The iFetch Frenzy is a dog toy that does a lot of the leg work (or arm work in this case) for you! The iFetch is an automatic ball launcher that you can set up and teach your dog to use so that he/she has easy, ongoing access to a fun game of fetch. Highly energetic dogs can definitely benefit from and enjoy this additional outlet for their physical stimulation (and mental, in the early days of this toy as they figure out just how it works). As someone who has used this toy and works with a large number of dogs who have additional energy they’d love to burn, I do recommend this toy. However.. just like with any, engaging dog toy (or any type of highly engaging activity), there are a few things you will want to keep in mind when using it. 1. Preventing an obsession. Dogs, especially young ones can easily form an obsession with this type of toy if it’s one they can access at any time, particularly when they’re already feeling very energized and excited. Therefore it’s important that your dog is at all times well socialized with this toy, in a way where he/she gets to interact with it in different ways. Such as by eating food around it (snuffling, using their nose) and resting close to it. Doing so will prevent an obsession with the toy and the excitement it can bring. Toys can and should also be associated with relaxation and calmness. That way your dog has a few different ways of being and feeling around it, to prevent an obsession. 2. It doesn’t replace time with you. Activities and time with your are more important than anything else in your dog’s life, and although an automated toy like the iFetch can buy you a bit of time when you’re busy, it will never be as good and as fruitful and time and other enrichment activities that you can do together. You want to make sure that any activity similar to this one is only a small part of the games and things you do together, as this can also help prevent any kind of obsession and further strengthen your bond around toys, people, and other environments. 3. It doesn’t meet all of your dog’s physical needs. The game of fetch in general is really only one of the few types of exercises you should be doing with your dog. Walking, jogging, running, chasing, tugging, crawling, jumping and many other types of activities are key when raising a dog. So make sure that if you love playing fetch with your dog and are considering getting an iFetch, you’ve got all the other areas, and more, covered!

100% yes! Dog training schools that offer agility training will likely have a minimum age requirement (as they should!) for pups to join their agility training program and perhaps even a set of skills required as well. You will also want to double-check with your vet as to how young your pup should start doing agility training in general. That said, most agility training programs will start with very basic and beginner-level exercises, not only for safety reasons but also to make it as enjoyable as possible for you and your pooch! But the moment you feel ready to start, please do! Agility Training is one of, if not the best way to provide a wonderful enrichment outlet for your dog's physical AND mental energy, while also strengthening your bond and connection with your dog. This is because overcoming exercises and obstacles together will provide you with the biggest treat: feeling like you've accomplished amazing things alongside one another! If you don't have an agility training service or program near you, you can opt for an at-home option. Even if you don't have a backyard, agility training equipment can work around the space you have and we know energetic dogs aren't picky. They simply want to have fun with you! You can click here to browse agility training kits from Amazon.

Just like with any unwanted behaviour in dogs, it's important to above all know that if it's being practiced by our dogs, it's because it's a behaviour that works for them, not to hurt us or to be disobedient. With that said, if you'd like to ensure that your dog is less likely to want to repeat the unwanted behaviour, you want to make sure that you are providing your dog with the following: 1. Ongoing awareness of how and what your dog is feeling, especially when you're experiencing difficulties with your dog's behaviour. Dogs react to others and their environment, and just how they react is something we have a say over if we're able to take the time and help tailor their environment in order to encourage them to react in a different, better way. An example of how we can change our dog's environment for the best in order to positively affect their feelings and emotions is by walking them away from a scenario or setup to help them take a break, such as during play with other dogs (especially at the dog park) before inviting them to come back. Though takings breaks may not always be necessary, they never hurt and can help your dog better manage his/her own emotions, thus preventing the need for them to exhibit a behavior that could be indicative that they needed a break, sooner. Such as barking, whining, pacing, and jumping. 2. A strong bond and relationship with you. Dogs perform their best when they know what options and choices they can make in order to feel better in different situations, and the most reliable way for them to figure out what those good decisions are is through the guidance of their pet parent. When it comes to having a strong relationship with your dog, more than obedience, commands, and anything else, the most important attribute to it will be that your dog and you have an open line of communication, where you know when to listen to one another, and how to speak to each other. An example of this is when you're regularly acknowledging good choices your dog makes naturally, which will often be the complete opposite of unwanted behaviours. Such as when your dog lies down instead of jumping, or when they choose to walk away instead of barking. Recognizing and rewarding these good decisions will let your dog know that you're listening and focusing your energy on letting them know what behaviours you do like, which ultimately encourages your dog to repeat those above others. 3. Regular outlets to their physical and mental stimulation needs. Physical enrichment can consist of going for runs, playing fetch, tug and pull games, using a flirt pole and mental enrichment encompasses training classes, nosework and scent detection games, puzzles, snuffle mats, and new/different activities you and your dog experience together. Got some of these outlets down pat? Awesome! Next, it's time to focus on the actual behaviour you want to tackle. Practice addressing the issues you're looking to modify when your dog is feeling relaxed and mellow from the above activities. A mellow and tired brain is more likely to 1. Not practice the unwanted behaviour (in which case you can then mostly focus on rewarding the desired behaviour) 2. Provide you with a dog that is more likely to follow your guidance thanks to your connection, and this is key. Providing guidance is your main and best training tool, as you practice going through the scenario which normally leads to the unwanted behaviour, but in a way where you are keeping a close eye on the patterns and indicators that it's about to happen, but instead of just letting it happen, you can there and then interrupt the habit by guiding your dog's body and mind into something else (like a game, your attention, and affection, or even a toy). The idea with practicing this is that it makes it so your dog doesn't get to repeat the unwanted behaviour as much as possible because you are providing a new habit/behaviour that feels even better for them, that will with time replace old habits.

Using a hands-free/waist leash can help keep your hands free for when you're doing a lot at once with your dog, especially if they're a pup! You can use it to prevent unwanted behaviours that happen indoors, instead of letting your pup roam free and it's a great tool to introduce on-leash manners indoors as you focus on rewarding every good step! Hands-free training will make it so your puppy can spend some time focusing their attention on your (which is essential to bond building and leash training) as you reward them for it, all while you're getting to do other things around the house like your laundry, cleaning, and other chores. Why not have your pup join you? You will want to avoid practicing hands-free training in environments that are too distracting or overstimulating for your puppy, as a hand-held regular leash will be a better option for you to more easily guide your pup towards refocusing on you.

Dogs are very social animals, some even more than others. Which makes it so that being left alone can be very challenging at times, especially as young pups. The 2 most common reasons behind dogs who experience separation anxiety revolve around them being left for longer than they've been capable or handling as well as being left alone, for short or long periods of time, with pent up energy. This means that if you re-introduce being left alone by working on short periods as well as when they feel the most relaxed and mellow (thanks to healthy outlets to not only their physical but mental energy needs as well) you will then have a better chance at having a dog that will not only be able to handle being alone but also partly enjoy getting to have some alone time to rest!

Important Note: When it comes to puppies, please make sure the vet cleared your puppy for contact with other animals. How do I introduce my dog to other dogs? Preventing is always the best way to handle unwanted dog-related issues. Dogs are very intuitive by nature and experts when it comes to quickly assessing and reacting to different situations. This is simply how they have learned to deal with and experience everyday activities, such as going for walks, interacting with other animals, or meeting new people. When it comes to meeting other dogs, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can, to set your dog up to a good start. Here are a couple of useful exercises, to help your dog, when it comes to meeting other dogs. 1. Preemptive Actions Begin by asking yourself “How does my dog usually behave when meeting other dogs?”. The answer to this question will vary depending on what your dog’s past experiences have been. If you’re not sure how your dog will behave when meeting a new dog, regardless of your dog’s age, or if you’re just about to begin introducing your pup to other dogs, you will want to learn to pick up on your dog’s cues as soon as you can. Much like people, dogs are very expressive creatures that will use different tools to communicate how they feel at a particular moment, about whatever they’re facing at the time. Your part in this exercise will be to determine how your dog feels about different situations through the different cues he/she is using, to communicate these feelings. You can work on this by simply watching your dog as he experiences different sounds, sights, and scents. Each different type of reaction (happy, excited, unsure, curious, etc) will have its own unique set of physical cues that your dog will display, and although most dogs share the same traits when it comes to this, not all dogs will be as expressive as others, thus you need to keep your eyes sharp when it comes to the most subtle cues. As you get to know your dog more and learn his/hers quirks and quarks, you will be better prepared for when the time comes to not only introduce your dog to other dogs, but also people, new activities, places, and more. This is because you will now be able to develop and earn your dog’s trust, as you begin understanding how your dog communicates with you, so you can discern whether something is either exciting your dog, or frightening him/her, and so on. 2. Going For A Stroll Now that you’re learning how to best understand your dog and his/hers ways of communication, you’re ready to begin meeting other dogs! This part is very exciting, as most puppy/adolescent dogs will have no problem when it comes to making friends, however, we can help them a lot, when it comes to making not just a good, but a great impression on others, more likely, older and experienced dogs. The main idea behind this exercise is to have your dog master two things: respect and trust. Dogs show respect by giving others space and distance. This is something a lot of pups will have to learn by pushing the limits and patience of their mother, father, or siblings. Not all dogs will be as patient, however. But to help this, when meeting a new dog, what you will want to do is do your best to get the owner of the other dog to walk side by side with you and your dog, towards your desired destination. This is how dogs and most animals develop trust, by moving forward, side by side. This exercise, where you, the other owners, and the two dogs are simply walking side by side will remove the possibility of the youngest, likely less experienced of the two dogs to behave in a manner that the other might not tolerate. Walking side by side puts both dogs on a leveled playing field, where they get to know each other, first as teammates, before they decide whether or not they will want to take that further towards creating an actual friendship. This walk can of course be a jog or run if needed, especially if the dogs are getting a little excited by each other’s presence. Running towards a park, for example, will not only accomplish the main objective of this exercise but will then reward the two with a pleasant destination and experience, where they can then decide to play with each other or other dogs that are there.

First practice in a closed space with few distractions. Throw the ball and say "Go get it!" and patiently (and quietly) wait for your dog to bring it back before getting excited, giving them a small treat and throwing it again.

Do not chase your dog, instead wait nearby for him to relax as much as possible and presenting them with a strong smell (chicken, bacon, ham) can help. Once your dog lets go, provide them with something you'd rather they have instead and/or provide them with a reward like a treat and your excitement to let them know that letting go is more enjoyable than not.

Start by first considering the root of the issue (most commonly boredom, uncertainty in a social setting, confused, overtired) and guiding them towards a better choice that they can potentially make at that moment, and rewarding them for that decision. When heading towards a scenario where you know they’re likely to bark, first make sure that they’ve had access to outlets for both their physical and mental energy. During the scenario where your dog is barking, make sure that you’re working in that particular environment with tools that will help you succeed. Such as a leash (a harness), treats to reward good behaviour (such as a any moment where your dog isn't barking), patience, taking distance and above all your listening skills! So that you can pickup on changes in your dog’s non verbal cues, so that you can focus on reinforcing the desired choices your dog makes along the way. Dogs bark in many different ways and for different reasons, to convey how they're feeling. The most important thing you can do to start helping them is listening for patterns and signs that lead to this behaviour. Chances are you will recognize repeating indicators that will lead to the barking. This is when it's the best time to practice redirecting, walking away with your doing, showing them that you and they can do something else instead that will feel and be more rewarding than barking. In many instances the barking stems from dogs not knowing how or what else to do about the trigger (like someone being at the door) which is where you will neec to be extra patient as it takes time for your dog to adopt a new behaviour to replace the old one. A new behaviour could be waiting for your dog to lay on their bed before opening the door and getting a treat, for example. This requires a lot of practice, will and patience!

Female dogs are pregnant for around 62-63 days (or just over 2 months) with each trimester being roughly 21 days in length.