K-9 LifeSavers

It's always fun to have a dog with a full bag of tricks to impress the neighbors, and one of the classics is shaking hands. If your K-9 doesn't know this trick, here's how to teach him:

Step 1: With your dog siting before you, hide a treat in your hand, low to the ground.  Encourage your dog to paw at it by saying "shake." Reward your dog with the treat the moment his left paw comes off the ground.

Step 2: Gradually raise the height of your hand, until he is lifting his paw to chest height.

Step 3: Transition to using a hand signal.  Stand up and hold the treat in your left hand, behind your back, and extend your right hand while cuing "shake." When your dog paws your extended hand, support his paw in the air while your reward him with the treat from behind your back.

Step 4: Repeat these steps on the opposite site using "paw" in place of "shake." Or really knock people out by teaching your dog the commands with "right" and "left."

Tips: If your dog is nosing at your hand instead of pawing at it, bop his nose a little bit to discourage this.  He may try barking, nuzzling, or doing nothing.  Be patient and keep encouraging him.  If he does not lift his paw on his own, tap it or barely lift it for him and then reward him.

Remember training should be a positive experience for your dog, so have lots of patience and end on a positive note, even if it means going back to an easy command like "sit."  Practice often with rewards and once your dog had the "aha!" moment, start reducing the number of treats he gets for performing tricks to an occasional reward.

If you've ever had aspiration of your K-9 becoming a movie-star, try out this trick and see how easily it comes. Movie dogs use this skill to stop on a mark, usually with a double command, such as "target-sit."

The goal is for your dog to cross the room and touch an object identified; this trick has also has applications in dog sports.  Your dog should have a grasp of "stay" before starting this trick.

1. Set up in a fairly empty space so there is not a lot of distractions for your dog, and use a good size target such as a safety cone, plunger, or other object that is large enough to be recognizable and your dog won't be tempted pick it up with his mouth.
2. Put your dog in a stay a short distance from the target, walk to the target and get his attention so that he sees you put a treat on the target. (You can also stay with your dog and have a partner place the treat on the target)
3. Return to your dog, point to the target and release him by saying "target!" Allow him to run the the target and get the treat.
4. After a few successful runs, send your dog to the target without setting the treat on it.  As soon as he touches the target (with his nose or paw), praise him with "good target" and give him a treat from your hand.
5. As your dog is successfully reaching the target start working to both increase your distance from the target, and to make the target smaller.  If he's going to make it as a movie dog, eventually he'll need to work off of a target the size of a post it!

With a name like Oprah, you know this girl is going to be a star! But just like Ms. Winfrey, Oprah's had a tough start to life.  She was found in a shelter very thin and extremely timid, she's already put on some weight and her confidence is climbing every day. She will likely remain on the quiet side, but loves to give kisses and would be a loyal companion to someone that will love her. If you think Oprah could be one of your favorite things, we can't wait to hear from you!

If you're ever inspired to go natural for your K-9's meal, may we suggest the following quick and easy recipe to satisfy both you and your favorite pal.

Directions

1. Place chicken, vegetables, and rice into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Stir in water until the mixture is smooth. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes. Cool completely before serving; store covered in the refrigerator.

Though Nicolette would love homemade meals, all this little girl really wants is to feel safe and to have a loving family take care of her. Though still young, her life has been filled with scary situations leaving Nicolette a bit shy.  She is warming up to her caretakers and promises to be a sweet and loyal companion to someone that will love her.

Though many of us celebrate Pet Appreciation Week throughout the year, it is officially commemorated this week. The goal of Pet Appreciation Week is to celebrate the furry (or scaly or feathered) friends in our lives. Take the time to celebrate your pet and the human-animal relationship you share this week!

Though many of you may be wondering how you would possibly show your K-9s more love, if you are in need of inspiration, allow us to suggest Jerky Cake:

Jerky Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup corn oil
• 1 jar strained beef baby food
• 4 eggs
• 2-3 strips of beef jerky

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease and flour an 8x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Cream butter until smooth. /li>
• Add corn oil, baby food, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
• Mix flour and baking powder into mixture until batter is smooth<
• Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter
• Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack 15 minutes.
• Frost with plain yogurt, cream cheese or cottage cheese.
• Crumble another strip of beef jerky and sprinkle on top of icing.
• Store in refrigerator.

We've all heard the magic rule that one calendar year is equal to seven dog years, but it's turns out this isn't exactly accurate.  It seems that dogs mature faster than humans in their early years, so that their first year is actually equivalent to 15 human years! As dog ages, it slows down so that by the time we've celebrated 13 years with them, they are only aging 2 1/2 years per calendar year.  It turns out that the size of a dog also plays a part in this process, to if you want to find out how old your dog really is, use this handy, dandy chart!

Meatball thinks age is relative as long as he is part of a loving home.  This goofy guy is as smart as they come and would love to keep you smiling for years to come - however you measure them!

Many dogs are bred to be working dogs, and while they make excellent pets, you might be surprised at how helpful they can be with little tasks.  With patience and rewards you can teach your dog to fetch your slippers and carry your purse, but start out with something easy - getting their leash for a walk.

To be successful at this, you'll need to find a regular spot to keep your leash and ensure that it always gets returned there.  Where ever your spot is, it must be accessible to your dog, both an appropriate height and out in the open (no closets), and easily to pull off. 

1. Start out by introducing the word "leash" to your dog by using it each time you put the leash on him.  Toss the leash playfully and tell him to "fetch leash."
2. Let you dog see where the regular spot for the leash is, point to it and encourage your dog to "get your leash!" Reward your dog immediately by buckling on his leash and taking him for a walk. In this trick, the walk is a reward, not a treat, so there aren't any long practice sessions.
3. The next time you are ready to go for a walk, get your dog excited, then have him get his leash. 

Don't be surprised if soon your dog is actually encouraging your by a walk by bringing you his leash without being asked.  Try to reward his skill and good manners with a walk if you can!

What dog doesn't love the taste of peanut butter? With these treats coming in at only 29 calories and 1.5 grams of fat you can afford to indulge your pooch a little!

Blaze is a great example of why labs are the most popular breed out there.  This little girl is playful, loyal, sweet, loveable and just a joy to have around.  She would love to find a home that would give her peanut butter treats, but right now she'd just settle for a foster home to hang out at for a little bit. If you think Blaze could make a trail to you house, give us a shout!

February 23 is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, one of those fun holidays that we don't know where it came from, but basically your dog gets a treat simply for being your dog.  Since he gets off so easy today, we thought we'd give you a super simple dog treat recipe that should please everyone!

Homemade Bacon Biscuits

• 2 eggs beaten
• 3 Tbsp molasses
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup artificial bacon bits

Mix everything together and drop by teaspoons on a lightly greased sheet. Bake for 15 Minutes at 350 degrees.

Today is Spay Day! For 17 years, Spay Day has been a sponsored by The Human Society of the United States in order to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Unfortunately nearly 4 million dogs and cats (that’s nearly one every eight seconds) are put down in shelters across the country each year. 

The Spay Day campaign strives to raise awareness about the need to spay and neuter pets to reduce the number of animals that are left homeless and end up in shelters.

While donations are welcome at K-9 LifeSavers at any time, please consider donating in honor of Spay Day to help with the cost of spaying and neutering the K-9s up for adoption.

Despite the tough start, Lady is still a friendly dog that loves all other dogs and happily plays fetch.  This girl deserves a happy ending in life.  Will it be with you?

A dog with a full trick repertoire is always impressive and playing dead is always a favorite, but it can be a little tricky.  Before starting out on this trick, make sure your dog is comfortable with both stay and rolling over. What you are trying to accomplish is for your dog to roll onto his back with his legs in the air.  He should remain "dead" until you cue him to miraculously rise from beyond!

1. Start with your dog in a "down" kneeling in front of him.  Just like you did for "roll over," hold a treat to the side of his head and move it backward toward his shoulder blade, so his whole body shifts back and to the side.
2. Continue to roll him on his back, guiding him with your hand gently on his stomach.  Stop him once he's on his back and reward him with a treat while saying "good bang."
3. Progress to using the verbal cue "bang," but be on hand to stop him on his back, and reward him in the position you want him to hold. 
4. As he improves as this, you can move farther away from him, and cue him only with the verbal signal "bang," while starting to work in a hand signal akin to shooting him with a gun.
5. Keep practicing until your dog drops once he is "shot."

Tips:

• Your dog may be expecting roll over and will want to go all the way over (even after he learns the trick, but is just excited to please you).  While learning stop him from going all the way over with your hand on his chest and hold him in the position you want.  After he has learned the trick, but he still goes all the way over, only reward him for the trick you've asked for so that he learns to listen and wait for your commands.
• If you have a wagging tail on a "dead" dog, trying to keep things calm, and practive using a low voice and a hold on this position.  Otherwise have fun and proclaim that "It's a miracle!"
• You dog might take a few "bullets" to go down, since this is all about acting, you're going to have to improvise him and join the show about how dramatic your dog is!