Zen Dog Canine Training
Kitsilano Vancouver, BC, Canada

With the weather outside like it is, today's 10th Day of Christmas is perfect - a massage for your canine friend. Whether you have an ageing senior or a super active youngster, dog massage is the perfect compliment to a well-rounded health care plan. My 13 year old German Shepherd struggles under the cold wet weather with her arthritis, and my 5 year old Border Collie's agility training results in the occasional sore shoulders and tight back. I've used Marta for the last year with both of my dogs, primarily as an in-home service so my dogs are comfortable and relaxed. She is able to point out specific areas of soreness to give extra attention to in between sessions and has a very calming way with my sometimes-crazy dogs. I see massage as an important part of my dogs' care. <3 https://www.allpawsmassage.ca/#&panel1-1

On the ninth day of my Christmas countdown I am featuring my Hurtta Hiker Belt! I purchased this belt over the summer for some hiking I did with friends and their dogs, and I chose Hurtta for its always-high-quality Finnish products. This belt can be used for a variety of activities including canicross, hiking, skijor, skatejoring, bikejoring or even just walking. It has pockets for a water bottle, phone, treats and poo bags, and the padding on the back and the flexible section at the front reduces stress when the dog pulls at the leash. The interior mesh lining makes the belt comfortable to wear even in hot weather Parts on this belt can easily be replaced and features bright 3m reflectors for nighttime safety!

A perfect winter gift for any dog lover is a great pair of gloves. So for the eight day of Christmas I am featuring the Ice Breaker Quantum Merino Gloves. I love these gloves because they are durable and yet midweight - perfect for handling a treat and a clicker, a tug toy and a leash! Made from a stretchy Merino-LYCRA combo, they keep hands warm and dry quickly when they get wet. Great price too! Anyone with a dog is doing cold, wet walks this winter and gloves are a must have for those sloppy treks! https://www.icebreaker.com//merino-quantu/104828001L.html

Today on the seventh day of this holiday season, it's a bit of a ghoulish gift: dehydrated duck feet - or anything from the N/A Nothing Added treat line. It is a ritual around our house - our nighttime walk ends at the cupboard that holds the dog treats - and my dogs each get a duck foot before bed. These treats are high in protein and are a natural source of chondroitin, as well as helping to keep teeth clean and gums healthy. I support Canadian made products whenever possible. The Nothing Added line is a single protein product - without additives, grains and fillers - and is ethically sourced. Sold at Simply Natural, of course! https://nothingadded.ca/

Have a young puppy? I've converted my six week indoor puppy kindergarten course into a five week Zoom course. We meet once a week and work through a number of exercises and puppy related topics - things like grooming, handling, greeting protocols, obedience exercises, impulse control, toy play, crate training, house training, biting issues, socialization during COVID, nutrition, enrichment, car safety and exercise restrictions for growth plate health. The sessions are one hou...r long and I send you a Zoom invite and a detailed homework sheet the day before that covers all the topics that week - the homework sheets include written details, youtube videos, podcast links etc so you have lots of information and homework. Because puppies are wee, we can easily do the training in our living rooms - I demo the exercises when need be first with my dog and then watch you work with your puppy and add suggestions, etc. Simply Natural in Kerrisdale (*where I typically hold my group kindergarten classes - and I can't imagine they will start up again possibly even this year) is doing up nice puppy packs for my students with training items and a couple of great enrichment toys for 15% off. Students that complete the Zoom course can then join into our second level course - Puppy Grade One - which is held outdoors and is starting up in June. This is a great advanced puppy class that builds on all the foundation taught in kindergarten - we work on greets, leash walking, puppy recalls, toy play, some fun tricks and more impulse control and duration of stationary behaviours. Puppies coming out of these two courses will not have let COVID impact their development - and they will be very advanced, in comparison to so many dogs out there without training. The Zoom Kindergarten course is $250+Gst If you have a friend with a similar aged puppy, you can share the course for $175+gst each.

On the sixth day of Christmas my Border Collie wanted to cast his vote for the Liker balls by the same maker as the PULLER toys I've featured in the past. Made of an eco friendly compressed foam-like material that is fun for dogs to bite on, Liker balls float, making a great water toy. There is a Liker ball for everyone: a magnet ball for the obedience crowd, a corded ball for the tuggers in the pack and three sizes of balls with no cord for throwing and chasing in the pa...rk. Every morning on our walk, Tell takes his Liker ball to the park. A selection of Liker balls can be found in Vancouver at Simply Natural. The full section can be ordered at cooltugs.com https://www.cooltugs.com/liker-balls-by-collar

Thursday Night Trick Class in the Lemonade Room was so popular it sold out in a few days. We have now added a Wednesday Night Trick Class! Details are found here: https://www.zendogtraining.com/virtual-classroom

I started my second level puppy classes outdoors last weekend and this weekend. Todays class was primarily made up of my Zoom Kindergarten students so I was really curious to see how they would "measure up" to my pre-COVID group kindergarten students, now outdoors in a distracted setting. Did my grand Zoom experiment have legs? Hell yes. They rocked their class. The class was so good it was almost boring so I included an exercises typically done is week 4 or 5 just to keep everyone happy and not falling asleep. I am so thrilled that kindergarten translates so well to the Zoom platform. It just goes to show that foundation skills taught in a quiet focused setting is a very solid way for young dogs to learn their basics. Of course we know that!!

The Lemonade Room is up and running! Our Virtual Classroom has made it to our website, featuring a number of different services to reach our dog community during COVID 19. Please check us out and we encourage your thoughts and suggestions to help make us better. https://www.zendogtraining.com/virtual-classroom

Have a young puppy? Ive converted my six week indoor puppy kindergarten course into a five week Zoom course. We meet once a week and work through a number of exercises and puppy related topics - things like grooming, handling, greeting protocols, obedience exercises, impulse control, toy play, crate training, house training, biting issues, socialization during COVID, nutrition, enrichment, car safety and exercise restrictions for growth plate health. The sessions are one hou...r long and I send you a Zoom invite and a detailed homework sheet the day before that covers all the topics that week - the homework sheets include written details, youtube videos, podcast links etc so you have lots of information and homework. Because puppies are wee, we can easily do the training in our living rooms - I demo the exercises when need be first with my dog and then watch you work with your puppy and add suggestions, etc. Simply Natural in Kerrisdale (*where I typically hold my group kindergarten classes - and I cant imagine they will start up again possibly even this year) is doing up nice puppy packs for my students with training items and a couple of great enrichment toys for 15% off. Students that complete the Zoom course can then join into our second level course - Puppy Grade One - which is held outdoors and is starting up in June. This is a great advanced puppy class that builds on all the foundation taught in kindergarten - we work on greets, leash walking, puppy recalls, toy play, some fun tricks and more impulse control and duration of stationary behaviours. Puppies coming out of these two courses will not have let COVID impact their development - and they will be very advanced, in comparison to so many dogs out there without training. The Zoom Kindergarten course is $250+Gst If you have a friend with a similar aged puppy, you can share the course for $175+gst each.

A really good post on what socialization actually means and how during COVID it is still very doable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSvovGB_O54

By far the most important class I teach through my business is Puppy Kindergarten. What people learn and do with their puppy in the first few months will have a profound influence over the next 13 to 15 years of that dog's life. I've taught hundreds of kindergarten classes and literally thousands of puppies and through fine tuning and tweaking have created an incredibly thorough and info-rich course that covers everything from grooming and nutrition to enrichment and clicker... training, obedience exercises and ways to socialize, handling and greeting protocols, and information on exercise and car safety - all designed to create educated puppy owners and street-savvy, city puppies. With Covid 19, my group classes are cancelled but that doesn't mean your puppy's education should be too. Until we are back into group classes I have created a six week in-home Kindergarten course, following the regular course material. Each week we will do a Skype session where I go over the topics that week, give demonstrations on the exercises with my dog, and guide you through your work on those exercises. I will answer your questions and provide you with a detailed homework sheet to supplement the lesson that day The cost is $300+gst which works out to $50/lesson and although the Skype sessions are one hour in length, let's face it - I'm going nowhere so I am fine to keep the lesson running until all your questions are answered and you have everything you need to practice over the week. Plus....my dog Tell is going to LOVE being a demo dog and get lots of extra cookies too. <3 Email me at [email protected] to set up your course! --

Thursday Night Trick Class in the Lemonade Room was so popular it sold out in a few days. We have now added a Wednesday Night Trick Class! Details are found here: https://www.zendogtraining.com/virtual-classroom

Our newest puppy course is starting up this week! ZEN PUPPY OUT N’ ABOUT Take your puppy training outside with a detailed plan to create loose leash walking, enthusiastic recalls, engagement through play and the ability to work around distractions. Each lesson in this three-week private course will focus on a number of fun exercises that will help you develop a confident and attentive puppy with appropriate city manners. The exercises from this course will give you endless... hours of training when you are outside, with steps to progress as your puppy masters each stage. Out n' About is a great compliment to our Zen Puppy Primer or stands equally well on it's own and comes with a detailed homework sheet to help you keep on track with your training. Cost is $300+gst Appropriate for puppies 5 to 8 months of age. Contact us at [email protected] to book your private course.

Ok, so the Thursday night Trick class is a HUGE hit!! To sign up email me at [email protected] You can pay for drop-ins which come to $10.50/class. Or you can pay for a set of four which is $42.00 Payment through e-transfer. Classes will run on Zoom every Thursday night from 730 to 830 and we will work on two new tricks a week, plus review tricks we are working on. This weeks two tricks are going to be teaching our dogs to pick up objects and drop them into a box (ie "pu...t your dog toys away" - or if you are like my dog Tell, pick up a toonie and put it into a cup) and also the start of how I taught Tell to do a back handstand on a chair/tree/wall, etc. Each of these tricks can be broken down into small steps and will give you lots of fun indoor training throughout the week. We will talk about shaping and clicker training in general. I encourage everyone to bring along a glass of wine or a cup of tea and make this a fun social hour. When you sign up I will be sending a to-do list to prepare you before the class and items I want you to have on hand for each week.

The Lemonade Room is up and running! Our Virtual Classroom has made it to our website, featuring a number of different services to reach our dog community during COVID 19. Please check us out and we encourage your thoughts and suggestions to help make us better. https://www.zendogtraining.com/virtual-classroom

By far the most important class I teach through my business is Puppy Kindergarten. What people learn and do with their puppy in the first few months will have a profound influence over the next 13 to 15 years of that dogs life. Ive taught hundreds of kindergarten classes and literally thousands of puppies and through fine tuning and tweaking have created an incredibly thorough and info-rich course that covers everything from grooming and nutrition to enrichment and clicker... training, obedience exercises and ways to socialize, handling and greeting protocols, and information on exercise and car safety - all designed to create educated puppy owners and street-savvy, city puppies. With Covid 19, my group classes are cancelled but that doesnt mean your puppys education should be too. Until we are back into group classes I have created a six week in-home Kindergarten course, following the regular course material. Each week we will do a Skype session where I go over the topics that week, give demonstrations on the exercises with my dog, and guide you through your work on those exercises. I will answer your questions and provide you with a detailed homework sheet to supplement the lesson that day The cost is $300+gst which works out to $50/lesson and although the Skype sessions are one hour in length, lets face it - Im going nowhere so I am fine to keep the lesson running until all your questions are answered and you have everything you need to practice over the week. Plus....my dog Tell is going to LOVE being a demo dog and get lots of extra cookies too. <3 Email me at [email protected] to set up your course! --

Our newest puppy course is starting up this week! ZEN PUPPY OUT N ABOUT Take your puppy training outside with a detailed plan to create loose leash walking, enthusiastic recalls, engagement through play and the ability to work around distractions. Each lesson in this three-week private course will focus on a number of fun exercises that will help you develop a confident and attentive puppy with appropriate city manners. The exercises from this course will give you endless... hours of training when you are outside, with steps to progress as your puppy masters each stage. Out n About is a great compliment to our Zen Puppy Primer or stands equally well on its own and comes with a detailed homework sheet to help you keep on track with your training. Cost is $300+gst Appropriate for puppies 5 to 8 months of age. Contact us at [email protected] to book your private course.

We had a cancellation for our Puppy Kindergarten class starting January 16th. Please message me if you are interested. Suitable for puppies around 10-12 weeks. <3

Our dear Si needs you! Si hasn't gotten much interest and it is breaking our and his heart. He is feeling really anxious now that he has been here for awhile an...d needs a human to cherish. We need to place him into an appropriate foster or adoptive home asap. PLEASE share his handsome face with everyone you know. Si's dream would be with a guardian who can really work on his anxiety when left alone, so someone who has a flexible schedule. Si is so loyal, smart and goofy. He also loves baths and being toweled off. To learn visit his profile, https://adopt.spca.bc.ca/index.php See more

During the Covid outbreak, we are shifting gears to outdoors training and are offering discounted park lessons and bringing back individualized dog walks for people who are unable to get out and exercise their dogs. Please email for more details - [email protected] . Otherwise, continue to stay safe. <3

I hope you all have enjoyed all of these little posts! Doing up this year's Zen Dog Advent calendar has been a lot of fun for me - going over some great dog-related products that I have used over this past year that might give you some great ideas. My December 24th pick was hijacked this week by a gift I just received from some of my students that I have to rave about! I received an ORORO vest. Vaguely familiar with this company - I'd see people wearing ORORO clothing at a...gility trials - I am now a fan. This vest will be a game changer for the winter days when standing around a cold agility barn waiting to compete, or on long hikes. OROROs heated clothing line works on lithium-ion battery power that you charge up at home so you can stay toasty warm when out and about. The whole line includes jackets, vests, hoodies and gloves for men and women. The line comes with a three-year warranty, is machine washable and hey, if you need to charge your cell phone, you can use the charger pack in your clothing for that too! ~~~ From the ORORO website: New and improved heated elements upgrade across the left and right sides of the body’s core, in addition to the collar and back heating areas. This upgrade allows for more warmth in the stomach area, while the new 1.5x filling keeps the heat in, providing the perfect long-lasting warmth. High, Medium and Low heat settings allow you to change the level of warmth with the push of a button; Up to 10 working hours (3 hrs on high, 6 hrs on medium, 10 hrs on low heating setting); USB port for charging smartphones and other mobile devices. ~~~ One of the last trials I was at, I arrived at 830am and didn't leave until 6pm at night. It was particularly cold that day with rain turning to snow and of course my focus was on keeping my dog warm and running well without injury. Despite the number of layers I had on, nothing really kept me warm. That will not be a problem at the next winter trial for us! Seasons greetings and Merry Christmas to you all, and of course, blessings to your wonderful dogs! https://www.ororowear.com/pages/about-us

On rainy days, these easy fun scent games can get your dog tired without everyone getting wet and muddy. This video is old but SO GOOD!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxG--4t3SU

We had a cancellation for our Puppy Kindergarten class starting January 16th. Please message me if you are interested. Suitable for puppies around 10-12 weeks. <3

Our dear Si needs you! Si hasnt gotten much interest and it is breaking our and his heart. He is feeling really anxious now that he has been here for awhile an...d needs a human to cherish. We need to place him into an appropriate foster or adoptive home asap. PLEASE share his handsome face with everyone you know. Sis dream would be with a guardian who can really work on his anxiety when left alone, so someone who has a flexible schedule. Si is so loyal, smart and goofy. He also loves baths and being toweled off. To learn visit his profile, https://adopt.spca.bc.ca/index.php See more

I hope you all have enjoyed all of these little posts! Doing up this years Zen Dog Advent calendar has been a lot of fun for me - going over some great dog-related products that I have used over this past year that might give you some great ideas. My December 24th pick was hijacked this week by a gift I just received from some of my students that I have to rave about! I received an ORORO vest. Vaguely familiar with this company - Id see people wearing ORORO clothing at a...gility trials - I am now a fan. This vest will be a game changer for the winter days when standing around a cold agility barn waiting to compete, or on long hikes. OROROs heated clothing line works on lithium-ion battery power that you charge up at home so you can stay toasty warm when out and about. The whole line includes jackets, vests, hoodies and gloves for men and women. The line comes with a three-year warranty, is machine washable and hey, if you need to charge your cell phone, you can use the charger pack in your clothing for that too! ~~~ From the ORORO website: New and improved heated elements upgrade across the left and right sides of the bodys core, in addition to the collar and back heating areas. This upgrade allows for more warmth in the stomach area, while the new 1.5x filling keeps the heat in, providing the perfect long-lasting warmth. High, Medium and Low heat settings allow you to change the level of warmth with the push of a button; Up to 10 working hours (3 hrs on high, 6 hrs on medium, 10 hrs on low heating setting); USB port for charging smartphones and other mobile devices. ~~~ One of the last trials I was at, I arrived at 830am and didnt leave until 6pm at night. It was particularly cold that day with rain turning to snow and of course my focus was on keeping my dog warm and running well without injury. Despite the number of layers I had on, nothing really kept me warm. That will not be a problem at the next winter trial for us! Seasons greetings and Merry Christmas to you all, and of course, blessings to your wonderful dogs! https://www.ororowear.com/pages/about-us

For December 23rd, I wanted to keep it simple and recommend one of my favourite rain coats and one of my favourite companies - a must have for west coast winters: the Chilly Dogs Rain Slicker! The Chilly Dogs Rain Slicker is perfect for cool wet winters. Light weight with a broad fleece band across the chest and reflective trim, this little slicker keeps your dog dry with little fuss. The outer lining is 100% water and windproof and the coat folds up super small so its ea...sy to stash away on hikes in case the weather turns. This little coat washes up beautifully and dries quickly so its ready for the next rainy day. I love the entire Chilly Dogs line. They still manufacture in Canada, a rarity these days. They have a wide range of coats and dog products for varying Canadian temperatures. A wide range of the Chilly Dogs coats can be found at Simply Natural. https://chillydogs.ca/product/rain-slicker/

Everyone enjoys a good puzzle to work on over the long winter months and dogs are no different! For December 22nd we are going back to the concept of enrichment with some great puzzle toy suggestions. Every November I pull out my selection of puzzle toys and dust them off for the winter. I rotate through five different puzzles, each adjustable in their challenge levels. On rainy nights, I can do these toys with my dogs for 20 minutes and they are exhausted - it allows us to s...kip a cold wet walk and, instead, stay warm and dry. Both the Buster Activity Mat by Kruuse and the wide selection of Outward Hound puzzles by Nina Ottosson are Scandiavian designed, creative and durable with varying levels of complexity to increase the challenge to your dog. You can make meal time a puzzle work out, or use treats for a special night time project. All of these toys are extremely durable and it is so cool to watch how dogs solve the puzzle. My German Shepherd likes to use her teeth and so particular puzzles are suited for that style of problem solving - the Buster Mat is great for her and one of my Nina toys. My border collie likes to use his paws and so puzzles where the pieces slide to open compartments containing food are best for him. Simply Natural carries a good selection of dog puzzles! https://nina-ottosson.outwardhound.com/ https://kruuse.com/frontpage/knowledge/intelligent-feeding

On the longest night of the year I am going to recommend clothing for the human - a great pair of pants for long dog hikes on cold wet days.The North Face Utility Hybrid Hiker Tights for women get my vote for December 21st. Why these pants? Well one of our Zen Dog alumni members recommended these pants after buying a pair based on a review that dog hair didnt stick to the fabric. Like me, she has a dog with a lot of white and didnt appreciate looking like a dust mop after... walking her dog. Of course I had to follow suit and buy a pair. I absolutely LOVE these pants! Fitted and stretchy like tights and yet stylish with lots of pockets for essentials, they are warm and super comfortable - great for both cold agility barns and mucky winter walks. One thing I hate is muddy pant leg cuffs but these tights are snug at the bottom and fit into your boots. I picked mine up at MEC: https://www.mec.ca/en/search Throw in one of their little USB chargeable lights and hang it from a lanyard around your neck to help you find the dog poo at night amongst the fallen leaves and your walk is good to go! https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5061-912/Nickel-USB-Rear-Light

For December 20th, give the gift of a squid! When Polona Bonac came to eastern Canada earlier this year to teach her highly acclaimed toy/play seminars, she brought with her a selection of the Floramicato tug toys from Slovenia. The hot seller bar none among Canadians was the Fluffy Squid, probably the most addictive tug toy for young dogs there is! Made of oh-so-enticing animal fur, with floppy ends, and a super long bungee handle - great for dragging across the field - t...his toy is fantastic for building a desire to tug and play with us humans. Why build the love to tug? Because its really the best reinforcement for engagement that we have - and it gets our dogs super excited and ready to train. Go to any agility competition and you will see dogs and humans on either end of a tug toy, having a good game of play. In my outdoor classes, this toy is a huge hit and we are so fortunate to have Cool Tugs bring the Fluffy Squid in from Europe. cooltugs.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqsPik1iyjc

On the Advent calendar for December 19th we are getting back to some training equipment - a multi purpose and very adjustable platform! The Klimb by Blue-9 Pet Products is just the coolest thing and gets used in our house multiple times a week! I use it for boundary training as well as in fitness exercises for my border collies conditioning work. Made of a durable plastic, this platform has detachable legs that screw into the base and, when not in use, clip in under the base... so the whole platform is easy to store and transport. The Klimb is very stable and does not tip, even if your dog stands on the very edge of one side. I can turn it upside down to hold a FitPAWS disc or peanut for stability work, I can take two legs off so it is angled and do stretching work and rear-end strengthening exercises. It really is an engineering marvel as far as platforms go and is great for indoor training - just what you need when it is cold and dark outside! The second video in particular shows the multiple uses of the Klimb. https://www.youtube.com/watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d7pGSgTCdc

When your dog gets like this.....you need a great shampoo. For December 18th, I am featuring the Earthbath grooming line for our canine friends. For my plushy coated border collie we use the Mango Tango 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. The entire line includes a wide range of shampoos for different skin and coat types, wipes, spritzes and grooming foams. Ive chosen this shampoo line because they use gentle ingredients, smell great and leave my dogs coat oh so pretty. This makes a great little stocking stuffer and you will feel good supporting a company that has fantastic ethics. Simply Natural sells this line.

The Hurtta Trainers Vest is my pick for the December 17th Advent calendar. Great for dog enthusiasts - whether you are involved in dog sports or love taking a variety of reinforcements and gear with you on your hikes. This vest is water repellent with an adjustable waist and high neck collar (which has a waterproof hood hidden inside) and actually looks really attractive because of its narrow fit. The best part of this vest is the variety of pockets, one of which is easily detachable for washing when holding sticky treats. It is reflective for improved visibility and washes up nicely. I love ALL of the Hurtta line - this Finnish company makes durable and thoughtful products for both dogs and humans. Simply Natural brings the Trainers Vest in so you dont need to go to Finland to get one!

On the Advent calendar for December 16th give the gift of safety with the Nox Gear Light Hound illuminated harness. Great for early winter morning or evening walks, hiking and camping and service dog work, these lightweight harnesses are reflective and provide a 360 degree glow around your dog with a huge range of light features and colours. The harness is washable and the battery recharges with a USB port. It sits high on the dogs neck so there is no interference with shoul...der movement and the straps are highly adjustable so the harness can fit a wide range of sizes and body types. https://www.noxgear.com/lighthound Tell gets an early morning run each day in the local park, most of it in the dark and so with this harness he is easy to spot. Of all the light gear Ive used with my dogs over the years, this harness is by far the most visible.

Leash walking is a balancing act between when to train and when to manage. For December 15th, here is a fantastic management tool hand made by a BC agility competitor who has represented Canada at multiple world competitions. Beautifully stitched and tailored to the measurements of your dog, these fleece lined head halters are comfortable and stay in place without riding up into the dogs eyes. The leash attaches behind the head, not under the chin, and you can choose from a ...range of colours. They wash up nicely and are easy to stuff into your pocket when letting the dogs off leash. When I walk my two dogs together or am in a group and the excitement is high, I always have them wear these fleece halters to avoid pulling on the neck. Great for handing the rodeo when a raccoon runs out in front of us on our night walks! For more details email Meghan at [email protected] She is super prompt in stitching up a halter and they are affordable at $30. I got mine within the week of ordering!

Leash up for December 14th! For most of us city dwellers, leashes are a part of life and I am quite particular about my leash, since it is probably the most used piece of equipment I use. The WAUDOG waterproof leash is perfect for the winter. It doesnt get stiff in the cold and it doesnt get slippery in the wet. These great leashes are light weight and yet they stick in your hand with the most ardent puller, big or small. They come in bright pretty colours with a lovel...y durable aluminum alloy clasp. Cooltugs is doing a feature sale on this leash - 15% off until Monday night. Use the code ZENDOGXMAS15 https://www.cooltugs.com/prod/wagudog-waterproof-leash-6-ft

For December 13th, serve cake and ice cream! These fun dog friendly treats are perfect for fun celebrations and found at my favourite store, Simply Natural. When my German Shepherd turned 12 last month, instead of taking her to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone, which I typically do for my dogs (12 is a big milestone for a big dog), I gave her one of Elaines Canine Cookies cakes - the wild salmon and Ladner pumpkin mini cake, made with wild salmon, broth, pureed pumpkin, hem...p seeds, quinoa flour and eggs. Beautiful to look at and delicious for our dogs to eat, these pretty little cakes come in different protein sources. https://www.elainescaninecookies.com/ The Boss Dog "ice cream" cups are something I give my dogs often as an enrichment treat. Made with frozen yogurt as the base, these cups come in three flavours: bacon and cheese, peanut butter and banana, and pumpkin cinnamon. https://bossdogbrand.com/greek-frozen-yogurt/

For the sport I do, my obligation to my dog is to keep him as fit and healthy as possible so it doesnt interfere with his quality of life and cause injuries. We both love agility, and so we both need to keep fit to stay safe and strong! For December 12th, I want to give a huge shout out to my favourite piece of fitness equipment - the FitPAWS giant fitbone. Instability work builds core muscles, body awareness and balance, coordination and joint health. This piece of FitPA...WS equipment is long enough for both my young border collie to do his conditioning exercises on, and my older German Shepherd to do her senior strength routine as well. I use this fitbone for stretches five mornings a week and as part of our regular fitness workouts three times a week. There are several exercises that incorporate the giant fitbone Ive indcluded below. What I love most about dog fitness equipment......I can get both of my dogs VERY tired without having to go out in the dark COLD rain. Perfect!

For December 11th I am so happy to feature the dog products line from Equus Soap Co. Hand prepared right here in the lower mainland, Equus provides chemical-free alternatives to dog care, products I use regularly on my dogs to keep their paws and ears happy, and ticks and fleas at bay. In the summer I keep the K9 Outback Spray in my car for hikes where I know we are likely to encounter ticks. Blended with rose geranium, fir needle and bergamot, plus other essential oils an...d natural products, this spray is great for humans as well - I spray both myself and my dogs down before our walk. The Equine & K9 Field Spray contains lemongrass, rosemary and eucalyptus for the added benefit of keeping flies away in addition to ticks and fleas. The K9 Ear Wash contains witch hazel, aloe vera extract and essential oils to gently clean ears and provide soothing relief. With food sensitivities in my German Shepherd, her ears will flare up when she gets into chicken or beef (usually when I have accidentally left training treats not designed for her in my bag and she starts snooping) and so this ear wash is my go-to. The K9 Paw Wax & Healing Salve is a winter staple to keep paws moisturized after icy walks, especially where sidewalks have been salted. My border collie in particular has sensitive pads and sore pads means we dont play agility. :-( Besides the dog line, Equus also makes lovely soaps for humans and Ive already squirreled a few away for Christmas presents. https://equussoapco.com/

For the dog sport enthusiast, December 11th has a great surprise - the ultimate training gear bag by Doggone Good. I have had this bag for 8 years and it comes with me to every training session and class, every competition, every seminar, on the road and in my backyard. This gear bag has a soft-structured body (foam lined) so it holds its shape when open, making its contents more accessible than a collapsing bag. The top zips completely open so you can see and access all ...your gear with ease. The features are great: an insulated zippered compartment with a mesh pocket (holds chill packs and separates items). Small grommet in bottom lets water drain outside the bag. Water bottle holder Organizer for business cards, pen, notepads, cell phone, I Pod and more Mesh end pocket for gear that needs air ventilation Tarpaulin bottom is waterproof and wipes clean Padded shoulder strap and padded handles This is a special gift that is made to stand up to everything your training schedule needs. My bag includes standard items like treats, a multitude of toys, extra gloves, a small towel, extra leashes and collars, a warming coat for my dog, and a little first aid kit.

For December 9th, lets talk treats! I have a couple of recommendations that are lovely to give as little gifts or use in daily training. As my German Shepherd ages, I need to be careful about the calories in her treats and also the proteins being used, as she has developed an intolerance to chicken and beef. Ive started using VE Vita Essentials freeze dried raw treats, a fantastic single-protein treat that I keep in my car or my training bag. These treats use hormone and an...tibiotic-free meats, no rendered down by-products, no fillers, no artificial flavouring. Great for snuffle mats, tossing into the Snoop or just for reinforcing good behaviours. https://www.vitalessentialsraw.com//duck-nibs-freeze-drie/ For a fancier treat, I love the Brownies Gourmet Squares For Dogs. Small-batch made in Kitsilano, these preservative-free treats come in a wide range of sizes and proteins. For the holiday season I am featuring the Wild Buffalo Cranberry Apple Squares, full of (you guessed it) buffalo, apples and carrots, eggs and cranberries. Ive been cutting them up into little pieces, loading them into a Toppl and topping with goat milk before freezing. Another fantastic recommendation are the Brownies Liver Slivers. Beautifully packaged, these treats really make a speical gift. And...any time I can support a small business with something healthy for my dogs, I am there! http://browniesfordogs.com/index.html

Brilliant ideas deserve recognition and I cant think of a better thing to put on the Advent Calendar for December 8th than these emergency travel tubes. http://www.crafts4k9rescue.org/dogs-on-board-open-in-emerge Most of us travel at least somewhat with our dogs (I travel a TON with mine) and yet how prepared are we for an emergency? These travel tubes can be strapped to your crate or dog area of your car and contain critical information for times of need: pre-made LOST DOG... posters, emergency contact information, a spare slip lead, details on medications, dietary restrictions, etc. Should your dog go missing while on a trip or a hike away from the city, or you are in a bad accident and are incapacitated, if these very affordable travel tubes can get in the right hands, your dogs needs will be looked after. I just ordered two for my car and this company does not ship to Canada but I have a contact who can order them in for me. If you are interested, please message me privately and well create a group order! Be safe everyone, this holiday season.

For December 7th, we are going to have more fun with a super cool enrichment toy. In a recent Puppy Kindergarten class one of my students raved about the Obee Tuff Snoop as his puppys favourite treat dispensing toy. Of course I had to take one home and try it and yes, my dogs are hooked. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So1gIYKvxxQ I load it up with various sizes in treats, some that come out easily and some that take more time and work, and my dogs will stay entertained with... the Snoop throughout the morning while I get ready for work. My favourite treat for the Snoop are dried sardines, broken into various sizes. The Snoop is really easy to wash and load up. Its bouncy-wobbly and yet durable and now I have to buy a second Snoop so both dogs arent vying over the same one. They come in two sizes for big dogs and little dogs. My German Shepherd Mila in particular loves this toy.

For December 6th, its all about balance! Blue-9s Balance Harness is my new harness of choice for my border collie Tell. Recommended by Dr Chris Zink (board-certified specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, DACVSMR) and rated #1 three years in a row by Whole Dog Journal, this non-restrictive harness is adjustable to any body size and type. The Balance Harness allows for full freedom of movement as it sits very high on the neck with no pressure across the... shoulders - my biggest concern with so many of the harnesses out there. There is a front clip for training sessions, and a back clip for casual walks. Extremely light weight and yet durable, its a "barely there and yet all there" type harness - the kind of equipment I love. For dogs stressy with harnesses pulled over their heads, this harness clips on like a collar. And of course, it comes in many pretty colours (because that is important) to choose from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEcs9PK05lA Simply Natural just brought in a big shipment, so its easy to find this harness in Vancouver. The Blue-9 website has many great products including the Klimb which I will feature later this month!

If I could pick one product that I fell in love with in 2019 it would be a simple bathrobe! For December 5th I give four high paws to the Ruff and Tumble Dog Drying Coat. Always game to try new dog products this bathrobe drew me in right away. My dogs are either in the ocean, in the river, in the rain, or in the tub. Tired of soggy towels and water all over the walls in my house and car, this robe remedies that. I throw the robe on my dogs after a swim or a bath for a hal...f hour - they shake into the robe which absorbs everything. A half hour later and voila! A dry dog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gad9iCEEH8g The coats are super plushy, have a wide, thick belly band and a high neck with lots of velcro for a snug fit. And they come in pretty colours. Cooltugs - cooltugs.com - has brought these lovely coats into Canada so we dont have to fuss with shipping from the UK. They are offering a 10% sale on the Classic Drying Coat, good until the end of December 7th. Just use the discount code when you place your order: ZENDOGXMAS10

https://www.reddogbluekat.com//balancing-the-raw-food-diet

When you were a kid and you had to eat your vegetables, wouldnt it have been nice to have something special added to make the broccoli go down easier? For December 4th, I am featuring the veggies dogs love to eat: Green Juju! https://greenjujukitchen.com/products/ This tiny company makes two veggie blends that are palatable for dogs. Mixed with nutritious bone broth, both the Baileys Blend and the Just Greens contain superfoods like turmeric, ginger, blueberries, kale and d...andelion greens. A couple of spoonfuls (depending on the weight of your dog) will take the nutritional value of your dogs food waaaay up a notch! My fussy border collie will eat his greens right from the spoon. Why add fresh greens to our dogs diet? One word - cancer. Rodney explains it best in this highly entertaining TED Talks - make sure you stick around to the 13 minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sE96vd8W40

The best gifts are the ones of experience, so for day 3 I am featuring the gift of scent! Rich Hatchman of Doggone Smart Nosework gets my pick for a great class to do with your dog in the new year. You could also make his classes a stocking stuffer for your favourite dog friend. Having worked as a quarry with the VPD Dog Squad for a number of years, I am very partial to Vancouvers dog unit and the wonderful work they do with their dogs. Rich is a retired narcotics detection... handler with the VPD dog unit and so he brings an incredible amount of real life experience to this fun sport. Nosework is a very accessible sport for all dogs of all ages and temperaments and it builds concentration and confidence, great for fearful and reactive dogs as well. Because Rich is so good, he is popular so you need to book well ahead! http://www.doggonesmartnosework.com/

Here we are on day 2!! Over the next month I will be featuring a lot of enrichment items (some new, some old favourites) because enrichment in our house is a happy thing! The dogs look forward to their food projects and puzzles, it provides their brains with a great work out (a super boost to mental health in our dogs) and buys me some time to get stuff done. One of my new favourites is using the Happy Days raw fermented goat milk in my dogs West Paw Toppls as a binder for f...reezing. For the big Toppls I use a duck foot (Simply Natural in Kerrisdale sells a big container of them in the freezer for under $5) and the baby Toppls I stuff with treats like dried fish. Then I top them up with the goat milk and freeze. In a few hours I have a great treat for the dogs. The duck feet provide a great source of cartilage for healthy joints and the goat milk has an endless list of benefits - a fantastic probiotic and great for digestion. It takes just under a half hour for my dogs to work through the big Toppls. https://happydaysdairy.com/pet-products

Welcome to Zen Dogs traditional 24 days of Christmas! Each day throughout December I will feature something dog-related I have come across over the year - a perfect gift for you, your dog or someone in your dog circle of friends and family. Check back each day for new items and conversations about things related to the dogs we love. For this first day I wanted to feature Deb Jones wonderful book Cooperative Care. This amazing little book packs a huge punch in terms of husba...ndry behaviours we need to be working on regularly. Everything from nail trims to muzzle training, this book is full of endless training hours inside when it is cold and rainy outside. The perfect winter book. Pair it with the ONLY nail clippers you should own, the Millers Forge Stainless Steel Nail Clippers. Debs message throughout this book is one of getting our dog to be a willing part of their own health care procedures, reducing stress, and building trust. Ive included a great podcast interview with the author as well! http://fenzidogsports.libsyn.com/e103-deb-jones-train-it-be