do. Playing with your dog will help them to relieve stress and anxiety.

5. Behavior

Bored Dogs = Destructive Dogs. Bad behaviors such as chewing on everything, garbage can raids, digging, or just acting out could be signs that your dog is just simply bored and needs some playtime. Pacing, jumping, disobeying commands are some signs that they need stimulation or playtime. Dogs can become bored with toys, so be sure to have a few different types of toys to keep their interest. Vary the type of playtime.

What do you and your dog do for playtime?

The following link you will find 20 Fun Activities to Do With Your Dog to give you some other ideas of how to level up your playtime with your dog.

https://www.vetstreet.com/healthypet/reinventing-playtime-20-fun-activities-to-do-with-your-dog

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This is the first event that I have attended that allowed the owners to bring their pets with them. Of course there were a couple of precautions that the event had taken in order for you to bring your pet along.

Dog Attendance Policy:

• Proof of age appropriate vaccinations
• Pet must be in a stroller, carrier, or on a fixed leash (no retractable leashes).

The cost of admission was $5 for adults and $3 for kids between the ages of 5-17. You were able to also order your tickets online or just purchase them  at the door.

From what I could gather beforehand, they had 43 exhibitors. There were booths selling treats and/or clothing, trainers, welfare organizations, an agility course, shelters/rescues, and groomers.

There was a section where they were doing discounted vaccinations, micro-chipping, heart worm and flea preventatives. You could find booths that were handing out free samples and doing prize giveaways as well. One booth said that they would have Goose the cat from the Captain Marvel movie. Well we found that booth but never did get to see Goose the cat.

Now that I have covered a few of the logistics to this event, on to my review of it…..

SoCal Pet Con Event

The Expo Center was fairly easy to find, but there was not a whole lot of parking. Once you found a spot to park you had to find the entrance, by following the signs on all the other doors leading you to the back side of the building where they had the agility course set up.

When we first walked into the entrance doors there was nobody at the desk to collect the money for entrance or to check for tickets. I looked around and for somebody to show proof that I purchased my tickets online, but I was unsuccessful at finding anyone. The volunteers at the table behind us motioned for us to come over to them, but they didn’t ask for the tickets. Instead, they handed out totes to every participant along with a raffle ticket.  We were told to proceed  behind us to the many i Pads that were set . At the i Pads we had to enter our name and phone number along with the raffle ticket number. This information was done in order to enter into a giveaway.

Once I finished filling out the information for the giveaway I started to look around at all the booths that were there. There were multiple booths for dog clothing and accessories.

Bandannas

 Dog Harnesses

Dog Tags

Food Bowls, Water Bowls, and Mats

Treat Jars

And even Essential Oils for Dogs

Can’t Forget the TREATS

In a separate room they had basically a vet clinic set up, in which they were doing vaccinations, micro-chipping, and heart worm or flea preventatives.

I did however notice that the majority of the clothing booths there were only making and selling items for smaller dogs. So if you have a larger dog than about 25 lbs. then you wouldn’t have found any clothing for your dog at the booths there. Although, at one booth, the lady/owner had mentioned that she was asked many times by customers if she had any clothing for larger dogs, so she started an interest list to see how many people with larger dogs would be interested in buying her clothing. I of course entered my information on that list.

The venue was pretty crowded with booths, customers, adoptable dogs, and customer’s dogs. I found myself having to watch where I was stepping because of all the small dogs walking around and some larger dogs laying down.

Even though I had to watch where I was walking, it was fun to see so many dogs of all shapes and sizes. All the dogs there, I felt were very well behaved with being around so many other dogs and the crowds of people.

By the time we were ready to go home we had collected so many free samples. Here is what we came home with…

This was a great event, lots of new things to see and try out even. I’m looking forward to the next event.

Hope you enjoyed my brief review of the SoCal Pet Con 2019.  Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on events and more.

What do you like to see at Pet Fairs or Pet Expos? What type of booths do you wish were in attendance at these types of events? Please comment below.

The post SoCal Pet Con Review appeared first on Dog Fetched.

Checkers Dog Park is located at 5411 Eastside Circle in Yorba Linda, CA. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, which seems to be the normal hours for dog parks. They do however close on Wednesdays from 9am – 12pm weekly, at the discretion of the city. This park had received its name from President Richard Nixon’s cocker spaniel whose name was Checkers. The park is fairly new, opening in 2017 and is the first off-leash dog park in the city of Yorba Linda. It is just under a ½ acre in size and open to all sizes of dogs, so beware, there is no separation of small and large dogs.

Amenities:

• Double entry gate
• Portable toilet situated outside of the gates
• 5 benches
• 1 water station
• 1 bag dispensing station
• Immature trees circled by large boulders

The park is all dirt with no grass. The trees do not generate any shade for your pups or humans to cool off. There is no parking lot for the dog park so you must park on the street situated right above and next to the dog park.

Checkers Dog Park may not be in my top 10 but it still serves its purpose of letting our canine companions get some exercise. Our dogs will still be able to go run and play with some new canine friends.

Since there is only one dog park in my city, which I found to be kind of small with no grass or separate areas for large and small dogs, I feel the need to research and talk to the city about how to get another dog park in this city.

How many dog parks does your city have? Please comment below. I look forward to seeing how many parks are in other cities. Thank you for reading.

Stay tuned for How to get a Dog Park in your own city.

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When it comes to dog parks in my area, there are not many to choose from. I do, however, know of Olive Hills Dog Park, in which Luna and I like to go to often. So, without further ado….Here is my Olive Hills Dog Park Review.

Olive Hills Dog Park opened in August of 2016, and is located at 700 S. Nohl Canyon Road in Anaheim CA. This park is situated next to the Olive Hills Tennis courts, and is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Luna and I go to Olive Hills Dog Park usually during the week, but this time we went on a Sunday afternoon. It was surprising to see the dog park so busy. I have never seen this place so packed with canines and their humans. It was absolutely amazing to see so many dogs having play time and getting some excellent exercise; running around, playing fetch, and of course meeting new friends to play with. The parking lot was completely full and the cars started to line the streets in order for them to partake in the fun.

As you are about to enter your designated play area, you are welcomed by the Bronze K9 monument that was built to honor the Anaheim Police Department K9 officers.

K9 Monument

Olive Hills Dog Park has tons to offer for both small and large dogs alike. Listed below are some of the park’s features.

Olive Hills Dog Park features:

• Dirt ground
• Patches of artificial turf
• Native plants and trees
• Boulders
• Benches
• Agility equipment
• Water stations
• Poo Bag Stations
• Separate areas for Small and Large dogs
• Perimeter walking path

I like the fact that the dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs. Now I did notice that just because the area said it was for small dogs, I had seen larger dogs in the small dog area. From what I could tell this was due to the dog’s temperament. The large dog area had, of course, large dogs but the dogs were running around and well being dogs. Whereas the small dog side had smaller dogs and they were not quite as hyper as the large dog side. I would assume if everyone with the small dogs were OK with a calm large dog in that area, there would not be a problem.

Anyway, let’s get into some details on each designated area for the dogs.

Small Dog Area

The small dog area is designated for dogs that are 25 pounds or less. It has 2 water stations, 6 benches, and 3 waste bag stations.

Large Dog Area

The large dog area is designated for dogs that are over 25 pounds. It has 2 water stations, 7 benches, and 4 waste bag stations.

Agility Equipment

Both dog areas have numerous trashcans for the humans to use, and some agility equipment for the canines to use.

Watering Stations

As I had mentioned above, both dog areas had multiple watering stations and they were kept fairly clean, considering how many dogs were there that day, and the amount of rain that we had the previous week.

Benches

All kinds of benches were stationed around the areas that were either metal or wood. But these benches were not just for people, the dogs seemed to enjoy them too.

Waste Bag Stations

The several waste bag stations in both areas were well stocked with waste bags.

To sum it all up, I believe this is an excellent park for our canine companions to enjoy, and is definitely a popular park. But it raises the question…..Are there enough dog parks locally? Or is this dog park just the favorite around here? I will soon find out as I have only been to this dog park with Luna in my local area so far.

What are some of your favorite dog parks? What amenities do you look for in a good dog park? Please comment below. Don’t forget to follow dogfetched.com to keep you updated on all kinds of events,tips and tricks, how to’s, and even DIYs.

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Why is that?

Well some dogs, just like us humans, avoid the rain because it is cold, wet, and can be just down right miserable. Think about it for a minute, when it is raining what do you do to go out in the rain? Grab an umbrella? Put on a raincoat or rain boots? Dogs, unlike us, cannot get prepared to go out in the rain. For some dogs it could even be a noise phobia. When it rains the sound of raindrops is loud and is even amplified to our dog’s ears which can make that uncomfortable for them as well. Or perhaps it’s the overwhelming scents that your pup is picking up. Rain intensifies the strength of scents because a scent needs moisture to survive which the rain provides. Whatever your pup’s reason may be, here are 10 ways to get your dog to go potty in the rain.

1. WET = FUN

This step should be started from the very beginning while your dog is still in its puppy ages, but it’s never too late to start. Try playing in, and with water in your yard using sprinklers, a bucket of water, a hose, or a pool. However, you should never force a fearful dog to get wet. Work slowly with them and be patient. Show your dog that getting wet is fun and in turn, being in the rain can be fun and not something to be fearful of. Be sure to praise them for getting wet and even reward them. Make it a game of getting wet and something that everyone can enjoy. You can also try feeding your dog in wet grass to get them used to having their paws wet.

2. BE A GOOD LEADER

Lead by example. If you don’t want to be out in the rain neither will your dog. Dogs can tune in to our emotions and feed off of us, so if you make it seem like such a horrible feat of going out in the rain your pup is going to feel the same way. So grab your umbrella, a few treats, and make sure to have your dog on a leash and head outside together. Having your dog on a leash is important because the weather is unpredictable. A leash will keep your pup close by in order to keep them safe from falling branches and even if there is a crash of thunder that spooks your pup, you will be able to keep them from darting away from you.

3. POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

Create a positive experience outdoors during the rain. Keep calm and patient with your dog. Patience and time is the key here. Spend some time outside when there is a light drizzle and try to play with your dog and make it a little more enjoyable for them. Reward your dog when they do go potty, even if it’s just in the wet grass. Praise them to reinforce their good behavior. Do not yell or scold your pet for not going potty. Keep things light, positive, and even fun.

4. COMMAND

Just like in your initial puppy potty training, you will use that same command you used for training your pup to go potty outside. For me, I use the “Go Potty” command. Whatever your command was during that training period you will use that same command now when trying to get your dog to go potty in the rain. But for this explanation of the command, I will use my command of “Go Potty”. Once you get your dog outside in the rain use the command “Go Potty”.  Wait until they are done going potty and then reiterate that same command, ”Go Potty”.  Reward your pup with a praise and of course a treat.

5. QUICK WALK

If your dog is like what mine was like, then you will spend a good 10-15 minutes just staring at each other. He/she is probably nowhere near ready for business because they just want out of the rain. In this case, take him/her for a quick walk. Going for a walk will help to get things going.

6. REWARD, REWARD, REWARD!

As with all kinds of training we reward and praise our dogs for good behavior and it’s no different now. You are literally training your dog how to go potty in the rain. A small treat will let your pup know that they did a good job with going potty out in the rain. You don’t have to give your dog a treat to reward them, you can play with them and praise them, but be sure to reward in some way. You will want to  reward your dog while they are still outside in the rain, and right after they are done doing their business. In doing so, this will help them to make the connection of Potty when Raining =TREAT!

7. QUICKLY DRY

As soon as your dog gets back home be sure to dry them quickly and thoroughly as possible. Don’t forget to wipe the paws, the tail, and head as well. Keep a towel near the door when it is raining so that you won’t have to go running around the house trying to find the dog towel while your dog is in the house shaking and shivering.

8. FIND COVER

When you go out in the rain, try to find an area that is covered. An area that would serve as a suitable spot for your dog to do their business at. A few areas to consider would be a covered patio with artificial grass/turf, a balcony with puppy pee pads, under a tree (may not cover completely but lessens the rain some), or use an umbrella and attempt to keep it over your dog.

9. DOG RAIN GEAR

If your dog tolerates wearing clothing, you can try out a dog rain coat, rain boots, or a pet umbrella. Dog rain coats will keep your dog drier and warmer. You can choose a raincoat with or without a hood. Doggy rain boots will also help to keep your dog warm and dry; added bonus of no mud on the paws. The pet umbrella is just like our umbrellas, just kind of upside down since our dogs can’t hold them. You will  attach the umbrella to the dog’s collar which has a built in lead, so in essence, it becomes an umbrella leash.

10. STAND YOUR GROUND

Don’t give in or give up on your training. Given enough time, like all training, you will have your pup going potty in the rain. So when those sad puppy eyes are looking at you just asking to go back in, stand your ground. Even when it starts to rain a little harder, stand your ground. And especially when 15 minutes have gone by and nothing has happened yet, stand your ground.

What are other things you have tried to get your dog to go potty in the rain? Please comment below.

The post 10 Ways to Get your Dog to go Potty in the Rain appeared first on Dog Fetched.

Let’s begin by taking a look at what your dog’s paw pads are and what they do for them.

• Paw pads act like brakes.
• Help with their balance.
• Act as shock absorbers.
• They have a thick layer of fatty tissue that helps to insulate the inner foot from extreme temperatures.
• Paw pads are tough but not indestructible.
• Pads become rougher when exposed to rough surfaces.
• They help your dog distinguish between different types of terrain.
• The inner layer of pad skin has sweat glands which helps to keep your dog cooler and keeps the pads from drying out.
• Paw pads contain scent glands too, which is useful in territorial marking (ever wonder why your dog wipes his feet after going potty?)

There are numerous things that can damage your dog’s paw pads; here is a list of just a few of them:

• Ice
• Snow
• Salt for melting ice
• Other chemicals used to melt ice
• Hot asphalt
• Pebbles
• Foxtails
• Glass

What can you do to prevent some of these dangers?

Winter Season

During the winter when there is snow or ice on the ground, you can have your dog wear snow boots. By putting the snow boots on you will be able to protect the paws from the cold and from the salt or other chemicals used to melt the ice. Some dogs just will not tolerate having the snow boots on, so in that case, limit the time spent in the cold. When they are ready to come in, always wipe their paws. To remove the salt from the pads you can wash their paws with a mild soap and warm water.

Summer Season

During the summer, asphalt can be extremely hot and if your dog is on it for too long it can cause blistering of the pads, tissue loss, and cause them extreme pain. A good rule of thumb….If you can’t walk barefoot on the asphalt then your dog shouldn’t either. Try to reschedule your walks for when it is cooler like in the early morning or later in the evening. You can go for a walk in grassy areas like at a park or a nearby field as well.

Hiking

Always inspect your dog’s paw pads after a walk, especially if you take your dog hiking. Check to see if any foreign objects like foxtails and/or pebbles have made its way in between the pads and toes. You can also trim the fur between the pads and toes, by doing so, you will help reduce the amount of snow, salt, fox tails, and dirt that cling to the fur.

Cracked Paw Pads

Some cracking of the paw pads is considered to be the usual “wear and tear” and is pretty normal for very active, outdoorsy dogs. You can take care of your dog’s cracked paw pads at home by washing their paws with an antibacterial soap and warm water, pat them dry, and apply a petroleum jelly. When you apply the jelly, make sure to rub it in well. You can also use an all-natural paw pad balm. DO NOT USE any human moisturizers as it can soften the pads too much and can lead to injury. You can also put socks or booties on your dog’s paws to make walking on cracked pads a bit more bearable, if they will tolerate them. Limit the length of your walks if their pads are causing too much discomfort.

What are some other ways that you take care of your dog’s paw pads?

The post How to Keep your Dog’s Paw Pads Healthy appeared first on Dog Fetched.

1. Unwanted behavior

Feeding your dog people food may cause some negative and unwanted behaviors. Such as; refusing to eat their own kibble, begging, and whining at the table or whenever food is near them.  To help keep these negative behaviors at bay when feeding them people food, only give the food to them when they are sitting or lying down quietly and patiently nearby or in an entirely different room. Do not feed them or reward any bad behavior such as being pushy, whining, begging, or barking.

2. Extra Calories

Keep in my mind that you are feeding your dog extra calories in addition to the calories that they already receive from their kibble. Moderation is key when feeding people food. Feed your dog less of their own food when you factor in the extra calories that they will receive from your food.

3. Too fatty

Some people food can be too fatty for our canine’s digestive system which can result in severe upset stomachs. Fatty foods cause weight gain due to the extra calories; which can lead to obesity. Small dogs have a higher risk of obesity when you feed them people food, as it takes very few extra calories to cause weight gain. Oily and fatty food can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and even pancreatitis. Some high fat foods to avoid include bacon, sausage, gravy covered meat, beef trimmings, and chicken skin.

4. Carbs

Be careful with feeding your dog too many carbohydrates as this is an excellent source of highly digestible energy.

If you do decide to feed your dog people food; one of the most important things to know and remember, is what foods to watch out for. The following foods can be toxic to your dog:

• Avocado
• Chives
• Chocolate
• Citrus
• Coffee/Caffeine
• Cooked Bones
• Fruit pits
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions
• Raisins
• Salt and Salty foods
• Walnuts
• Xylitol

There are some foods that you can feed your dog that would be healthier for them. The following list is not a full list of all foods but a sample of some. Such foods would include:

• Bananas
• Cooked Chicken/Turkey
• Cooked eggs
• Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter (watch for Xylitol)
• Plain rice
• Pumpkin
• Salmon
• Seedless Watermelon
• Sliced apples
• Steamed and Unseasoned vegetables
• Steamed/Baked potato
• Yogurt (watch for Xylitol)

There is no right or wrong answer to whether or not it is OK to feed your dog people food. The only answer is your own choice and belief about the matter. So, feel free to feed your dog from your plate but be responsible about it and beware of the dangerous and toxic foods.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you feed your dog from your own plate?

The post Is it OK to Feed your Dog People Food? appeared first on Dog Fetched.

Rocky Custom Creations

This booth was so bright and colorful with many items to choose from. Rocky Custom Creations had bow ties and bows that attached to the collar, poo bag dispensers with mini flashlights, fabric covered martingale collars, and more for your canine companion. But that wasn’t all … She also had handcrafted items for the humans too, to include custom Minnie/Mickey ears, matching bows for dog and owner, just to name a few.  A must see in my opinion, so why not check her out at www.facebook.com/RockysCreations322. You will find some very beautiful and colorful hand crafted items perfect for all sizes of furry companions and their humans too.

Doggy Threads

Doggy Threads booth had some of the most adorable clothing for your canines, to include hats, dresses, sweatsuits, hoodies, and button up shirts. All of their products are 100% hand crafted and they are machine washable too. Each item was of great quality and you could see that they were made very professionally. They are located in Palmdale, CA but you can check out all of the available products on their website at www.doggy-threads.com.

Pet Wants

Pet Wants offers fresh food that is slow-cooked in small batches on a monthly basis. Their food is fresher than what you would ever get with the traditional bag of dog food from your local store. They even offer free delivery to your home when you sign up for their auto-delivery program. Who wouldn’t want all of that? The booth also had a wide variety of treats, chews, and jerky to choose from. One of my personal favorite things about some of the products was the “punny” names like “Sweet Pawtato Chips” and “Liver Alone Flavor Shakes”. I was very intrigued by the freshness of the food; I decided to buy a bag for my canine companion, Luna.  So I bought a 5 pound bag of chicken and rice to try her out on.

The 5 pound bag of food cost $2.85 a pound. Included with my purchase I had received a measuring cup and a recommended feeding guide according to your dog’s weight.

I had Luna try it out tonight…..

I think she liked it….Normally when I feed her the traditional store bought bag of food, I would have to add some egg or a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top of her food in order for her to eat it. But not this time. I am pleased so far and I’m excited to see if this will be a better option of healthier food for her. I will keep you updated on this product in a later post.

Tully’s Toy Box

Tully’s Toy Box is a family owned business located in Corona, CA. They had such a great variety of toys that would be enjoyable for all sizes and breeds of dogs. I think I played with every single toy in there, feeling the softness, crinkling them, and of course squeaking them. I wish I had taken more photos of their products, but I kind of forgot to take any because I was too busy playing with each toy. If you would like to see more you can find their products and order online at www.tullystoybox.com.

As I was walking around all the booths I came across one of the rescue booths, K9 Kismet, I just so happened to see that they had some products on their table. I saw some of the cutest dog tags and dishtowels.

I had asked one of the volunteers at the booth if someone there made those items and she had stated that the items had been donated. This of course peaked my interest. Not to mention I loved the dog tags so much I had bought one for my Luna. Luna is also a rescue dog so the dog tag fits perfectly.

 Primitives by Kathy

Once I got home and was doing my research on all the booths, I found out that the dishtowels and the dog tags came from Primitives by Kathy. This company had started out in 1997 where Kathy made her first hand-crafted “Primitive Candle Box”. Her business had grown quickly and within the 20 years she went from 1 product to now over 8000. She now works with a team of over 150 industry experts. If you want to see more of her and her expert’s products you can check them out and even order at www.primitivesbykathy.com.

Now back to OC Pet Days….

My family had come along with me to this event and we had a celebrity encounter!

We got to meet and hear the story of Shelby from A Dog’s Way home.

Shelby is about 2 years old, she is a pit bull mix, and she was a rescue dog from a no-kill shelter in Tennessee from which she was rescued from a nearby landfill. She truly has the story of “rags to riches”. But once the movie was done filming Shelby had then began to do humanitarian work. She is now a therapy dog for children with autism or in the hospitals. What an amazing story with a wonderful and inspiring ending or should I say beginning.

Shelby was such a sweet and calm dog. We were told that she had had a very busy schedule these last 2 weeks with traveling, but she seemed to still be in such great spirits.

Shelby was greeted by numerous people and received so much love from all. It was a bit difficult to get in close enough to get a picture of her. After all, how often do you get to meet a celebrity dog? The cutest moment we saw while trying to get some photos of her, was when a young child in a stroller had a corn dog and that truly caught Shelby’s attention.

Shelby was not just at this event because of being a celebrity dog; she was also there trying to help with collecting donations for her canine friends from Dream Fetchers.

Time to Sum it Up…

All in all I felt that OC Pet Days was a great success. I do believe that that success is due to the fact that it was held in conjunction with the market place, which gave them plenty of foot traffic. I personally would have liked to see more booths there, but I had a good time seeing all the dogs for adoption and the amazing product booths that were there. Taking my kids to this event had sparked the interest in my kids to do photography. Majority of the photos in this blog were actually taken by my 12 year old daughter. I think she has a good eye and some real talent for photography. She is now asking when the next event is so she can be my photographer. So I guess this blog will now be a family adventure.

I hope you enjoyed my coverage of the OC Pet Days 2019. If you want to read about more of the local events, don’t forget to subscribe at www.dogfetched.com.

What other information would you have liked to see covered on this event or even upcoming events? Please comment below.

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