Zen Canine

08/28/2026

🐾 Looking for something fun to do with your dog this weekend?

Fido on the Farms + Fun Run is happening this Saturday, August 29, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Living History Farms!

Bring your well-behaved pup to:

🐕 Walk or jog the Fido Fun Run at 9:15 a.m.
📸 Get a free Fido Foto from 9–11 a.m.
🐾 Meet Urbandale K9 Basco and Officer Carlos Pacheco
👮 Watch the K9 demonstration at 10:30 a.m.
🌾 Explore the farm sites, trails and historic town

Activities are included with general admission. Advance registration is required for the free Fun Run.

Dogs must remain on standard, non-retractable leashes and stay outside historic buildings and livestock areas.

Learn more and register:
https://www.lhf.org/event/fido-farms/

Have a pawsome time—and tag Zen Canine in your photos! 💙

Dogs must be on standard non-retractable leashes and must remain outside historic buildings and away from livestock areas.

08/28/2026

Your dog deserves more than a quick potty break. 🐾

Zen Canine Enrichment Visits provide personalized, one-on-one care designed to give your dog a meaningful break during the day. Depending on your dog’s age, abilities, comfort level, and the weather, a visit may include:

🐕 A neighborhood walk
👃 Sniffing and scent-based activities
🧩 Interactive games and problem-solving
💪 Confidence-building exercises
🎓 Practice with familiar training skills
💙 Individual attention in a familiar environment

Every visit is tailored to your dog—because enrichment should meet their needs, not follow a one-size-fits-all routine.

More movement. More mental stimulation. More connection. A calmer, more fulfilled dog.

Learn more and schedule an Enrichment Visit & Neighborhood Walk:
https://zencanine.com/enrichment

📍 Serving Altoona and families throughout the Greater Des Moines metro.

08/26/2026

A calm dog isn’t just a tired dog—settling is a skill we can help them practice. 🐾

A food-stuffed KONG or bully stick can make crate time and “place” work more rewarding by giving your dog an appropriate activity while they relax.

🧩 **KONG:** Fill it with part of your dog’s meal or a dog-safe favorite, then freeze it for a longer-lasting activity.
Shop: https://amzn.to/3SvWkdy

🦴 **Bully Stick:** A satisfying option for supervised settling practice. Use the appropriate size, consider a chew holder, and remove it before it becomes small enough to swallow.
Shop: https://amzn.to/46nA4pw

Start at an easy level, keep the session short, and release your dog before they become frustrated. The goal is to help the crate or place become part of a predictable calm routine—not something that only happens when you leave.

Always supervise new chew items, account for calories and dietary restrictions, and ask your veterinarian if you have questions about what is appropriate for your dog.

**Save this for your next settling session, then shop the links above.**



*Affiliate disclosure: These are affiliate links. Zen Canine may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.*

08/25/2026

School is back—and your dog may already be noticing the change. 🎒🐾

After a summer filled with activity, attention, and children’s imaginary adventures, the house can suddenly become very quiet.

One way we help our dogs adjust is by maintaining comfortable crate-rest periods while we are home—not only when everyone leaves.

We use the crate:

🐶 While the family eats🐶 During homework or meal preparation🐶 When our attention is divided🐶 After exercise or enrichment🐶 When an overtired puppy needs help settling

Crate entry and release should feel like ordinary parts of the day. We remain calm and emotionally neutral, provide appropriate independent enrichment, and practice short, successful sessions while family life continues nearby.

The goal is not to confine a dog for as long as possible. It is to build a predictable place for safe, comfortable rest.

Read Part 2 of the Back to Calm series: School Is Back—Help Your Dog Settle While Life Happens on Zen Canine Press.

Subscribe while you’re there and receive the free Zen Canine Home Guide to help create more connection, calm, and consistency at home:

https://zencanine.com/blog/f/school-is-back-help-your-dog-settle-while-life-happens

Part 2 of 5: Back to Calm series

08/19/2026

Your family’s schedule is changing—and your dog will notice. 🐾

As school routines return, now is the perfect time to help your dog adjust to quieter days, changing walk times, and more time alone.

Start by making the crate part of everyday life—not something that only predicts everyone leaving.

Try a short, positive crate session:

🐶 During a family meal🐶 While you’re getting ready🐶 During a child’s quiet activity🐶 Whenever you’re busy and cannot closely supervise your puppy

After your dog’s exercise, bathroom, and social needs have been met, offer a safe calming activity in the crate. Stay nearby and keep the first sessions short and comfortable.

Build duration gradually at your dog’s pace. The goal is for the crate to become a familiar place to rest—not a punishment or a test of how long your dog can tolerate confinement.

Ready for a calmer back-to-school transition?

Sign up for Zen Canine Press and receive our free Home Guide, filled with practical ways to reset your dog’s routine at home:

http://eepurl.com/mU3SbWsSEW

08/11/2026

A calmer school-year routine starts before the first day of school. 🐾🎒

Consistent routines create predictability—and predictability makes it easier for your dog to feel calm.

Start preparing your dog by gradually adjusting these five parts of the day:

⏰ Morning wake-up time🦮 Walk and bathroom schedule🥣 Feeding time😌 Planned quiet time🚪 Departures and returns

Choose one or two routines and move them toward the future schedule in small, manageable steps. You do not need to change everything overnight.

Swipe through for practical tips, save this post for later, and share it with another dog-loving family.

Subscribe to Zen Canine Press and download your free Home Guide to begin your back-to-school reset.

📍 Serving Altoona and families throughout the Greater Des Moines metro.

08/10/2026

Your family’s schedule is about to change—and your dog will notice. 🐾

Our New blog, “How to Prepare Your Dog for a Back-to-School Schedule,” is now available!
https://zencanine.com/blog/f/start-changing-your-dog%E2%80%99s-schedule-before-school-begins

When school begins, wake-up times, meals, walks, bathroom breaks, attention, and bedtime may all change at once. Consistent routines create predictability—and predictability makes it easier for your dog to feel calm.
In the first article of our five-part Back to Calm series, learn how to start adjusting your dog’s schedule in small, manageable steps before the first day of school.

📖 Read the new blog, subscribe to Zen Canine Press, and download your free Zen Canine Home Guide to begin your family’s back-to-school reset.

📍 Serving Altoona and families throughout the Greater Des Moines metro.

Save this post and download the free Zen Canine Home Guide to begin your back-to-school reset.

Part 1 of 5: Back to Calm series

08/10/2026

Is fear or uncertainty keeping your dog from enjoying everyday life?

Confidence-building isn’t about pushing your dog into difficult situations. It’s about understanding what they need, creating achievable steps, and celebrating progress along the way.

If you’re unsure where to begin, Zen Canine can help you create a practical plan for your dog and your household.

Read the blog: https://zencanine.com/blog/f/the-four-guiding-principles-of-a-balanced-dog-confidence

Ready for personalized support? Contact us to schedule a discovery.

08/07/2026

Try this confidence-building activity with your dog this weekend!

Create a simple exploration course using safe household items, such as:

🐾 A towel to walk across
🐾 A box to investigate
🐾 Cushions to step around
🐾 Treats hidden in easy-to-find places

Let your dog explore at their own pace. Reward curiosity, and remember—the goal is participation, not perfection.

08/06/2026

Confidence is not the absence of fear.

A confident dog may still feel uncertain, startled, or cautious. The difference is that they’re developing the ability to recover, think, and try again.

Our job is not to eliminate every uncomfortable moment. It’s to support our dogs as they learn that they can safely navigate those moments.



Suggested image: A dog checking in with its person during a walk.