Training for a 5K can be a daunting task. It’s always easier to train for a race when you have a loyal running partner at your side. You and your dog can train for the race together if you follow the steps below.

Step 1: Look online or consult a local running club in order to create a reasonable training schedule for you and your pup.  Depending on your (and your dog’s!) current level of fitness, you should give yourself anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to prepare for the 3.1 mile race.

Step 2: Keep it interesting. Vary the routes that you and your dog run while training so that neither one of you get bored. Also vary the running surfaces, which will help keep his paws and joints healthier too.

Step 3: Fight the urge to lose the leash. It’s important for him to remain leashed during his training runs because he will need to be leashed during the race.  Once the two of you have found a steady pace, you might be able to tie the leash around your waist.

Step 4: Keep your dog hydrated. You should carry a water bottle for him in order to avoid overheating.

Step 5: Feed your dog a well-balanced healthy diet. The first ingredient in his food should be meat, not corn or some other byproduct. Talk to your vet about whether or not you should increase his calorie intake during the training period.

Step 6: Beware of the health issues that are associated with exercising your dog too much. If you notice him limping or slowing down, he might be experiencing pain in his joints. You might want to consider giving your dog a supplement to support his joint health.

Step 7: Run the course with your pup beforehand. This will enable you both to see the ups and downs (literally!) of the course. It will also give you a chance to see where you can take it easy and where the course might provide some real challenges for you both.

 Step 8: If possible, take your dog to a 5K that you are not participating in.  He needs to be exposed to all of the hustle and bustle of race day before the big event.

If the 5K is a big success, you might find yourself entering more events with your pup at your side!

This article is sponsored by pet super store. An online pet store that features dog training collars and dog tracking collars.

One of the way humans celebrate an exciting event is to high five each other. If your dog is your best friend then you have definitely shared high five worthy moments together.  Follow the steps below and you and your dog will be high fiving by game time. 

Step 1: If your dog doesn’t yet know the “sit” command, you’ll need to start there. The high five will be taught to your dog from the sitting position. Once he can sit on command, have him sit and stay while you kneel in front of him.

Step 2: Don’t confuse “shake” for “high five”. If your dog already knows how to shake, be prepared that you might have a hard time teaching him the difference between shake and high five.

Step 3: Raise your right hand to the height of your dog’s shoulder. Your palm should be completely open and your fingertips should be pointed towards the sky. With your left hand, lift your dog’s left paw towards your open palm.

Step 4: At the time your dog’s left paw makes contact with your right hand, say “high five”. Repeat this several times.

Step 5: After repeating the paw to hand contact several times, reward your pet for participating. You may choose to either give him a treat or lots of praise and affection.

Step 6: Hold your right hand in the air again and say the command “high five” but do not reach for your dog’s paw. Hopefully he will place his paw against your hand. Allow him the opportunity to do it on his own before you reach for his paw. If he does it on his own, reward him immediately with treats or praise.

Step 7: If your dog does not respond to the command, or lifts his paw lower for the “shake” command, continue to repeat steps 3 and 4 until your dog can complete step 6 on his own.

Step 8: Like with all training commands, you will need to practice “high fiving” several times a day for a few days in a row.  Soon enough, your dog should respond to the command.

A high five shouldn’t take too long to master and it will definitely be worth the effort. Your friends will be so impressed when they see you and your dog exchanging high fives in response to thrilling moments. 

This article was sponsored by pet super store. An online resource for dog crates and orthopedic dog beds.

You may not know how many options you have in pool cues.  If you are like many people, you may think that all pool cues are basically the same.  The problem with not being aware of the options that are available is you could end up with pool cues that you are not satisfied with and you do not like.  The way to avoid wasting money and being disappointed is to think about the options and decide in advance which ones are best suited to you.

One option you have when you are in the market for a pool cue is the size and weight of a cue.  Depending upon your needs, you can purchase a ready-made, standard cue, or you can have one custom-made for a size and weight which better reflect your needs.

You also have many options regarding the design of your pool cue.  If you have been thinking about purchasing one off-the-rack from a local store, you may not realize how many options you will miss.  Whatever your personal level of pool-playing may be, your pool cues are the most important part of your game.  It is likely that you want one to reflect your own sense of style and individuality.  It is not necessary for you to settle for a ready-made, off-the-rack cue;  you can choose from a large variety of colorful wraps, inlays, and even engraving. 

As cost is important, you have options with the price of your cue.  While it is generally best to choose a high-quality cue which costs a bit more than an off-the-rack model, your pool cue does not need to break your budget.  When you see how many excellent cues are currently available, you can invest in a fine quality cue at a reasonable cost. 

Earlier this month news about teens in Florida and in other states like Arizona having incidents of violence both aggravated and premeditated. These acts of violence according to news coverage present only a small fraction of  the truth about bullying.

Society prefers to turn a blind eye to not appear too fanatic and overprotective over children. We have been numbed by lots of things maybe because we've experienced a lower form of it and have survived.

Turning a blind eye, society has gone into suspended animation the older generation thinking it's not that bad while the kids think our parents did too. The difference of then and now is that parents were less busy, had better means of living and a belief in discipline (the right amount an kind). Kids before had their parents as examples and influence, a bad apple never fell far from a good tree most of the time. Today, we have all these good apples put in a bushel of bad ones and end up with a rotten bunch all together.

Bullying is an act justified by anything under the sun, with only one goal: domination and power to rule. It takes a responsive group of people to fix this. The responsible society is made up of  parents, school, community, county, state, government ans most especially the media, no one's hands go untainted and exempted.

Never did like the Altoids Lemon Wedgie print ad…

When you look at the bagged groceries and the tape receipt is given, you can't help but wonder how  much has gone to several cleansers, toiletries and what was left for food? Add to you food budget by saving on cleansers by using alternatives which can be found in the home.

 I have here tried and tested alternates that can be used for clean ups and the wash. White Vinegar,  aside from giving your cooking strong sour flavor, it can be used for cleaning grime and stains from tiles. Half a cup for every load on a rinse-cycle makes it a hypoallergenic fabric softener. Spraying your kitchen counter can also keep flies away. What I'd do is use a spray bottle for cleaning and put a prepared mixture handy. I also buy a big bottle to make sure there is enough vinegar for both cooking and household use.

Kitchen tile dirt and stains may be tougher, so I use Borax and baking soda paste to throughly clean even tile grout (¼ Borax+ ½ baking soda + 1 tbsp. warm water). Borax can also be used on the walls even if it is painted or papered, just mix 1/3 cup of it with 1 gallon of warm water. The mixture cleans away the dust that has stuck on your walls, leaving a brighter surface. Regular wall cleaning prolongs your wall's color, saving you the trouble of having to re-paint under 5 years.

A home is not complete without nice wooden furniture or chairs or even a fine dish cabinet. Cleaning the surface with a damp cloth would only leave a dry whitish film in time. To preserve its natural appearance, use mineral oil to keep it shiny, you can also add a drop of lemon juice for a fresh scent and a brighter surface. I would also use toothpaste to remove water droplets that have discolored the finish. The stains get off after vigorous rubbing, make sure not to use your nail to it though.

The quest for a more natural way to clean house not only saves you money, it's also your part to preserve the environment. You don't have to be sign holding fanatics to be wanting for a greener world, do you?