This season, celebrate “Thankful Paws” by taking extra time to connect with your pet, care for their health, and show them just how much they mean to you. After all, gratitude is about cherishing the little moments—and with pets, there are so many to be grateful for.

Remember, our furry friends rely on us to keep them safe. Take the necessary precautions to protect them from fire hazards. Share these tips with fellow pet owners and help spread awareness on National Pet Fire Safety Day. Together, we can create a safer environment for our beloved pets. 🐾❤️🔥 #PetFireSafetyDay #KeepPetsSafeatively

Dog Training Education Month is an annual event that recognizes the importance of teaching your pet proper behaviors. This month-long celebration is an opportunity to learn more about the basics of dog training and the benefits it has for our furry friends.

When is Dog Training Education Month?

Dog Training Education Month is recognized every February. The focus during Dog Training Education Month is on teaching owners how to successfully communicate with their dogs in order for them both to benefit from a healthy relationship based on trust and respect.

Ways to Recognize Dog Training Education Month

Dog Training Education Month is an important time to recognize the hard work and dedication of professional trainers. It’s a great chance to increase awareness about canine behavior and how best to help your dog maneuver the world

First, take the time to learn more about dog training principles. Read books from respected authors, search online for articles or blogs, or attend lectures on canine psychology. Developing a deeper understanding of canine behavior can help you fine tune your training and set your dog up for success.

Next, consider taking a dog training class. All of our dogs have been taught using positive reinforcement training, proven as an effective way to teach dogs new behaviors while also strengthening their bond with owners.

The goal of positive reinforcement dog training is to help dogs learn how to respond appropriately in different situations. Trainers use rewards such as verbal praise, food treats, toys and petting to reward desired behaviors and encourage their repetition in the future.

Has your dog already been through manners classes? Take this opportunity to teach your dog a new trick or skill with one of our many workshops. Training is a lifelong activity to help you and your dog enjoy a fun time together!

Dog Training Videos

You’ll also find some great training videos online; they make it easy to train on your own schedule (and to repeat a portion if you or your dog need some extra assistance on a skill). Here are our YouTube favorites:

These ten tips will help you keep your pup healthy during National Pet Wellness Month and all year long.

We all want our furry friends to enjoy long, happy, and healthy lives. With October being National Pet Wellness Month, it's the perfect time to focus on the importance of routine checkups and healthy lifestyle choices for your beloved pup. Celebrate by making positive decisions that can help your dog live longer, boost their vitality, and ensure they thrive!

1.Focus On Nutrition

Adequate nutrition keeps a dog fit and healthy and helps prevent many diseases. It's all about the ingredients in the food they get: high protein sources like chicken and eggs build muscle, and fruits and vegetables are natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are necessary for a well-functioning immune system. The old axiom "you are what you eat" applies to dogs as well as to humans, so choose a high quality food for your dog's optimum health. Talk to your vet and make sure your pup has the best diet for them.

2.Control Their Weight

Obesity in dogs can lead to problems like Cushing's disease to skin irritations, heart failure, cancer, and ligament and disc issues. An overweight pet has a decreased quality of life. Be sure your dog gets the proper nutrition, but be aware that a dog who's at a healthy weight will have more energy and better overall health. If you're worried that your dog is overweight, talk to your vet.

3.Get Enough Exercise

Exercise burns calories directly, but there's another benefit; it also can provide a boost to the metabolic rate that lasts for hours after the dog has stopped to rest. Regular exercise keeps the animal's muscles, tendons, and bones strong. It also provides a measure of mental stimulation. Spend some time exercising with your dog -- walking, playing, and enjoying the outdoors. It will do you both a world of good!

4.Don't Skip Dental Care

Check your pet's mouth -- gums should be a healthy, pink color and teeth should look clean without signs of brown tartar. Use a special dog toothbrush or piece of soft gauze, and massage the teeth or gums. Once your dog gets used to this, you will be able to brush their teeth two or three times weekly as part of a regular routine. If you see signs of oral disease, like inflamed gums, or notice loose teeth, it's time for professional help from your veterinarian. 

5.Brush Their Fur

Regardless of the length of a dog's fur, regular brushing is great because it removes dead hair and distributes natural oils for a clean, healthy coat while stimulating the surface of the skin. It’s also an opportunity for you to become familiar with your pet's body, making it More likely that you'll notice any changes, like unusual growths or abnormalities, that need the attention of a veterinarian. Brush your pet every couple of days, and make it a pleasant time you share together.

6.Don't Overdo The Bathing

7.Learn How To Take Care Of Nails

If you can hear the "click" as your dog crosses the floor, the nails are probably too long. Choose a pet nail clipper that feels comfortable in your hands and gives a clean line of sight to exactly where the blade is cutting. Less is more in this case, so don't clip too closely. Ask your groomer for tips if you don't feel confident.

8.Check And Clean Those Ears

Clean ears feel good to your dog and are important for preventing ear infections. Examining the outside of the ears also alerts you to the presence of wood ticks, fleas, or anything unusual. To clean your dog's ears, use a cotton ball, piece of gauze, or a baby wipe with an ear-cleaning solution -- water won't work because it evaporates too quickly.

9.Don't Go Overboard With Supplements

Reputable pet food manufacturers go to great lengths to make sure that their products contain the right proportion of vitamins and minerals, so adding more without first consulting your veterinarian might throw this delicate balance out of whack. Some fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K, are not easily eliminated from the body and could build up to toxic levels. 

10.Spend Quality Time With Your Dog

Happiness is an important component in your dog's overall wellness, so don't underestimate the benefit of spending time with your best canine friend. Left alone without companionship or mental stimulation, animals can become depressed, act out in destructive ways, or even become lethargic.Y our pet is a family member. Interact with them -- talking, walking, playing together, stroking, and giving the affection and attention they so deserve. Your dog will benefit and reward you with unconditional love.

Are you making any healthy changes for your dog during National Pet Wellness Month? We would love to hear from you! Visit our “Social Media” link of choice and let us know what your doing? Thank you for visiting us. ~Legend Acres 

Canine Enrichment is not only fun for you and your dogs, but also give them a mental workout as well as great bonding time for you and your dogs.

With Easter coming up I want to share a fun way to involve your dogs in the festivities, an Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Set up!!!

Start with Plastic Eggs, I use the ones with the air holes as shown above.  Gather your dogs favorite high value treats and kibble, if it is of high value.  Then fill your eggs and place around your house inside or outside.  I usually keep the dogs busy inside or in a separate room while hiding eggs.  If outside ensure you don't place the eggs out too far in advance to prevent them from getting wet or wild animals taking them.  Also make sure the area is dog safe, if you do not have a fenced in safe area to find eggs off leash, keep your dog leashed for safety.  I like preforming the hunt on leash so I can ensure they do not pick up something that is part of the game and to ensure they find the eggs, you can direct them when they get off track.  

How to play the game!!!

Encourage your dog to find the eggs, you can start with a quick seeking exercise to get them going, see video clip here.  Once a dog touches the first egg, I give verbal praise as I pick up the egg and give them the treat inside.  This helps them continue on with the game.  I have one dog that will pick up the eggs and open them, I allow him to do so under my supervision and pick up the two egg halves as he is eating the yummy treat inside.  Legend only touches the eggs and waits for me to open them and Tuff rolls them when he finds them and looks at me to pick them up and open.  You can play two ways.  One is open each egg as the dog finds them, or open the first egg and then pick up the other eggs as the dogs find them and put them in your basket to open once all the eggs are found.  I have three dogs so I set up eggs in 3 locations taking the dogs to each designated area and opening the eggs as they find them.  There is no wrong way to set it up, just make sure you are allowing your dog the time to learn the game and find eggs!!!  Have fun.  

Here are a few recipes to make your own home-aid dog biscuits:

Beef Dog Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups cracked wheat
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon brewers' yeast
• 1/2 cup dry milk powder
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1/8 cup milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine white flour, whole wheat flour, cracked wheat, cornmeal, garlic powder, brewer's yeast and instant milk. Stir in 2 cups broth. Mix the ingredients well using either your hands or an heavy duty electric mixer. The dough should be very stiff. Gradually mix in the remaining 1 cup broth to make a bread-dough consistency.
3. Roll the dough out to a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thickness on a floured board. Cut out biscuits into any shape you please. Place the biscuits on the prepared cookie sheet. Brush the tops of the biscuits lightly with milk.
4. Bake the cookies 45 minutes; turn oven off completely but do not remove the biscuits. Let the biscuits sit in the oven overnight (for 10 hours). Store biscuits in an air-tight container.

Chicken Dog Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup rye flour
• 2 cups bulgur
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup dry milk powder

• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose, whole wheat, and rye flours with the bulgur, cornmeal and powdered milk. Stir in the yeast mixture, salt and chicken broth to form a stiff dough. Add more broth if necessary to hold dough together. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter. Place biscuits 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Combine the egg and milk; brush onto the tops of the biscuits.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, then turn off the oven and let the biscuits sit in the closed oven overnight to become extra hard and crunchy.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits