Summer is a wonderful time to spend outdoors with your dog. Here's your chance to reclaim the outdoors. Get your dog and go out to your yard or the park for some fun. To help you along, we've compiled some activities and tips on how to make them more enjoyable.

Fetch~~~~~
This time-honored game requires nothing but a lightweight ball of relatively soft material (if it is too hard, the ball could damage your dog's teeth) and a willing dog. Make sure the ball isn't too small, otherwise he could accidentally swallow it while leaping. (Depending on the size of the dog, even a tennis ball could be too small.)
The object is of course to have your dog bring the ball back to you. That isn't always the case; sometimes the dog trains the owner to run after the ball.
Unless you don't mind running at your dog's whim, here are a few suggestions:

• Don't play if your dog pushes the ball at you then snatches it away as you reach for it, or if he dances around with the ball in his mouth, teasing you. You're just reinforcing the idea that he can give you orders.
• As the pack leader, YOU decide when to bring the ball out and when to throw it. Keep the ball in a special area that your dog is aware of, so when he sees you bring the ball out, he becomes excited and eager to please.
• Follow the practice of performers to "leave 'em begging for more." In canine parlance, that means quit the game while he's still interested, not when he becomes bored.
• Lavish praise on him immediately when he retrieves the ball and brings it to you.

Hoops~~~~~~
What would you rather do, watch overpaid athletes strut around a basketball court or play hoops with your dog? Teaching him how isn't difficult, and he'll be grateful for the chance.
 

• Take a container such as a big cooking pot, laundry basket or large plastic pail and weight it down with a heavy object (so it won't get knocked over).
• Introduce your dog to the basket and the ball. As he watches, drop the ball into the bucket several times, while saying "drop."
• Give him the ball, then bring him over to the bucket and say "Drop." Do this until he drops the ball in the basket, then immediately praise him (you might give him a small treat as well). You'll have to repeat this several times before he makes the connection between the reward and the action.
• When the connection is made, roll or throw the ball to him and watch him doggie-dunk it!

• Stand in shallow water and call to your dog. You may want to coax him with a toy or a treat.
• Your dog should use all four legs to doggie paddle. If he paddles with just his front paws, lift his rear legs to help him float. He'll quickly understand that he needs all his legs to swim.
• Swimming is strenuous to any creature not used to it, so don't let your dog swim for too long. If you're at the beach, watch out for strong tides, and don't let your dog drink saltwater. (You should also be aware that your dog is a target for sea lice and jellyfish.)

Hula Hoop~~~~~
Begin by holding a hula hoop (still available at most toy stores, believe it or not!) upright, but on the floor. Lead your dog through the hoop, then reward him with praise or a treat (or both). Repeat several times.

• Raise the hoop several inches off the ground and lead him through again. Then let him go at it!
• Keep raising the hoop a little more each time to make it more of a challenge, rewarding your dog each time he makes it through. Quit before he gets bored or no longer wants the treats.

You should also be careful in choosing the material you should use. Don't use your socks or other clothing, even if your dog is still a puppy. He'll associate your clothing with the game and you may wind up with lots of holes in your socks. The material shouldn't shred easily, either, because your dog could swallow pieces. Your best bet is to pick a rope that has been specifically designed as a dog toy.

The Benefits of Playing With Your Dog
Playing with your dog not only keeps him happy and healthy; it forges a special bond between you and your pet

We love our dogs for lots of reasons including the unconditional love and enjoyment that they give. They are always happy to see us even when maybe our families aren't.  So to give back a little of the joy they bring to us, we want to ensure our dogs are happy.

Here are some tips to a happy dog:

1. Give him lots of love. Tell your dog you love him. Talk to him. Pet him. Dogs love the attention and it makes them feel important.

2. Know your dog . Different dogs like different things. For example, some dogs LOVE car rides, others adore treats, a belly rub, and ear rub, to play fetch, and/or to go for a walk. Know what your dog loves and make sure you provide it on a regular basis.  It is fun to give your dog something that really turns him on!

3. Keep them healthy . Make sure your dog is up-to-date on his vaccinations and is on any recommended preventative medications such as heartworm prevention or flea control medication as recommended for your veterinarian based on your geographic location.  Good nutrition is also an important part of keeping your dog healthy. Make sure you feed a good quality premium food that your dog likes.

If you want to try something different than what you are currently feeding, then I suggest that you take advantage of the free sample offer from Iams for their NEW Premium Protection Diets

4. Provide lots of toys . Know what toys your dog likes. Some dogs like chew toys; others like fetch toys, furry toys, balls, squeak toys, or floating toys. Know what your dog likes and make sure you have a supply. Another thing you can do is to rotate his toys. After your dog tires of a toy - hide it for a while and replace it with one he hasn't seen for a while or a new one.

5. Time. Many times...more than anything you can buy - your dog just wants your time. He is happy to sit beside you while you work or watch T.V. Don't forget - you are his best friend too.

Whatever your do, make sure you understand what your dog likes the most and try to accommodate his needs to make him happy.

Here's one thing we can all agree on. Our lives are filled with stress. The pace of our lives alone is brutal, and we worry about everything. So is it any wonder that our dogs are stressed out, too?

The truth is, our dogs pick up on our emotions and react to the chaos in our lives. When we're tense, they're tense. When their lives feel chaotic, they become agitated. Our stress certainly impacts our four-legged friends.

And there are plenty of other things that can put your dog on edge...

A strange environment, being home alone for long periods of time, loud noises or thunder, long car trips ... all of these things impact your dog's sense of well-being. Your pet's nervous anxiety can manifest itself in many ways - a physical or behavioral issue, digestive problems, a change in appetite, hypertension, even depression.

When you and I are trying to unwind, soothing music or the gentle sound of the ocean's waves can really help. Music really can be good for the soul, but that doesn't just apply to humans. It's also true for our pets. Studies of household pets have shown that music can definitely help them to relax. They have even identified certain sounds, songs and instruments that seem to work best.

For instance, dogs and cats prefer classical music. Cats will relax in front of a stereo speaker when classical music is playing. Dogs will actually bark less - especially when they listen to Bach. Household pets under stress-inducing situations will often slip into a very serene and peaceful state of mind after listening to classical music for only a few minutes... ahhh

To be an effective relaxation tool, music must have a consistently smooth, soothing dynamic from start to finish with no abrupt changes in tempo, volume or rhythm. That's not usually the case with radio broadcasts or most "off-the-shelf" classical music CDs.