Before you met your first dog, you probably had some preconceived notions about what life with dogs must look like. You may have imagined long walks, lots of kisses, and playing fetch in the park. But for some dogs, whether you throw a ball, a rope, or a frisbee, playing fetch just doesn’t seem to hold their interest. 

First of all, this is totally fine! Just like humans, every dog has a unique personality. Some dogs are active and easy to entertain with some physical activity, while others find more enjoyment from laying in a sunbeam or snoozing on the couch. 

If you have your heart set on getting your dog to play a game of fetch with you, it’s definitely possible to train your dog to enjoy the game. Here are a few reasons why your dog might not instinctively play fetch and how to overcome them: 

Your dog picks up the toy, but doesn’t bring it back

According to the AKC, one of the most common issues dog owners encounter in the quest for fetch is that your dog will chase after the toy but doesn’t bring it back. This can be frustrating for pet parents who wind up spending more time at the park collecting their dogs’ toys than actually playing with them.

Luckily, this is a fairly easy issue to overcome. Your dog already knows how to track the item they’re fetching -- they just need some extra encouragement to return it home. If this is happening for you, keep a second toy or a few treats on hand. Your dog will have an incentive to bring their toy back to where it came from. 

Your dog doesn’t like the toy you’re throwing

Think about your dog’s everyday playtime. We’re sure you’ve identified their favorite kinds of toys and objects to play with. Some dogs prefer durable rope toys that are fun to tug, while others like soft stuffed animals to play with. 

There’s a chance your dog just doesn’t like the kind of toy you chose to play fetch with. Some dogs are just picky like that! Before you give up on playing fetch, try out a variety of different toys and objects to see if one sparks their interest more than others.

Your dog doesn’t know how the game is played

Some dog breeds, like Retrievers and German Shepherds, instinctively play fetch. That’s because they’ve been bred to do so! Over generations, they have been taught to pick up items and return them to their owners -- that’s why Retrievers are called Retrievers. 

Just like with other tricks, you can teach your dog to play fetch with you! Start by encouraging your dog to pick up their favorite toy. Then, move on to teaching your dog to “drop it,” or give the item back to you. Over time, you can show your dog how to retrieve items from longer distances; before you know it, they’ll be a fetch champion. 

April is Active Dog Month, and playing fetch is a wonderful way to include cardiovascular activity in your dog’s daily routine. Exercise -- including mental exercise -- is so important for your dog’s overall health, wellness, and longevity. To help your dog maintain the energy levels they need to play, switch them to an all natural food that supports gut health and weight management. Shop Pawsitively Pure’s line of human grade dog food and treats here. 

When the COVID-19 quarantine began early this year, we pet parents were certainly thankful for the company of our furry friends. Many people brought home a new dog or cat for their companionship, giving animal shelters across the country record adoption numbers. Our pets have helped reduce our feelings of loneliness when we’ve been self-isolating, reminded us to stay active, and given us an outlet to snuggle and pet and laugh the stress away. 

Still, it can be monotonous for both you and your dog to see the same scenery day after day. Now that some health and safety restrictions have been lightened, we have the opportunity to take part in a few different public activities. Your health and safety is of the utmost importance, so if you do choose to participate in any activities, be sure to follow all of their stated safety rules, maintain a 6’ distance from other people at all times, and keep hand sanitizer and masks handy. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite dog-friendly social distancing activities in Orlando. 

Parks

Many dog parks around Orlando have reopened. Lake Baldwin Park is one of our favorites; it’s big enough to give everyone plenty of room to stay distant and offers lots of different activities in one place. Lake Baldwin Park is famous for its dog beach, but it also has a wooded trail area and lots of open grassy areas for dogs who love to fetch. 

Other parks that aren’t specifically dog parks offer a breath of fresh air for you and your dogs. Take a stroll around Lake Eola with your dog now that the temperature is finally starting to cool off. Or you can head to one of our frequent stops at Cranes’ Roost park near Altamonte Springs. Both offer opportunities for walking, playing, and relaxing safely.

Shopping

Nothing beats a morning of open-air shopping with your dog! Head over to Park Avenue in Winter Park to take in a little window shopping; many of the restaurants and stores in that area are dog-friendly. Farmers’ markets are another great option, and a handful of markets have resumed their normal operation with extra safety precautions in place. Pawsitively Pure has a booth at the Lake Mary Farmers’ Market every Saturday Morning at 9 AM. Friendly leashed dogs are always welcome. To keep everyone safe, booths have been spread out and all vendors wear masks.

Restaurants

If your dog loves coming with you to grab lunch, Orlando has plenty of options available with social distancing rules in place. Areas like Thornton Park, Mills50, and the Milk District have wonderful restaurants that serve everything from sandwiches to tacos. Best of all, many of these restaurants offer outdoor seating or takeout options so you and your dog can enjoy your favorites in a safe space. 

Rule number one for when you and your dog venture outside of the house: be smart! Following posted instructions and all possible safety precautions not only keeps you safe, it also helps keep those around you safe. In any new situation, it’s a great idea to keep some tasty treats handy for training and reward purposes. If you want to bring some extra special treats along with you, head over to our store and pick out your dog’s favorite flavors.

Beyond basic potty training, socializing your dog is one of the most important things you can do for them as a puppy. Proper socialization will give your dog opportunities to play with other dogs, to be calm and cool around new people, and to adapt to new environments without stress or upset. But there’s more to socializing than simply introducing your dog to a situation and letting them do their thing.

Socializing an older dog is more difficult than socializing a puppy, so we recommend you take care of socialization earlier on in your pet’s life. However, sometimes in the case of rescues or extenuating circumstances, you’re unable to take care of these tasks in puppyhood. In any case, making sure your dog is socialized will help reduce fear and aggression, eliminate excitability, and make playtime, walks, and new circumstances more pleasant for both you and your dog. Here are some tips on socializing your dog the right way:

• Make sure you include lots of things your dog loves, like treats and toys. Socializing is stressful by nature - you’re exposing your dog to common stressors so they can get over them easily! Any time you go out for a socializing mission, bring plenty of your dog’s favorite treats and toys to reward them for positive behavior. Any time they get off track, readjust their behavior and reward them when they respond in the intended way.

• Don’t be afraid to use a muzzle. Cesar Chavez, who you may know as The Dog Whisperer, has recommended using a muzzle while socializing for the benefit of humans as well as dogs. Your dog can pick up on your emotions and the emotions of humans around him, so by putting other humans at ease, you’re making the environment less stressful.

• Don’t jump into any situation too quickly. We don’t recommend going into the dog park right off the bat. Instead, take your dog past the dog park a few times, letting them absorb the sights, sounds, and smells. Stay at a distance, working your way up to letting your dog sniff other dogs at the gates. If your dog reacts negatively, regain that distance and work your way back up. Socializing takes time.

As we mentioned before, try your hardest to take care of socialization tasks while your dog is a puppy instead of leaving him stressed out into adulthood. Be patient with your dog and let him feel what he’s feeling. He will set the schedule based on his comfort levels. Want to get your dog the tastiest treats for your socializing trips? Browse through our store today!

Courtesy of TripSavvy

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of setting up our tent at Blue Jacket Park for their annual Paws for Peace event. If you’ve been following us on social media, you probably know that we’ve been making appearances at park events like these all around Orlando and Central Florida. Even when events aren’t involved, we love taking Jackson and Finley out for a day of fun in the sun, and the best part about it is, we have a huge selection of locations to choose from.

One of the things we love the most about living in Central Florida is how many wonderful dog parks there are in our area. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:

• Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte is pet-friendly in most areas. This beautiful park over the water has clearly designated pet walk areas and is open to on-leash pets. Just be sure to check their event schedule before you go - during big events, no pets are allowed unless otherwise specified.

• Blue Jacket Park in Winter Park is a popular spot for runners. Like Crane’s Roost, Blue Jacket is an on-leash park, but if you have an active dog that likes to join you for a jog, this is a great place to do it.

• Doctors Dog Park is located near Wekiwa Springs and has a number of fun amenities for you and your dog, like pet showers, benches, water fountains, and a bridge. This park is off-leash, so your dogs have plenty of room to run and play!

• Barber Dog Park is not far from the airport area, and it’s a great place for agility training! Barber includes a separate area for small dogs, so you can rest easy letting your little one run around with his buddies. Take your dog around the agility equipment and give them a few lessons on climbing and jumping - it’s sure to enrich and entertain them!

There are a number of other dog parks waiting for you to explore around the Orlando area. Check out this list from BringFido.com to see some of the top rated dog parks and beaches in the area. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages to find out where we’ll be next!