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56 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2024 PUPS ON THE TRAIL Embarking on an off-roading adventure with your dog can be an exciting and rewarding experience for both of you. If you have thought about joining our group for an outing but felt guilty about leaving your dog behind, you'll be happy to know that we have several canine "regulars" in our group and we welcome newcomers! Off-roading adventures are thrilling and enjoyable experiences for both you and your pet if you prepare. Getting outdoors and having social interactions with other dogs and people will help build your dog's confidence and social skills. The trails we explore are generally dog friendly but before taking your pet off-roading, consider their temperament, and their physical limits. Pack essential supplies such as food and a leash, and don't forget to bring plenty of water. Norman, Ginny, Nova, and Buttons (RIP) are some of the 4x4 pups that regularly join us on our off-road adventures. With a little preparation and planning, you will find that your dog can make an excellent companion on an off-road run. Our meetings are the second Tuesday of the month in the RCN Conference Room, and we usually schedule an outing on Thursday of the same week. We hope you can join us. ~ Scott Snyder 4x4 Seasons Tails & Trails - All Pets One of the first thoughts that new dog owners have is, "how do I make my dog happy?" Fortunately, due to the demeanor of most dogs, it's not a difficult job, but here are some tips on how to make your dog happy and create and keep a strong bond. Go on more and longer walks. It sounds like an easy decision. Everyone knows that dogs need to be taken out for a walk. What a lot of dog owners miss, however, is that going for a walk is one of the most favorite activities for pups of all breeds, sizes, and ages. Be calm and assertive around your dog. It's a well-known fact that dogs feed off of our emotions. That's not some mystic "energy" mumbo-jumbo either; dogs simply use our emotions as hints as to what's going on around us. If we are anxious, the dog reacts to our anxiousness. If we're sad, the dog gets sad because it knows there must be a reason for our sadness. And while we can't always be happy and calm, it's best to keep our heaviest emotional moments away from your dog, if it is to have a calm and happy life. Let your dog see the world. If you're afraid that the dog may get out of the house, put protectors on the windows, but leave your pup enough of a connection to the outside world throughout the day or it will get anxious and bored. Have a routine and structure. The same way we feel much better when something is going according to plan, so do dogs; they're creatures of routine. That doesn't mean that your dog's life should become too predictable, but just that it should have a general structure. A too chaotic life can lead to stress and anxiety, and expecting a pleasant event that the dog knows is coming, like a walk, can be as pleasant as the event itself. Socialize your pet. Proper socialization is extremely important for a dog. It will base how it reacts to other dogs, animals, and people for the rest of its life. Do you want your dog to play happily in the park with other dogs? Then socialize him from the earliest possible age, otherwise he may become fearful and aggressive toward strangers, animals and people alike. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net Nova and Buttons (RIP) Ginny on the hood, Lily in the window Norman