{"id":422,"date":"2021-01-05T17:14:49","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T17:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=422"},"modified":"2021-01-05T17:14:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T17:14:49","slug":"january-2021-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/january-2021-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"January 2021 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Safely Walk Your Dog for That All-Important Exercise<\/a>
\nFun Outdoor Activities to Do with Your Pet During Cooler Weather<\/a>
\nGetting a Puppy for Christmas? Rescue instead!<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nHow to Safely Walk Your Dog for That All-Important Exercise<\/strong>
\nTaking your dog for a walk is great for exercise, the fresh air, and is healthy. You\u2019ll have to walk your dog if you live in an apartment. Even with a backyard, taking a long walk is a good idea.<\/p>\n

While your backyard is a great way for a dog to get exercise, the walk is an additional benefit and adds variety giving your dog something new to look forward to: the smells, the sights, the new sounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAside from the physical health benefits, dog walking provides opportunities for enrichment, socialization and training that a backyard may not,\u201d according to the PetMD article, \u201cWalking Your Dog vs. Just Letting Your Dog Out in the Backyard.\u201d It\u2019s not just good for socialization, it also helps you and your dog to bond.<\/p>\n

For walks, you\u2019ll need to find the best type of leash that is comfortable in your hand. According to the article, \u201cDog Walking 101\u201d found at Fetch by WebMD, you can choose from a flexi-lead, which is good for walking in the park where your dog can explore further away. A nylon leash can cut into your hand if your dog pulls, but they hold up well in bad weather.<\/p>\n

Dogs who pull may do so because they\u2019re running after other animals or due to \u201ccanine enthusiasm for all the exciting signs and sounds you encounter on walks,\u201d according to WebMD\u2019s article. Try a head halter for excitable dogs.<\/p>\n

While on walks, especially during warmer months, keep your dog away from flowers and plants that, if eaten, can cause stomach problems. Also, lawns and gardens may contain toxic products.<\/p>\n

Teach your dog manners when meeting other people and dogs. And, if you\u2019ll be out for a long walk, bring water, treats for training, and lots of poop bags.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nFun Outdoor Activities to Do with Your Pet During Cooler Weather<\/strong>
\nWhen temperatures drop in Arizona, there\u2019s a host of great, fun outdoor activities to do with your pet.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c5 Fun Outdoor Activities for You & Your Dog\u201d at PetSafe, \u201cOutdoor activities can reduce your pet\u2019s destructive behaviors such as chewing, digging, or scratching. Being outdoors can also help your dog sleep better, build his confidence, and strengthen his bond with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fun outdoor ideas include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tA nice walk or a more challenging hike at a nearby trail.
\n\u2022\tPlay fetch. If your dog has been inside for long, he may start to chew on things. \u201cYou can give them a task to perform by going outside and playing fetch,\u201d the article said.<\/p>\n

When you take your dog outside to participate in fun activities, \u201cit\u2019s about exercise, too, which your dog needs to stay healthy,\u201d according to the article, \u201cOutdoor Activities for Dogs: Fun Ideas Based on Personality Types and Interests\u201d at Vetstreet.com. \u201cExercise can help support your pup\u2019s joint, muscle and heart health; help him maintain or lose weight; and stimulate his mind.\u201d Check with your veterinarian first to be sure your dog is up for new activities.<\/p>\n

According to Vetstreet, check out the following activities for your dog:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tAgility training, which includes running, jumping and sometimes barking. \u201cPlaying catch with a flying disc is fun for the high-energy dog, too, but activities with a lot of leaping can be hard on the joints and are best avoided for dogs with orthopedic problems, such as arthritis,\u201d the article said.
\n\u2022\tFlyball is for the dog who thinks catch is not exciting enough. \u201cIn this event, teams of dogs race over a series of hurdles, catch a ball and return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whatever you decide, you and your dog should get off the couch and get out there.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nWhy You Shouldn\u2019t Shave Your Double-Coated Dog<\/strong>
\nSome dog parents may believe that shaving their dog\u2019s double coat will help keep the dog cooler when temperatures rise. However, there\u2019s many reasons not to shave these dogs.<\/p>\n

Dogs with double coats include the German Shepherd, Husky, and Pomeranian. \u201cThe hairs are short and crimped, which makes them highly efficient at trapping air and insulating the animal,\u201d according to the article, \u201cTruths and Myths About Shaving Dogs with Double Coats,\u201d at The Animal Rescue Site. Because of this they are warm in the winter and actually cool during summer.<\/p>\n

It is a myth that shaving a double-coated dog in the summer will keep the dog cooler. Unless the dog is so matted that nothing else but shaving can help, it\u2019s best to use a special tool to remove the undercoat, which, once thinned out will help the dog feel cooler, the article said.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cFrom A Groomer: 3 Reasons Not To Shave Your Double-Coated Dog\u201d at iHeartDogs, additional reasons not to shave a double-coated dog include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tShaving can damage your dog\u2019s coat. It may very well grow back OK the first time but then come back patchy.
\n\u2022\tIt doesn\u2019t stop shedding. The dog will continue to shed but there will be smaller hairs. \u201cYou may think shorter hairs would be less noticeable, but they can be much more difficult to clean up.\u201d
\n\u2022\tDogs don\u2019t sweat as humans do. They sweat through their paw pads and they pant to cool off. \u201cShaving them actually exposes their skin more directly to the sun and causes them to overheat,\u201d the article said. \u201cBrushing out the undercoat without shaving the topcoat is the best way to keep your dog cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

A respectable groomer will be honest with you and ensure you do right by your dog and his coat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to Safely Walk Your Dog for That All-Important Exercise Fun Outdoor Activities to Do with Your Pet During Cooler Weather Getting a Puppy for Christmas? Rescue instead! How to Safely Walk Your Dog for That All-Important Exercise Taking your dog for a walk is great for exercise, the fresh air, and is healthy. You\u2019ll… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422\/revisions\/423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}