The Central BarkerIt's a Dog's World!

The snow has a way of, well, bringing out the dog in your dog.  A dusting of white can turn even the best-behaved Rover into a jumping, twirling, digging, snow bather.  It can also make for an adventure skittering across the parking lot with an overly excited dog in tow.

Now you can make use of Spot’s inner sled dog with the rapidly growing sport of skijoring.  It is a combination of cross-country skiing and dog mushing where your dog uses a harness and tow line to pull you along a winter trail on skis.   Why skijor you ask?  Because…

• Dogs absolutely love it.
• Perfect for dog, ski, and nature lovers alike.
• It requires minimal equipment and expense.
• Any type of dog can do it.
• It is a blast!

With minimal training and equipment you and your dog can feel the exhilaration of mushing across the Arctic tundra like the days of old.

For more information check out www.skijornow.com

Since the holiday season seems to be full of cooking, stuffing, and wrapping activities and leaves little attention for Fido, we figured why not continue mixing and stuffing and give Fido a little extra love (and something to do while you’re busy with family): stuff a Kong!  In case you haven’t already discovered these durable, fill-able, affordable, dishwasher safe and completely awesome little rubber toys, you can find them at just about any pet retailer and they come sized and shaped to match your mutt’s chewing needs.  Here are some holiday stuffing recipes that will keep Fluffy occupied for hours…

Turkey Dinner – for beginning to intermediate chewers

• 2 parts Fromm’s Grain-Free Beef Frittata Veg (dry)
• 1 part Nature’s Variety Homestyle turkey and duck stew (canned).
• 1-3 pieces of Fruitables pumpkin and cranberry treat.
• Mix the dry and canned dog food to form a tasty chunky paste.
• Place 1-3 pumpkin and cranberry dog treats at the bottom of the Kong. Fill the remainder of the Kong with the wet/dry dog food mash. Feed at room temperature or freeze for advanced chewers.

Aunt Jeannie’s Archaeology Kong – for advanced chewers

• LAYER ONE (deepest): roasted, unsalted cashews · freeze dried liver bits
• LAYER TWO: dog kibble, cookies or liver biscotti · Cheerios · sugar-free, salt-free peanut butter · dried banana chips, apples and apricots
• LAYER THREE: carrot sticks · turkey or leftover ravioli or tortellini
• LIGHT VERSION: substitute crumbled rice cakes for cashews, Caesar croutons for freeze-dried liver, fat free cream cheese for peanut butter

Mix and match or substitute!  Just remember to supervise your dog with new chew toys and feed multiple dogs separately to avoid conflicts due to Kong envy.

Happy Holidays!

So for all of us crazy die-hard dog lovers that have been swearing for years that our furry companions can truly love us, care for us, and sympathize with us when we are in a pinch, here’s the proof…

The University of Chicago neuropsych lab tested whether rats would overcome their fears and brave into the center of an arena to free a trapped cage mate.  They not only discovered that the rats would consistently open a door to liberate a friend, but the rats would also free the trapped rat when they would be physically prevented from socializing and when they had the choice to free the cage mate or pig out on some delicious chocolate chips.  The rats even shared chocolate with their liberated buddies.  They did not open the doors on empty or dummy-rat holding containers, proving that the motivator was the opportunity to help out a friend and not just exploration.

Finally, evidence that animals empathize.  Don’t just take my word for it.  Watch the video here!

For the lucky shoppers of North Yorkshire visitor centre in Danby England, Christmas tree buying will be a little different this year.  Their trees will be brought to their car using dog power.

The Forestry Commission in Danby Forest has recruited Newfoundland dogs from Aqua Nova Water Bears training club to move the trees.  The Newfies, who are naturals at draft work, have been trained to pull the trees behind them in carts.  This year they will be towing trees to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Scarbourough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue.

Newfoundlands were originally bred to work for fisherman in Newfoundland Canada.  This giant, tremendously strong breed remains extremely benevolent, using its loyalty and calm disposition for water rescue work even to this day.  Newfoundlands thick double coat, webbed feet, and muscular build means that they can swim for miles.

Here’s a little video to remind us to snap out of our turkey induced coma, get up and moving, and get our dogs some exercise.  Thankfully most of us don’t have the doggie equivalent of an olympic hurdler on a caffeine high like the dog in this video, but remember that Fido still needs some action.  Of course, Central Bark is here for the best of both worlds, exercise for Rover while you remain comfortably on the couch.  Enjoy!

Alan and Ingrid of Animal Planet Photography will be here on December 4th and 5th to take beautiful animal portraits for the holiday season.  Here is some Q & A about the upcoming shoot.

What if my dog won’t hold still?  They don’t expect them too.  Their camera shoots at 1/6000 of a second.  They can capture even the briefest of poses.

How much does it cost?  The shoot is free.  You can select a single photo, multiple, or a package.  Prices depend on photo size and quantity.

How do I order?  You can see your photos as soon as they’re taken and select the ones you would like.

Can I be in it?  Absolutely.  They can do group photos with you, your dogs, and your cat if you would like.

How do I sign up?  E-mail us at info@central-bark.com or call us at 206.325.3525.

We continue to be impressed with the spectacular variety of dogs we have here at Central Bark, from purebred Pomeranians to true Heinz 57s that tip the scales at 90lbs.  I am also awed with how knowledgeable our clients are and how many of them chose to adopt or purchase their dog from a credible breeder.

That said, I am still suprised by how many people tell me that they bought their puppy from a pet store or mass online breeder.  Don’t they know that puppies sold in pet stores come almost exclusively from puppy mills where they live in squalid, crowded, wire-bottom cages and are never allowed to experience the joys of doggie life like feeling grass on their feet, playing with other dogs, or being loved by a human?

There is something that we can do about it.  Don’t buy anything from pet stores that sell puppies and puppy mills will go out of business.  You can also sign the ASPA’s pledge to reject purchases from puppy-peddling operations by clicking here.

Thanks for taking the time to sign!

Does your dog bark at the door?  Does your dog need work greeting strangers?  Does your dog shy away from funny looking people?  We have the perfect opportunity to deliver precious socialization straight to your door…. Halloween!  Here’s how to turn this spooky holiday into an awesome training opportunity.

Have someone else man the door while you work with your dog.  This way you can move further away from the door if Fluffy is getting too excited.

Leash your furry friend to prevent escapes and to keep away from those overly generous chocolate-wielding trick-or-treaters.

Bring dog candy; soft, smelly, meaty treats that is.  Reward those social butterflies for remaining
calm as kids arrive.  For shy dogs, reward for bravely approaching those strange costumed creatures.  For barkers, reward those quiet moments.

Create a training station using a cushy blanket or dog bed.  It will give your dog a focal point for stationary positions like sit and stay, which can be tricky when there are distractions.

And remember, don’t force any encounters between Fido and those kids.  If at any point your dog seems stressed or is refusing treats, it’s time to give them a break.  Training should be fun and safe for everyone.  Consider boarding if you’re concerned about your dog’s stress level.

Tucker is a very friendly 3 year old retriever mix that we adopted from the Humane Society.  He has always been great with my three kids and loves playing with other dogs and going to the dog park and has never been in a fight.  Recently he has been barking and pulling towards dogs on our walks.  I thought he just wanted to play but yesterday when he reached the dog he bit it on the face.  What has happened to my sweet Tucker?

What you are experiencing with Tucker is called “reactivity” in the trainer world and it is very common.  Tucker’s reactivity is probably due to a combination of being uncomfortable meeting on leash and feeling frustrated at not being able to greet and play with dogs that he meets.  In this case, having a social butterfly can make the situation even worse because the frustration at not being able to play is even greater.

There are two things that you will need to do to help Tucker’s reactivity.

1)  Teach him that dogs approaching him on leash is awesome and that they are a cue that you are about to dispense awesome cookies and fun games.

How to – Bring tasty treats on your walks with Tucker.  As soon as he sees another dog, say his name and pop a scrumptious treat in his mouth, then walk away.  Treat him the very second he spots that other dog. Before long he will look up at you every time he sees a dog.

2)  Teach him that calm behavior and attention is the key to being able to greet and play with friendly dogs.

How to – Have a helper bring a dog that Tucker knows and likes.  Pick a distance from the other dog where Tucker is distracted but not lunging or barking.  Ask for a sit, wait for him to comply, then release him to go play with his buddy. This exercise works best if both dogs are released at the same time and meet off leash.

I recommend Patricia McConnell’s book Feisty Fido if you want some extra help.  Good luck in your training endeavors!

You can ask the trainer yourself at info@central-bark.com

With our last training class being such a huge success, we are kicking off round two, and this time we are adding a new class into the mix!

Buddy Basics & Canine Good Citizen – This class includes all of the basic obedience cues (sit, down, off, stay, come, polite leash walking and polite dog-dog greetings) as well as prepares you to certify your dog through the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program.  Certification is included in the cost.

Buddy Basic’s is 6 consecutive Tuesdays @ 7:30pm from 10/18 – 11/6     Cost is $130

Foundation Fido – Learn the techiques that pro sport dog trainers use to build that intense focus and stop-on-a-dime obedience that creates champion agility, flyball, weight pull, and obedience dogs.  Your dog will form a foundation of focus, self-control, and confidence that will prepare him or her for dog sports of off-leash control.  Class includes exercises like relaxed down-stays, long distance flying recalls (come!), immediate attention on cue and much more.  For specialized attention, maximum enrollment is 4 dog/handler teams.

Foundation Fido is 6 consecutive Wednesdays @ 7:30pm from 11/15 – 12/20     Cost is $120

For more questions or to enroll contact info@central-bark.com or 206.325.3525

And to see the graduates from last class click here.