For the 4th year, the Harbourfront Walk For Dog Guides event will be held at the Toronto Harbourfront. Over 300 walkers, four legged friends included are expected to travel along the 5km route down Queens Quay West from Bay to Bathurst on Sunday, May 26th, 2013, and celebrate their efforts with a free BBQ, music, and activities following the walk at PawsWay.

The Cause:
This is one of nearly 250 walks across Canada, raising money to place incredible dogs with incredible people. Dog Guides are for people who are blind or visually impaired, who have hearing difficulties, who live with frequent seizures due to epilepsy, and people who have physical or medical disabilities.

About Us:
The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is the largest guide dog organization in Canada. The Purina Walk For Dog Guides is their biggest fundraiser. With no government funding, donations and fundraisers are very important.

To register or for more information, please visit www.walkfordogguides.com. Hope to see you there!

Come out to PawsWay on Saturday, May 4th and celebrate heart health with your pooch and let your four-legged friend enjoy PawsWay’s specialty leash-free Agility Skills, Rally O, and Dog Training sessions! Plus, shoot away your questions at the “Ask the Vet” session, take photos at the pet-friendly photo booth, and bring home a free goodie bag filled with pet supplies!

Join us for the Dogs with Heart Agility Olympics and help us raise awareness of the benefits of dog-ownership in preventing heart disease and stroke.

Also, do not miss your chance to win amazing raffle prizes such as the Goods Certificate (One FREE bag of Purina Beneful dog food any formula – up to 8kg) courtesy of Purina and Service Gift Certificates courtesy of Menagerie Pet Shop, and much more!

Light refreshment, lunch, and silent auction will also be available at the event.

All This for Just $25 and Some Quality Time with Your Pooch!
Date: Saturday, May 4th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: 245 Queens Way W, Toronto M5J 2KS

Get Your Ticket Now. Register by Sunday April 14th and You Will Be Entered into a Draw for a Gift Certificate Courtesy of Menagerie Pet Shop. All proceeds go towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

What is ‘Kennel Cough’? If you ask a vet they will tell you that it is Bordetella Bronchiseptica for the most part. It is common practice for vets to call any number of viruses ‘KC’. Just like when humans get the ‘flu’ there can be many strands of a virus.

How to best protect your dog from ‘KC’? Although this is a debated topic, the greatest defense to ‘KC’ is to get an annual Bordetella Vaccination. Some vets and other advocates preach ‘natural’, and advise not to get the annual vaccine, for a better overall health. This group generally is against any and all inoculations, this is a whole other discussion saved for a future dates. The majority of vets will say to annually vaccinate your dog to help limit the chances of contacting the virus. The Bordetella vaccine is along the same lines as our flu shot, a vaccinated dog is not an immune dog, they can still get a virus that the vaccine did not cover.

Kennel Cough is contagious; it can be transmitted via airborne spores, fluids, and most certainly from direct contact with infected dogs. Symptoms may include episodes of continuous coughing that many times we/owners mistake for chocking. Sometimes we simply dismiss the coughing and say to ourselves ‘they just have something stuck’ and are trying to clear their throats. Do not ignore a coughing dog! Some viruses may include a runny snotty nose, very lethargic actions, and a total lack of appetite. If your dog does contract ‘KC’ which is pretty likely in the course of their lives, what should you do?

1. Call your Vet.
2. Inform your vet that you think he/she may have  Kennel Cough ( the vet may ask that you keep your dog in the car until they are ready to treat, or they may have you be the last appointment of the day… this is due to the highly contagious nature of the virus )
3. Treat accordingly
4. Keep your sick pooch away from all other dogs for at least 1 week after medication is complete.

Humans get the ‘flu’; dogs get ‘Kennel Cough’ in both cases if treated early and properly you can expect a quick and full recovery. On the flip side just like humans and the ‘flu’, if a case of ‘Kennel Cough’ is left untreated it can develop into a much more severe medical condition.

In my opinion it is best to keep your dog regularly vaccinated with the Bordetella shot, to help reduce the chances of contracting the ‘Kennel Cough’ virus. As always if you have any questions or queries please do write me I am your Canine Consultant, looking forward to serving your needs one step at a time, be it 2 legs or 4.

Note: The above information has been provided by Matthew Belvedere– aka the Canine Consultant – of Barks n’ Rec Toronto. Mr. Belvedere has stated that he has authored this information in its entirety. Torontodogs.com cannot verify or endorse its authorship nor any medical advice or information provided within. Always ask your veterinarian for his or her advice.

The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical veterinary advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect your pet has a medical problem, promptly contact your professional animal healthcare provider.

Harness:

These are your regular ‘step in’ or ‘vest’ type Harness’. Great for smaller breed dogs, no stress on the neck and trachea. Very hard for your dog to escape from, however not recommended for an everyday collar. The Harness’ if left on can cause chaffing. On a down side these types of collars promote pulling the leash. Think of sled dogs they are harnessed in to maximize their pulling power.

Heal Harness/ Halti:

This type of Harness attaches the leash to the Chest of even Mouth area of the dog. This Harness makes it almost impossible for your dog to pull on the leash, with zero pressure on the throat. They can look like muzzles but not to worry they give full range of mouth for the dog. They can drink, pant, and even take treats while wearing. This type although works great on aggressively pulling dogs is very, very hard to get some dogs adjusted to wearing it. Owners who chose to implement this device will have to take an active role in acclimatizing your dog to this Harness. They tend to look like a horse harness, the leash attaches at the front of the dog.

Flat/Clip/Belt Loop Collars:

This is your safest bet for everyday use; they are widely available, washable, affordable and best for attaching ID tags. It is never a bad idea to have one of these as your base collar and use another type for training purposes. These are not recommended for training, they can cause tracheal problems if used with too much force, or if your dog is an aggressive puller. If you have ever had an escape artist dog, you’ll know these are very easy to back pedal out of.  I once saw a dogs tooth get caught in the belt loop of another dog’s collar, this was very scary and dangerous, and the dogs were both at risk of injury. I strongly caution the use of belt loop collars.

Prong/Pinch Collars:

Good results can be had if used correctly. Great for training the stubborn dog, the prongs work like an alpha dog bite. These look awful to the eye, but with proper usage can be a more humane way of training than the training collar or choke chain. Never to be used on puppies and they are not meant to leave on while unattended. Please also remove the prong collar before a entering a dog park, or at any time your dog is in a play setting, can be harmful to the other dogs playing. NOTE this collar needs a professional’s help to ensure you know exactly how to use it properly. Improper use of this type can cause serious harm to a dog.

Chain/Choke/Martingale Collars:

There are three types of these collars, the Alaskan Collar, the Martingale and Limited Slip Leads. The Martingale and Slip leads are very similar, for a Martingale they consist of half material and half chain. For the Slip leads the normally consist of 2 loops one smaller to attach at the leash and the other to slip over the head of your dog. The all Chain or Choke Collars are just that, 100% chain. The concept for all of these collars is the same. If your dog pulls they will choke themselves, these types also give you the power to apply a ‘pop’ correction. Any of these will work superb for a dog that backs out of their flat collar, they are recommended for dogs with larger necks than heads. Like the prong collar I highly suggest contacting a professional to teach you the human the correct usage of these collars. My opinion these are the best collars for training but with anything there are pros and cons for all.

Shock Collar:

Never, that was easy. Why do we not perform shock therapy on humans anymore, because it is not humane!

Forward your questions and concerns we are your Canine Consultants, looking forward to serving your needs, one step at a time, be it 2 legs or 4

Matthew Belvedere aka the Canine Consultant

Note: The above information has been provided by Matthew Belvedere– aka the Canine Consultant – of Barks n’ Rec Toronto. Mr. Belvedere has stated that he has authored this information in its entirety. Torontodogs.com cannot verify or endorse its authorship nor any medical advice or information provided within. Always ask your veterinarian for his or her advice.

The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical veterinary advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect your pet has a medical problem, promptly contact your professional animal healthcare provider.

Here we grow again! The Bark Zone is looking for a reliable, energetic and outdoor loving off-leash group dog walker. You must be available during the day Monday through Friday for morning/afternoon group walks.

Requirements:

- Most importantly, you must be a dog lover!
- You must have a larger vehicle such as a wagon or minivan. This is required to transport dogs to and from the park. Please keep in mind it can get very messy!
- You must have prior experience owning and/or working with dogs.
- You must be able to walk in any weather condition, rain or snow.
- You must have good decision making and comprehension skills and be able to follow instructions.

If you’re as serious about dogs as we are, give us a call at 416-783-9726.

We are almost at that time of year when it just about feels dark out just about all the time. It’s dark when you get up. It’s dark when you leave for work. It is dark when you come home…… and it most certainly is dark for most of your daily dog walks.

To give me and my dogs greater visibility during dark walks, I’ve tried quite a few different lighted collars, leashes, or clip on lights in my 20 years of owning a dog. Until very recently, I’ve always been disappointed with the quality of the products. Too often the products would break very quickly, not light up very effectively at all, only work on STROBE which was horridly migraine inducing for both dog and human, or just be low quality, gimmicky items. In short, all of the lighted dog products in my past have stunk.

I was contacted this fall by the people behind Nite Leash and Nite Collars. Interested but dubious due to my experience with lighted products, I offered to test some of their products.

I’ve now tested the products for a good solid month of darkness. I’ve been very pleasantly surprised.

I had been sent a collar in the reflective series which not only was an expertly constructed LIGHTED collar, it had some great features not found on MOST collars. The closing mechanism was a high quality plastic buckle – but it also was lockable, making the collar one of the safer collars I’ve seen. The sewing seemed very strong and I liked the reflective qualities of the collar. When testing the collar at night, I appreciated the subtle but HIGHLY VISIBLE (LED) lights – the collar was very visible (the company says that it is visible up to 400m away) but I didn’t feel like I was out walking a Christmas tree either – the blue glow  of the lights were ‘understated’ yet very effective! If you are looking for a lighted collar of substance, I would very much recommend this collar.

I was also sent a leash to test – a pink big swiveler. This leash needs to be taken seriously, even in pink. (Honesty? The colour of the leash makes me cringe. When I use it, I am glad that it is nighttime. Sorry Nite Leash creators. It’s just not our favourite colour, that’s all.)

Like the collar, the leash is a very well constructed product. It’s one of the most substantial leashes we have ever owned. The swivel function is amazing – especially for a big dog who likes to walk out in front, dodging from side to side, and the handle is slightly padded, also great for owners of strong dogs. The lighting function also worked really well and I felt incredibly visible on our nighttime walks. Again, this product is of a very high quality.

I am not sure that I would walk the dog with BOTH a lighted collar AND a lighted leash. Either/or seemed enough for me, in our neighbourhood. Everyone will have their own preference I suppose. I really liked the collar product so would choose this over the leash, if I HAD to choose.

The only caveat is that I should probably have read the cleaning instructions BEFORE I threw the leash into the washing machine after a very muddy hike. The tag DOES say hand washable. Machine washing seems to have been too much for the electric parts inside. I am going to let the leash dry out for a few more days, and who knows, maybe stick it in a bag of rice, just like I’ve done to successfully restore a well laundered iphone!

So, thanks to NiteCollar.com / NiteLeash.com for the products. The products are available for purchase online and they are lining up retailers as I type. Check their websites for the latest information.

Dachshund UN’s production sponsor PawsWay hosted recruitment meetings for a tonne of aspiring delegates last month, so be sure to visit the Facebook page to see a complete album of dachshund participants to date!

Interested?! If you have a dachshund and would like to get involved, email dogshow@harbourfrontcentre.com or call 416-973-4237
Also, visit Harbourfront Centre’s website and check out the rest of our 2013 season!

Click here for details.

Saturday, December 1st 10am – 4pm @ Toronto Humane Society ~ 11 River Street ~

Have your pet’s picture taken with Santa ~ $20 ~ and take your photo home with you.

No pet? No problem! Everyone is invited to come to this fun event & enjoy delicious baked goods while browsing the Christmas Bazaar for some great holiday gifts – featuring beautiful, one-of-a-kind, high quality hand-made items such as mittens, scarves, hats, sweaters, pet toys and so much more!

100% of the proceeds of the day’s event go directly to the animals at THS!

This is the first of an ongoing series of articles to help you cope and redirect your dog’s unwanted behavior.

I am your Canine Consultant, here to answer your questions, queries and guide you through your persisting troubles and ongoing dog related issues – and I will be helping you out here on Torontodogs.com for free!

The 5 C’s to Becoming the Pack Leader

Do you ever find yourself saying; ‘my dog will not listen to me!’ or ‘walking my dog is work…isn’t this supposed to be peaceful?’ or ‘I am a prisoner in my own house, if I leave my dog alone at home he/she will be destructive!’  Relax, you are not alone- in fact you are in the majority…..

My name is Matthew Belvedere – aka the Canine Consultant. I am the owner and operator of Barks n’ Rec, the canine clubhouse in Mississauga Ontario. Barks n’ Rec is a 5000 square foot dog facility, where we host training courses, seminars, and special events, in addition to dog daycare six days a week.

This is the first of an ongoing series of articles to help you cope and redirect your dog’s unwanted behavior. I am your Canine Consultant, here to answer your questions, queries and guide you through your persisting troubles and ongoing dog related issues – and I will be helping you out here on Torontodogs.com for free!

Dog Training 101      

It seems that every ‘dog trainer’ has a method or theory, the funny thing is that it often seems that theirs is the “only way.” Let’s look at two very famous trainers, Cesar Milan and Brad Pattison: both seem to be very successful and both seem to be the pack leader. These men use two completely different methods!?

Wait, what?

The truth is, in reality lots of theories and methods are successful when training a dog! However, take a deeper look at any ‘training seminar’ in North America and there is a common thread. Be it a positivity based course or a course with no verbal commands, even in police/guard dog training, one common thread remains.

Technically, the common thread is nothing more than common sense, but I describe it to my students as “the 5 C’s, common sense dog training”. Simply put, no method you employ will be successful unless you remain CALM at all times. You must also be CLEAR and CONSISTENT with your COMMANDS, also you must always remain in CONTROL.

We as humans expect things to happen right away. “I went to a dog training course for 6 weeks, my dog is trained!” Do we raise our children for 6 years and expect them to be ‘trained’? I think not. Working with a dog is a lifelong process with ups and downs, with good and less than good experiences along the way.

Sometimes (read: ALWAYS!)  we have to explain things more than once before our children (the human kind) understand what is, and what’s not acceptable behavior. The same goes for our dogs, and with the 5 C’s to guide you, it is a simple process. From puppy to senior dog, as long as you’re calm and use clear commands with consistency you will always be in control.

The next time you find yourself saying ‘Why won’t you listen Fido?’ or are yelling ‘No heel, NOOOOOOOOOOOO’ while running after Fifi, who’s chased the neighborhood cat down the block, stop and ask yourself; am I CALM right now? Have I been CLEAR with my COMMAND? Is this a CONSISTENT COMMAND? And am I in CONTROL right now? Most likely you will answer no on at least 3 of the 4 questions every time you find your dog doing something you dislike (hence Fifi’s block and a half unscheduled excursion, or your on-land waterski impression as you try to keep up!)

So the next time you find yourself pulling out your hair in frustration, stop, take a breath and employ the 5 C’s. Be calm, be clear with your command, always be consistent and take control. Lastly, pat yourself on the back, because you are now on your way to becoming the Pack Leader.

Forward your questions and queries we are looking forward to serving your needs, one step at a time.

Have a question for the Canine Consultant?

He is happy to help! Complete the form below and check back in for a reply soon.

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Date: Saturday October 27, 2012

Location: 498 Queen St. W (2nd Floor), Toronto ON

Time: 12pm – 8pm

Brands:

• Ruffhaus
• NHL
• Marvel Comics
• FouFou Dog
• Christian Audiger
• Ruff Ruff & Meow
• Bluemax
• Ruffini
• Hamish McBeth
• Boutique of Paws