You are here: Home / Archives for Miles Bensky

Tips For Exercising With Your Dog

Miles Bensky, BA, CTCImageShack

Summer is a beautiful time in Seattle, and as the warmer weather approaches, many of us find ourselves spending more time outside. Recently, I have taken up running, completing my first half-marathon in March over on Whidbey Island. As I have continued to train outside, I notice more and more people walking, jogging, skating, and biking around town. Being a dog lover, I can’t help but notice an increase in the number of dogs enjoying outdoor activities with their owners. Therefore, I thought it would be a great time to discuss some important points that dog owners should consider when thinking about exercising with Fido.

Exercise is an important component to having a well-balanced dog. An article published in The Journal of Nutrition estimates that obesity rates range between 18-44% of the dog population and exercise is critical to their health as well. All dogs need some level of daily physical activity in order to stay happy and healthy. Lack of exercise can contribute to behavioral issues such as Destructive Chewing and Leash Reactivity. Having an overweight dog can lead to various health complications such as Heart Disease, Hip Dysplasia, and Diabetes.

[Read more...]

Post to Twitter Post to Delicious Post to Facebook Post to StumbleUpon

Dog Park Safety Tips

Miles Bensky, BA, CTC

dog parkIdeally, dog parks are urban oases where dog lovers can get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. A place for owners to converge to spend time with their free-running canine companions. A place where dogs get a chance to run around and socialize while owners watch and chat with one another about what makes each of their furry friends so special. And for many people this is exactly what happens, but unfortunately not for everyone. At least not every time. For many, a trip to the dog park is a proverbial crapshoot between dog owner bliss and a stressful fiasco.

The problem is you never know what you are going to get when you arrive at the park, and it does not take much for an enjoyable time to turn sour. Nothing kills the mood faster than a dog altercation and there are a lot of different elements that can lead to one (see my colleague Christine’s article about dog/dog aggression). Sometimes it’s due to an inattentive owner who is not controlling their bullying dog. Sometimes it is an owner bringing a dog to the park who really does not have the proper skills to deal with such a hectic environment. Other times a dog, be it yours or another owners’, is simply having a bad day. I have supervised enough dog groups through my work at dog daycares to know that even the most social and mellow dogs can be grumpy on any given day.

[Read more...]

Post to Twitter Post to Delicious Post to Facebook Post to StumbleUpon