My dogs are wimps. There, I said it. My three terriers have never been fond of inclement weather and winter is their least favourite season. Typically they run outside, relieve themselves posthaste, then run back to the house and shiver at the door until I let them in. And, yes, they are wearing winter coats.

In order to stay outside any longer than it takes to lift a leg on the closest bush, the terriers have a list of criteria that must be met. There can be no wind or precipitation. It must be sunny and just slightly below or, better yet, above 0 degrees. The snow must be soft and fluffy and not deep enough to touch their smooth little bellies.

There was a time when my Sheltie loved a romp in the snow, but at 15 years of age he has joined the ranks of my terriers and would much rather stay inside where it’s warm and dry, unless it’s a terrier winter weather kind of day.

I’m also a wimp when it comes to winter weather so my dogs and I are quite happy to hibernate for the season. That is until late in the winter when cabin fever hits. Lack of exercise can make for some naughty behaviour, even in the best of dogs. So while spending winter months hiding under the covers might seem appealing, it’s just not going to cut it for my crew.

We all know that physical exercise is required for overall fitness. A walk around the block just isn’t sufficient exercise for most dogs. Sustained aerobic activity over a period of 15 to 30 minutes (or more for some breeds or individual dogs), depending on your dog’s age and current level of fitness, is the best option for burning off steam. But let’s not underestimate mental exercise. In my opinion a combination of physical and mental exercise is best to burn off that excess energy.

If your dogs are winter wimps, whether they are terriers or golden retrievers, or if the outdoor conditions on any given day are just plain dangerous, there are ways to exercise body and mind in the warmth and comfort of your home. 

How’s tricks? Activities such as trick training and behaviour shaping can be added to your list of indoor winter energy burners. To get started, sign up for a group tricks class at a dog training school. Each week you’ll learn new tricks to teach your dog. If you find yourself getting hooked on trick training, search YouTube for a plethora of ideas for you and dog to work on, and check out dogwise.com for books and videos.  

Basic tricks include shake-a-paw, wave, spin, sit pretty, and roll over and advanced tricks include handstands, retrieving a Kleenex when you sneeze, climbing ladders, and many more. These can be taught in very small spaces, so even if you and your dog live in a small bachelor or studio apartment, trick training can be added to your repertoire of indoor winter activities. You’re limited only by your imagination and any physical limitations your dog might have.

Combine some basic and advanced obedience behaviours with an assortment of tricks, add some music and you have Canine Freestyle - human and dog dancing together. Start with the basics, find some music you love and put together a routine. When spring arrives you’ll be ready to move the routine outdoors and add bigger moves that require more space. Courses in Canine Freestyle are available at some dog training schools as well as on DVDs.

Hide and Seekis a fun game for all family members, both canine and human. Start with your dog on leash and one family member (the “holder”) holding the leash. A second person (the “hider”) gets the dog’s attention by calling his name in a happy tone then quickly moving away and hiding behind a piece of furniture, still calling the dog. The holder takes off the leash and releases the dog saying “Find him!” (or her). If the dog is having difficulty, the hider can continue to encourage the dog and calling his name. When the dog finds the hider it’s party time!

Tricks for treats Praise your dog with lots of enthusiasm and give a tasty treat or two or, if your dog loves to tug, play a game of tug as his reward for finding the hider. As your dog becomes more proficient at this game, increase the level of difficulty by having the hider in different rooms and, once your dog is a total whiz-pup at this game, the hider can be on another floor of the house. This game burns a surprising amount of energy and dogs love it. Even young puppies can play this game and the next: Find It.

Find Itis similar to Hide and Seek except your dog is looking for an object instead of a person. This game can be played with one or two people. If two people are playing, you’ll have a holder and a toy hider. The toy hider will hide one of your dog’s favourite toys. Show him the toy then hide it in the same room. If you’re the only player, hide the toy then take your dog to show him where it is. Now you and your dog move across the room away from the toy. The holder releases the dog, saying “Find it!” in an excited tone. 

Have a huge celebration when your dog finds it by tossing the toy around a bit and maybe playing a bit of tug, or rewarding with a treat. As with Hide and Seek, you can gradually increase the level of difficulty and it’s another great energy burner.

Let’s not forget strength and conditioning exercises for dogs. This past summer I was fortunate to participate in a workshop presented by Tania Costa of Canine Wellness Center in Toronto (caninewellness.com). Tania discussed the importance of “core strength” for dogs.  The core or torso is what supports all four limbs and a strong core should aid in reducing injuries.

Tania introduced workshop participants to peanuts, donuts, eggs and Dyna Discs. It sounds like we were all bellying up to the continental breakfast bar but what I’m really talking about is exercise equipment for dogs. A peanut, for example, is an inflatable peanut-shaped stability ball that dogs balance on with the help of their human. Dogs automatically react to the shifting movement, causing them to use different muscle groups simultaneously in order to remain upright.

If your dog has any physical issues, check with your veterinarian before starting any exercise program. Deacon, my Rat Terrier, quickly became a pro on his peanut and he absolutely loves it. When he sees the peanut, he jumps on his hind legs and reaches for it with his front feet. I can barely get it on the ground before he’s up and on it. Who knew strength training could be so much fun!  Tania offers training sessions to help you get started and teaches the correct use of exercise equipment.


Indoor recreational swimming has become popular for dogs. Canine Wellness Centre offers a pool for physiotherapy purposes as well as recreational for fitness. If your dog is missing his water sessions at the cottage, indoor recreational swimming is the next best thing until next summer rolls around. It’s also a great way to introduce the idea to a dog who is new to the concept. 

There are many other options for keeping your dog fit during the winter months, even when the weather isn’t co-operating. Choose a variety of activities to mix things up for your dog both physically and mentally. Whether your dog is a hardy winter-loving husky or a crawl-under-the-covers kinda guy like my dogs, winter can be a fun time of year for all canines.

Teddy Green has been a professional trainer for 14 years and is a head instructor at Who’s Walking Who Training Centres where she teaches all levels of classes and offers behavioural consultations. Teddy also instructs at Daytripper Dog Training, specializing in agility, located in the City of Kawartha Lakes. She and husband Lane, also a dog trainer, share their home with seven dogs.


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Country Bumpkins By Teddy Green


In August 2000 my husband, Lane, our then four dogs and myself moved from the Beaches area of Toronto to a 24- acre farm just south of Port Perry. This was a dream come true for us and it was obvious our dogs were in total agreement.



 
The farm’s previous owners had rented a portion of the property to a local cattle farmer who used the fields to grow feed for his herd. In 2000 he was growing cattle corn and in late summer the corn is about six feet tall. Walking around the property we felt cocooned by the cornfields and trees. Stepping barefoot out of the house and walking on the grass, I was reminded of visiting my Aunt Audrey’s country property when I was a child. It felt like vacation time. It seems our four dogs thought it was vacation time, too. It was weeks before they could settle.

Folks who are familiar with the Beaches area of Toronto know that the area is not known for it’s large backyards. Our dogs were thrilled by our new ‘yard’. Because the property was not fenced and there are many new distractions in a country setting we decided that the dogs would only be allowed outside under our immediate supervision. If they’d had their way we’d be outside from dusk until dawn. They loved it and would run excitedly every time we went outside. They were like kids in a candy store, not knowing which candy to choose, going in all directions.


Within our first week at the farm we had our first ‘mishap’. My little terrier mix, Newt, had been particularly difficult to teach to come when called but we had mastered that one, at least in the city. One day Newt and I were out for a walk, he did his business, I bent to pick it up and when I turned, he was gone. Instant panic set in. We had been standing at the edge of one of the cornfields (luckily the one at the south end of the property, farthest from the road) and he had disappeared into the six-foot high corn. Lane and I immediately started to search, calling his name but spotting a 13” high black dog amongst rows of corn is easier said than done. Looking to the east I could see the cars on the road closest to that side of the property, and I remembered the previous owners warning us not to let our small dogs loose at night because of the local coyotes. I became more panicked. After about an hour and lots of tears, standing at the edge of the cornfield I was desperate that I had lost my beloved Newt. I turned around just as Newt popped out of the cornfield, tail wagging, obviously very pleased with his newest adventure. Ah, that was one of those ‘do I kill him or hug him?” moments that dog owners really understand. City life and country life afford different distractions for dogs. The next morning we were outside; Newt on a long-line and me armed with a baggie of canned sardines and a few paper towels to keep the mess under control. Clearly he needed more training on recalls in our new exciting environment.


It came as no surprise to us that living in the country and ensuring our dogs’ exercise requirements were met required our participation. Contrary to popular belief, farm dogs do not exercise themselves by running and romping all day long. The local dogs that we came to know often were outside loose for all or part of the day and they would generally just hang around. Others were tied up, limiting their ability to exercise. However, for those inclined to exercise their dogs, it’s so much more convenient to step out of the house and toss a ball or frisbee. Hey, you can even play with your dogs in your pajamas if the neighbours aren’t too close. (If they are close, everyone will not only know that you exercise your dogs but that you do so in your PJs. Ah, country life!) Lane and I like to exercise our dogs individually which, when living in the city, meant multiple walks to and from the local dog park. It was very time consuming. When we moved to the country that time was virtually eliminated. When there was no corn crop in our back field it provided exercise and training opportunities that most dog owners would kill for. Lane and I would walk the dogs off-leash and then split up, practicing calling the dogs back and forth between us. And let’s not forget the opportunity to ‘hunt’ local ‘game’ in that field. Needless to say, Newt was the big game hunter (or so he thought) but someone needs to inform him that barking at a rabbit hole does not fall under the category of ‘stealthy hunter’.


Shortly after our first year in the country we adopted our first country puppy. She and a littermate had been found in a farmer’s field. She had experienced an unfortunate encounter with a porcupine, hence her new name “Quill”. Socializing a puppy in the Beaches was a breeze; opportunities abounded. Living in the country, it’s a whole other story. Knowing the importance of socialization, we immediately signed Quill up for puppy classes and also started driving into the closest towns to ensure she was comfortable in all kinds of environments.

The transition from city slickers to country bumpkins had been an easy one for our dogs and us. We’re staying put until we are too old to maintain a country property but you never know what curve ball life may throw you. Because of the training and socialization we’ve provided our dogs, they will be able to move back to the city and settle in fast enough. In fact, at this point in time, that adjustment might be easier for them than for us.

Teddy Green has been training dogs professionally for over 11 years and is a head instructor at Who's Walking Who Dog Training Centres, teaching all levels of classes, including behavioural consultations. She is also an instructor at Daytripper Dog Training, which specializes in agility and is located in the City of Kawartha Lakes. She and her husband, Lane (also a dog trainer), share their home with eight dogs.

Since beginning my career as a professional dog trainer, I’ve counseled countless dog owners with overweight or obese dogs. It’s a very touchy subject and one that people often take personally. How best to broach the subject is something I continue to struggle with. “Your dog has lost her girlish figure.” “He could stand to lose a pound or two”, when in reality it’s more like 20 or 30 pounds. “I wouldn’t want to see him gain any more weight.” And, the very direct, “Your dog needs to lose weight.” Being well aware of the health risks overweight dogs are prone to, it’s something that I feel compelled to address with my clients but at the same time, I don’t want to offend them. And more often than not, my comments are met with surprise, denial and the ever popular, “He doesn’t eat that much.”


In a recent study, veterinarians estimated that 56 percent of all dogs they see are ‘overweight” or “obese”. Interestingly enough, when asked to evaluate their dog’s body condition, only 22 percent of dog owners acknowledged that their pet was overweight or obese. I can only guess that this is in part due to the fact that the excess weight has been gained slowly, giving the owners time to become accustomed to the weight gain and there’s that old saying, “love is blind”.


Excess weight affects a dog’s overall health and well-being in the same way it affects humans. The lungs have to work harder when a dog is carrying excess weight, resulting in breathing problems. In the short term overweight dogs are more prone to injury. Playful running and jumping can result in joint injuries. Over time arthritis becomes a serious issue. Carrying excess weight puts extra stress on a dog’s heart, making it work harder. Overweight dogs are more prone to skin and coat problems. Because it’s more difficult to get around, overweight dogs tend to experience a loss of energy. This creates a vicious cycle. Exercising is more difficult, so it’s more difficult to lose weight. And let’s not forget diabetes. Just like us humans, carrying extra weight is a contributing factor to the disease.


“Overweight” is typically defined as 10 to 15 percent over the ideal weight. “Obese” is typically defined as 20 to 25 percent or more over the ideal weight.


In September 2008 my husband and I adopted a two-year-old Rat Terrier we renamed Deacon. It was August when I first saw Deacon on the rescue website. Among other things he was described as 14 inches tall and 15 pounds. The pictures that accompanied his bio had been taken in June and I suspected that Deacon could perhaps lose about a pound. Yes, knowing how important maintaining an ideal weight is, I’m that particular about my dogs’ weight. A pound is a lot of weight on a small dog. To put it in perspective, the next time you are at the grocery store, check out a pound of ground beef and then imagine that on a Chihuahua or Jack Russell.


Before Deacon could make the trip from his foster home in Michigan to our home in Ontario a vet visit and health clearance was required to cross the border. The day before the scheduled trip Deacon’s fabulous foster mom emailed me to say that Deacon had passed his health exam with flying colours and that he now weighed 18 pounds. “Perhaps, he’s a little overweight”, she said.


For the first time since we’ve had dogs my husband and I found ourselves with an overweight dog! Our dogs are always on the light side of ‘normal’ and my mother-in-law often comments that our dogs look like they could use a good meal but isn’t that what mothers-in-law often say? Our vet, on the other hand, always compliments us on our dogs’ weight and excellent physical condition. We don’t have a scale at home and yet, year after year, our dogs are either exactly the same weight as the previous year or there’s only a one or two ounce variance. How do we do that? Simply by using our eyes and our hands, and constantly adjusting their food intake and exercise accordingly.


Standing and looking down at your dog you should be able to see a waist; an hourglass figure, so to speak. From the side view, your dog’s belly or abdomen should be tucked up. With your dog standing gently run your fingertips along your dog’s sides, you should be able to feel ribs without having to dig to find them. And, believe it or not, you should be able to feel your dog’s backbone. Dogs do not have muscle over their backbones, so if you can’t easily feel your dog’s spine, he’s too heavy. Overall, your dog’s body should feel firm, not soft. Deacon was definitely on the squishy side!

It was clear that Deak needed a weight loss and fitness plan and our vet agreed wholeheartedly. We immediately began feeding measured meals, cutting back on his food while slowly increasing his exercise.


When we humans are on a diet, we have to reduce our total daily caloric intake and increase our aerobic activity to lose weight. Three small meals are great but let’s not forget the mid-morning muffin, the late afternoon chocolate bar and the bedtime bowl of cereal!! The same applies to dogs. Don’t forget to take into account all treats, chewies, bones and any extras that your dog consumes during the day.


What was most difficult for me was that I so wanted to begin Deacon’s training and yet not over feed him. To accomplish this, along with a measured amount of healthy, high value training treats, I used a portion of his daily kibble ration for training, literally breaking the kibbles into two, three or four pieces. Deacon was getting lots of rewards but each was a tiny little piece. When Deacon’s daily kibble and treats were gone, that was the end of his training for the day.


Deacon is fine boned and that coupled with his excess weight could have lead to an injury if his exercise program was too strenuous at the beginning. We slowly built up to at least thirty minutes of trotting daily. Most often we walked on our five acres with Deacon on a long line. I’d allow him to get well ahead of me then call him back, practicing his recalls. During our 30 minute trots he’d cover a lot of ground, leaving me and coming back, leaving me and coming back, and we had the opportunity to practice our training at the same time. Once he started to lose weight we added retrieving to his exercise program. Deak was great at running after the ball but not so great at bringing it back, so I taught him how to retrieve, which is excellent aerobic exercise for dogs. To build muscle on his hind end, we started playing tug and later began jump work on a low agility jump.


How’d we do? Drum roll, please. In approximately three months Deacon lost four pounds. Now at 14 fit pounds he qualifies as a little ‘hard body’. To put his weight loss into perspective, if he were a human with the ideal body weight of 150 pounds, he would have started his weight loss program at 193 pounds, losing a total of 43 pounds. How would you feel, trying to run around while carrying 43 extra pounds? Very tired and awkward, I suspect.


Thanks to increased exercise we have been able to slightly increase his daily kibble, while maintaining his weight. Deacon is now far more agile and coordinated than when we first adopted him. Exercise is clearly easier for him now. Of course, I’m constantly monitoring his food intake and exercise; adjusting as needed in order to maintain his new, trim physique.


Before beginning a weight loss/fitness program for your dog, please consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is in good health and that there are no underlying medical conditions that are responsible for your dog’s weight gain.


What’s the biggest added bonus to Deacon’s weight loss? Research has shown that lean or optimal weight pets live up to two years longer than overweight pets. By helping Deacon to lose weight, I’ve not only improved the quality of his life but the quantity of his life and the longer he’s with me, the happier I’ll be.


Teddy Green has been training dogs professionally for over 11 years and is a head instructor at Who's Walking Who Dog Training Centres, teaching all levels of classes, including behavioural consultations. She is also an instructor at Daytripper Dog Training, which specializes in agility and is located in the City of Kawartha Lakes. She and her husband, Lane (also a dog trainer), share their home with eight dogs.

 My Sheltie, Drake, is an excellent people trainer. He has me well trained. First thing every day I take my dogs out for their morning constitutional. We live on five unfenced acres so my terriers, being terriers, are on retractable leashes. Until I’ve had my morning coffee I’m just not awake enough for their terrier games. Leashed and under control is much easier for my groggy morning brain. Drake, however, has a brilliant recall. A quick whistle and he’s at my side, with one exception. As we approach the house to head indoors where my coffee waits, he starts to slow down a bit, then he stops about thirty feet from the house. The evil terriers (I say that with absolute love and affection) and I are now at the back door, where I call for Drake. He waits, watching me expectantly. Oh, he’s cute when he’s perky. It usually takes one or two more attempts at calling him before he happily comes running to the back door, where I treat him for coming. Well, not exactly. I used to treat him for coming until I gave my head a shake and slapped myself on the wrists for letting my dog train me. On one or two occasions in the past Drake hesitated to come in when called, I surmise simply because he preferred to stay outdoors on a sunny morning. Anxious to get at that coffee, I called him again and treated him for finally coming. He’s a smart boy and figured out quickly, “Let her call two or three times and then I’ll get a treat.” Oh, he trained me well.


Then there’s my Rat Terrier, Pan. Every night it’s the same routine. He gets up on our bed and waits for me at my pillow. (Yes, he sleeps on the bed with us.) I get into bed and dutifully lift the covers so that he can crawl under and curl up in the crook of my legs. Good people trainer, Pan.


Do you still doubt that our dogs can train us? Well, let me give you a couple more examples. Take Calvin, Amy White’s beloved American Foxhound, famous for not only his hound nose but also for his ability to leave, so that he would be called back. That’s right. Calvin would run off, waiting for Amy to call him back, so that he could return and get his treat. That Calvin was one smart boy.


And then there are the dogs we see in class that have it all figured out. As soon as the instructor starts explaining an exercise to the class, “Buffy” starts to bark. Buffy’s handler, embarrassed by the ruckus her dog is causing, pats or talks to Buffy in the hopes of stopping the barking. This works momentarily, then Buffy barks again and the handler gives Buffy a treat to keep him quiet. Bingo! Buffy has it figured out after a couple of repetitions – “If I bark, I get attention and maybe even a treat! Woohoo!” Buffy gives it a go and, sure enough, here comes the treat. He’s trained his handler well.


If you give it some thought, I’ll bet that you can think of some examples of how your dog has trained you well.


OK, OK. As much as I think my dogs are brilliant, I have to fess up. My dogs aren’t training me. It’s just that sometimes, in my daily life, I forget how dogs learn. In very simple terms, dogs repeat behaviours that are rewarded. What’s a behaviour? A behaviour is anything that your dog does. There are some behaviours that we really like such as come, sit and shake a paw. And, of course, there are the behaviours we don’t like such as barking in class, stealing food from the counter and jumping up on you.


To be a good dog trainer, you have to become a ‘thinking dog trainer’. When your dog is doing something that you don’t like, rather than become annoyed at your dog examine the situation. Is there something that you are doing that is rewarding your dog for the unwanted behaviour? In the case of the examples above, it’s pretty obvious.


In some instances, it’s no big deal and there is no need to change your dog’s behaviour. For instance, it’s no skin off my nose if Pan wants to wait for me to lift the covers. Truth be told, on a cold winter’s night I do like a little hot water bottle snuggled up beside me.


But if the behaviour was causing me frustration and affecting my relationship with my dog, then I would take action.


If your dog’s behaviour is causing you some frustration, then it’s time to take a look at how you are inadvertently rewarding your dog and change your behaviour to set your dog up to be successful. Your dog will be happy because he’ll be given clear information and the opportunity to earn rewards. Your frustration level will decrease or disappear and your relationship with your dog will improve. Hey, you’ll both be happy and you’ll be a better trainer to boot.