Petcare Hints

Fun activities with

There is no better way to start the day than to get out of bed early and take the for a

walk before breakfast. A walk around the neighbourhood, for those who live in suburbia, is

pleasant early in the morning when few people are up and about and can leave you with an invigorated feeling that lasts throughout the day.

An evening walk is a great way to unwind and at the end of a hot day is a great way to cool down.

All neighbourhoods have parks which are not only a great place to take the dog but can be your destination for the walk and, once there, dog and owner can sit quietly and relax.

For those not inclined to walk everyday, playing a game with your dog in the backyard is certainly a good way to help your canine friend get his exercise. Most dogs like to chase a ball and even inactive owners can exercise their dog this way.

Besides these common ways to exercise your dog there are many activities for dogs and owners which provide an opportunity for dogs to express their natural instincts or to just have fun.

Flyball is a sport for fit and athletic dogs, no matter what their breed or type. It is a sport involving all the things which dogs love to do: running, jumping, retrieving and pleasing their owners. Flyball is a team sport with each team consisting of four dogs and five people

(one person per dog and an extra person to load balls into the flyball box!) Dogs race side- by-side over four hurdles, trigger the flyball box releasing a ball, catch the ball and run back over the hurdles. When they cross the start/finish line the next dog can go. Dogs, owners and spectators all thoroughly enjoy flyball. The good thing about flyball is that it is the dog which does all the running so less active or older owners are not disadvantaged.

Agility is a fast and entertaining sport that is not only a test of the dog’s agility but also the owner’s control. An obstacle course consisting of jumps, tunnels, see-saws and ramps is set up and dogs must negotiate the course against the clock. Faults recorded for obstacles not negotiated result in time penalties and (as in horse show jumping) the dog with the fastest lime wins. Agility is a sport only for fit dogs (and owners as they run with the dogs!) and is taught at many clubs.

Some activities are held for specific breeds of dog, for example or racing. Hound racing is another spectacular sight where hounds of all sizes and shapes race against each other, Afghan Hounds, Borzoi, Greyhounds, Salukis, Basenjis etc. In all these races the dogs are encouraged to race to their owner at the end of the track or to chase an artificial lure.

Sheepdog trials are an exhibition lot only of a dog’s instincts but of the working relationship

between man and dog. Owners of breeds with a sheep herding heritage can now participate in herding trials as a dog sport quite separate to the serious sheepdog or yard dog trials. Obviously this activity is only for owners who have a great www.petnet.com.au deal of control over their dog off-lead. 1800 631 784 [email protected]