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PAWSH MAGAZINE NO.9 | “THE ART OF BARK” SPRING 2014

Presenting Pawsh Magazine No. 9! It is here at last! Phew! Thank you all for your patience while the team and I took a few extra days to make sure it was perfect for you! As always, huge thanks to all of our contributors, our wonderful sponsors (be sure to check out their beautiful boutique ads!) and everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to be interviewed for this edition!

So grab a cup of tea, sit back and flip through Pawsh’s fresh pages! Oh, and don’t forget to share what your favourite pieces are in the comments below! xo

DOG TRAINING: HOW TO TEACH A DOG TO BALANCE THINGS ON ITS NOSE

Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-1Today we have a special treat! Jess Bell, a Toronto-based dog trick trainer, and her adorable Aussie friend, Cohen, are here to tell us all how to train a dog to balance objects on its nose. Keep reading to master this impressive trick in a simple step-by-step manner! Take it away Jess!

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This trick requires a fair amount of impulse control on behalf of the dog, so mastering ‘stays’ and ‘leave-its’ prior to starting work on this trick is a good idea and highly recommended.

STEP 1: HANDLING
Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-2 The first step is getting the dog used to being handled. Get your treats ready, set the dog up so she’s comfortable in a ‘sit’ or a ‘down’ on a rug and then extend your hand to touch her muzzle. Mark with a “yes” or a click and then reward with food.

Repeat this until your dog understands that handling her muzzle means a treat is coming, and she even looks forward to it! This may take a few days or more. Go at the pace your dog sets and don’t rush it.

STEP 2: INTRODUCE AN OBJECT
Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-3 The next step is introducing the object. It helps if you have a jackpot (aka super yummy!) treat visible to the dog on a coffee table so they can see it. Steady their muzzle with your hand and place the object on their nose for a split second. Mark with a “yes!” or a click, remove the object while saying “okay!” then give your dog the jackpot treat she was probably staring at the whole time.

STEP 3: BE SHORT AND SWEET
Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-4Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-6It’s important that in the early stages you have the object on the dog’s nose for tiny, tiny increments of time because this can be HARD for your pup. Gradually ask for the dog to hold the object for longer and without your hand to support her nose.

It’s best to keep the number of repetitions low — no more than 1-3 practices at a time. If you’re having trouble, back up a step or two. The most common mistake I see people make is asking for too much too fast. Split seconds can feel like a dog’s age to your pup — so keep it brief. Short and sweet is best!

To start with you probably don’t want to ask for more than 0.25 seconds. That’s, like, really short. Then move up to 0.5 seconds, then 0.75 seconds. It will probably take you a few sessions before you can ask for her to balance something for longer than a second.

Once she knows the trick, you can ask the dog to balance something for quite a while. Use your best judgement. Normally 5-10 seconds is all you’ll need to impress your friends and snap a quick photo.

WHAT ARE SOME GOOD OBJECTS TO BALANCE?Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-5Take an object and try to balance it on the tip of your finger. If it’s easy for you, it’ll be easy for your dog. Stuffed toys or other small objects that won’t roll about are a good thing to start on.

A lot of people start with treats. Just remember that if you want your dog to balance a treat on her nose, reward with something BETTER or else your dog may opt to cut out the middleman and eat the treat at her leisure.

WHAT COMMANDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TRICK?  Pawsh-dog-training-how-to-balance-on-nose-7Generally this trick is just a fancy ‘stay’ command; when you say, your dog should, ideally, not move a muscle. You can also create a new cue like “hold it” if it’s easier for you and your dog to work with.

Always remember your release cue! Say “okay” to let your dog know she can move again. You don’t want her releasing herself — you want her waiting for your say-so.

KEEP IN MIND…
Sometimes dogs find this trick unpleasant to learn. If your dog is exhibiting any stress signs, stop! Tricks are meant to be fun for both of you! If you have to stop, don’t worry. Give the trick a rest for a few weeks then come back to it.

Sometimes you need to shelve things like this and come back to it later. If your dog can’t do this now it doesn’t mean she’ll never do it. Try teaching another trick in the meantime. Remember, the goal is to have fun, fun, fun!

PAWSH PERK: Be sure to visit on Monday for our dog-friendly ‘Timbit’ recipe!

{Photography by Pawsh Studio}

{Special thanks to Jess Bell for her wonderful insights, to Cohen for being such a good model and to my fantastic photo assistant Sondra! xo}

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DIY DOG TOY: HOW TO MAKE A CRINKLE CUSHION

DIY-Dog-Toy-Pawsh-1If your house looks anything like mine at the moment, there is still evidence of Christmas everywhere. With chilly temperatures sweeping through the city this week and a pup who is slightly grumpy that she hasn’t been out running as much as usual, it is time to get inventive with holiday clean up and canine entertainment.

So today we have a fun and easy DIY dog toy that is sure to delight furballs of all ages.

WHAT YOU NEED

  • two pieces of 6in x 6in fabric (I suggest cutting up an old shirt or skirt)
  • black cotton thread
  • a couple of handfuls of tissue paper
  • a pup who likes to play!

DIY-dog-toy-Pawsh-2a HOW TO MAKE IT
1.  Place pieces of fabric face-to-face with the pattern facing inwards.
2. Using black thread, sew three out of four sides together.
3. Turn fabric envelope inside out to hide unsightly seams.
4. Gently ‘stuff’ fabric envelope with fluffed up tissue paper. Place tissue paper in as though you were stuffing a gift bag.
5. Sew up the opening. Examine the toy to make sure it is securely sewed. Squeeze to make it crinkle and give to pup to play with!

TIP: I would recommend double sewing each seam for extra durability. DIY-dog-toy-Pawsh-3 DIY-Dog-Toy-Pawsh-4Dogs will love the crinkly sound the cushion makes as they nose it around and you get to make use of that excess holiday tissue paper that is just a little too torn up to reuse next year. In a way this is an eco-friendly dog toy too!

NOTE: This DIY Dog Toy Crinkle Cushion is NOT recommended for tough chewers and should not be given to a dog to play with without supervision.

Rory enjoys her Crinkle Cushion so much that she totes it around all over the place — even carrying it into the laundry basket! Her idea of ‘helping’ with the housework.

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DOG HEALTH: 5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE THIS WINTER

Pawsh-Magazine-dog-winter-safety-1-550Welcome to winter everyone! Although it has been a mild couple of days here in Toronto, the cold will inevitably be returning once again, so to prepare our pets and make sure we keep them as safe and as snugly as possible, here are five winter dog safety tips.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #1: IF YOU’RE COLD, THEY’RE COLD
Pawsh-Magazine-Dog-Winter-Safety-2It really irks me when I hear people (usually non dog-owners) say, “The dog has a fur coat. He’ll be fine outside.” This is simply not true. Dogs feel the cold just like we do. If you have a short-haired pupster, invest in a proper winter jacket for him. If your dog is starting to shake and tremble while out for their walk, call it early and take them back inside. Avoid the risk of frostbite by playing it safe rather than sorry and realizing that dogs are not invincible.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #2: PUMP UP THE PROTEIN
Not by too much and of course always consult with your vet before altering your pet’s diet, but often times increasing your pet’s protein intake will help them to grow thicker, warmer coats to ward off chilly winter breezes.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #3: AVOID SIDEWALK SALTS
Pawsh-Magazine-dog-winter-safety-3Little paws are extremely sensitive to sidewalk salts and can easily crack, bleed and cause considerable pain. Avoid areas that are covered in horrid little salt crystals whenever possible. Sometimes of course that is impossible, so consider buying some little boots for your dog. Yes, they will look ridiculous. Yes they will have an exceptional ‘funny walk’ happening, but the boots will protect their paws from harm.

If your dog absolutely will not wear a pair of boots, consider a pet paw balm instead available at most pet supply stores. And be sure to gently towel dry their paws after a walk so that pieces of salt don’t linger and further irritate their sensitive tootsies!

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #4: USE PLASTIC OR CERAMIC
Did you know that vets see a lot of injured pet tongues during the winter? Know why? It is because some furry friends try to drink out of metal dishes in the cold and their tongues get stuck. Help them stay hydrated and unstuck by opting for plastic or ceramic bowls.

DOG WINTER SAFETY TIP #5: KEEP THEM WARM
Pawsh-magazine-dog-winter-safety-4You many think that your furry friend is snug as a bug whenever indoors, but in reality a lot of homes temperatures drop significantly during the evenings and early morning. Be sure your pet has a lovely place to sleep, somewhere raised up from the ground and covered in blankets so they can burrow and have some extra warmth if need be.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you bath your dog during the winter, keep them warm immediately after getting out of the tub and do not take them outdoors until they are completely dry. Otherwise they might catch a nasty chill.

{Photography by Pawsh Studio}

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