From Zane

This is a post that was done by one of my colleagues on Facebook this morning. She gave me permission to re-post this to my blog. It’s very important for dog owners to know that just because its sold in the big pet stores doesn’t mean it’s safe! Thanks to Tracey Lamerbert and if you need a good dog walker in the San Diego area contact her!

I thought i would share this with any of my friends that own a dog and use the very popular retractable leash.

This morning as i was out making my rounds. I was heading up Alga and saw a client walking her dog. Happy bear a very friendly,energetic cocker spaniel knows my truck well and loves me lots

He heard me coming up the hill with 7 other cars and all of the sudden darted out onto Alga. My heart jumped! We were all traveling about 50mph…He came within inches of a on coming car. His owner in a panic had a hard time controlling him with the retractable lead and like most of them,when the dogs darts doesn’t lock correctly. Now she will not be using the retrractable lead on busy streets.

Here is a little more information on the dangers of theses leashes:

A veterinary rant on the plague of retractable leashes in our midst

A plague of retractable leashes is upon us! Though that statement comes perhaps ten years too late, I’m happy to offer you my take on this important subject here and now.

Call me a hater, but I HATE retractable leashes. Here’s why:

I’ve never found one that didn’t click and stick or unspool suddenly at the exact wrong time (like when a stray cat crosses your path and an oncoming car has to slam on the brakes to spare your dog’s life). Sticky situations like this serve to illustrate how the “canine lunge line” can serve to thoroughly foul up your control over the animal.

Last weekend, my aunt’s dog was on a placid walk up in northern Florida when another dog came bounding suddenly from the end of a twenty-foot super-Retracto. Dog-fearful Trixie did what any other encroached-upon dog might under the circumstances. She bit the dog.

My aunt, being the responsible dog owner she is, offered to pay for the care of the bitten dog and called immediately to determine what measures she might take to prevent similar incidents in the future.

My take? It’s the other owners fault. And not just because lovable Trixie spent six months as one of my foster dogs before finding a home with my aunt. If my aunt truly had control over Trixie and the bitee’s owner didn’t have control ever her extendo-apparatus, then, well, it seems pretty clear, right?

The same situation plays out in our waiting room on a regular basis. Owners with ill-behaved or over-stimulated and stressed dogs often lose control of their charges. No degree of thumb clicking and hand over hand reeling-in will suffice when the thin line is already wrapped thrice around an elderly woman’s ankles.

Retractable leashes do have their places. But heavy dog interaction zones are not among them. Pet owners thinking about using this kind of leash as their tried-and-true standard would do well to consider the vet’s point of view: They’re a liability.

For more dog training tips & tricks, cool dog photos, & dog news follow K9 Coach San Diego Dog Training on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

Follow us on Facebook for even more fun dog stuff!

From San Diego Dog Training

It’s Mother’s Day weekend. Many husbands and kids are out shopping like crazy trying to find something Mom might like for Mother’s Day….. here’s an idea to add to what you have gotten her already, or if you haven’t come up with the perfect gift take this idea and build on it.

Mom’s take care of so much every day, and most likely if you are a family who has a dog, this includes all the dog things too. Since dogs have no transportation, only paws, a wag, and a bark to work with, it’s a little tough to really get anything special for Mom. So…. help Mom out with the dog. If Mom feeds the dog, picks up the poop, and does the walk thing… take the slack up for her as a Mother’s Day present from the dog.

Do all the feeding, clean up, and even go out for a walk with the entire family. Just be in charge of the dog walk. Leash on dog, bags for poop and ready to take charge of the getting the dog to walk with you.

Mom’s love time that’s dedicated to them… they dedicate so much to every one else. So have a great day and give a gift to Mom from the dog too!

For more tips and training tricks follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

For live online web dog training events follow us on K9 Coach Facebook and if your dog needs a little help from us in private lessons or a dog training camp contact us. We are located in San Diego & Temecula and train small dogs, big dogs… and dogs that fall in the middle of all of that!

I’m not one to promote a product, especially dog food unless I think it’s really worth it… this one has turned out to be a great thing!

As a professional trainer of course my own dogs are my family and I want the best for them. Because I’m in charge of a lot of other dogs destinies as well I have done quite a bit of research on dog food. And believe me, you would be surprised at how some of the premium vet recommended foods are absolutely horrible to say the very least for your dog.

Check out the video and all the info on this dog food for yourself. I highly recommend you give it a try. If your dog has poop that your really have to plug your nose to pick up, has a coat that doesn’t look shiny, looks a little fat, looks a little skinny, or you simply don’t know what to feed your dog this information on your dog’s health and the food you feed is important.

Since I feed it to my dogs and have done a lot of study on it myself feel free to contact K9 Coach if you have further questions… or just order a bag straight from the dog food web site. They even deliver it straight to your door!

For more dog training tips and tricks, dog news, and cool dog photos follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

And for live online dog training events follow us on Facebook. K9 Coach Facebook.

From K9 Coach Training Camp Dogs

With all the media on swine flu these days things that we never even thought of tend to pop into our heads… and it does start effecting all those things that are near and dear to us in our lives. As a professional dog trainer I get dog specific questions every day. Lately I’ve been getting questions about swine flu and dogs.

Here is the good news. According to a professor at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, located at the University of California, Davis, Sharon Hietala said that the H1N1 influenza virus “has never been shown to transmit to dogs and cats.”

An expert in clinical immunology and diagnostic techniques for infectious disease in animals, Hietala added that at this point there is no need to be concerned about your dog or cat becoming sick from swine flu, but that they should take all precautions for themselves as humans including washing hands, avoiding contact with your face and eyes, and certainly being aware of staying out of public places should your develop any symptoms to help stop the spread of swine flu to others.

Health concerns of influenza transmission is from human to human, not from human to dog or cat or vise versa.

So in these times of “pandemic” don’t be afraid to get out and get some fresh air with your dog. Healthy exercise for you and your dog builds a better immune system and allows you to maintain health and wellness for your family.

For more dog tips and training, cool dog photos, and dog news follow K9 Coach on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

For online dog training events you can join become a fan of K9 Coach on Facebook.

And of course for private lessons and dog training camp in the San Diego and Temecula areas contact us for more information about your specific dog and puppy training needs.