Some of Our Favorite Things: Backpack Training and Dog Video Camera

 To lead up to a big announcement later in the week, the pooches wanted to talk about some of their favorite things. The two things we get asked about the most are Mr. B's backpack and camera.
I had never even known that someone would make something like a backpack for dogs, but as crazy as it sounds, it has many purposes.
Backpack Workout & Training:

This was the main reason we bought the backpack in the first place. When we first adopted Mr. B he was crazy "Bulldozer Mr. B". The sights and sounds of the city where so exciting, instead of going for a run, Mr. B would go for a gallop. But once that backpack was on, his entire attitude changed. He had a job. He was focused. And our walks changed.
The backpack is also great because if we add extra weight it gives him a better workout. We don't have to walk as far, and we still get a happy, calm dog at home.

Running City Errands:

 The backpack also lets us incorporate our pooches in our daily life as we run our errands. For some reason it seems almost painful to walk a few blocks to the bakery, but with Mr. B at our side grabbing our groceries has become fun. We even wrote about how we have begun eating local as the pooches are able to carry their own dog groceries, goods from the Farmer's Markets, butcher, baker and wine store.
Note: We never leave our dogs unattended outside and either run errands as a family, or I call ahead and the owners are happy to bring things outside to us.

Making our Pooches Approachable:

 We love taking our pooches around the city, and it's extra rewarding when people ask to meet our dogs and gain a new perspective on pitbulls. The backpack makes our dogs that much more approachable. Our SociaBull pooch friend Lola has started wearing the backpack and her mom noticed how they meet so many more people as a backpack-toting pooch.


Mr. B's Camera:

At the same time, people are also so curious about Mr. B's camera. We are kind of obsessed with experimenting with all kinds of cameras, so what better camera to add into the mix than one for our pooch?
While he used to have the Dog Eye View Camera, the battery quickly fizzled and since it isn't replaceable, we would have had to buy a whole new camera. So Mr. B upgraded to the GoPro HD Hero 960.
This camera has a waterproof case, so it can go the extreme, and it takes 5 megapixel photos, so these pictures are high definition.We hook the camera up to his collar, and it's set to take photos every 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds, and we always think it's so funny to see things from his view. Like this awkward family photo:

The best part...it is also a video camera! We've had a lot of fun seeing things how Mr. B sees it, especially seeing Mr. B in this skateboarding video and his perspective from this SociaBulls walk.
Plus, the camera is kind of cool to use if you're involved in extreme sports. If your pooch lets you borrow it.
We have seen some of our other dog friends use backpacks, and we'd love to hear how your packs work for you. And does anyone else out there have a dog camera?

Our Favorite Things: Backpack Training

 Much like Oprah, this week we are going to post about some of Miss M and Mr. B's "favorite things"  to lead into an update and announcement on Friday. One of our favorite things, and something we get the most questions about, is Mr. B's backpack.When we go on family walks, Mr. B sports the Ruffwear Approach Pack to bring home dog groceries, baked goods, and farmer's market finds. And this is helpful.

 Originally we had gotten the backpack for a different reason: to serve as a training tool. See, Mr. B came from Kalamazoo, Michigan where he was never taken on walks but he actually spent his days walking himself through a much different area. When he came to live with us in the city, he was overstimulated by all the sights, sounds, and scents, and he couldn't understand this thing called 'a leash'. Walking him was painful, and he really was "Bulldozer Mr. B".

 To help him focus, we decided to give him a job. And that job was wearing his backpack. See, the moment we put the backpack on, the pooches realize they are on a mission and begin acting serious and focused. So when other dogs would pop out from behind the gates or lunge at him during walks, he wasn't fazed because he knew his job was more important. Even Miss M understands the implications of wearing the backpack.

 The other benefit is that walking with a backpack is a better workout and it tires the pooches out more easily. We used to put things in the backpack just to create weight, so Mr. B would work harder on the walk. This meant even if we walked shorter distances, he would still get a good workout and keep him a happy and calm dog at home.

Plus, if walking two big pitties doesn't attract enough attention, imagine the attention and people we meet when one of those pitties is wearing his own backpack.
We actually also own the bigger, and more expensive Ruffwear Palisades Pack that has integrated water bladders and we rarely use it. We do break it out on special occasion, though it seems too big and bulky for daily use:

 We have seen some of our other dog friends use backpacks. We're curious how you use your pack, or even if you don't have a pack, how you would like to use a dog backpack.

City Dog: On Walking a Dog in the City

It seems like the simplest thing: if you have a dog, you can walk it.
Which is how it always works in the movies.
But then we have real life where the most minor thing like a walk can become unfathomable. Even the most well-behaved dogs can lose all focus the moment they get outside. For some dogs it's just so exciting to check out squirrels. Or maybe they really want to meet that other dog across the street. Or maybe they're just not used to this thing we call a leash. When I first adopted Miss M she would be so wonderful in the house, but then the moment we got outside there was so much going on she wouldn't listen to me. The worst part: she would even think the leash was a toy and she would keep grabbing the leash and to play tug. And guess who wins a tug contest with a 70lb excited dog?

Since we live in the city, and most of us don't have backyards, we are forced to take our dogs out several times a day from the moment we get them. And this can honestly be a struggle with all the other dogs, squirrels, loud noises, and people that come with living in a city. At the same time, we really do enjoy our walks and we know how important it is for our dogs to get out, get exercised, and meet other people (and dogs!). Lately we've been getting questions about how our dogs walk nicely with us in the city We know all dogs are very different, and have different sensitivities, but here are some things that have worked for us.

Our Dogs Walk "With Me"

 When we first adopted Mr B, he was a 'dog at large' allowed to run around Kalamazoo, Michigan at whim. His owner chose to relinquish him rather than pay the many off-leash fines he accumulated. So basically, Mr. B had never been on a leash before. He would try to lead the walk, pulling, with little me trailing behind him like a cartoon. When we talked to our trainer about it, the answer became so obvious: the dogs need to realize we choose the walking route and that they need to pay attention to us to know where to go. He suggested always taking different routes so they couldn't anticipate our route and take charge. We also used a "with me" strategy where the moment he began to pull we would shout "with me" and suddenly, and unexpectedly change directions. Even after all the training and year's we've had him, he still tends to walk like a jackrabbit.
We also loved hearing about SociaBulls members Willie and Nabi's amazing guest post (if you haven't read this before, you seriously need to see all the great advice they have) about just taking 'one step at a time' and 'not cheating' and 'checking in'.

Give your Dog a Job

 Another thing that really worked for Mr B was wearing his backpack. When he puts his backpack on, he realizes he has a job to do and he becomes more focused. When he carries things he also has to work harder, which makes the walks that much more beneficial, and leaves less room for jumping running and misbehaving. We always do make sure he's not carrying too much to be a strain, and that we balance each side of the bag. Added benefit: so many more people want to meet a pitbull wearing a cool backpack!

Choosing Training Gear Appropriate for your Dog

We know so many people have very strong feelings about specific training tools, but we believe that each owner knows their situation and dog best and can make the best choice after researching options. It might take time trying a variety of tools before finding one that works for your dog. We've used a variety of martingales, prongs, and easy-walk harnesses for our own dogs.
At the same time I do want to mention we have been getting disparaging comments from people making judgments about the gear dogs have been using in our photos.One thing we like about the community we have built here is that it’s owners sharing information with other owners to help us have positive relationships with our dogs and our community. While we all have preferences about training tools we use, we didn’t think it’s fair to make judgments about people’s choices of gear while not understanding their experiences. .We all know that long-term behavioral training takes time. Additionally, we do know that there can be damage from all types of walking gear. Even flat collars can cause severe neck and disk damage.
We have found this link from Bad Rap about proper fit and use of prong collars to be a useful source about prong collars.
And just be aware to properly secure whatever you may be using. We've know prong collars to open unexpectedly, clips on leashes to come loose, and dogs to slip out of collars.

Treat Every Walk as a Training Walk

 I've realized how much our pooches thrive on consistency and discipline, so we're consistently treating every venture outside as a 'training walk'. We bring high-value treats, encourage the pooches to check back at often. Miss M is extremely food motivated, and loves to perform, so I quickly learned one way to keep her interested is bring the treats and allow her to practice the tricks she's already good at on our walks. It started with 'sit' where I would randomly have her sit whenever I stopped. Then she automatically started sitting at every corner. We would randomly practice 'waving', 'finish' (walking around me in a circle) and 'down stays'. The extra mental stimulation is extra exhausting, plus imagine how many people you meet when your dog waves at them?

These are things that work for our dogs. And we also love this guest post from Maize about managing a leash reactive dog in the city, and Willie's guest post about walking two dogs at the same time.
What other things have seemed to work for everyone?

City Dog: How to Fully Exercise your Dog with Shorter Walks

We all know how important exercise is for a well-rounded pup, and we've always depended on our Daily Walks to give our dogs the physical and mental stimulation they need. Though, as the weather has been getting colder, even the dogs don't want to be outside. Here are some things that have worked for us to fully exercise our pooches even when we're on a shorter walk.

Making the City Your Obstacle Course

Our dogs expend more energy by running, climbing and jumping, so we're always on the lookout for standard city-fare to use as obstacles. Our pooches do weaves around trees, jumps over benches, and even just doing step ups on the raised stairs that line the sidewalks. (We do consider our pooches' joints, and make any hops or jumps low.)We like to think of it as the pooches' version of parkour.

Including Mental Challenges

Practicing training is always a good way to mentally exhaust our pups, and we've learned how practicing sit-stays and down-stays on elevated objects is a good way to give them confidence while practicing willpower. When we find abandoned benches or raised barriers, we spend a couple of minutes practicing our sit stays before moving on. The added bonus is there are so many distractions outside in the city which makes it even better practice.

Backpack Training

We love how using the backpack keeps our pups focused by giving them a 'job', plus carrying a bit of extra weight can be a bit more exhausting if you're going on a shorter walk. Here are some other ways Mr. B uses his backpack. 
What are some other ways you've learned to tire out your pup when you aren't going on longer walks?

Also:
How we practice mental exercises in our home
Mr. B carries our groceries
Tricks on Walks

DoggyStyle: On Summer Gear

While our pooches spent our Chicago winter all bundled up (remember this???) they were happy to shed their layers once we finally got warmer weather. 

With their winter gear stored away, we were able to dust off our summer gear for future picnics, movies in the park, and Farmer's Markets. Here are some things our pups use in the warmer weather

Backpack:

We originally bought Mr. B's backpack as a training and workout tool. Mr. B used to be a crazy bulldozer sprinting on all of his walks and becoming distracted by everything around him. Once he started working with the backpack, he realized he had a 'job' to do and he became more focused. We also like the backpack helps us do things like this. And this. 

Bandanas:

We started bringing bandanas with us so we can dip them in water so the pooches feel a bit cooler when they wear them. Plus, we love the look of dogs in bandanas. Like one of our style icons, Stickers, we're looking to develop a collection to change them up.

Summer Leashes:

Since we go on so many walks, we like to reward ourselves with some nice leash and collar sets for the pups. Kind of like rewarding yourself with some fun gym clothes for going to the gym. 

You may have noticed our pooches sporting these bright new numbers from Sirius Republic, and we're slightly addicted.

Miss M also picked up her own hot pink polka-dot collar from Silly Buddy.

What are your other must-have gear for your pup?

Also:

Do you dress your dog? 

Matching!

Essentials

Pooches: Mr. B. Helps Out

Even though Mr. B. was excluded from the Halloween party, he still did get to go on his own adventure.Knowing Mr. B. loves to help his people, we bought him this backpack so he could help out. Here is Miss M. peering out the window jealously as we're setting off on our walk:
Dogs love having a job; when he has his backpack Mr. B. walks with a purpose and keeps his head held high. He helped carry the package I needed to mail,bought some bread, and even stopped by the dog store to carry his own treats home.
The backpack can also be used as a training tool for dogs who have too much energy. If they carry a heavy load, your walks become twice as effective. Plus, they're great in the summer so the pooches can carry their own water. Mr. B. got nearly as many stares and comments as Miss M. did wearing her ballerina outfit.

Things to do in the City with Dogs: Division Street Farmers Market

One sure sign that summer has arrived in Chicago are our Farmer's Market. A few weeks ago we visited the 61st Street Farmers Market that is managed by fellow SociaBulls member, Danny. Though it is bit of a drive, it is well worth the trip with all the great produce and prepared foods. Lucky for us, we also have quite a few farmer's market that are only a short trip away, including the Division Street Farmers Market. 

Mr. B loves putting on his backpack and helping the family carry our groceries. 

Miss M cannot be bothered by the backpack, because she must be free to meet all the guests that happen upon her farmers market. She is always eager to strike a pose, while her dog does all of the grunt work. 

Is there anything special that signals the arrival of summer in your city?

Also:

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for a Packable Rain Poncho (open until Sunday)

Training our pups for Farmer's Markets

Pumpkins!

Our Favorite Things: Animal Rescue and Raffles

Update 3.1.7.11--We are so saddened to report that Shy unexpectedly died yesterday.

As Heather's fiance Kyle writes The details of what happened are unclear, but we know it was not from a lack of love and care from her new owners and online followers. Please keep her in your hearts, and know that she will always hold a part of ours. We want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support that we received through this process. It reminds us of how truly generous strangers can be. Future posts will discuss what is to be done with the donated funds. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts and know that Shy thanks you too.  We know so many of you have been touched by the Story of Shy, and we were so excited to have so many people work together to fund her cataract surgery.

So, we have an update, some good news, and some better news. We had written before about Shy: the sweet courageous, emaciated pit bull who was originally brought to the animal hospital to be euthanized. Seeing something special in her, the veterinarian asked the owners to relinquish her instead. Shy was diagnosed with diabetes and treated; however, since she was brought in so late, she developed cataracts and lost much of her vision. When we last wrote, we were looking for a foster or forever home for Shy, and we opened a Chipin page to raise money for a specialized surgery to restore Shy's vision. We were absolutely astonished by the generosity of the online community to help Shy in her plight.

 Since we last wrote, a sweet, young couple found out about Shy, and they adopted her two weeks after their first meeting. They renamed her Khloe, and she has become a loved member of their little family.
As a way to thank everyone for their generosity, and hopefully raise the final amount towards Shy's surgery (only 29%!), we have put together an online raffle that includes the "favorite things" we've showcased throughout this past week! Here is a recap of the prizes, with specific raffle directions at the end of the post.

"Specialized Prizes"--We were lucky enough to get some large ticket donations for the raffle. To increase the odds of everyone winning the prize they really want, each raffle ticket will be entered into 1 of the 'specialized prizes' drawings, and all of the 'Everyday dog' drawings. Specialized Prizes include:

 1) The Ruffwear Approach pack as modeled by Mr. B on our daily walks. We love how this backpack not only helps us carry dog groceries and farmer's market finds, but it can also be an amazing training tool and a way to way to tire your dog out on even the shortest walks. The winner of this drawing will indicate the specific size needed. Donated by Shy's new family.

 2) A DianaF+ Mini Lomography Camera with flash.We can't get enough pictures of our pooches, and we especially love this camera with it's serendipitous shots. I love seeing how our pooches would have looked circa 1972, and the artistic surprises we get with with light leaks and blurs. Scenery shots are especially fun and give a whole new tone to your vacation. It's cute enough to be its own accessory, and it takes regular 35 mm film. This camera is new in the box, unopened with plastic wrapping, and includes the flash. It retails for $105. Donated by Miss M and Mr. B.

3) A custom dog painting of your pooch on canvas. The talented Lauren of Kitty+Coco is donating her time to paint a custom portrait of your pooch. The portrait will be a 16x16 acrylic on canvas. The winner will need to send 2 clear photos (at least one close up) and choice of background color. There will be a 3 week turnaround time for completion and shipping. I love the Victorian element of having your pooch "sit for a painting", and I am still amazed how she captures each and every one of Coco's wrinkles.
P.S.If you are interested in Lauren's work, which would also make the most amazing gift, she will offer a special discount to anyone who orders a painting in reference to this post ($75 for a 12x12 with FREE shipping). Just click on contact and say "For Shy". A 4x5 mini pet portrait is $25 total with shipping Check out more of Lauren's work at her Etsy shop here. Donated by Lauren of Kitty+Coco.

Each ticket will be entered into your prize of choice above, as well as being eligible for all of the "Everyday Dog" prizes below:
 We had written about some of our favorite collar-makers, who are also involved in rescue efforts, and we are so delighted that they have donated collars for Shy's raffle.

1) Two winners will receive collars of choice from Sirus Republic. We love their array of colorful, stylish collars that have us thinking of spring. Plus, Sirus Republic will be donating  20% of the proceeds from sale of collars, leashes, and dog tags, and 10% of other items to Shy's surgery! Customers will need to enter the donation code "funds4shy" during checkout in the "Rescue Code" field.

 2)  One winner will receive a standard collar of choice from Silly Buddy. We are especially smitten with the tartan collars (and even in hot pink!).

3) One winner will receive a collar of choice from Pecan Pie Puppies. I'm loving these dainty special-occasion collars, but you really have to check out the site to see what they have for the male dogs.

4) One winner will receive a 6 month supply of flea/tick preventative for dogs or cats. Winners will need to indicate the weight of the animal to ensure the correct dosage. Donated by Shy's Animal Hospital

 5) One winner will receive a Saucony Backpack perfect for toting items while running, hiking, or just going on a picnic with your pooch. Donated by Vet School Drama Queen

Two winners will receive doggie care packages including jars of homemade dog biscuits complete with ribbon, recipe and and bone cookie-cutters. The biscuits are pumpkin-peanutbutter and cheddar-flavored and donated by cooking guru Trissi.

Update--We are so excited to have reached our surgery goal of $2,000! Thank you so much to everyone for their generosity and for taking a chance on Shy/Khloe! Since we stated the raffle will be open for 2 weeks, we will keep the raffle open until the end of this week. Funds donated at this time will be used for unanticipated surgery costs (since surgery quotes are never certain), and any donations beyond the surgery amount will be donated to an animal-related charity. Thank you again!

 Logistics:
 This is our first time doing this.We really want to thank everyone who has donated to help Shy, and we are still amazed by the generosity of this online community. Below are some of the technicalities. We want to make this a fair and positive experience for everyone, but if there is something we happen to have overlooked, please do let us know.
-Each $10 donation will count as one raffle ticket.
-When donations are made on the chipin page, please indicate in the comments which "Specialized Prize" you would like to put your ticket in. (Dog Backpack, Lomography Camera, or Custom Dog Painting)
-Heather will be contacting previous donors to see which "Specialized Prize" you are interested in
-All tickets will automatically be entered into all the "Everyday Dog" prizes in addition to your "Specialized Prize". If you buy multiple tickets, you will be entered multiple times to increase your chances of winning.
-"Everyday Dog" prizes are chosen at random. Unfortunately, you cannot select which of the prizes within the "Everyday Dog" category you would prefer.
-The raffle will be open for 2 weeks--until March 26.
-Winners will be chosen at random through an online random number generator that Heather will coordinate.
-When winners are notified, we will coordinate the information and shipment of your prize.
-Shipping only within US and Canada
-For specific questions, please contact Heather here: hprochnow at gmail.com 
You can donate by clicking on our sidebar, or by clicking here.
Again, we want to thank everyone for your amazing support and generosity. We are still humbled seeing the amount of people who have come together to support Shy to give her a chance for a happy life.

Using Some of Our Favorite Things to Help Levi Find his X-Ray Vision

 All week we've been posting about some of our favorite things in preparation for another way to help foster dog SuperLevi afford the surgery to find his X-ray vision.
We are always astounded by how many people selflessly donate, so we also wanted to think of ways to give back.
1) One way is getting a T-shirt and dog bandana with donation (see this post here)
2) Another way is being entered into the raffle with donation (read the logistics portion below)
3) If you purchase 2 T-shirts, you will also get 1 raffle ticket! (indicate your specialized prize and T-shirt sizes in the comment box)

 “Specialized Prizes”
We were lucky enough to get some large ticket donations for the raffle. To increase the odds of everyone winning the prize they really want, each raffle ticket will be entered into 1 of the ‘specialized prizes’ drawings of choice, and both of the collar drawings.Since you can choose which special prize you would like to win, there are less people competing for each prize and the chances of winning are greater!
Specialized Prizes include: 

1) Brand New in the Box GoPro HD Hero 960 Helmet Camera

The GoPro works as a camera AND a video camera taking pictures from your pooch's eyeview. We've been using it to videotape Mr. B in this skateboarding video and his perspective from this SociaBulls walk. It is set up to take photos every 2,5,10,30 or 60 seconds, and would be a great way to 'spy' on your pooch and see what they are doing and seeing while they are home every day. Donated by Miss M & Mr. B


2) Brand New Ruffwear Approach Pack

A brand new Ruffwear Approach pack as modeled by Miss M. We love how this backpack not only helps us carry dog groceries and farmer’s market finds, but it can also be an amazing training tool, and a way to  tire your dog out on even the shortest walks. The winner of this drawing will indicate the specific size needed. Donated by anonymous NLOL donor

3) Brand New Ruffwear K-9 Overcoat

These are our go-to everyday coats for the winter that can accomodate our pooches' muscular chests while doubling as rain gear. They have an inner-fleece lining to keep the pooches warm, even through our crazy Chicago weather. Plus, they are so durable, Miss M has had hers for 5 years! Winner will indicate size needed. Donated by anonymous NLOL donor


4) Custom Knit Dog Sweater

We know how easily our dogs get cold during the winter, but with their big chests it's often so hard to find sweaters that will fit around them but not be too long. We love these custom knit sweaters which are made to fit perfectly with the measurements of our dogs, and the opportunity to choose our own colors and patterns. We especially love the large rugby stripes! These sweaters are modeled by foster dog Ginger and Chick. Donated by Our Waldo Bungie.


Each ticket will be entered into your prize of choice above, as well as being eligible for each of the collar prizes below:

Sirius Republic Collar

The winner will receive a collar of choice from Sirius Republic. We are especially addicted to the martingale collars which the pooches have coordinated for the seasons. Plus, we love that Sirius offers embroidery which can be personalized with the pooches' names, Adopt Me collars to advertise a single dog's eligible status, and she even makes amazing embroidery like this beyond amazing embroidered Super Levi collar.

The winner will receive a standard collar, or Adopt Me collar of choice.

Silly Buddy Bow Tie

A dog friend once commented there are so few dog accessories for male dogs, but then we discovered the fun of Silly Buddy. These bowties make even ordinary days extraordinary when your pooch looks extra dapper. Not wanting to be left out, the bow ties can be turned around to become 'bows' for the girl dogs, as modeled by Miss M.

 The winner will get their choice of standard or bow tie collar.

Doggie Care Package

 

Two winners will receive doggie care packages including jars of homemade dog biscuits complete with ribbon, recipe and and bone cookie-cutters. The biscuits are pumpkin-peanutbutter and cheddar-flavored and donated by cooking guru Trissi.

Logistics:
We really want to thank everyone who has donated to help Levi, and we are still amazed by everyone's generosity. Below are some of the technicalities. We want to make this a fair and positive experience for everyone, but if there is something we happen to have overlooked, please do let us know.
-Each $20 donation will count as one raffle ticket.
-Or, if you buy 2 T-shirts you will get one raffle ticket .
-You can make donations on the New Leash donation page to get a raffle ticket or T-shirt.Please indicate in the comments which “Specialized Prize” you would like to put your ticket in. (Dog Backpack, GoPro Camera, Coat or Sweater) or T-shirt size.
-If you donated previously and would like to add the raffle ticket, please email kelseynlol@gmail.com and indicate the prize you would like to win.
-All tickets will automatically be entered into both collar drawings in addition to your “Specialized Prize”. If you buy multiple tickets, you will be entered multiple times to increase your chances of winning.
-Collar prizes are chosen at random. Unfortunately, you cannot select which of the prizes within the collar category you would prefer.
-The raffle will be open until November 12.
-Winners will be chosen at random through an online random number generator that NLOL will coordinate.
-When winners are notified, we will coordinate the information and shipment of your prize.
You can purchase raffle tickets and T-shirts on the NLOL site by clicking here.
Again, we want to thank everyone for your amazing support and generosity. We are still humbled seeing the amount of people who have come together to support Levi to give him a chance for a future happy life.
Please continue to check our Facebook Page for updates.

Other Ways to Help:
1) Please, please spread the word and share on your Facebook page or blog.
2) Plus, we are also selling these Flying SuperLevi T-shirts and dog bandanas as we walk together, virtually and in person, to support Levi in finding his X-ray vision. You can find information on how to participate and buy the shirts is here.
Thank you again for all your support and for sharing Levi's story!