November 29, 2023

Choosing the Best Dog Harness for Your Furry Friend

by Henri Vanonen in Blog

For both established dog owners and novice pet parents, identifying the suitable harness for your dog can be a task that needs thoughtful attention. A multitude of options can make the process seem formidable. Nevertheless, choosing an apt dog harness is imperative for your dog’s comfort and safety during outdoor activities. This piece will guide you through various factors to make an informed and effective choice for your furry friend.

Benefits of Using a Dog Harness

Dog harnesses offer various advantages for dogs and their human companions. They provide better control of dogs during outdoor activities and training sessions, helping owners steer their pets from potential hazards. Moreover, they ensure equal distribution of pulling pressure, reducing strain on the throat and neck, a benefit especially for dogs with respiratory issues or breeds susceptible to neck injuries.

Certain harnesses also have extra features like reflective stripes or handles for better grip, ensuring safer nocturnal walks or emergencies.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog Harness

A few key aspects must be considered while selecting a dog harness.

Firstly, the harness's fit is vital for your dog's comfort and safety. Straps that can be readily adjusted to your dog's size facilitate an optimal fit. Also, the material used in the harness should be durable, like nylon or leather, ensuring longevity. Furthermore, check for a user-friendly design that facilitates easy application and removal. Lastly, added features like reflective strips or handle attachments can enhance visibility and provide extra control when needed.

Types of Dog Harnesses

Front-clip Harness

Highly favored among dog owners, front-clip harnesses are known for their efficacy in managing the dog during walks. Contrary to traditional harnesses that clip on the back, these harnesses have the attachment point on the chest. This helps dissuade pulling and promotes better walking habits. They are particularly beneficial for dogs that tend to pull or lunge excessively. Trainers and behaviorists often recommend these as a tool to foster good leash-walking attitudes.

They can also prove useful for dogs with respiratory problems due to reduced pressure on the neck.

Back-clip Harness

In back-clip harnesses, the leash attaches to the dog's back. The design gives greater control over the dog's movements during walks, as the leash attachment is closer to the center of gravity. It discourages lead pulling since the pressure is directed towards the dog's chest rather than the neck. It can be advantageous for dogs prone to respiratory issues or tracheal damage as the tension from the leash is spread across the dog's body, thus reducing strain on the neck and throat.

No-pull Harness

Designed to discourage dogs from pulling on the leash, a no-pull harness spreads the force across the dog's body, making walks more enjoyable. It provides better control over the dog's movement, making it easy to redirect their attention during walks. It significantly eases the strain on the owner's arms and shoulders, promoting better leash behavior.

Adjusting and Putting on a Dog Harness

Measuring and Choosing the Right Size

Choosing the correct size harness for your dog is paramount for their comfort and safety. Proper measurements ensure easy movement and prevent any discomfort. The dog's chest girth just behind the front legs can be accurately measured with a soft tape. While choosing a size, take into account both the weight and breed of your dog. Proper assessment of these factors can help you find the perfect fit for your pet.

Proper Adjustments for Comfort

Correct adjustment of a dog harness contributes to optimum comfort. Securely fitted straps ensure that the harness fits snugly and securely, reducing rubbing. The harness should neither be too loose nor too tight. Right adjustments prevent unnecessary pressure on the chest or neck, allowing your dog to breathe comfortably.

Step-by-Step Guide to Putting on a Dog Harness

Place the harness flat on the ground and ensure the straps are untangled. Put it over your dog's head, positioning the D-ring on their back. Insert your dog's legs into the right openings and adjust the straps for a snug fit. Secure the buckles in place and double-check the snugness of the harness. Following these steps, you'll have your dog comfortably harnessed and ready to go in no time.

In Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate dog harness for your canine friend involves thoughtful judgment. A dog harness is a valuable tool for managing your dog's behavior outdoors. Consider factors such as the dog's size, breed, specific needs, harness usage, durability, and comfort. Undertaking thorough research can significantly enhance your dog's safety, comfort, and well-being.

February 15, 2018

6 Simple DIY Dog Toys

Dogs are active animals and can quite easily get bored and frustrated with the regular working person's schedule. Read here how to spot a bored dog and how to help them! Luckily toys can entertain and keep your doggo busy while you have other things to take care of! Most dogs love toys, but it can get a little expensive, especially with a rough doggy. And the worst thing is to notice your furry friend really isn't into the new funky toy you just got them. So how about making your own dog toys? It's not such a bummer when they break in battle or maybe you're at a friends house and forgot to bring toys. Here are six simple DIY dog toys you can make in an instant from stuff you have at the house. 1. The Lazy Man's Puzzle The simplest way to keep your dog busy for a while is to hide treats inside a bath towel. Just place some treats on the towel and roll it tightly. After playtime, it's easy to just toss the towel in the washing machine and there's no mess left behind! 2. Recycled Tennis Ball Talking of rough dogs, you probably have some chewed up tennis balls around the house. Let's reuse and recycle them! Cut some slits into them and put small treats in. This simple DIY dog toy will likely keep your pup busy for quite some time. But watch out for loose pieces and don't let your dog eat them. 3. Rag Tug Toy Playing tug is so much fun and takes a lot of energy, so you'll have a calm tired doggy after playing. Make an easy tug toy out of an old t-shirt or other piece of clothing, cotton is a good material for this use. You can go about this a couple different ways: Cut the rag into thin long strips, leave two out and divide rest into three parts and braid. Then tie the ends with the left-over strips. Divide strips into two pieces and start making knots on top on knots until the desired length. You can also place a ball in the middle of the rag, then tie a strip or a string around the rag and the ball and cut the "tail" into strips. Then braid or tie the strips into a 4 or 5 pieces. 4. Container Fun There are a lot of household trash that suit the purpose of a dog toy pretty well! Plastic containers such as water bottles and milk jugs can easily be turned into a dog toy by cutting a few holes in them and putting some small treats inside. Cardboard containers and boxes are handy as well, you don't need to cut holes in them, and destroying some cardboard takes a lot of energy. You can put boxes inside of boxes, or containers inside of boxes to make the game harder. Put some treats in every layer to keep the dog motivated. This might leave a mess behind but will take quite some time for your dog to get through. Remember to keep an eye on your pup, especially if they are the hungry type that may swallow some plastic of cardboard with the treats. If they're the destroyer type, make a container from plastic pipe and lids, then drill in a few holes big enough to let small treats fall out and fill with kibble or small treats. 5. Muffin Tin Game This is a classic! Turn a muffin tin upside down and put small treats in the slots. If this is too easy for your pup you can also put treats in the little tins and put a tennis ball on top of each. That will keep your dog busy a little longer! 6. Crackle Toy If your furry buddy likes noisy toys, put some rocks or other sound effects causing things inside a plastic bottle and put the bottle inside a sock and tie it shut or sow fabric around the bottle. +1 Time Consuming Treats Check out our ideas for entertaining a bored dog here, and DIY treats here! Scratches to your pup! Happy playing, WOOLLY WOLF

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February 14, 2018

4 Easy Healthy DIY Dog Treats

Treats are great for training and you should always have some on you when you're walking your dog in case they'll try to run away or go to start a fight with some other dog. It's always a good idea to do a little training to keep up the dog's skills, to strengthen trust and to use some of that excess energy. And, making your own doggie treats is cheaper, healthier and more versatile than buying them from a pet shop. Here are four easy, delicious and so healthy DIY dog treat recipes: 1. Chicken & Rice Treats 1 cup of cooked rice 1 cup of cooked chicken (can use canned meat) 2-4 tablespoons of flour (rice or corn flour work great) 1 egg + herbs Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Put all ingredients in a bowl of a food processor and mix well. Then spoon into ice-cube molds, silicone molds or muffin tins. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until treats are brown and crispy. You can bake them as long as you want to dry them out, just lower the temperature if they seem to get too brown. Cool down and cut into desired sized pieces. TIP: You can also freeze these! Just add a little water or broth in the molds. 2. Easy Baby Food Treats 2 cups of flour (any flour goes, try nut and bean flours plus rolled oats too) 2 jars of baby food (per 120 grams) You can use basically any baby food that doesn't contain ingredients dangerous to dogs. Vegetables, fruits, and meaty mixtures are all good! Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix ingredients into a stiff mixture. Then you can roll the dough into a sheet and use cookie cutters to make funky treats or you can roll balls, cubes hearts, you name it! Bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Cool down and store in a paper or cloth bag, so that the treats won't soften. These can also be frozen to elongate their storage time. 3. Peanut butter & Seed Biscuits 1 cup flour (again any flour goes, try bean flours)1 cup rolled oats1/2 cup seeds of choice1/2 cup broth3 tablespoons peanut butter Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix dry ingredients, then add broth and nut butter. Add more liquid if necessary to form a stiff dough. Roll into a sheet and cut into desired shapes. Bake for 10 minutes then flip and bake for another 10 minutes. Cool down and store in a cookie jar or closed treat bag. Be aware that not all dogs can digest seeds or nuts, so you want to consult your vet, try with a small quantity and keep an eye on your dog and their digestive habits. 4. Apple Cinnamon Treats 1 cup rolled oats1/2 cup applesauce or apple baby food dash of cinnamon1 egg Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Mix oats and applesauce, add cinnamon. Then add the egg and mix well. Spoon the dough onto a baking sheet, a tablespoonful at a time. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden. Cool down and store in a paper or cloth bag, so that the treats won't soften. Can also be frozen to elongate the storage time. Bon Appétit! P.s These treats are also safe for humans, take a bite!

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February 13, 2018

3+4 Tips to Spot a Bored Dog & How to Help Them

Being helpful and working alongside humans has been the most natural behaviour for dogs for thousands of years. Sure there are differences in activeness and helpfulness between breeds, but any animal that doesn't get to behave in ways distinctive to their species is going to get frustrated. Most dogs spend their days alone at home and sometimes their humans are too tired to play or go for a long walk after work. So it's no wonder many dogs and their owners are faced with boredom and the problem of how to "treat" it. Here are the most common habits of a bored dog: 1. Chewing Depending on the breed, some dogs love to entertain themselves by chewing. Chewing shoes, furniture, doors, rugs, their own feet or someone else's feet is definitely a sign of boredom. 2. Barking Other breeds are much more inclined to bark when they're frustrated, especially when left alone. Sure, dogs can be trained not to bark with spray collars for example, but training is a lot more effective when the root of the problem is addressed. And this root is in many cases pure boredom. 3. Digging Digging is another activity that dog's may find amusing when bored and that can cause harm to their owners. Digging tendencies can also appear inside the house, even if there's no sand or houseplant soil to dig. Digging on a couch or on a rug can leave marks and is not a very productive hobby for the dog. Then let's move on to some great resolutions to this boredom issue! 1. Make Them Work Dogs aren't built to just be handed food and affection, they like to earn it! Some great ways to make your dog work for their lunch and dinner are frozen treats, chewable bones and sticks and hiding food around the house. Anything frozen takes a lot more time to consume, and you can even freeze a bone inside a cart of water or broth to make it harder for the dog to get to the prize. Playing the hiding game can also be fun! Remember to hide the pieces in places that the dog is allowed to pick food from, so maybe don't hide any on tables, couches, side tables or chairs. 2. New Things Mental stimulation may well be the best way to wear out the extra energy with your dog. That is why introducing new things, places, people and tricks is a great answer to boredom! Change up your favourite walk route or take a drive and walk in totally a new area, meet new people with your dog, take them with you running errands and lastly teach them something new. Especially training stimulates the dog's mind in a way that makes them feel needed, strengthens the bond between you and the dog plus makes them sleepy as ever. 3. Keep Them Busy Puzzles and interactive dog toys are an easy way to entertain the dog while you are away. Even simple dog toys entertain your dog longer if you rotate them and only have a few available at a time. For dogs that love to dig and splash a digging box or a dog pool are great activities. A regular kids sand box or kiddie pool work perfectly! 4. Play Date This one is pretty self-explanatory: give your dog some friends! This is exciting to your dog and takes up some mental space from all that chewing and barking. Meeting other dogs and humans at a dog park or at an agility track is easy, but one on one play dates may be the best way to start. And what would be cuter than two doggies that are best friends forever? Hope this was helpful to you and your dog! Which tip worked the best for you? Did you come up with some of your own? Happy Training, WOOLLY WOLF

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Choosing the Best Dog Harness for Your Furry Friend

Benefits of Using a Dog Harness

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog Harness