38 -— Sunday, September 19, 1999 — North Shore News Exercise or tracki BESIDES questions regarding canine behav- iour, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “what can be done to keep Arfie entertained?” This question usually coincides with the weather turning foul and more people opting for activities which solve minimal exposure to the chor. I'm not tryin; io finx whatever good weather we are experiencing at the moment, but the deluge of rainfall can really suck some- times. These less-than-ideal envi- canine connection ronmental conditions can thwart even the most hardy of souls, both canine and human. For the human factor, we can go to the gym or grab the remote control...whatev- er your fancy. But our four-legged friends cannot be satiated n Transmissions, o8 Iramsmissions, Transmissions. ~-'re all we think about) ve do-and aff we do. - TOWING . Wet hoi: u. Most Extenaed Warranties includes: © Rood Test © TransCheck 21 PLUS® Service $ 95 | i © Replace the Pon Gasket and Fd © Adj the Bands & Linkage aq”: Hs be presented a fine of oe Lin on cogpon pes custome ; For most domestic & imported vehides, bmw me 860 WEST 15TH STREET - -687-8687 North Vancouver Independently Owned & Operated * Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-6, Sat. 8-1 A special thanks: We, at Success, would like to thank everyone who helped us with our move-especially Dr. Elizabeth Henry who currently ale: practices at our old address (Family Medical, 1912. Lonsdale). She's a great lady and an excellent physician. north shore news PETs that easily. Dogs get bored just like people do. This boredom can lead to destructive and/or obnoxious behaviour. Since you can’t toss the car keys to your do, wid s: “go grab a coffee an. -uise through the mall,” } usually suggest two activities for dog and handler to participate in together. These are agility and tracking. By adding these types of activities in a dog’s routine, if only a couple of times a week, you can positively improve a dog's mental state dramatically. The sport of agility is basi- cally modelled after equestri- an jumping competitions. But it employs its own set and style of jumps and obsta- cles. Dogs learn how to leap different types of jumps, bal- ance on a variety of vaulted walks, seesaws, A-frames and obstacles and manoeuvre through tunnels. Not only does this sport challenge a dog physically, but the concentration needed to follow a handler’s diree- tion can be very mentally demanding. This concentration is what realiy gives a dog a work-out. The challenges a dog faces while conquering the variety of hurdles ‘can also increase the contidence of a shy or ing keep da nervous dog. A bonus for the weather- weary is that most agility courses are indoors, Any breed or mix of breeds can participate. Adjustments to the agility course are usually made to accommodate dogs with a longer or wider wheel base. But naturally some pre- cautions should be noted. Puppies or young dogs should not participate until they are at least six to eight months of age. Landing the jumps on immature legs and shoulders can cause injuries, Overweight dogs may need further adjustments made to the course to accom- modate their size and lack of physical aptitude. But it can be a great way to start a dog on a fitness program. Please consult with your veterinarian before any partic- ipation You may have heard of tracking in relation to police dogs tracking criminals or bloodhounds tracking lost children and escaped con- victs. Tracking is basically an exercise where a dog follows a particular scent, by sniffing the ground with its nose, from a starting point to an end point. During the tracking exer- cisc, the handler lays a track by placing their scent along the ground. On command the dog is taught to discriminare between all the other scents in the area and focus on the handler’s. Tt then follows this scent tor the length of the track without getting lost or con- fused. Tracking focuses a dog's incredible scenting ability. Since a dog sees the world through its nose, a large par- tion of its brain is devoted te the interpretation of odours. The concentration needed to follow one scent over a period of time and distance proves to be very mentally challenging. The intense mental work- out ends up being very physi- cally exhausting as well. Just like agility, sracking is an exercise in which all types of breeds or mixes can partic- ipate. The bonus though, is that there is no age, size or shape limitations. If'a dog has a nose, it can track. Nine-week-old puppies is happy can participate alongside elderly or dogs with hip dys- plasia. Since vou lay your own track, you can make it as physically challenging as you want by addin, branches to jump or go under, fallen logs to manoeuvre Over or streams to wade through. In both agility znd track- ing the name of the game is fun. The outcome is a physical- ly and mentally satu. cd pet. Dogs enjoy the chalienge. Owners enjoy the increased bond that develops with their canine companion because of the fun they pro- vided and participated in together. Joan Klucha is the owner of Sierra K9 training on the North Shore. For" more information ‘about agility or tracking classes in your aren please e-mail Joan at or you can reach her through the North Shore News at 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C, V7M 2H4 Sure! The People Get Seat Belts... but what about US! A message from your local S PCA. Now that the renovations are complete (finally!), we would like to invite _ everyone down to our brand new shop. We think we’ve improved on our old one in just about every way possible. Plus there’s lots of parking! If you would like to book an appointment, please call: 987-2333 mon-sat Oh, and please don’t worry, while many things about Success have changed, our Award-Winning” service hasn't. Hope to see you soon! ’ “winner of the Reader's Choice Award for Best Pet Grooming ‘96, ‘97 and ‘98.