K-9 Nose Work continues to be one of my two main focuses. (The other is the Karen Pryor course. More about that next week.) I am running nose work classes in Maywood and Jersey City, and have one scheduled to start in NYC in February.

I try to get video of every search and then post the videos for the students to see before the next class. This gives the people are chance to see their dogs and themselves in action. In addition to being a lot of fun, it’s also a great way to familiarize the people with their dog’s “body language” during searches.

A few weeks ago I blogged about Harley, a fearful dog that has benefitted from Nose Work. Here’s Harley latest class. I introduced what we (quite logically) call elevation: boxes are now off the floor and the dog has to learn to search both on the floor and on top of other things. For Harley this represented something new, and as a result, initially was a little scary. Watch how being rewarded for searching helps her work this problem out on her own with very little human intervention.

Shadow, however, is ready to interact with her environment any way she can. This video shows a few searches (it’s a little long, but worth watching all the way through) including some slo-mo of her literally following her nose, and ending with a rather funny pair of finds.

Last, here is a video from a “Intermediate Odor” class with dogs that are searching for odor paired with food. Muneca is doing multiple hides in the reception area of the Maywood Vet Clinic.

For information on Nose Work classes in my area see my classes page. For a trainer near you, see the Nose Work Association web site.

Keith Hopkin sent me a fun video of dogs in cars titled, unsurprisingly, “Dogs In Cars.” It’s beautifully done with some great music by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. (The link from their site to the iTunes store is broken, but if you search for them they are there or you can try this.)

Here’s the video. You can click here for a larger, more beautiful, version.

Dogs in Cars from keith on Vimeo.

And for those of you ready to scold about dogs riding loose in cars, two things: if you watch you’ll see leashes, and get over it and enjoy the video. Just this once.

The fine folks at Pet365 have come up with another infographic. This one’s a little short on info, but very heavy on the graphic. The funny graphic.

Really, the only thing it needs is more Border Collie. Maybe next year….

(You may need to click on it to see the full width.)

The 12 dogs of Christmas graphic was created by Pet365 – a UK stockist of brands like Hamish McBeth who make leather dog collars.

Another great info graphic from my friends at Pet 365 about our pets and what excess weight can do to them.

I can personally attest to how keeping Caffeine lean has put off hip surgery she was a candidate for for 5 years. Now if I could only figure out a way to better control my own weight.

P.S. More stuff coming her soon…right now this blog is a victim of its own success – classes and privates running 7 days a week.

Pet obesity graphic produced by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK stockist of dog coats, collars and accessories. Click here to view the full post.

It’s the dog days of summer, or if you are from around here, “dawg” days of summer. The New Jersey accent always seem more prevalent with that expression for some reason.

I’ve been feeling it in all directions, with the hot and sweltering weather usually associated with the “dawg days,” the market swoon that started last Thursday (still a huge part of my life), home improvements that are right on schedule — which means about a week behind, as you fellow homeowners know — and an uptick in private sessions, which makes no sense in early August.

So it’s time for a fun blog post! How does dog anatomy compare to ours?

Why does dawg breath feel so hot? Because their body temperature is 3 – 4 degrees higher than ours!

How fast is the average dog? 20 miles per hour faster than the fastest human! Stop that pigeon!

Do dogs really only sleep 4 hours per day more on average than us? I knew my dogs were especially lazy!

Check out another fun infographic from Pet365.

Created by Pet365 – a UK supplier of pet accessories. Click here to view the full post.

After years of seeing clients, I have learned that most people either think their dog is well-trained, or think their dog is completely horrible. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

This infographic, from Pet365 illustrates that point, as well as a few others. Pet365 surveyed over 1000 dog owners from around the world and assembled some interesting statistics.

• Most people think their dogs are better trained than other people’s. Most people seem to believe this about their kids too, and I think the truth lies in the middle there also.
• People with more than one dog tend to socialize their puppies more. I love the follow up: proof that we do learn from our mistakes!
• Going to puppy kindergarten makes training easier! Woo-hoo! There it is in black and white (well, brown and tan) folks! Take your puppies to class!

Considering yesterday’s interview about puppy socialization. This graphic is really very apropos.

This is a great graphic. I think Pet365 does a wonderful job with these. What do you think?

Created by Pet365 – an online stockist of dog collars, leads and accessories. Click here to view the full post.

At this point the photos and the day numbering really don’t make a lot of sense. So it goes.

It’s late Sunday night and I took some time to myself to pop over and upload these photos and collect some thoughts. I’m sure there will be more photos tomorrow, but chances are they won’t be posted until late in the week. I have a maelstrom waiting for me at home.

Caffeine does not travel well. She gets very stressed out when things are different, and ends up very velcro, especially with me. Buddha, true to form, just rolls with it.

We had a great time at the “fire pit” (pictured below) last night and met some great people. I also found out about a book about a very interesting adventure that will be released in the fall.

The deer around here are just amazing. On my way back to the room I passed three more that were wandering around the area. It seems like they are treated well around here and while wary and cautious, will linger near people that don’t try to get too close.

More photos. Long hike through the woods (lots of unusable photos), visit to a nice market. (Too nice to spend much time taking photos.)

More tomorrow.

I wrote a guest post for BlogPaws about K9 Nose Work. It has some pretty fun videos.

Check it out.

This is a guest post from Aubrey Phelps. Her bio is at the end.

If you are traveling with your dog, it is important to be prepared before you leave. Bringing the right materials can be the difference between a good trip, and a trip that becomes a disaster. Here are four aspects of a trip to consider and a list of things to bring with you to ensure you and your canine friend have a great vacation together.

Comfort and safety:

Make sure you bring extra leashes, collars or harnesses that you may need. Also bring your dog’s vaccination papers with you if they don’t have a tag on their collar. A pet-friendly hotel may request such information to allow you and your pet to stay there, and it’s a good thing to have on hand if your dog gets hurt and requires emergency care. Map out a list of local veterinary and emergency veterinary offices that will be along the way and near where you are staying and keep this list with you at all times.

There are many different methods when it comes to driving with your dog. You can can travel with your dog in a crate, behind a car dog barrier or in a doggie seat belt. If he/she is good on car rides and can be trusted to remain calm, you may choose to have them travel in the back seat (or in the front seat, as we all know that’s their favorite spot!). Restraining your dog is definitely the safest route for both you and the dog as it will prevent them from obstructing your driving, and help protect the dog in a crash.

Remember that dogs don’t only pant because they are hot. They will pant and yawn when they are scared, nervous or stressed, so watch your dog for any signs of distress. If you notice the dog getting upset (excessive panting, yawning, turning circles, whining, vomiting, or any other behavior that is unusual when your dog is home) take the time to pull over, find a rest spot and allow your dog to get out, stretch it’s legs and relax before reembarking on the trip. This would also be a great time to give them some food/water and dog treats, as well as allow them to go to the bathroom.

Food and water:

There are plenty of options available for feeding and watering your dog on the go. The Guardian Gear Handi-Bowl easily attaches to a water bottle to give your dog a platform to drink from. They come in three sizes and different colors.

Collapsible water and food bowls are also a great option. They are portable and easy to store, but sturdy enough to hold water and food while the dog is using it.

Make sure you pack the dogs regular food, as switching brands suddenly can make them sick. Avoid feeding your dog before the trip if they are prone to vomiting in the car. Vomiting during or after car rides is caused by stress and fear, but can be eliminated by taking your dog on mini-car rides before your trip. Start by going just around the block, and gradually increase the distance you drive, each time rewarding your dog with praise and treats. They will learn to view the car as a fun place to be rather than a scary one. (For more information about curbing fears read: My Dog is Afraid. What Can I Do?)

Soft treats can be brought as praise items. Use hard treats to keep the dog occupied during long drives. Hard chew bones, and stuffable toys (for example, a Kong chew toy filled with peanut butter and then frozen) can be placed inside the crate with the dog during the drive. Favorite dog toys and blankets can be brought as well.

Bathroom breaks:

You should stop to let your dog use the restroom, stretch their legs and get a drink of water at least every few hours. Make sure you bring disposable pet waste bags and pick up after your dog wherever you stop or stay, so these places will continue to welcome dogs!

Pet-Friendly Hotels:

Search the area you’re planning on staying for hotels that allow pets. There are sites specifically designed to help you find pet-friendly hotels, such as DSF friend Go Pet Friendly. Make sure you call the hotel you are planning on booking with and ask them about their policy to ensure that nothing has changed.

Set up your dog crate in a quiet corner of your hotel room and enjoy your vacation with your dog and any other loved ones (whether they be two legged or four) that you brought along!

Aubrey Phelps is a writer for Simplepetcare.com, a site dedicated to helping pet owners learn all they need to know about pet care. She currently owns a chiweenie dog and one very ornery cat.