My dog reacts to snow for the first time. And he loves it! He was curious about it at first, but after that the dog zoomies started. Labradors are good at snow, they are doublecoated dogs and thanks to their coat they are very tough. But not all breeds are good for it.

If you have double coated or long coated dog, your walks might be the best at winter. Most dogs just love playing in snow. But if you are owner of Chihuahua, Boxer or Doberman, you should make your walks shorter. Or buy them some dog coat or sweatshirt, which will help them with the cold temperatures.

Check my puppy enjoying snow in this video:

8 weeks to 6 months puppy transformation. This is a video of my Labrador Retriever puppy Andy and how he grows up from tiny 8 weeks old puppy to big 6 months old dog.

Labrador puppies are known for eating everything! But can they enjoy taste of lemon?

Make your day better with Andy! Watch our video of Andy meeting his puppy brothers and sisters:

Halloween is coming - inspire with Rocadog and make great dog costumes

Dogs and puppies generaly dont like b aths and they do not sea reason to take it. They dont mind if they are little stinky, they might actually even like that. Because of that, you want to associate bathing with something positive, like treats or toys. Show your dog empty bath at first, give him some treats or toys into it and after he is not that scared add water and start with shampooing and showering.

Be very carefull and dont let the water get into dogs eyes and nose - it is can be dangerous for dogs and it definitely is not pleasant for them.

My last tip is about drying. I always use towels only and after that i let the dogs and puppies dry themself. But if you use blow dryer, be very carefull so you avoid burning puppy skin. Dogs also dont like sound of blow dryers, so i really think, that towels are the best options.

Watch video of my Labrador puppy getting his first bath:

Obesity and its health risks

Overweight and obese dogs have a hard life to live. Excess weight puts stress on your dog’s joints, heart, lungs, and other vital organs. Much like humans, dogs can develop long-term health issues due to excess weight such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and the inability to enjoy certain physical activities that should be easy for them to do. This is largely caused by excess caloric intake without balancing it out with the proper amount of activity.

In order to prevent extra weight in your dog, it’s important to be able to recognize what your pet’s ideal weight should be then be able to tell if they are going over that limit. This will depend on the size and breed of your dog. However, across all breeds you should be able to notice a tapering of your pet’s waist and be able to feel the outline of their ribs and spine when running your hands along their torso while they are standing. On the other end of the spectrum, ribs jutting out or being excessively visible from a distance could be indicators of malnutrition. (More on that later.)


Prevention

Not exercising can lead to weight gain for your pup. Weight gain can lead to an inability or difficulty exercising, which is necessary to shed unnecessary pounds. This can understandably exacerbate the problem of poor health once it starts. Get in front of this issue before it becomes more difficult to solve.

While giving your pet treats for training purposes is a valid form of behavioral conditioning, taking this to an extreme can harm your dog’s health. Don’t give into those big puppy dog eyes by handing down too much human food from the dinner table. This can damage your relationship with your dog and your dog’s health in the long run. Dogs need a strong leader to follow. Setting rules then constantly breaking them will damage your alpha status just the same as it will damage their long-term health if they gain and are unable to lose excessive weight.

Even when a dog does manage to lose excess weight it has gained, the stress of carrying excessive weight, even for a short time, can have a negative effect on their health. Reducing the number of treats and overall calories you give your dog will help them to lose weight. However, if your dog is overweight, cutting their caloric intake excessively overnight can have negative

effects on their behavior and health as well. A ravenous dog is an unpredictable dog. If you need to reduce calories, start by cutting back on the number of treats you give your dog, then start giving them smaller portions of their regular meals. If you’re hoping to make dramatic changes in your dog’s diet, consult your veterinarian.

One of the best methods of helping your dog to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight is to make sure they get plenty of exercise. Healthy diet is still not enough to maintain a happy and healthy dog. Dogs are social, active mammals that will gain weight and become depressed without proper stimulation. Take your dog for at least two, 15 minute walks each day.


Breeds most prone to be overweight

It’s no secret that certain dog types are more challenging to care for than others. Certain dogs like Huskies, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and other herding and hunting varieties, require a lot of activity. These dogs may not be prone to being overweight, but they are very active and intelligent dogs who will become unhappy and destructive without proper exercise.

Exercise is also important for those more sedentary breeds. Pugs and Bulldogs, for example, are two breeds that have been tailor-bred for human companionship, rather than for hunting or herding. These dogs have short snouts (brachycephalic) which makes breathing, and therefore, exercising, more difficult. This predisposition to being sedentary can lead to long-term problems.

Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, and Beagles, while less obviously ill-suited to exercise like a pug is, are still prone to being overweight. The Beagle, for example, has the appetite of a hunting dog (which it is) but also has a slower metabolism. All of these breeds often have mild dispositions which can lead to less exercise without human intervention.

Even those these dogs do not want or need to run around as much as a Husky, still need plenty of movement. They need their daily walks. If you don’t have the time in your day to go on multiplewalks, you might want to look into hiring a dog walker to help out. Get your pup moving!


The other side of the coin: Lack of appetite and malnutrition

Lack of appetite in a dog can be more indicative of an immediate need to be met. If your dog skips a meal here and there, this might not be cause for serious concern. However, sustained lack of appetite should be taken very seriously. Dental issues, various bacterial or viral infections might have a part to play. If you think that something is seriously wrong with your dog, take them to their vet as soon as possible.

Emotional and environmental stressors can also lead to lack of appetite in your pup. A move, sudden change in ownership, redecoration, or a vacation can throw your dog’s routine completely off course. This can be very confusing and stressful and can lead to them losing their appetite. Maintaining what semblance of routine you can during these transitions can help. Feeding your dog at its regular meal times, taking them for walks, and giving them their toys and beds with the smell of their homes and people can be very important to make them feel safe.


Conclusion

Balancing your dog’s food intake with proper levels of activity are the two easiest ways of keeping your dog at a healthy weight. Take Fido for walks, toss a ball around for catch, and keep the unnecessary treats to a minimum. You love your pup which means setting boundaries and making sure they get the exercise they need.

Sense of smell is the best sense of dogs. Nosework is a dog sport, where they can use it to full potential. If you have a dog that loves to sniff around all the time, Nosework might be the right sport for you.

There is no doubt, that dogs have amazing sense of smell, but what is the Nosework sport. Nosework is sport based on team work, which is made up from the dog and his handler. The dog looks for specific smells, in situations similar for professional police, army or rescue dogs. It is new and modern dog sport, first competition took place in 2009 in USA.

This sport is not played on points or time, the important thing is, if the dog did or did not found the smell. In this sport, every dog can become a hero and every handler will learn to listen to his dogs friend.

Watch our video about this interesting dog sport: