Most people include their dogs as part of their family and since camping is a family activity lots of dogs go camping. There are several things to do when preparing to take your dog camping. First check when you make your camping reservations for dog restrictions and rules. Some campgrounds limit the number of dogs you may bring and others may restrict certain breeds of dogs or big dogs.

Be prepared to clean up after your dog. I carry a pooper scooper with me when I camp. If you do not want to do that, be sure to carry plenty of plastic bags.

When you are outside your dog will also want to be outside. So be sure to bring along leashes, tie outs or fencing. I carry a long web leash that if you tie onto a tree it will not dig into the bark of the tree. Many of my friends carry the folding fencing. Fencing is great for small dogs.

Don’t forget dog food, treats and dog bowls. A dog can work up a big appetite while camping. Also, don’t forget any medications that your dog is currently taking.

Toys and balls are great too. I always take a Kong camping as well as peanut butter, just in case I need to keep my dog busy.

If you have a long haired dog like I do, you might want to take along a brush. My dog loves to walk in high weeds and usually has all kinds of things hanging on his fur.

Your family and your dog can have a great time camping together! See you in the dog walk!

A daily walk is great exercise for both you and your dog. Dogs love a walk and it teaches your dog several lessons. It enforces the heel, sit and wait commands. It also teaches your dog to be a good social member of society. If I stop to talk to someone, Eliot will either sit or lay down until I am ready to continue the walk.

It also introduces dogs to the sight of other dogs. Be aware, you never know how a dog will react to another dog! So be very cautious when introducing your dog to another dog! I try to keep Eliot focused on me and his walk while passing other dogs. It is a great test, and sometimes he does fail, but for the majority of times he comes through with flying colors!

Once you start a routine, your dog is a great motivator to help keep you walking. Your dog will know when it is time and be ready. However, be prepared your dog thinks this is a great time to relieve himself. I tie several plastic bags to the leash or stash bags in my pockets.

If your dog is a very young puppy, be prepared to carry him or her when they get tired, or do not stray to far from home. An active puppy needs a daily walk of a half hour or more. A tired puppy is a good puppy!

A senior dog might need several walks during the day instead of one long walk. This helps to keep their joints limber. A walk is also a good bond for you and your dog. Happy walking!

If you are a dog owner you know there are leash laws everywhere. While I do keep my Springer, Eliot leashed, I wish the law applied to cats as well as dogs. Oh well, that is another issue, back to dogs on a leash. I know lots of people who train their dogs to stay within a certain area and expect the dog to obey that training no matter what happens. I have seen this at campgrounds as well as at private residents.

A rabbit, squirrel, or a deer can definitely catch any dog off track of previously learned lessons! Unfortunately, cars sometimes follow these elusive creatures putting your beloved dog in harm’s way! Also, other dogs off leash can cause serious bodily injuries to your family’s loved dog!

Every dog likes a good run, but be aware there are dangerous situations everywhere. Unless you and your dog are hunting and your dog has been trained for hunting, it is best to keep your dog leashed. I do not think of the leash as a constraint for Eliot but a device used for his protection and safety. There are long leashes and retractable leashes for that taste of freedom. As that old saying goes; “It is better to be safe, than sorry!”

We all had toys that were well loved. And dogs are no exceptions. Spencer loved Frisbees, even if they were not his. He could make them his in a short time with chewed and rippled edges. He acquired several of my daughter’s Frisbees that way! However, Eliot had no desire to chase a Frisbee!

Spencer and Eliot loved tennis balls and they were best when they were new and had lots of bounce to them!

The toy that Spencer and Eliot loved the most was their Kong! They could chew it for hours and it is indestructible. A Kong is great for filling with treats or peanut butter and keeps dogs busy for hours. But be aware that dogs (such as Eliot) can master this and lick the peanut butter out of a Kong in several minutes. It can also be refrigerated or frozen for a longer distraction.

Kong has been making dogs toys since 1976 and now makes all kinds of toys for your pet. There is an Air Kong with a rope that is perfect for training your dog for hunting purposes.

Eliot rarely plays with toys any more, but he does look forward to peanut butter in his Kong!

Brushing your dog’s teeth is just another part of grooming, and it is important to keep their teeth clean and mouth healthy. Always use a tooth paste that is designed for pets. Not only will they like the taste, but it is safe for them. Because dogs swallow, the tooth paste that humans use can upset your dog’s stomach. Pet toothpaste is available at pet stores as well as pet catalogs like Dental Care for Dogs at Drs. Foster and Smith.

There are many tools available to assist you in keeping that doggy smile beautiful and fresh smelling. There are dental cleansers that eliminate bacteria in the mouth. Dental sponges help spread the cleansers or toothpaste. There are also dental wipes to wipe away the bacteria on the teeth and gums. Finger toothbrushes are a great way to introduce your pet to tooth cleaning. You can even purchase a tooth scaler just like the one your dental hygienist uses to scrape off plaque. Of course doggy toothbrushes are also available. Electric toothbrushes or battery operated toothbrushes are very good to use if your dog will allow them. Eliot cannot get past the noise and vibration they make!

It is best to introduce your dog to tooth brushing while he is young. It takes much more patient when your dog is older. I started brushing Spencer’s teeth when he was several years old. When he saw his toothbrush, he would run to the living room and hide his head under the sofa! It took a lot of coaxing and treats to get his teeth brushed! Eliot is very easy, because I started brushing his teeth as a puppy. I simply call him into the bathroom and shut the door (I learned this trick from Spencer) and have him sit and he is ready for brushing. About ten years ago it was recommended to brush your dog’s teeth every week. The research today about brushing a dog’s teeth is recommended as a daily routine.

The thoughts of fleas can make you cringe! And if you see just one flea on your beloved pet, it can make you cry! A single female flea can lay 600 eggs in her short life span. Those eggs hatch and develop into larvae within ten days. The larvae spins a cocoon entering the pupae stage. The cocoons are extremely weather resistant and can remain in this stage for months if no host is present. However, when a host is present the mature young adult flea emerges and jumps onto your pet. The adult flea feeds by ingesting blood from their host and lays eggs which drop off your dog’s coat on to carpets and beddings. And the cycle begins again. The life cycle of a flea can be as few as 16 days! Removing fleas from your home can take months of hard work. Preventing the infestation of fleas is the easier method.

I use two medications to control fleas, Sentinel and Frontline Plus.

Sentinel is 99% effective in preventing flea populations. While it does not kill the flea, it does make the flea sterile and makes it easier for you to rid your dog and home from future infestations. Sentinel is a monthly chewable tablet that guards against heartworms, adult roundworms, adult hookworms, whipworms and fleas! Every dog must be tested for heartworm prior to use. It is safe for puppies four weeks or older and weighing 2lbs or more. It is good for all breeds of dogs.

Frontline kills 100% of adult fleas within 18 hours. Frontline Plus not only kills the adult flea but also kills flea eggs and larvae therefore completely breaking the life cycle of the flea! Frontline and Frontline Plus also kills 100% of ticks within 24 to 48 hours.

Eliot has been flea free all his life thanks to Sentinel and Frontline Plus!

How much food does your Springer need?  There is no set answer to that question.  First of all, start by feeding your Springer a quality dog food.  While the cost is higher it will be less expensive in the long run.  If you feed your dog cheaper dog food, he will require more food to get the nutrition he needs.  You will also have more waste to clean up.  Second, use the label as a starting point for the correct amount.  Keep in mind that label is for all types of dogs and there is a big difference in dog breeds, sizes, puppy growth rates, skin and coat types, activity levels and living conditions in the dog world.

A Springer will require different amounts of dog food throughout his lifetime based on his age as well as other factors.  A growing puppy will require more than the average amount.  This is a good time to buy a quality dog food just for puppies because they need the proper nutrients to develop over a short period of time.   Also a pregnant dog in her first 42 days will require more than an average amount.  A pregnant dog in her last 21 days will require even more food and a lactating female will require even more than during pregnancy.

If your Springer is a hard working hunter then he/she will require more due to a high activity level. A neutered or spayed dog will require less food than a dog that is intact of same age and activity level.  A senior dog that is less active will require less than a younger dog.

If your dog is underweight he/she will be more likely to suffer from poor muscle tone, energy loss, delayed healing and metabolic and reproductive disorders.  If your dog is overweight he/she is more likely to suffer from arthritis, increased risk of diabetes, liver problems, skin problems and lack of energy.

Your breeder is a good source of information about dog food.  Your puppy has already been introduced to a solid food and the breeder will let you know what it is and how much your puppy requires.  Your veterinarian is another good source of information about dog food throughout all the stages of your dog’s life.>

Elevated dog feeders — are they just a fad?  While I do not think so, there are several reasons why every pet owner (dog or cat) should use them.  Veterinarians recommend them because of comfort for your pet while eating and drinking.  Older pets with arthritis and neck or back problems can benefit by using elevated dog feeders.  Also dogs with stiff muscles and sore joints can benefit as well.  The elevation aids with difficulty swallowing problems as well as the digestion of their food.   It also reduces bloat in the larger breeds.    

Elevated dog feeders also benefit the owner!  It helps keep your pet’s eating area cleaner. Better hygiene and cleanliness is always a plus!   Dogs are less likely to drip water on the floor with elevated feeders.  It helps the owners with physical disabilities.  Less clean up and the elevation keeps you from bending down to the floor is another plus! 

I use an elevated feeder for Eliot and yes, there is less water on the floor!  Even though he can not speak for himself, I think that he loves his elevated dog feeder!  I do too.

After your precious pet is several weeks old, this question will arise, to neuter or not to neuter, and in the case of a female, to spay or not to spay. 

If you bought a dog with a great pedigree line and plan to show him or her, do not neuter or spay.  You can not show a dog that has been neutered or spayed.  And if that is the case, please do not let your dog run free.  Be a responsible pet owner and keep track of your dog’s whereabouts 24/7!   My second Springer, Spencer, was out in his fenced in yard and I was shocked to see a female of mixed pedigree that was in heat squeeze herself through the gate to get to him!  However, the joke was on her, he had already been neutered!

If you purchased your dog for a companion, friend, and pet, then by all means neuter and spay.  In today’s world, approximately 7 million pets are put to sleep each year and some of these are pedigrees!  In the United States on any given day of the year, 10,000 babies are born and that same day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born!  We all know there are just not enough homes for each and every pet!  In 6 years a dog and her offspring can produce as many as 67,000 puppies!   

Neutering and spaying does prolong their lives!  For females, spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer, and practically eliminates ovarian and uterine cancer.  For males, neutering reduces testicular cancer and prostrate problems as well as avoiding problems such as hernias.  There are other advantages to getting your pet neutered or spayed, such as your pet is less likely to roam, another is a cheaper dog license.

Whatever decision you make, make an educated one based on you and your dog’s future!   

When Eliot was young and we went to dog school, I was introduced to the Halti. The Halti is a training collar that works wonderfully for controlling a wild and crazy pup!

It reminds me of a horse bridle for dogs. It may look like a muzzle, but it is not, and your dog can eat, chew and drink while wearing a Halti. The Halti discourages rowdiness and mouthing just like a good Mommy would. Mommy dogs correct their pups by grasping their muzzles and shaking them. This lets the pup know it is time to settle down. The Halti works on the same principle, putting a small amount of pressure on the nose.

The Halti is a great training tool for walking your dog. Your dog’s leash gets attached under his chin, therefore he can not pull and drag you down the street. This allows you to be in control and your wild pup walks like a well behaved dog. The Halti can really make your walk enjoyable for you too!

While the Halti works wonders, dogs hate it and you need to be patient. Eliot really hates his Halti, and tries to take it off as soon as I place it on him. But while it is on, he behaves and calms down. Even though he is 10 years old, I still find the need to use it occasionally.

Be aware that they do come in sizes, so be sure to get the right size for your dog. Remember, it is not a muzzle and will not prevent a biting dog from biting someone, but it is a fantastic training collar to correct negative behavior in a wild and crazy pup!