Walking/Jogging/Running- It may sound boring to some of you, and some others may say "Well, I already do that..." but think about how you can make going for a walk more interesting for you AND your dog. While your daily walk around the block is great, taking them to new places for their exercise is fun for both of you. Not only is this physically and mentally stimulating for your dog, but you can also work in a training session while there and that will help them be more reliable in unfamiliar situations. If you live in the Topeka area, there are several great places that have trails for you and your dog to enjoy together. Here are a few parks that have walking trails to enjoy:
Shunga Trail
Governor's Mansion (MacLennan Park)
Lake Shawnee
Shawnee North Community Center and Nature Trail
Gage Park
Landon Trail is being developed on the former MoPac rail line that was rail banked
when it was any longer used by the Railroad. The existing ballast of the rail line is
currently use as the surface for the trail. This trail once fully developed will be a
primary North and South trail in Topeka.
Warren Nature Area at 25th and Gage (south of V. A. Hospital and K.N.I.) There are
over 2 miles of grass trails through this wetland environment, one of the premier bird
watching areas of Topeka. Accessible tours are available. A large section of the
Shunga Trail runs through this area, allowing access to hikers, bikers, skaters, etc. Enter
through Felker Park parking lot at 25th and Gage St.
Dornwood at SE 25th Street and Highland has 2 miles of unpaved bark chipped
hiking trails through forest, abandoned rock quarry, stream side, and tallgrass prairie.
Enter on SE 25th Street.
Grant Park at SW 65th and Baker Drive is a native prairie (never been plowed) which
is loaded with wild flowers during June. A trail is mowed around the edge of the park
with many bird boxes. Walking anyplace is encouraged. Enter on University
Welton Grove Park at 39th and Cambridge is a 45 acre natural area with mowed
trails. This park is part of a storm water detention area. There is a small creek that
winds through the wooded site. Enter at Atwood or Atwood Terr.
Clarion Park at SW 37th & Fairlawn contains a unpaved natural trail that goes around
the pond through one of the largest stands of Red Cedar on public property. This
gives the visitor a feeling of being in a national forest, as there is little wind or sunlight.
Skyline Park at 3511 Skyline Parkway, features Burnetts Mound, the highest elevation
in Topeka, where visitors can overlook the entire city. The surrounding area is being
encouraged to return to native grass by spring burning. There are unpaved trails in the
southern part of the park (forested area).
These are just a few of the areas to enjoy with your dog so get out there and check them out!
Shed Hunting- This is a fairly new hobby that is a great way to spend some time in nature with your dog. It combines the scent discrimination work that I talked about last week with getting your dogs to find deer antlers that have been naturally shed by bucks in the wild. You can use this past time to enjoy the wonders of nature while your dog searches out new chew toys! Thats right, many dog experts are saying that antlers make great chews for dogs. They last much longer than bully sticks or chews made of compacted starch or rawhide. Deer antlers for dogs are much less likely to chip or splinter when they are being chewed than processed bones. The chewing action grinds the antler chew down slowly. They contain many beneficial nutrients and nothing artificial. Antlers have virtually no odor or residue to get on your carpet or furniture.
For those of you in the Topeka area, I just recently found out about a seminar being held this weekend at the Expo Center in conjunction with "Monster Buck Classic" about using dogs to hunt for sheds. Here is the information on the seminar: http://www.monsterbuckclassic.com/pages/seminars.php
and here is the gentleman who will be conducting the seminar:
Antler Dogs-Roger Sigler
It's definitely something I am looking forward to trying with my own dog!
Therapy Work- If you are someone who enjoys doing volunteer work, registering your dog as a therapy dog might be a wonderful way to include your dog in your volunteer activities. Most hospitals, nursing homes, VA's, schools, and many other places that ask for volunteers would also appreciate volunteer work from your 4 legged family member also. Many of the individuals using these services love to be visited by furry friends because they can no longer have their own pets. If you would like to get started down this path, you can sign up for a local obedience class. Make sure the class will cover the manners that will be looked at during your therapy dog evaluation such as: Sitting politely to be petted, accepting handling and grooming, walk on a loose lead ( even through a crowd), do a "Sit" and a "Down" on command, "Stay", "Come when called", behave calmly around other dogs, and around visual distractions such as medical equipment, and auditory distractions such as loud noises, and leave a treat or toy when asked to do so.
Here are some websites to get you started:
Prarieland Visiting Animals
Delta Society
See ya next week for 3 more fun activities to do with your dog!
Shunga Trail
Governor's Mansion (MacLennan Park)
Lake Shawnee
Shawnee North Community Center and Nature Trail
Gage Park
Landon Trail is being developed on the former MoPac rail line that was rail banked
when it was any longer used by the Railroad. The existing ballast of the rail line is
currently use as the surface for the trail. This trail once fully developed will be a
primary North and South trail in Topeka.
Warren Nature Area at 25th and Gage (south of V. A. Hospital and K.N.I.) There are
over 2 miles of grass trails through this wetland environment, one of the premier bird
watching areas of Topeka. Accessible tours are available. A large section of the
Shunga Trail runs through this area, allowing access to hikers, bikers, skaters, etc. Enter
through Felker Park parking lot at 25th and Gage St.
Dornwood at SE 25th Street and Highland has 2 miles of unpaved bark chipped
hiking trails through forest, abandoned rock quarry, stream side, and tallgrass prairie.
Enter on SE 25th Street.
Grant Park at SW 65th and Baker Drive is a native prairie (never been plowed) which
is loaded with wild flowers during June. A trail is mowed around the edge of the park
with many bird boxes. Walking anyplace is encouraged. Enter on University
Welton Grove Park at 39th and Cambridge is a 45 acre natural area with mowed
trails. This park is part of a storm water detention area. There is a small creek that
winds through the wooded site. Enter at Atwood or Atwood Terr.
Clarion Park at SW 37th & Fairlawn contains a unpaved natural trail that goes around
the pond through one of the largest stands of Red Cedar on public property. This
gives the visitor a feeling of being in a national forest, as there is little wind or sunlight.
Skyline Park at 3511 Skyline Parkway, features Burnetts Mound, the highest elevation
in Topeka, where visitors can overlook the entire city. The surrounding area is being
encouraged to return to native grass by spring burning. There are unpaved trails in the
southern part of the park (forested area).
These are just a few of the areas to enjoy with your dog so get out there and check them out!
Shed Hunting- This is a fairly new hobby that is a great way to spend some time in nature with your dog. It combines the scent discrimination work that I talked about last week with getting your dogs to find deer antlers that have been naturally shed by bucks in the wild. You can use this past time to enjoy the wonders of nature while your dog searches out new chew toys! Thats right, many dog experts are saying that antlers make great chews for dogs. They last much longer than bully sticks or chews made of compacted starch or rawhide. Deer antlers for dogs are much less likely to chip or splinter when they are being chewed than processed bones. The chewing action grinds the antler chew down slowly. They contain many beneficial nutrients and nothing artificial. Antlers have virtually no odor or residue to get on your carpet or furniture.
For those of you in the Topeka area, I just recently found out about a seminar being held this weekend at the Expo Center in conjunction with "Monster Buck Classic" about using dogs to hunt for sheds. Here is the information on the seminar: http://www.monsterbuckclassic.com/pages/seminars.php
and here is the gentleman who will be conducting the seminar:
Antler Dogs-Roger Sigler
It's definitely something I am looking forward to trying with my own dog!
Therapy Work- If you are someone who enjoys doing volunteer work, registering your dog as a therapy dog might be a wonderful way to include your dog in your volunteer activities. Most hospitals, nursing homes, VA's, schools, and many other places that ask for volunteers would also appreciate volunteer work from your 4 legged family member also. Many of the individuals using these services love to be visited by furry friends because they can no longer have their own pets. If you would like to get started down this path, you can sign up for a local obedience class. Make sure the class will cover the manners that will be looked at during your therapy dog evaluation such as: Sitting politely to be petted, accepting handling and grooming, walk on a loose lead ( even through a crowd), do a "Sit" and a "Down" on command, "Stay", "Come when called", behave calmly around other dogs, and around visual distractions such as medical equipment, and auditory distractions such as loud noises, and leave a treat or toy when asked to do so.
Here are some websites to get you started:
Prarieland Visiting Animals
Delta Society
See ya next week for 3 more fun activities to do with your dog!
RSS Feed