Tag Archives: summer activities

Dog Training, Dogs, Life, Puppies, summer, Training Tips

Monterey, CA: Back To School! Now, What? Leaving Your New Puppy At Home

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You waited for school to be out this past June so you could pick up your newest family member from the breeder or rescue. It was planned perfectly! The family would spend the whole summer playing with the new puppy. Feeding, watering, potty training, teaching tricks, and getting to know your puppy was what filled this summer’s long days. Memories were made and thousands of pictures taken.

Now it’s September, and school is back in session. The kids are up earlier each day, cranky, rushing out the door, and gone for hours. Afternoon hits and everyone returns home. Snacks handed out, clothes changed and homework begins. We all know that can take a while. Then dinner, some down-time, and bed. All to do it over again, 4 more days of the week. Throw in sports plus after-school activities, there isn’t a whole lot of time left in the day. 

Your life changes drastically overnight, in the eyes of your puppy. There is no explaining to them, the immediate change in the amount of attention they will get during the day; however, there are ways that you can prepare them, and make it more comfortable for them when the time does come.

-Take Breaks: The most important thing to remember is to not spend 24/7 with your puppy. DO leave the house at times. Take everyone with you, so that the puppy can learn to be alone and have it be okay. Start small, build onto that time. 

-Keep Puppy Occupied: Giving the puppy something to do like chew on a Filled Kong Toy or a bone will keep their minds occupied on something yummy and good, instead of your absence.

-Leave Radio On: Get the puppy used to having something like the radio playing, or a tv on low. If you do, be sure to leave it on something upbeat and positive. Dogs do respond to the energy of the tone of what they’re listening to. I tend to leave the TV on animal shows. 

-Puzzle Toys: Give your puppy something stimulating to do and think about. Buy or make DIY Puzzle toys for your dog to sniff at, play with, and receive rewards from. Keeping their brains busy on something constructive and good, instead of your absence. 

When school starts, and you’re the only one home with the puppy – play with them! They’re going to love the one-on-one time. Plus, they will benefit from learning to play with different family members and their styles of play; teaching them social flexibility. Playing stimulates their brain and causes them to be tired. Depending on the age of your puppy, sometimes just a 30 minute session can result in a 2-3 hour nap. 

Training! I’m always going to suggest this one. Spend some time teaching tricks or basic obedience before school, when the kids are at school, and while they’re busy doing homework. It’s a perfect time to teach Leave-It, Attention getters, and Stays! 

Puppy play dates are always fun too! If you have friends that also have young dogs, and everybody is up to date on vaccinations – meet in your backyard or your friend’s backyard and have a play session. Guaranteed to cause a massive nap attack for the rest of the day. 

Something to remember? School-age children should not be held completely responsible for the new dog. You got it to help teach responsibility – which is a great idea! It definitely does. Responsibility is not something that just manifests out of thin air, it falls on you as the parent (or guardian) to guide and show them what to do and how to manage their time. When the children are busy with their primary responsibility, school, the adults in the house need to take over the roll of playmate and leader with the puppy. 

The whole family should be involved with Puppy’s raising and training. Everybody has a part in the family – including our dogs. If everybody does their piece the puppy will learn exactly where they fit in. Resulting in a much more harmonious household. 

Published by Amy Noble on 9/4/19

Amy is an Animal Behaviorist and Dog Trainer in Monterey, Ca, with over Thirty years of experience and active knowledge working with animals. Amy’s love for every dog, cat, horse, rabbit, human (and more!) that she trains truly shows in her work and dedication

Birds, Cats, Dogs, Rabbits, summer

San Jose, Ca: Surviving the Summer Heatwaves

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There is a heat wave expected to hit the Bay Area this weekend, so I thought I’d post about how to prepare, what to do, and how to survive the heat with your fur babies.

First and foremost; Unless you are taking a trip to the vet, or similar destination from point A to point B where your animal is expected at point B as well? If it is hotter than 83° outside, don’t bring your pets in the car. Anywhere. If it’s a trip to the drive-thru and your AC is working beautifully? By all means – we can come up with exceptions to the rule all day long. The point is, animals don’t belong in hot cars on warm days during the summer. And if it’s going to be that warm, it’s likely that the asphalt of every parking lot and every sidewalk to your destination is going to be pretty dang warm also.

Check the ground! I like to err on the side of caution and leave any outside trips for earlier in the day, or later in the evening. Asphalt soaks in the heat from the direct sun, then it radiates back up and one thing that many people don’t consider is the fact that their dogs are only 1-2 ft (give or take) off the ground, right where all that heat is hanging out.

My rule to everybody is that if you cannot place your hand on the asphalt for more than 5 seconds it’s too hot to take your pup, who’s wearing a fur coat and walking on bare feet, out. If you can’t tell by placing your palm down, place the back of your hand, if you still cannot tell, take off your shoes and stand on the sidewalk that’s been in the direct sun for more than an hour – that will give you a really good idea of the temperature. Save walks for the evening / early morning.

Or, forget walks altogether! There’s nothing that will happen to your dog if you give them a few days off because it’s continually 85°+ outside. Heat stroke is real and can still affect them, even if you walk them early in the day. Consecutive hot days mean being lazy inside, eating frozen treats!

Utilize your Kong toys and your freezer. Prepare a few Pupsicles filled with Peanut butter and greek yogurt, or chicken broth and diced carrots. Plug the little hole at the top, fill them up and toss in the freezer for a cool treat your pup can enjoy during the warm afternoons. Freeze some water bottles full of water so they can play with those to keep busy or spend some energy.

Be sure your water bowls are refilled and cleaned out. I never leave water buckets or bowls in direct sun very long. Some sunlight is good for sterilizing, but hot water is not fun nor safe to drink. Remember our dogs’ temperatures run higher than ours. Bring the water into the shade, or leave it under an umbrella and always check it before you let your pooches out to drink from it. Personally, we have water bowls inside and in crates. There is one outside but it gets dumped and refilled probably 6-10 times daily.

Do you have a hoppity bunny in your life? The hot months are the WORST time for a bunny rabbit. In nature they dig deep holes in the ground and hunker down where the sunlight never penetrates and it stays nice and cool. They absolutely do not do well in temperatures over 80°. If you have a rabbit that lives outside, bring it in. Freeze a water bottle for them to lie on, put them where there is air flow and fans. If you are unable to bring them in from the heat, turning a mister on in the yard and giving them frozen water bottles will save their lives. I have many tragic stories of hard lessons learned that I don’t wish for anyone to repeat. Bring the bunnies in! Luckily for us, Monterey county doesn’t get nearly as hot as the Bay Area, our Rini girl happily lives in her own room where it never reaches over 70 degrees.

Birds and Cats are probably the easiest to care for. Birds have insulating feathers that keep them warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. They may be less active and a bit more quiet (not in our house). But if it’s really warm for extended periods of time. Giving them baths makes them feel good. Keeping them in a well-ventilated room is best also.

Cats will find a cool hiding spot and wait out the heat. Some of them will lay right in the sunbeams blazing through your window. Cats do what they want. Just make sure they have water and they’re fine. If you have an outside cat, be sure you provide lots of shade and a way to get out of the heat. Many kitties run up trees, thinking they’re heading towards some shade only to be stuck up in the direct sun and hot air, stressing themselves into faster dehydrating. Best to bring them in as well.

All in all, head inside, turn on the AC (or fans), get the Netflix or Amazon Prime going and grab some snacks for you and the fur kids – wait out the hottest part of the day and enjoy yourselves when it’s cooler out.

Looking for activities to do? Check out my Summertime Outings post!

Published by Amy Noble on 7/24/19

Amy is an Animal Behaviorist and Dog Trainer in Monterey, Ca, with over Thirty years of experience and active knowledge working with animals. Amy’s love for every dog, cat, horse, rabbit, human (and more!) that she trains truly shows in her work and dedication.

Cats, Dog Behavior, Dogs, Holidays, summer

Happy Fourth of July! Fireworks and your fur babies.

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Fourth of July can mean family time, BBQ’s, swimming pools, and beaches. The beautiful display of fireworks celebrating our independence, closing the evening out with spectacular shapes and colors displayed all over the night sky. The perfect midsummer celebration to create magical memories that last a lifetime.

But for some, it can mean stress, anxiety, fear, loud noises, over-stimulation, confusion and the sense of being under attack from above.

So what should you do if your pet is fearful? Plan ahead! If you know your pets don’t or won’t like the fireworks, there are plenty of preventative measures you can take.

Most importantly, if you have an outside cat who likes to cruise in and out during the day and evening. Bring them in. Set up a room or bathroom with their food, litter box, a cat tree or a bed to hide in / under. Put them in the room with some new toys, catnip, and some yummies – and close the door. Keeping them contained in a room is much safer for them than trying to brave the outdoors when confusion hits. I recently mentioned to someone: “I’d much rather have a cat who is pissed off at me for locking them up, than to have to bury my cat because they tried to find cover in a panic and got hit by a car.” Hurting your pets pride or ego is 100% curable. Keep that in mind.

Setting up a quiet, comfortable space for kitty to spend the evening is going to be your best bet for keeping them happy and safe!! Don’t take any chances. Keep them in.

I have heard many, many horror stories about dogs getting out of the yard, jumping fences, chewing through fences, breaking through glass windows, all for getting away from fireworks.

My advice for them would be quite similar as for cats. Bring them in where it’s safe. If they are kennel dogs, setting the kennel up in a bedroom with the radio or TV playing for some noise, some chew bones or filled frozen Kong’s to keep them busy – and something to take their stress out on. Close windows and doors to help dampen the sound, maybe turn on a fan to keep the air flowing. All of these things will help to set a calm environment.

If your dog is exceptionally anxious or nervous, I would suggest NOT leaving them alone. Keep them with you, hang out at home, or board them with a friend they are comfortable with where you know they’ll be contained, safe, and with others. In most of the Animal world there is safety in numbers! Being with the pack and watching them handle the noise helps a nervous dog tremendously!

Being in a pack of dogs that are all friends and being able to play can help many dogs make it through the fourth also! Years ago I would have puppy parties at my house. We would take all the nervous dogs and have them in mid-play before the fireworks in our neighborhood began. That way they were otherwise distracted during the event and then too busy to even care.

What helps the most is being a calm, confident, leader towards them. Dogs are looking for leaders to follow and if the leader isn’t worried, they drop their worries too. Never coddle or fawn over your dog when they are in a nervous state. Instead, confidently tell them that they are ok, and divert their attention to something else. If they aren’t interested in anything else and would much rather cuddle and lay with you – then do that without any emotional sing-songy communication.

Remember: Calm, confident, leadership.

Dogs, summer

Summertime Outings!

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We all love a good vacation, and what better time to take one than Summer?

In just two days, we’ll be at the Solstice and summertime fun is just starting to heat up! There are so many great things to do with your pets this time of year. No more being cooped up from the rain! (And, man did we have a BUNCH of that this year!!)

The beach is popular among humans and canines alike. I never thought I’d fall in love with the beach as much as I have, until I moved just 20 minutes away from the Monterey Peninsula. What’s not to love? It’s warm sand and sun, breezy days, calming ocean waves. And lots of pooches having the time of their life!

Not every beach is an off-leash or a dog park beach, so be sure to check which specific beach you’re visiting, to make sure your pup is welcome. If your dog has a strong recall then you can bring a frisbee, tennis balls, rope toys, a floating buoy! Whatever your dog’s favorite is!

Just remember to bring plenty of fresh water for them to drink. Ingesting a bunch of ocean water is just as bad for them as it would be for us! And when you’re finished, a quick run through their pads and toes with some fresh clean water to wash away any sand will help keep your pups paws from rashes or abrasions.

Hikes are a great way to spend your mornings or late afternoons with your dogs! The outdoors provide so much enrichment for them to sniff and see.

There are hiking trails all over from mid-city parks to the forests of Big Sur. It’s always good to bring extra water and bowls for your fur kids, as well as a quick first aid kit in case they snag their paw. Saline solution and gauze wraps.

One thing to remember is to check the heat wherever you are going. Even though you may not be walking on concrete – dirt and sand can still get pretty toasty! Always be aware of your puppy’s paws since they’re walking around in bare feet.

To the River! Or your favorite lake! These are fantastic places for pups to play. Again, not all lakes are doggy approved, so be sure to check with the park you’re visiting before you go.

What I love about lakes and rivers is that the water is fresh (depending on your rivers location!) and there’s less likely to be a bunch of fine sand to bother toes. Not to mention, generally, the current isn’t as strong.

They are not without their challenges, rocks, Blue-green algae, and bacteria can be found in the water – always bring your fur family member their own water bottle to drink from, and take a good once over before letting the doggos go!

Blue-green algae can be quite deadly to your dog, whether or not they drink it from the water, or clean it off their coat. Be aware of where you bring your pooch and steer clear of this! If they do get into some – an immediate trip to the vet is recommended!

I never thought I’d be a camping person… and I’d say that I’m still only maybe HALF in love with camping. I know I prefer boat camping on the island in the middle of the delta or at a lake. Just as long as there are some actual restrooms nearby, I’m golden! Lol! I’ll sleep in a tent, cook outside, live on the water or under a tree for a week! No problem.

But, what makes camping ultimately ten thousand percent better? Is having your dog with you! I’ve done both, camping with and without dogs. I prefer having dogs. They just make everything better.

I teach my dogs the word “Hot” so in case of any situation where fire is involved or a danger of them being burnt on something I can say “Hot!” And they will back off. This comes in very handy on a campground, near any open fire. If your dogs don’t know this or are new to outdoor adventures, it would be best to keep them on a lead with you so you can teach them the ropes and keep them safe.

A favorite summer pastime for me is going to outdoor festivals, music festivals, art & wine fairs, anything outside! And if the heat isn’t too bad, my dogs are right by my side.

Many, many outdoor festivals are dog friendly, and it’s great practice, enrichment and socialization for them as well! If you’re headed to a loud music festival and you’ve got a nervous nelly, that might not be the best setting. These types of events tend to have lots of dogs and even more people, they’re absolutely more for the extroverted doggo to enjoy. Unless of course you’ve got a baby sling for your little one, to keep them close and safe. Again, check the weather! Anything too hot should leave your puppers inside at home where they’re cool.

A trip to the park is just as good any time of year. Lots of sniffs and exciting things to hear and see. A place to play ball or frisbee or stretch their little legs for a bit.

This time of year we see lots of dry foxtails and those can be very harmful to your pups. Anytime you work or play near them, always check over your dogs entire body to be sure they don’t pick any up. I never allow my dogs to sniff them either because foxtails love noses! They go in, but they don’t come out! Green foxtails are not harmful. They are still very stable in the ground and are softer than their dried out selves.

Lastly – Naps! Who doesn’t love a summertime nap?! You can’t let this season go by without takin a midday snooze with your best friend. We enjoy naps all year round.

Whatever you do, enjoy your summer with your pupper!! Take some time off and get out there with them. You’ll love it, they’ll love it, and it’ll tire them out! We all know my saying “A tired puppy is a GOOD puppy!”

Happy Summer y’all!!