Swimming Gear for Dogs
Is your dog new to swimming? Dog you want just a little added protection for him in the water? Look no further than the Portage Float Coat. Its sleek design helps your dog to stay afloat while swimming without a bulky fit. The bright colors available are great to keep your dog easily in view when he is in the water.

Hiking Gear for Dogs
For those that enjoy going out for nice long hikes, there is nothing better than the Pallisades hiking backpack designed by Ruff Wear. It is super durable and contains two roomy saddle bags where your dog can store his own toys, food and poop bags on his hikes. The real secret to this baby? The built in water packs that come with a drinking hose where you can feed your dog water without even having to take off the backpack! Just make sure you balance the weight of his gear evenly on both sides to avoid possible injury or slipping of the harness.

For those dogs that don’t enjoy drinking from a straw, we highly recommend the Quencher Cinch Top designed by Ruff Wear as well. Don’t let its soft fabric exterior fool you. The inside is lined with a waterproof material that holds water really well. The result is a lightweight, foldable water or food dish perfect for taking along on long hikes. We love the cinch top to help you minimize spilling when the bowl is full. We love packing this in our Pallisades pack whenever we head out to the mountains.

Are the trails hard on your dog’s paws? Check out these hiking boots also from Ruff Wear. They’re a great way to protect Metro’s paws from the rough terrain. The rubber sole at the bottom of each boot is this bootie’s best feature. It provides loads of traction even in slippery elements. While not cheap, bear in mind you are getting your money’s worth in the product’s quality. Just make sure they are cinched up tightly to avoid losing a bootie on the trail.

Are you in Calgary and the surrounding areas? Come in for a fitting of these fantastic products at Especially 4 Pets (436 16th Ave NE) – the only sport dog equipment store in town – and take one home today!

We’ve been hard at work with lots of exciting plans on the way! One of them which is our new blog to share our hints and tips with you as to how to live the Metropawlitan lifestyle!

With our late August heat wave as my inspiration, here are some of the summertime activities we love to embark on in and around the Calgary area:

Out for a Swim
Take Metro out for a nice relaxing romp in a local offleash park where he can mingle with his doggie friends and explore the outdoors freely. This is a great option if your dog is trained to come to you reliably off leash, and enjoys the company of playing around and with other dogs. Some local parks such as River Park and Southland Offleash Park also include access to water areas, such as rivers and streams where you can give Metro a chance to cool off in the heat, or take a nice little swim. Just be sure to bring loads of fresh water from home, some poop bags, his favorite ball, his leash, and some sun screen for you and you are good to go!

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Hiking in the Mountains
It’s impossible not to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery when it is located in your own backyard. Take a short drive out to Banff or to the Kananaskis where there are dozens of hiking trails that you can bring your dog on a leash to enjoy with you. Take a day trip out with your dog, and come back at the end of the day to enjoy to comforts of your own home. Feeling more adventurous? Look for dog friendly campsites, hotels, and even log cabins out there where you can spend overnight stays out in this peaceful paradise.

Need some recommendations? Click here for a list of some of the pet friendly resorts in the area.

Calgary Walking Trails
Too busy to leave the city? Explore Calgary’s hiking and biking trails around the city. Fish Creek Provincial park is a gorgeous nature walk for those that want to walk with their dogs on leash. For a more urban feel, enjoy the beautiful sights of the Bow River and the downtown scenery by visiting Eau Claire in downtown. Not only is this a beautiful area, but there are many quaint shops and restaurants nearby for a quick lunch as well. Look for the ice cream cart that offers doggie ice cream for your four legged friend.

Lunch with Friends
Visit Kensington for some quaint shops and cafes, some with outdoor seating that may welcome your four legged friend to sit with you while you dine. This excursion is best for those Metropawlitans that are well mannered and calm. Ask around to find out which restaurants are willing to accommodate you and your pet.

The Beauty of Pack Walking
Are you looking to get a little extra training in without taking on a six week class? Now open to all Metropawlitan graduates, come and join us for a walk with a pack of dogs throughout various areas in the city. It’s a great way for your dog to meet new people and dogs and learn proper manners while doing so. Click the link below for more information or to register for the next walk with us!

As with all hot weather activities, be sure that you have enough water, access to shade and cool spots to escape to so that your dog doesn’t overheat in the sun. Going out in the mornings or evenings when the weather is a little cooler is a great alternative to going out in the hot afternoon sun as well.

We hope you enjoyed our activities list! Stay tuned for some summer must haves to help you enjoy the sun with your dog!

We want to give a huge shoutout to the Chinook Schutzhund Club of Alberta for putting on such a great seminar, and a huge thanks to Joanne Flemming for coming out and giving us time to bombard her with our questions!

For every theory, skill, technique, or characteristic I thought I knew back then about dogs and dog training back then that you always managed to prove me wrong in.  For our acheivements against everyone’s odds.  For teaching me that sometimes, even at the ripe old age of 12, that you can still teach an old dog new tricks.  For reaching elderly who had difficulties connecting to other people.  For helping children overcome their fears of “huge doggies”.  For raising countless numbers of puppies in our classes together and rehabilitating countless more in our private sessions.  For inspiring me to keep learning and growing as a trainer and instructor.  For your neverending tolerance, compassion, loyalty, and companionship…

Thank you.  You will always be missed.