We've finally finished and posted the video about dew claws and ice

work; check it out videohere. The ice is gone now and we'll have to wait until fall to practice again.

Keep in mind that as the weather changes, so does your dog's metabolism. Since they no longer need to keep themselves warm, it slows down and invariably dogs pack on extra pounds this time of the year. I find the easiest way to prevent unwanted weight gain is to drop the morning meal. Dogs live in the moment, and once breakfast time has come and gone and no one noticed, dogs don't sit around and think" I missed my breakfast." Usually the metabolism shift is done in a couple weeks and you can resume the morning meal if you choose. I personally find my dogs (although they work hard all summer) don't need breakfast during the summer months. (Of course, puppies need 2 to 3 meals a day regardless of the season.) If you can't handle not feeding breakfast, at least cut back on the quantity of food, you dog would prefer not to gain weight in the first place rather than having to" diet" later (or worse yet) carry those extra pounds around!

And please remember to keep after those toenails; I've seen several this past week that could easily get caught and torn or split & don't forget those" dew claws." The other issue in the spring is the matts that can form back of the ears. Dogs shed their entire coat, so all the winter coat comes out. Keep combing and/or cutting to prevent the matts from getting started.