GM News - January 2023

Vowing to exercise more and lose weight are common New Year Resolutions. In this January edition of GM-News we're going to look at exercise and weight from the dog's perspective. We'll also share a quick overview of 2022 for GMSDT, plus regular features Dogs in the News and Body Language.

But first! Let's start with a bit of fun. Check out 9 New Year's Resolutions Inspired by Dogs with delightful photos from Modern Dog Magazine. (If I had to pick a favourite pic, it would be the running Bassett Hound; what's your fave?)

Amanda, David, Rodna & Ruth
Gentle Modern School of Dog Training

What do you want to achieve for and with your dog in 2023?

Exercise

The following links have ideas/products/tips that can give your dog a body and brain workout:

Flirt Poles - a great plaything that is easily DIY. Jessica Dolce provides an overview of all things Flirt Pole in The Flirt Pole: Dog Toy or Life Changer?

"Think Giant Cat Toy. . . . It totally and completely exhausts dogs in record time. But it doesn’t exhaust you."

Toys/Puzzles/Etc. - Have a browse through Australian Dog Lover's pics and descriptions of a variety of physical and mental stimulation options: 1, 2, 3

Games/Activities -

5 Mentally & Physically Stimulating Games to Play with Your Dog by Modern Dog Magazine
Curious about the German invention Treibball aka Ball Herding? Check out Treibball 101: Equipment, Training & Rules For Newbies! by Kayla Fratt

Stay safe this summer: never exercise or walk your dog outside between 8am and 8pm on days over 30C. [An infographic on heat stroke in dogs is on GMSDT's Facebook page, 4 January 2023 post]

Weight

In a 2.48min video, Dr Alex Avery explains The Simple Way To Know If Your Dog Is Overweight - a more nuanced/precise method than "can you feel their ribs?".
In a companion podcast episode (audio & transcript) - Effective Weight Loss Strategies For Your Pet - Dr Avery discusses the following topics with Dr. Carolyn Taylor, The Slim Pet Vet:

Why being too heavy matters
The source of the problem (and how to prevent it)
The role of exercise in weight loss
Breaking down the diet options for weight loss
Top weight loss tips

Gentle Modern School of Dog Training's 2022 Review

In Melbourne, Rodna, David and Amanda
- provided 489 one-to-one lessons
- worked with 128 new clients
- ran two Ideal Dogs of Australia (IDA) courses
- ran two Puppy Group Programs (PGP)
- ran 41 Play+Train Sessions

Dogs in the news

Pet Insurance Australia has compiled a list of the top pet names popular in 2022.
Top 10 Female Top 10 Male Dog Names
1. Luna            Milo
2. Daisy            Teddy
3. Bella            Archie
4. Ruby               Charlie
5. Coco            Buddy
6. Molly            Murphy
7. Nala            Ollie
8. Lola            Alfie
9. Winnie           Leo
10. Maggie            Ziggy
GMSDT Melbourne in 2022 worked with 3 Lunas, 1 Bella, 4 Rubys, 1 Coco, 2 Nalas and 1 Milo, 2 Teddys, 2 Archies, 4 Charlies, 1 Buddy, and 1 Ziggy.

Body Language

This month a dive into facial muscles and how they can reveal subtle signs of stress. Eileen Anderson in Dog Facial Expressions: Can You See the Stress?has a photographic review of her dog Lewis' face during a Vet visit.

Thank you for being part of the Gentle Modern Training Community.

A reward for reading right to the end of the newsletter :-)
Ruth's new Kelpie pup, Dusty, at the beach