Click to Skip Ahead Why Exercise is Important Ways to Exercise Your Goldendoodle Safety Tips Signs of Too Much Exercise The Goldendoodle is one of the most popular hybrid dog breeds‚ and they’re a combination of the Golden Retriever and a standard or miniature Poodle. Although usually a low-shedding dog‚ there’s nothing low about the energy levels of the Goldendoodle! To stay healthy and prevent behavior issues‚ Goldendoodles need at least 30-60 minutes of exercise per day. Remember that every dog is different and your particular Goldendoodle may require more or less than this to tame their energy and keep them out of trouble. In this article‚ you’ll learn why exercise is important for Goldendoodles and which activities they may enjoy. We’ll also discuss how to exercise your Goldendoodle safely and how to tell if your dog is overexerting themselves. Why Is Exercise Important for Goldendoodles? Any mixed breed will display traits inherited from one or both of their parents. In the case of Goldendoodles‚ both parents are high-energy dogs‚ so you can be confident they will be energetic. If you don’t give a Goldendoodle a safe way to burn off that energy‚ you can expect them to find their own way to do it‚ and you may not like the results. Exercise is important for Goldendoodles because it allows them to channel their energy in a positive way. Without enough exercise‚ Goldendoodles can get bored and destructive. They may even develop behavioral issues like excessive barking or obsessively licking and chewing themselves. Goldendoodles are also very fond of eating. If they don’t get enough exercise‚ they can become overweight‚ which can cause multiple health issues‚ including diabetes. Older Goldendoodles that don’t stay active can lose muscle mass or develop joint stiffness and discomfort. Image Credit: H Zach‚ Shutterstock What Are Some Ways to Exercise Your Goldendoodle? Fortunately‚ Goldendoodles can enjoy multiple forms of exercise to get their daily 30-60 minutes of activity. A brisk walk may be enough for some Goldendoodles‚ especially older ones‚ but most benefit from additional play sessions with their owners and other activities. Jogging‚ hiking‚ or swimming are all good options for a Goldendoodle. Most well-socialized Goldendoodles get along with other dogs‚ so a supervised trip to an off-leash park could be a fun activity. Running off-leash or playing fetch in a fenced area is another good way to tire out a Goldendoodle. Goldendoodles also enjoy canine sports such as flyball‚ dock diving‚ agility‚ and tracking. Participating in these activities allows your dog to experience mental as well as physical stimulation. Safety Tips for Exercising Your Goldendoodle Young‚ growing Goldendoodles should limit their strenuous exercise to avoid injury to their still-developing joints and muscles. Older Goldendoodles and those with back or joint issues should also be careful about exercising too much. For these dogs‚ stick with low-impact exercise like swimming or walking. It will still help them burn energy without adding extra pressure on those already painful joints. Your vet can help you determine the right amount and type of exercise for young‚ old‚ or mobility-challenged Goldendoodles. Avoid exercising your Goldendoodle when it’s hot outside. Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical condition that can happen faster than you might think‚ especially in young or old Goldendoodles. Your dog can also burn their paw pads on the scorching pavement. Always keep your Goldendoodle on a leash unless they are within a secure area. Even the most well-trained Goldendoodle may ignore a command at the wrong time and get lost or injured running freely off-leash. Be alert to other dogs running off-leash to prevent potential issues as well. Image Credit: Lopolo‚ Shutterstock Signs Your Goldendoodle Is Getting Too Much Exercise Not getting enough exercise can be a problem for your Goldendoodle‚ but too much of a good thing is also a concern. Here’s how to tell your Goldendoodle may be getting too much exercise. Signs of pain like limping or moving slower are clear signs of overexertion. Sore joints and muscles‚ in addition to actual injuries‚ can all occur if your Goldendoodle is getting too much exercise. You may also notice that your Goldendoodle’s paw pads are worn down‚ torn‚ or bleeding. Excessive panting‚ red gums‚ or lethargy can all be signs of heat stroke or exhaustion‚ which indicates that your Goldendoodle is exercising too hard. If your normally excited Goldendoodle suddenly doesn’t seem interested in their daily walk‚ it could be a sign they’ve been getting too much exercise. However‚ it could also indicate that your dog isn’t feeling well or has other health issues. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice any of these signs or have additional concerns about your Goldendoodle. If you see signs of heat stroke‚ immediately get your dog to a veterinarian. Conclusion If you’re considering adding a Goldendoodle to the family‚ plan on spending at least 30-60 minutes each day exercising your pet. This is not the dog for families who are too busy to spend time with them or individuals who can’t meet their activity needs. Goldendoodles are extremely popular for a reason‚ but that doesn’t mean they are the perfect fit for everyone. Don’t put yourself or the Goldendoodle in a bad situation by committing to a pet you don’t have the time or energy to care for properly. Sources Pet MD Pet MD Pet MD VCA Hospitals Featured Image Credit: Marcello Sgarlato‚ Shutterstock The post How Much Exercise Do Goldendoodles Need? Vet-Approved Advice appeared first on Pet Keen.

If you aren’t familiar with the Whippet‚ it’s a dog often mistaken for the Greyhound‚ is one of the most athletic canines in the world‚ and makes for a sweet‚ gentle pet. There’s so much more to these pups than just their athleticism and delightful temperaments‚ though! That’s why we’re here to share 14 surprising Whippet facts with you. We’ll tell you more about this dog breed’s mad speed skills‚ unique facts about how they’re built‚ and why they can’t live with cats. Keep reading to learn more about these fascinating pups! The 14 Facts About Whippets 1. There used to be two types of Whippets. When the breed originated‚ there were two types of Whippets‚ one having a smooth coat and the other a rough one. During the breed’s early years‚ the Whippets with smooth coats were favored and especially popular in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Whippets with rough coats were preferred as working and sporting dogs. The smooth-coated Whippet is the one that evolved into the modern Whippet that is known today‚ though. Image Credit: Kevin Mallon‚ Shutterstock 2. Whippets can run as fast as 35mph! The average top speed for a Whippet is 35 miles per hour! But some of these canines can reach 40 miles per hour while running full stride. These speeds mean the Whippet is one of the fastest dog breeds in the world. One of the reasons the Whippet can run so quickly is that it has a double suspension gait. What does that mean? It means when these dogs run‚ they have an asymmetrical gait wherein the Whippet’s back legs overtake their front. And this means that Whippets can go airborne twice in a gait cycle‚ which helps them run at top speed. 3. A Whippet has been the fastest dog in America for the past 3 years. Greyhounds are considered the fastest dog breed in the world‚ but the quickest dog in America is a Whippet (and has been for the past 3 years). In 2021‚ a Whippet named Reas finished the 100-yard dash for the Fastest Dogs U.S.A. competition in 5.769 seconds!1 He beat the previous year’s champion (a mixed breed with a time of 6.485 seconds) and‚ just for reference‚ beat out Usain Bolt’s best time in the 100-meter dash (9.58 seconds). That’s one fast dog! Reas also won the competition the following year but lost the fastest dog title in 2023 to Winston‚ another Whippet. Image Credit: AlyssaDogPhotographer‚ Shutterstock 4. Whippets are so fast because of their body shape. The Whippet’s body shape is another reason they can run so quickly; it isn’t just the double suspension gait. You’ve probably noticed the Whippet has an arch in its back; that’s not just for show. This arch means more flexibility for them to pull their hindquarters right under their chest when running. This allows for huge stride length propelling them forwards. Without this arch‚ the Whippet couldn’t run nearly as fast as it does. 5. One incredibly athletic Whippet has earned the nickname “Michael Jordan of Dogs”. Running isn’t all these athletic dogs can do. Spitfire is a Whippet who has earned the nickname “Michael Jordan of Dogs” from ESPN for his extreme athleticism.2 Spitfire can jump 31 feet‚ is the world record holder for “speed retrieving” (where a canine jumps off a dock into the water‚ swims to the far side to get an object‚ and brings it back)‚ and can jump 8 feet vertically! Spitfire is also a 21-time holder of world records. Seems like that nickname is well-earned! Image Credit: Timchenko Natalia‚ Shutterstock 6. The fastest balloon popper in the world is a Whippet. Alright‚ “canine balloon-popping” sounds like a made-up sport‚ but we promise it’s real‚ and a Whippet named Toby holds the Guinness World Record for it.3 In 2017‚ this Whippet popped 100 balloons in only 28.22 seconds. That’s a lot of balloon-popping! Toby beat out the previous world record holder‚ Twinkie‚ the Jack Russell Terrier‚ by just under 10 seconds. 7. A Whippet is also the best frisbee catcher in the world. Honestly‚ are you even surprised at this point? Davy the Whippet set a Guinness World Record in 2012 for “longest flying disc catch” by catching a Frisbee thrown 402 feet!4 Even more incredible than that‚ Davy reached a speed of 40 miles per hour‚ enabling him to catch the Frisbee in only about 10.5 seconds. This Whippet became a bit of a star in the dog community after that and even published a children’s book called “The Davy Rule”. Image Credit: Horse Crazy‚ Shutterstock 8. Whippets were known as “the poor man’s Greyhound” in 1800s England. Dog racing was a big thing in Europe in the 1800s‚ primarily using Greyhounds as the racing dogs. The sport was taken very seriously and was both an occasion to be sociable and make money. But only the wealthy could afford to participate in Greyhound racing‚ so the working class decided to make their own version of dog racing using Whippets (because they were cheaper to breed than Greyhounds were). This is how the Whippet got its nickname “the poor man’s Greyhound”. 9. Whippets are what are known as “sighthounds”. What is a sighthound? These canines use speed and sight for hunting rather than endurance and scent. Sighthounds have sharp eyesight for movement‚ making hunting by sight a breeze. And because the Whippet has that arched back that allows them to be so flexible and the double suspension gait that makes them so fast‚ they’ve got the speed-hunting thing down pat. This breed is known for their skill in snapping up prey they’ve caught sight of‚ so they used to be referred to as “snap dogs”. Image Credit: Nadja Huebner‚ Shutterstock 10. Whippets and cats are often not a good mix. If you’re currently a cat parent considering getting a Whippet‚ we should warn you that it’s not usually a good idea. Because Whippets are sighthounds‚ their natural instinct is to chase when it comes to running animals. While some Whippets can live harmoniously with resident felines‚ especially if they are introduced as puppies‚ others can’t resist the urge to chase them. 11. Whippets have large hearts. Whippets‚ along with other sighthounds like Greyhounds‚ have a large heart in relation to their body size. It is not clear in studies whether this is due to genetic influences or training‚ or both! They also generally have slower heart rates. Image Credit: Natallia Miranchuk‚ Shutterstock 12. This breed can be extremely sensitive to barbiturate anesthetics. Another important thing to know about the Whippet if you plan on owning one is that these dogs can be more sensitive to anesthetic drugs. This is due to their lack of body fat and most anesthetic drugs are ‘lipophilic’‚ meaning they distribute in body fat. Therefore more of these drugs remain in the bloodstream in lean Whippets‚ meaning more of a clinical effect compared with dogs with more fatty tissue. 13. These dogs are prone to the shivers. Some think Whippets are extremely fretful or fearful because they shiver a lot. But this usually isn’t why they’re shivering (although they can shiver when afraid). The main reason Whippets tend to be shivery is because they don’t have that much body fat‚ only have a single coat‚ and are thin-skinned. So‚ if your Whippet is shivering‚ most likely‚ they’re cold! This will be worse in the winter‚ of course‚ especially when outdoors‚ so you’ll need to wrap your pup up in a coat or sweater. Image Credit: Dora Zett‚ Shutterstock 14. Whippets require a special collar. The Whippet’s body is very slim and graceful‚ as well as very thin and muscular. They also have deep chests and long necks; those long necks mean they need a different collar than the ones many other dog breeds wear. Instead of a thin dog collar‚ Whippets need a wide collar. Narrow collars can injure a Whippet’s neck and throat and put too much pressure on those areas. A wider collar helps reduce that pressure and the risk of injury. Conclusion Whippets are unique and lovable dogs who are incredibly athletic. That athleticism has made them some of the world’s fastest dogs and world record holders. Whether it’s jumping‚ balloon-popping‚ or catching Frisbees‚ the Whippet is impressive‚ and now that you know so many new surprising facts about the breed‚ you can decide if one is right for you and your family! Sources AKC SBNation GWR GWR Gilpa https://victoriaparkanimalhospital.com/client-resources/breed-info/whippet/ https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/canine-breed-specific-considerations-for-anesthesia/ Featured Image Credit: Dora Zett‚ Shutterstock The post 14 Surprising Whippet Dog Facts You’ll Love to Know appeared first on Pet Keen.

Click to Skip Ahead Reasons Dangers Ways to Slow Them Down Bringing a new puppy into your home is always exciting‚ but along with the good can sometimes come some bad. Your puppy may exhibit some behaviors that you need to train them out of‚ like chewing on absolutely everything or eating too fast. Eating too quickly‚ especially‚ is a behavior you want to break‚ as it can lead to health issues‚ like regurgitation‚ and‚ although the evidence is not yet conclusive‚ bloat. But why does your puppy eat so fast in the first place? There are a handful of common reasons why our tiny canine pal exhibits this behavior‚ ranging from excitement to underlying health issues. If you want to know why your puppy is eating so quickly at mealtimes‚ why it can be dangerous‚ and how you can train them out of doing it‚ keep reading! The 5 Common Reasons Your Puppy Eats Too Quickly 1. Pure Excitement Dogs get excited over everything‚ especially puppies! So‚ your puppy may be gobbling down their food just because they’re so excited to have it. This is the likely culprit if none of the other reasons listed below seem to fit why your dog is eating so fast. You’ll simply need to teach your puppy to eat slower‚ but there are ways to do that‚ which we’ll talk about later on! Image Credit: Switlana Sonyashna‚ Shutterstock 2. Food Insecurity Did your dog come from a shelter where there were a lot of animals and not enough volunteers? Then‚ it may be that your dog is experiencing food insecurity. If a shelter or rescue is exceptionally busy‚ the people working there may not be able to feed the animals on a routine schedule. If that’s the case‚ your dog might have gotten into the habit of eating too quickly because they were unsure when they would receive food again or when food bowls would be removed from their cage. Dog’s that have previously been stray may also gobble down their food when it comes for similar reasons; they don’t know when their next meal is going to come and they don’t want to risk not eating it all while it’s there. Hopefully‚ your dog will soon realize that the food at your home isn’t going anywhere (and you can help by feeding your puppy at the same time each day) and slow down on their own. 3. Competition Is your puppy just one of many dogs in your home? Then your pet may be eating too quickly because it views mealtimes as a competition; for example‚ your pup believes they need to eat the food before another dog comes along to take it. This habit of competing for food can result from growing up in a large litter where your puppy and their siblings fought for food. Even if you don’t have other dogs in your home‚ your pup might be viewing you‚ children in the home or even cats as competition!  You can ease the anxiety of needing to compete for food by allowing each animal in your home to eat out of a separate bowl (or having them eat in separate rooms if needed). Image Credit: Tatyana Vyc‚ Shutterstock 4. Parasites or Illness Parasites or other health problems could also be causing your pet to feel extremely hungry all the time.  Therefore‚ the need for speed when it comes to mealtimes is out of desperation for food. If your puppy has roundworms (a type of parasitic intestinal worm)‚ it could cause them to become ravenous and begin eating faster‚ as they aren’t getting the same nutrition they were before. Or it could be that your pet has an illness like Cushing’s disease or diabetes (although these are much more a consideration in older pets) that affects metabolism and hunger. If you don’t think any of the other reasons on this list are the cause of your pup’s super-speedy eating‚ then take them to the vet for a check-up! 5. Inappropriate diet or quantity of diet As in the case of parasites such as worms‚ a poor quality or unbalanced diet can also result in your puppy gobbling their food due to malnourishment.  It may be that your puppy is more active than most‚ so the recommended amount of food isn’t enough for them to make up all the energy they burn off. Or your pup might need a different dog food‚ such as one that is breed specific‚ to meet their nutritional needs. If you believe this could be the issue‚ speak with your vet for recommendations on how to ensure your pet is getting all the nutrition they need. Why Eating Too Fast Is Dangerous for Your Puppy Why does it matter if your dog eats too fast? It may seem like a fairly innocuous behavior‚ but your dog scarfing down their meals could result in health problems. The first major issue with eating too quickly is that it poses a choking risk. No matter how tiny your dog’s pieces of kibble are‚ eating them at a fast rate can result in choking. An increased rate of eating may also lead your dog to regurgitate or gag (which isn’t fun for your puppy or yourself)‚ and it could cause your pup digestive issues like abdominal pain.  Certain breeds‚ such as those with flat faces e.g. French Bulldogs and Pugs are very prone to getting aspiration pneumonia (food debris entering the lung space and causing pneumonia) due to their Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BOAS) which makes breathing difficult and sometimes labored.  So for these breeds‚ eating their food too quickly has the additional increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. Encouraging slow and steady eating can reduce the chance of this. The other major and life threatening problem with your puppy eating faster than they should is that this behavior may put them at increased risk for bloat or a twisted stomach as some know it.  The technical term for this is gastric dilatation and volvulus and this is a very serious condition indeed. The jury is still out on whether speed of eating can be a direct cause of gastric dilatation with some research suggesting it is and others suggesting it isn’t.  However‚ most studies agree that aerophagia (swallowing air) is linked to bloat in dogs‚ and eating too quickly does cause aerophagia. Bloat is a severe condition that can be fatal‚ so if you find your dog experiencing symptoms (trying to vomit with nothing coming up‚ abdominal swelling‚ lethargy‚ collapse)‚ you should get them to the vet as soon as possible! Image Credit: antoniodiaz‚ Shutterstock How Can I Get My Dog to Eat Slower? You can get your puppy to slow down at mealtimes in a few ways. Pick one and try it out‚ or combine options. Just remember to have patience! Fast eating can be a learned habit‚ so your pup will need time to unlearn it. 1. Slow-Feeders or Puzzle Toys One of the simplest ways to get your fast eater to slow down during mealtimes is by using a slow-feeder or puzzle toy. Slow-feeder bowls are just like regular dog bowls‚ except for the fact they contain obstacles‚ like ridges or walls‚ that your puppy will need to go around to get at their food. Puzzle toys work similarly‚ except they come in different forms than a bowl. Some puzzle toys will make your dog work at getting the toy to dispense food‚ while others (like snuffle mats) give your pup the opportunity to sniff out their meal. Image Credit: Longfin Media‚ Shutterstock 2. Several Meals a Day If you’ve been feeding your puppy one to two large meals a day‚ you may want to try breaking those meals down into several smaller ones throughout the day. This may not necessarily slow your pup down‚ but eating smaller amounts of food at a time should help reduce the risk of digestive upset and more serious complications. 3. Keep Puppy Separate As mentioned previously‚ if you feel as if your puppy is eating too quickly because they’re trying to compete for food with other animals or people in the home‚ feeding them separately might help. With no competition during mealtimes‚ your pup will hopefully slow down during chow time. Choose a different area from where you feed the rest of your household‚ such as another room‚ and see if this helps your pet. You may still need to combine this with something like a slow-feeder. Image Credit: Andrii Spy_k‚ Shutterstock 4. Hand-Feeding This way of helping your puppy eat slower is admittedly time-consuming‚ but if you have the time available‚ hand-feeding your pup can help slow them down tremendously when it comes to eating. Plus‚ hand-feeding your dog doubles as training them to eat slower (so you won’t need to hand-feed them forever!) and gives you the opportunity to bond. It’s pretty win-win! Conclusion Your puppy can eat too fast at meals for several reasons‚ including food insecurity‚ excitement‚ and a belief that they must compete for food. Gobbling down their kibble can be dangerous to your little one‚ though‚ so it’s a habit you’ll need to train them out of sooner rather than later. Luckily‚ you can do that with the help of slow-feeder bowls‚ puzzle toys‚ or even hand-feeding your pup. It just may take a little bit of time to get your dog to slow down at mealtimes! Sources VCA https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/53 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1998.tb03627.x https://meridian.allenpress.com/jaaha/article-abstract/33/3/197/175223/Multiple-risk-factors-for-the-gastric-dilatation?redirectedFrom=fulltext https://allambievet.com.au/news/brachycephalic-airway-syndrome-dogs-and-cats Featured Image Credit: Rick’s Photography‚ Shutterstock The post Why Does My Puppy Eat So Fast? 5 Vet-Reviewed Reasons &; Advice appeared first on Pet Keen.

By now‚ everyone has heard about the chaotic Willy Wonka "event" in Glasgow‚ Scotland that has left parents furious and children traumatized. Chocolate lovers were promised a "fantasy like never before" but the reality was something out of a nightmare as they were greeted with an almost empty warehouse‚ police officers instead of Oompa Loompas‚ and a scary "unknown" character that scared the living daylights out of kids.

Could this be Earth’s story too?