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Dog Park “Petiquette” and Whether Dog Parks Are All They’re Cracked Up to Be? The concept of dog parks started in California in 1979; today, they can now be found in every state except Alaska. In Chicago alone, there are some 23 off-leash dog parks, according to BringFido.com. The whole idea of dog parks was borne to provide a large space (usually not less than one or two acres) in which dogs can exercise and play off-leash and interact with other dogs in a controlled environment, under the supervision of their owners. The last part of that sentence is they...

7 Reasons Exercise is Important for Your Dog You want the best for your dog, but sometimes it can be difficult to meet all of their needs. Depending on your schedule and your living arrangement it can be hard to get your dog the exercise they need to be at their best. A lot of people don’t realize how much exercise their dog needs and the negative effects that happen when those needs aren’t met. There are many important reasons why your dog needs exercise, some are obvious, while others may not be so clear-cut.   Maintaining a Healthy Weight...

Fun Activities to do with your dog when it's Snowing! Winter is truly a remarkable season and once it starts snowing it's time to do something! People often have mixed emotions about it, and so do dogs. Nevertheless, snow is a part of life in Chicago. As such, we here at Sparky Steps came up with some ideas for you and your fluffy friend to get the most out of this winter season. Here are the top five things to do with your dog in the snow.   Go for a walk This may sound like a no-brainer, but many...

How Cold is too Cold to Walk your Dog Winter is here! With temperatures consistently falling below freezing and a few too many days below 0℉, you may be wondering: How cold is too cold to walk your canine companion? Here at Sparky Steps, our policy is to limit walks to 15 minutes when the temperature dips below 20℉. We do this because our main concern is the safety of your pup in these extreme temperatures -- while keeping in mind their need to do their business and stretch their paws. Here are some things to consider when assessing whether...

Shelter Dogs: How Can We Help? Here at SparkySteps, it’s no surprise that we absolutely love dogs! When we heard that some of Chicago’s animal shelters were overcrowded to the point of possible euthanization, we just couldn’t believe it. We all know about how canine companions can enrich our lives, almost as much as we enrich theirs. But when thinking of adopting a dog, many wonder why they should look at shelters and rescues. So we’ve compiled a list of 4 reasons you should adopt a shelter dog, and 4 things you can do if you aren’t quite ready to adopt. Why...