Celebrate Saturday on Sunday! Check out my new link to Saturday doggie blog posts for an increasing list of fun sites!
I grew up in the country and when I was a little girl, my mom sewed most of my clothes. Once I was older, my friends and I spent hours sharing patterns and oohing and ahhing over the latest fabrics each of us had found at the store. My friend Nancy always seemed to find the best and most beautiful fabrics and was really a whiz at creating the most gorgeous dresses. (She’d make beautiful mid-calf dresses for school with a thousand buttons down the front — each with a perfect button hole that made the rest of us VERY envious!)
While I no regularly longer sew my own clothes, it’s still fun to pull out the machine for fun projects — vests, pillows, blankets, etc. And what could be more fun that having a fabric imprinted with your favorite pooch?!
Kim Niles is an artist who knows how to make sewing fun for the dog lover with her dog-print fabrics at Spoonflower.com. She has fabrics with darling Westies, Yorkies, Pomeranians, and Maltese. There are designs with dogs in the kitchen, in the garden, snuggled for bed — even water tubing! And, of course, Christmas designs for you to get a jump start on those holiday projects.
If you’re looking for something to get you inspired to get crafty or add something fun to your wardrobe, check out Kim’s fabrics, sew something fabulous, then send us a photo to post! You new to sewing? Remember — Fit As Fido reminds you that learning something new and keeping your mind active with skills like sewing will help keep you mentally sharp as you age. So it’s fun AND healthy! Happy sewing!
Some of you have apparently NOT been listening! A report in Mail Online reads: “One in five dog owners [is] too lazy give their pets a daily walk.” The article goes on to say that, while veterinarians recommend daily walks for all dogs for both physical and mental stimulation, many dog owners feel their dogs “get enough” exercise by simply walking around the back yard.
Here’s a quote in the article from Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club Secretary
“Too many dogs are not getting the exercise that they need, which can reduce both the length and quality of their life. The problem is that people think dogs get enough exercise walking around their back garden. But anyone who knows dogs, knows that they will walk around for a while but then sit down by the back door. It’s a legal requirement that an owner has to meet their dog’s daily needs. And that means they need at least one walk of 30 to 40 minutes every day - and ideally a second one. It is one of the responsibilities of owning a dog.”
Now that wise Caroline knows Fit As Fido! If you’re one of those people who has not yet made dog walking an important part of your daily routine, check out Walk It Off in Bark Magazine for some facts on WHY it’s essential to walk every day and HOW to fit walking into an already busy routine.
And if you haven’t ordered your copy of Fit As Fido yet, just click on the Buy The Book link to get your copy personally paw-tographed by my wheaten terriers for you or your loved one. You can also download a free Fit As Fido walking diary to help get you started.
Walking your dog is necessary and it’s easy — the Fit As Fido way!
A dear friend of mine is getting her first puppy. When she asked me about crate training, I wisely gave her a copy of what I consider to be the absolute best book on puppy rearing, Mother Knows Best by my favorite author Carol Lea Benjamin. I used crates for my puppies and still use them religiously for my dogs, who joyfully bound inside when I cheerfully announce, “Kennel up!”
My friend also asked me where to place the crate in their home — basement, kitchen, or bedroom. They had gotten conflicting advise from their vet and the breeder. Once again, I turned to the experts and this time got the answer from the veterinarians at Wood Dog Crate.
Here’s what the experts say about the best spot for your dog’s crate
Dogs are pack animals, and aren’t happy being on their own. You need to keep this in mind when you are deciding where to put your crate. Even though they are crated, your dog will want to feel like they are part of your family life.Although it is tempting to put your dog’s crate in a spot where it doesn’t get in the way, that’s not a good idea. If your dog is crated in a quiet secluded part of your home, they will feel lonely and isolated.
One suggestion is to put your dog’s crate in the room which has lots of family activity, such as the living room. That way they can still have company while they are crated. Admittedly, crates aren’t the most stylish addition to your home decor, but they can look better if you put a piece of timber or plastic on the top, and make it into a bench or corner table. You might also consider using a wood dog crate as this is a stylish crate that serves as a piece of furniture.
If your dog is just a baby and isn’t used to their crate, they may cry and whimper during the night. It won’t do any harm to take the crate into your bedroom for a night or two, until they are familiar with their new bed. If you put it beside your bed, you can put your hand down to soothe your pup without having to get out of bed. Another option is to use a soft crate and let your pup sleep in their crate on your bed. Make sure your bed is big enough for all of you! When your pup is happily sleeping in their crate, you can then move it to its permanent spot in your home.
There are safety issues that you need to consider when choosing where to put your dog’s crate. Make sure they can’t reach any electrical cables or power cords - these can be dangerous if chewed.
Keep the crate away from curtain cords or tassels, as these can cause a serious intestinal obstructions if they are broken and swallowed. Blankets and pillows in the crate will make life comfortable for your dog but they too are harmful to dogs who chew.
While you’re thinking about a safe spot for your crate, make sure you choose a spot that has good air circulation and is well away from air vents and drafts.
The best spot for your dog’s crate is the one that meets all your needs. From your perspective, the crate isn’t in the way and it doesn’t look too bad in your lounge room. From your dog’s point of view, they are in the middle of the action and they don’t feel excluded from family life. It may take some thought and planning, but when you find the right area, life will be more enjoyable for everyone.
And if you are very stylish — like my friend getting the new pup — check out the gorgeous wooden crates at Wood Dog Crate, which make a functional dog crate become a wonderful piece of furniture that you’re definitely NOT going to want to hide in the basement!
Yesterday evening, my husband, our two cheery wheatens, and I were out walking on some lovely wooded park trails in a nearby park with friends and their majestic Doberman. We were nearing the end of the walk when we were about to be passed by a lady and her playful Airedale. As I gave my usual greeting she announced, “I know you! You’re the doctor who wrote that wonderful dog book!”
Told her about my new therapy dog book project and she asked when I might be doing another book signing. I gave her a few details about an upcoming book signing with authors of two other dog books at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Southside Works in Pittsburgh on September 4th. [See how I cleverly got that little plug in?!]
After a nice chat, she and her Airedale were off for their exercise and my husband’s friends were quite impressed by my “celebrity” status. “Seriously,” I told them, “That never happens! Too bad my mother-in-law hadn’t been here. Then she would have thought I was famous!”
So next time you’re out walking, say “hello” to an acquaintance and make that person feel extra special. “Hello! I’ve seen you in the cafeteria at work!” or “I think I sit two pews behind you at church” or “Wow! You have such a gorgeous Newfie!” You’ll leave that person with a big smile on her face, just like my Airedale friend did for me!
Is your workout routine becoming boring? Do you wish you had a reliable workout buddy? Have you ever said, “I’d be happy to go to exercise class - if Fido could come with me!”? Then meet Dawn Celapino, a personal trainer in San Diego. She’s learned how to make exercise time fun for you AND your furry companion! Check out today’s Fit As Fido celebrity spotlight and learn how Dawn can help you Leash Your Fitness!
Everyone with a therapy dog has amazing stories to share. Let me know your story for my new book!
As we begin to get a bit older, there’s often a bit of a concern when we forget silly things and we wonder, “Am I just too stressed and busy? Or could this be the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease?!”
At Fit As Fido, you’ve learned how staying physically and mentally active — exercising and learning new skills with your Fido — are great ways to “workout” your brain cells and keep yourself mentally alert as you age.
In this month’s issue of the Archives of Neurology, researchers found that eating a diet rich in Vitamin E also protects your memory.
People eating diets rich in Vitamin E had a 25% reduced risk for developing dementia.
Where can you get vitamin E?
- Whole-grain foods
- Eggs
- Milk
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
- Spinach
- Unheated vegetable oils
Check out the recipes in your copy of Fit As Fido for simple ways to boost vitamin E in your diet, like adding walnuts to breads, cereals, and salads.
As you’ve been hearing, I’m working on a new project about therapy dogs. Therapy dogs provide an amazing service to people in need by providing cheer and companionship. Service dogs fill a different role — while they clearly provide emotional support, they have been diligently trained to provide specific skills for disabled people — helping them shop, picking up things for them, opening doors, etc. And service dogs open more doors than just those to the front of the house or the laundry machine — they help people regain independence by making daily tasks easier to accomplish. Wendy Morrell is an amazing lady who also opens doors for the disabled — working tirelessly to make certain that disabled individuals with service dogs are permitted access to places everyone else goes.
Wendy Morrell has had a colorful life – teacher, archer, and pilot. You might be surprised to learn that this accomplished lady suffered a sports injury in 1989 while trying out for the British archery team that resulted in her being confined to a wheelchair. Her own recovery was aided by Caesar, a Golden Retriever registered assistance (service) dog. Together, they are a well known advocate team for the disabled and the important role of registered dogs for people with disabilities. This team works tirelessly to help Wendy fulfill her role as European Vice President for the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners.
Caesar was trained through Dogs for the Disabled. The Dogs for the Disabled website states that they train dogs to help disabled people “achieve greater independence.” Wendy and Caesar have become important role models showing the world that barriers to the disabled are made to be broken. Together, Wendy and Caesar have dined in the House of Commons and on Capitol Hill. They broke ground by helping to open transportation on Eurostar through the Chunnel to people accompanied by assistance dogs. Caesar was also the first dog to attend Wimbledon. More recently, they carried the 2008 Olympic torch across London Bridge on its trip to the Beijing Olympics.
