Summer 2016
Welcome to our new Kids Page
This page is for all you kids who are interested in learning about dogs, how to help look after your own pet dog, and how to be safe around dogs.
Have fun and enjoy the activities. There is a lot to learn. Please keep coming back. We will put something new on this page every month.
Parents: There is a lot of information on child safety around dogs in the links at the bottom of this page.
Note: Because this page uses scripts you may get the following message "Internet Explorer restricted this webpage from running scripts or ActiveX controls." You may have to allow blocked content if you can't see the jumping sheep or the answers to the quiz, for example. Unfortunately the jumping sheep also can't be seen on iPads because the animation is powered by Flash. We are sorry about that, however we are leaving the sheep on the page because they are fun for the people who are able to see them!
Easy Tricks to Teach Your Dog
Take a Bow (2 ways to teach this cute trick) CLICK HERE TO GO TO THIS TRICK
Puzzle
Let's practise your puppy knowledge - A word scramble CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE PUZZLE
Colouring Pages contest
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THIS MONTH'S CONTEST
Jumping Sheep!!
Move your cursor over the sheep and watch them jump!
(from sheepgame.co.uk)
Easy Tricks to Teach Your Dog
Courtesy of the Love your dog website
The Tricks Dogs Do - Kids Teaching Tricks
"Tricks are fun! Tricks, like games, keep your dog alert and energetic.They give your dog a chance to play. Tricks give you and your dog time to be together.
Tricks help your dog to 'learn how to learn'. If they can learn tricks, then they can learn obedience and good behavior. Go ahead...have some fun and teach your dog some tricks!"
Teaching "Take a bow" :
Method 1: When you see your dog take a big stretch, with his head down low, say, "Take a bow." Every time he wakes up and stretches, say, "Take a bow." Someday you will say, "Take a bow." and your dog will take a big stretch, but it will look like he is bowing. As soon as he is finished, give him the treat.
TIP: Tricks like this work because you put words with something your dog does. It may take some dogs longer than others to figure this one out. Some dogs learn it in a week and some take years...yes, years! But one day you will say, "Take a bow," and maybe, just maybe, your dog will take a bow.
Method 2: With your dog in a stand position, take a treat and hold it near the floor, under his nose. As your dog reaches down to get it (he may try to lie down), slip your hand under his belly to hold his rear end up. Hold him in that position and say, "Take a bow." Keep the treat right by his nose, but don't feed him. Stay there for just a second, release him, and then feed the treat.
TIP: If you feed your dog the treat while he is in the bowing position, in the future he won't bow until he sees the treat in your hand. If he learns that the treat comes later, he'll be willing to perform for you without it right there all the time."
Puzzle
Let's practise our puppy knowledge. Can you unscramble the missing words in the sentences below?
HINT: To check the answers, look at the bottom of the puzzle and then stand on your head. Just kidding! All you have to do is hover your mouse over, or touch the answers below, and you will see if you got them right 
1. Puppy needs 2 bowls. One for WTREA, the other for ODFO
2. Every puppy should have a NMEA TGA on his collar in case he gets lost.
3. You need a LSEHA to take your puppy for a walk.
4. Puppies love to go to training CSLSEAS to learn things, just like you go to SCLOHO
5. Ask the ONREW before petting a dog.
6. Not every dog that GAWS his tail is friendly.
7. When a dog you don't know comes towards you stand like a TERE.
8. Dogs like to be left alone when they are ETNAGI.
9. Walk your dog with an AUTLD.
10. LDUO noises scare dogs.
Answers here:
puzzle produced by Julie More
Colouring Pages contest
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We would love to hear from you Click here and print out the picture that opens. Colour the picture with pencils or crayons. Then tell us why your pet is special, and what rules you have in your house to make your pet safe. Send it to us at [email protected] with your email address. We will choose a winner each month and post it in our newsletter for everybody to see. |
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What if you can't have a dog?
Not everyone can add a dog to their family.
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Perhaps your house is too small (you live in an apartment or condo), or your landlord doesn't allow you to keep a dog. Perhaps your family just doesn't have the time to exercise a dog, groom her, or take her to the vet when she is sick. Or maybe someone in your family has allergies to dogs. Have you considered one of the cuddly and loving creatures below instead? Or even something not quite as cuddly, like a tortoise or a fish? How about a rabbit or a guinea pig? They make wonderful, affectionate and fairly long-lived pets. Or a mouse or rat? They are intelligent and can be taught to do tricks quite easily. How about a hamster or gerbil? A chinchilla? Or, if the allergic person cannot tolerate any animal hair, there are pet birds. Or fish. Did you know that with patience you can actually train a goldfish to do simple tricks such as swimming through a hoop for rewards? Amazing! |
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Be sure to check out your local humane society or animal rescue when looking for a new pet. They often have many different types of animals, both large and small.
This month we will talk a bit about rabbits:
Pet rabbits come in many sizes and colours. They make very good pets and can be taught tricks just like dogs, using positive reward training such as clicker training. They can be kept outside in a mild climate, however they will be happier indoors where they can have regular companionship. Your garage isn’t a very good place to keep a rabbit if you have a car because of the exhaust fumes. To make rabbits easier to handle and less nervous it is a good idea to stroke them often and to pick them up once they are used to you.
Rabbits need quite a bit of space – a large wooden hutch and a chance to run about every day to get some exercise. They can be litter trained, like cats, and litter trained rabbits are much more hygienic if they are allowed to run freely in the house.
It’s a good idea to have your rabbit neutered when young because they will be more gentle pets. They can sometimes become territorial and a bit aggressive, especially the males. Another good reason to neuter your rabbit is if you keep more than one. Two rabbits of the same sex will get on better together if neutered, and two rabbits of opposite sexes will not be able to produce large litters of baby rabbits!
A caution when feeding rabbits – if you can’t find clean, fresh grass for them (no weed killers or other chemicals that could make them very sick), don’t feed them grass clippings. They may ferment and harm your rabbit.
According to the Ottawa Humane Society website:
“Rabbits are intelligent, social animals. When given plenty of attention, they make affectionate and rewarding family pets. They can be trained to use a litter box and are more enjoyable, responsive pets when living indoors as house rabbits. Given appropriate care, a rabbit can live up to ten years.”
More information on their website: http://www.ottawahumane.ca/your-pet/animal-tips/tips-for-other-pets/
Some more useful links for you:
http://myhouserabbit.com/2016/03/easter-rabbits-a-10-year-commitment/
http://myhouserabbit.com/new-to-rabbits/
http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-New-Pet-Rabbit
https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/rabbit-care/care-domestic-rabbits/
http://www.rabbit.org/care/living-with-a-house-rabbit.html
http://www.spca.org/page.aspx?pid=430
http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232734489707&mode=prd (a pdf file)
http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits
For Parents Too
"Get dog smart with Diggity the Dog! Diggity the Dog’s story encompasses the number one cure for the dog bite
epidemic. The story takes children on a fun walk through the
neighborhood. Along the way, children encounter a whole lot of dogs in
different situations. Diggity tells the "do's" and "don'ts" - right from
the doggie's mouth."
http://www.liamjperkfoundation.org/talk.html
Little Liam was fatally bitten by his family's own beloved dog. This site is full of information for parents and caregivers - such as dog body language; dog stress signals; signs of anxiety; why dogs bite; Be a Tree, and more. Well illustrated.
https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/free-downloads-posters-handouts-and-more/
Dr. Sophia Yin's website: dog body language of fear and anxiety; how to greet, and not to greet a dog; also training tips and much more.
Be A Tree program
The information on our Education - Dog Bite Prevention page was compiled by Doggone Safe - visit their website for more information on the Be A Tree program.
Acknowledgements:
The Love your dog website has very generously allowed us to reproduce some of their articles. Please visit them, there is lots to enjoy there.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) also has much information and many games to play.
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