http://www.raesidecartoon.com/blog/dog-agility-training/

When a majority of people think about the term obedience, the image that frequently comes to mind is a well behaved canine following specific commands given by their owner.  While this is, of course, true, obedience provides your canine best friend with more than simple commands to follow.  Dogs are pack animals by nature and having an established pack order within your dog’s life is important for many reasons.  Bad habits including food aggression and destructiveness may stem from your canine pal being confused about the pack structure within the home.  Behavioral problems are the #1 cause of euthanasia in dogs.  Many of these problems can be corrected or avoided all together with proper obedience training.  Obedience training can also be a life saving technique for your dog as well.  Countless pets are injured or killed each year after escaping their home.  Simple commands such as come and stay can be extremely valuable in the event that a dog slips through an open door.

Some owners elect to take obedience training to the next level in which owner and dog teams compete for obedience titles.  The AKC (American Kennel Club) offers obedience trials for owners to demonstrate the result of their hard work and training with their canine companion.  Mixed breed dogs are often welcome at many of the obedience trials as well.  Rules and regulations for the obedience trials are listed on the AKC website and provide the required commands and tasks that the teams will be given to perform in the trials.  Owners often find that competing with their four-legged best friend strengthens the bond between owner and dog, while encouraging good behavior and mental stimulation.

Ask us at Animal Central for more information on the benefits of obedience training or visit:  http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/getting_started.cfm

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM

Canine agility courses combine speed, precision, and obedience into a single event.  Competitors face standardized obstacles including: 3 hurdles, 3 contact obstacles, a minimum of 10 weave poles, 2 tunnels, 1 tire jump, and 1 table (additional obstacles may be added for advanced and master classes).  Contact obstacles contain target zones that the dog must come in contact with to avoid faults.  Canine competitors rely on the guidance of their human companions to give signals and direction as to the order of obstacles.  Incorrect signals can result in faults for missed obstacles or obstacles completed out of order.  Judges monitor each obstacle and award faults based on the class and error that occurred.  Depending on the type of scoring that is being utilized, faults may add a penalty of time for the completion of the course.  In most cases, the dog with the fewest faults is declared the winner, and in the event of a tie, time is used as the secondary method of determining the overall winner.  In order to be successful in agility, it is extremely important for all competitors to exhibit obedience and focus.  Strict time standards for the course are set by judges prior to the course being run.  Various nonstandard classes are also available and vary in rules and scoring from standard agility.  Clubs and organizations for agility are found worldwide.  Agility competitors do not have to be pure bred and jump size is determined based on the size of the dog competing.

Ask us at Animal Central for more information on Standard Canine Agility or visit: http://usdaa.com/rulesReg_ClassDescs.cfm

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM and Staff

A cat uses its tail for balance–over 10% of a cat’s bones are in the tail.

The use of dogs to assist in the movement of livestock from one location to another has been utilized for decades.  Certain breeds, such as Border Collies, herd livestock instinctively; however, many non-herding breeds, like the Rottweiler, are frequently capable of being trained to herd as well.  Herding is currently done for both functional purposes as well as a canine sporting event.  Dogs and their human companions must work together in order to achieve precise movement of the animals.  Due to the separation of human and dog during herding, a dog must have the ability to think for itself without becoming distracted in order to be successful.  Herding can also be used to divide portions of the herd or to separate specific members of the herd.  Herding events are growing in popularity, and some herding clubs have facilities that allow for non-ranching members to practice herding with their dogs.  Training and coaching is often available through local clubs to encourage new members to participate.  During competitions, many elements of herding are tested through various tests and trials.  Courses are set up in order to exhibit specific aspects of herding in which the human and dog must work together to complete the course as specified by the judges.  Herding tests and trails typically involve the movement of sheep and/or goats.

Ask us at Animal Central for more information regarding herding or visit: http://ranchoterranorte.com/Herding-Dog-Coop.html

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM and Staff

For decades, flyball has been entertaining our canine friends by providing exercise and mental stimulation.  Growing in popularity, flyball involves a 51 foot long course that includes hurdles and a flyball box.  Teams of 4 dogs run a relay style race and must cross the start/finish line in the order in which they are set to run.  When a dog is released, they bound over the hurdles and activate the flyball box trigger to release the ball.  Once they have retrieved the ball, they return over the hurdles and past the start/finish line.  The team to complete the course without error in the shortest time is classified as the winner of the heat.  Hurdle height is determined based on the shortest dog on the team in order to allow even smaller dogs to compete.  Separate divisions have been created to allow dog teams to compete against teams with similar abilities.  Any breed and/or size of dog capable of carrying the ball is welcome to participate.  Flyball clubs and competitions are spread across the nation, enabling those who are interested in learning more about the sport to observe dogs in action.  Basic obedience is a must for the safety of all involved.  In most cases, teams are able to complete the entire course in a span of only 20 seconds with record speeds being closer to 15 seconds.  This sport is extremely fast paced; therefore, all competitors should be in top form.  Check with your dog’s veterinarian prior to allowing your pet to participate in order to insure they are physically capable of the exercise involved in the sport of flyball.

The next flyball event in Colorado is June 8 – 10^th at the Adams County Fair Grounds for those interested in learning more about the sport!

Ask us at Animal Central for more information on Flyball or visit: www.flyball.org/aboutflyball

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM and Staff

Hi, my name is Riley, and I am a ten year old black lab who belongs to Angie. My mom got me from the Safe Harbor Lab Rescue, who matched me to her. She is my third home, which most people would be shocked to find out because I am such a sweet, old guy, but I know that this time it is my forever home! My favorite activity is eating, which is why I admire anyone who has treats…I LOVE to eat! I have a stuffed monkey, named Wilson, who is my favorite toy. I love coming to Animal Central and smelling all the animals that have been here…I like to sniff, what dog doesn’t?!?! My best non-human buddies are my parakeets. I also love to swim, which is my favorite memory, so far. You can always see me lounging around in doggy daycare, so come visit me at Animal Central anytime!

Dogs of all breeds and sizes are jumping at the chance to join in the fun associated with canine dock diving.  The competitions originally started with a single event where dogs leapt from the 40 foot long dock into the pool in pursuit of the toy that had been hurled into the water.  Judges determine the winner based on the distance of their jump into the water.  Handlers as young as 7 years old are allowed in this event with their canine pals.

The competition has now expanded to include Speed Retrieve and Extreme Vertical events, as well as a cumulative scoring for those that participate in all three disciplines for the overall title of Iron Dog.  Speed Retrieve is a timed event that allows dogs to show off their paddle power as they swim to retrieve a bumper toy suspended just above the surface of the pool.  Time in this event is stopped when the toy is pulled free.  As the name indicates, Extreme Vertical is an event in which the canine competitors leap off the dock in an attempt to reach the bumper toy that is suspended 8’ out from the dock above the surface of the pool.  Successful participants advance to the next round and the bumper height is increased two inches each round with the starting height placed at 4’6”. Rules state that participants must be willing to jump from the dock and the dogs are never forced to participate.  Dock Dog clubs and competitions are forming around the world as the sport grows in leaps and bounds.  Owners interested in taking part in the events are encouraged to attend local events or contact clubs for more information and to see the dogs in action.

RockyMountainDock Dogs will be in attendance at Thorntonfest on May 19^th & 20^th!  We would like to encourage everyone to attend and support the canine competitors!

Ask us at Animal Central for more information on Dock Dogs or visit:  http://www.rockymountaindockdogs.com/

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM and Staff

As summer approaches, many dog owners begin to think of the activities that they will be enjoying this summer and, of those activities, which are appropriate for their four legged best friend to enjoy as well.  One must first consider their individual dog: breed, age, activity level, and health all play an important part in making the decision as to which activities your pet can take part in over the summer.  Older dogs or those with medical conditions may not be able to take part in more strenuous activities like hiking, swimming, and jogging; however, depending on the location they may enjoy lounging at the lake while you fish, a walk in the park, or possibly even a camping adventure.  Always speak to your veterinarian for recommendations on the proper precautions (vaccinations, flea/tick/heartworm preventatives, etc.) prior to your canine pal taking part in summer activities.  Summer time is a great time to slowly increase the activity level of your pet if they are overweight in order to shed some unwanted pounds.  As always, make certain that your pet has access to plenty of clean water to prevent dehydration and a cool area to relax in order to prevent hyperthermia or heat stroke.   The size of your canine should also be considered when planning your summer excursions for your dog.  While many small dogs are very active and enjoy being outdoors, others would rather stay close to home.  Doggy Daycare may be a great addition to your dog’s lodging visit in the event that they must stay home while you are away.  Meanwhile, a trip to the local dog park is a sure way to encourage your dog’s natural drive towards pack play.  Whatever the activity you choose for you and your canine pal this summer, plan ahead to reduce stress on everyone involved and make sure that you and your pet enjoy a safe and happy summer!

Ask us at Animal Central for more information and ideas on activities for you and your dog to enjoy this summer or visit: http://voices.yahoo.com/5-fun-summertime-activities-8702295.html

Be sure to check back with us throughout the month of May as we highlight specific additional activities for your dog to enjoy this summer!

Dr. George Stroberg, DVM and Staff

There are 200 million insects for every person on earth.