The Canine Staycation Now that most of us are

The Canine Staycation

By BELINDA JONES

In countries across the globe, people have made smiling speculations about dogs masterminding the “shelter in place” order so they can get more quality time at home with their humans. If this were true, the pups may have gotten a little more sofa sharing than they bargained for, and rather fewer outdoor adventures and excursions than they are used to. So how do you make the best of the current restrictions and keep your pup entertained? Belinda Jones offers seven suggestions for enhancing the ultimate staycation.

 MORNING DOGA We can all benefit from a morning stretch and there is no better teacher when it comes to limbering up for the day than your dog. For ease, the classic downward-facing dog pose can be adapted to begin in a kneeling prayer position, then simply slide the palms of your hands forward, keeping your head low until it is level with the ground and your bottom is the highest point. From here you can begin to slowly raise your head up while leaning forward until your head is the highest point and your back and arms are stretched out. iHeart Dogs has a range of supercute Dog Yoga Poses t-shirts and hoodies from $24.99.

 HAPPY CAMPERS Even if you only get to set up a tent in your backyard, you still get to be out in nature, under the stars and giving your pup new nighttime sniffs and sounds! My dear friends Phil and Lisa hunkered down in a two-person tent with their Bernese Mountain Dog puppy Kodi, who ignored his bed and slept soundly between them on the air mattress. Of course, now that he’s reached 120 pounds, it’s definitely a case of “We’re going to need a bigger tent. . .” If you felt so inclined, you could even get your dog their own

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LISA DICKENSON

tent; styles range from teepee to canopy, with a nifty pop-up from Pettom.com for under $50. Just don’t forget your flashlight so you can read Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley under the covers.

 PUPCORN What could be more fun than snuggling up on the sofa for a dog-movie marathon? Lazyone. com does a Doggy & Me collection that will fit out your whole family in matching pajamas—the 100 percent cotton flannel Ticking Bear design is especially cute with dog onesie flapjacks available in sizes XS to XL for $18.99. While you are running the gamut from Beethoven to A Dog’s Purpose and The Secret Life of Pets, you might want to share your hot dog snacks, but when it comes to the popcorn, keep the butter and caramel variety to yourself and get your pup their own bag of BIXBI Bark Pops in white cheddar flavor ($7.99). Light and puffy, these crunchy, low-calorie treats are made with a special blend of pearled sorghum, rice, and navy beans, as opposed to corn. And they are low calorie so your pup can happily chow down until the credits roll!

 THE SOUND OF SILENCE

For at least one day, completely unplug from all technology, giving your brain, eyes, and ears a rest. Your dog will enjoy being in harmony with you and not having to compete with a computer, iPhone, or TV screen for your attention! Plus, with all audio switched off, you can really tune into your surroundings and not miss a single snuffle or snore from your furry pal! (Okay, maybe reach for your phone to record your dog snoring. That’s one of the sounds I miss the most from my dog Bodie and I kick myself for not capturing it on tape!)

 AGILITY TRAINING If we’ve learned anything from viral social media videos showing dogs jumping over toilet

paper stacked nine rolls high, it is that you can create an agility environment in your own home. (And that dogs can jump a lot higher than you might think when there’s a treat involved.) Consider a simple homemade jump using two chairs and a broom, or weave poles created with upright sticks of bamboo or pvc pipe set two feet apart in the grass. There are plenty of free training technique videos on YouTube, but for sheer joy you can’t beat rescue Jack Russell Olly at Crufts in 2017. I was

 SPA DAY Dogs may greet the bathtub with mixed degrees of enthusiasm but you can bring a pampering spa experience into your home with South Bark’s Blueberry Facial ($22). This full-body shampoo was designed by a San Diego groomer (in the South Park neighborhood) to calm, cleanse, and brighten, and

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUFF AND TUMBLE

actually lucky enough to witness his exuberance live, and now the clip has 13 million views and counting. See why here: youtube.com/ watch?v=A4N7G29GWQI

it has become a sensation thanks to its fragrant blend of coconut oil, aloe, avocado, and, of course, blueberry. Once fully rinsed off, wrap your pup in a toweling “dog drying coat.” I highly rate the Ruff & Tumble design with its faux leather trim (from $65). It’s ideal for when you are heading home after getting caught in the rain and don’t want mudspattered walls and furnishings! Your pup will look so dapper, you’ll be tempted to fetch them a pair of slippers and a gin and tonic; but instead, finish

off with a nail-trimming pedicure and a selection of chilled cucumber slices—as a refreshing treat to eat rather than a balm their eyes!

 TOY TIME You have probably never felt more grateful to have your pup’s ever-loving company than during this time of isolation, so brighten your furry pal’s day with a new toy. Shopping for something robust and squeaky also doubles as an opportunity to support your local pet store, as small businesses are truly missing their customers right now. Popular quarantine purchases include slow feeders (Outward Hound’s Fun Feeders get rave reviews and help your dog’s dinner last up to 10 times as long) and snuffle mats—a piece of rubber matting with fleecy rag strips knotted to mimic grass for dogs to nuzzle

and forage for their dried kibble. Anything to help amp up the mental stimulation. Hmmm, I wonder if that would work with humans and, say, a scattering of Cheerios?

Wherever you are holed up with your canine companions, we hope you are cozy and healthy and look forward to seeing you on the beach again soon!

Belinda Jones is a dog-besotted British magazine journalist and bestselling author of eleven romantic comedy novels and a feeelgood road trip memoir titled Bodie on the Road - Travels With My Rescue Pup in the Dogged Pursuit of Happiness (Skyhorse Publishing). Her Instagram handle is @bodieeontheroad

by Allison Mckee

Diana Grib picks up two leashes and two harnesses when getting ready for her walk… but there’s only one dog in sight.

Her two adorable pets, Pacco & Nova, are an unlikely couple, to say the least!

One is a slender, active white ferret named Pacco and the other is a stunning German Shepherd named Nova. We know what you’re thinking - how did these two come to be BFF’s? And how has Pacco not become a slinky snack for Nova?!

Shhh…Don't tell Nova, but Pacco is really the one in charge here! He's the “alpha” in their relationship and Diana often describes him as the “King of the Castle”

Their friendship was no accident.

Diana dreamed for years of having a dog who tolerated the companionship of a ferret, and vice versa. Little did she know, the relationship she hoped for would far surpass “tolerating” one another’s company.

We think it’s safe to say that Pacco and Nova are truly best friends!

Diana first sought out a dog breeder who socialized their puppies with other types of animals, so she knew from day one that her future German Shepherd wouldn’t be inclined to see other small pets as “food.” She found Nova in her home country of Lithuania with a breeder whose puppies grew up with cats.

She then spent a great deal of time during Nova’s puppyhood introducing her to a gamut of other critters! “After I brought her home, I started socializing her with all kinds of pets as much as possible – cats, parrots, rats and others,” says Diana on her Instagram page @nova_n_pacco which features the dynamic duo and their antics.

With a photo of a young Nova nose-to-nose with white rat, Diana captions, “You can see how careful and gentle she was, when she met a baby rat for the first time. It just perfectly represents her true nature – loving, affectionate and curious.”

Finding a ferret who had experience with dogs proved to be a much more difficult feat. For almost a year Diana searched for the perfect ferret breeder whose kits also had exposure to dogs and nearly gave up before the perfect match came along.

“The only thing that bothered me for a minute - I would have to make a 1,000 mile journey to bring him into my country [Lithuania]. But what is distance compared to a lifetime dream?!” she

explains on her instagram caption beneath a photo of an adorable baby Pacco.

Fast forward and these two besties have 28,000 followers on Instagram. The world has fallen in love with their sweet friendship!

Diana often jokingly refers to Pacco the ferret as

her “majestic danger noodle” and is sure to keep her audience laughing at these two buddies and her witty commentary. It seems their relationship is a healthy rotation of play wrestling, eating and napping on top of one another - blissfully unaware of their differences! They are both curious, adventurous and intelligent with lots of personality.

Pacco probably doesn’t realize he’s not “one of the dogs” and that’s okay by us. He loves on-leash forest

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walks with Nova, playing in the snow and even digging in the dirt with Nova’s help.

Shhh… Don’t tell Nova, but Pacco is really the one in charge here! He’s the “alpha” in their relationship and Diana often describes him as the “King of the Castle.”

Diana says ferret ownership is a big commitment and she’s done a lot of training with Nova to ensure that Pacco is always safe. She isn’t shy about saying that ferrets can be sassy critters who will nip if they are displeased about something, require a very special diet and whose veterinary care can be quite expensive.

Pacco is a well-socialized example of the breed! Compared to most ferrets, Pacco is “pretty chill” and

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surprisingly loves to socialize with new people while out on walks! He falls asleep on Diana or Nova on a daily basis, and thoroughly enjoys tiny massages.

So if you find yourself in need of a smile or a laugh, we highly recommend giving their account a scroll. If a video of a ferret riding a Roomba around a living room whilst grooming himself doesn’t put a grin on your face, we’re not sure what will!

Follow along with Nova and Pacco’s adventures at @nova_n_ pacco on Instagram.

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