Category Archives: Dog Activities

Dog Activities

Anheuser-Busch to Hire Chief Tasting Officer for Dog Brew

CTO

Last year, Busch released its first-ever product made not for fans, but for its fan’s dogs: Busch Dog Brew. The alcohol-free, bone broth brew provides owners with the perfect opportunity to crack a cold one with their favorite canine companion, and the initial response from Busch lovers was overwhelming, with the first batch selling out in just 24-hours. This year, as Busch Dog Brew expands, it’s also looking to expand its Senior Leadership Team to include a four-legged member with a discerning palate — a Chief Tasting Officer (CTO). Continue reading Anheuser-Busch to Hire Chief Tasting Officer for Dog Brew →

Dog Activities

Kasey Program Teaches Fire Safety to Kids

Photo: KaseyProgram.org
Photo: KaseyProgram.org

There’s no such thing as “too early” for teaching fire safety.

That’s why Koorsen Fire and Security is the primary sponsor of the Kasey Program, which takes an entertaining approach to bringing life-saving skills to a wide range of audiences, including community events, nursing homes, and students from preschool to grade 6.

Program founder and professional firefighter Jeff Owens sings and plays guitar while Kasey, a black Labrador, demonstrates fire safety tips. It’s a memorable and fun way to bring critical information to children.

Jeff started the Kasey Program, a non-profit program, in 1995 and each year performs with Kasey approximately 400 times. The program was started as a way to teach children about fire & life safety. Jeff is a retired career firefighter/paramedic after more than 31 years of service and felt a strong desire to have a positive impact on teaching our children their fire & life safety skills. Continue reading Kasey Program Teaches Fire Safety to Kids →

Dog Activities

2021 AKC National Agility Champions

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If you missed the big show last night, the AKC has issued a press release publishing the results:

The top Agility dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall combined entry of more than 1,100 dogs this past weekend at the AKC National Agility Championship. Competitions were held March 26-28, 2021 at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex and Central Park Hall at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “After the cancellation of last year’s championship, it was even more exciting to see all the competitors come out this year and show off their honed skills,” said Doug Ljungren, AKC Executive Vice President of Sports and Events. Continue reading 2021 AKC National Agility Champions →

Breed Specific, Dog Activities, K-9

Beagle Brigade

Meet the Beagles who search for smuggled goods at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport.

Customs and Border Protection uses Beagles for a couple of reasons: they are not as intimidating as other K-9s like German Shepherds, and they eat less than the larger dogs. Each Beagle goes through a training period of 10-weeks with the paired handler. During the training, handlers become familiar with the dog before they are put to work at their respective port of entry. Each pup can find various plants, meats, fruits and vegetables, and the training doesn’t stop once they are certified. These canines and their handlers have to recertify every year.

Retirement age is about 9 years old, although because they use exclusively rescues, they really don’t know how old the dogs are. The biggest criterion is whether or not they retain their motivation to work for food rewards. (I could still be working at age 58!)

Gotta love those little noses on four legs.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

National Agility Championship is Coming Up!

BigStock Photo
BigStock Photo

From The Dog Lady’s mailbag: The American Kennel Club (AKC) is excited to announce that the AKC National Agility Championship will air on ESPN2. The two-hour competition will be televised on Wednesday, March 31,2021 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. This broadcast comes on the heels of the three-year agreement the AKC and ESPN signed at the top of the year to give viewers a taste of the competitive world of dog sports.

This year’s AKC National Agility Championship will take place on March 26-March 28, 2021 at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The expo is an indoor, climate-controlled horse arena on dirt and has multiple rings set up for competition. After the pandemic canceled last year’s event, top agility canine athletes are eager to participate in this year’s event. Continue reading National Agility Championship is Coming Up! →

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2021: The Fat Lady Has Sung

BigStock Photo
BigStock Photo

The final two mushers have crossed the finish line at Deshka Landing, and the 2021 Iditarod is now in the history books.

Rookie Dakota Schlosser finished at 12:22 AM with 10 dogs and Victoria Hardwick took the red lantern two seconds later, also with 10 dogs.

The red lantern, for the uninitiated, is kept burning to guide the racers in, and the last one in is said to have claimed it.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

Iditarod Standings as of 3/17/2021 at 3:07 PM Alaska Time

The last two racers arrived in Skwentna early this morning. Victoria Hardwick and rookie Dakota Schlosser arrived just before 7 am, both with 10 dogs. This is their last checkpoint before the finish line.

Three mushers left Skwentna this morning and are en route to the finish line at Deshka Landing:
Rookie Hal Hanson left at 10:12 with 11 dogs.
Larry Daugherty left at 10:54 with 11 dogs
Rookie Will Troshynski left at 10:55, also with 11 dogs.

Everyone else has passed beneath what they are calling the “Unburled Arch” since the real Burled Arch, as you know, is in Nome.

Dog Activities

Dallas Seavey Wins 5th Iditarod

For only the second time in history, a musher has won FIVE Iditarod sled dog races! Congrats to Dallas Seavey for completing the 848 mile race in 7 days, 14 hours, and 8 minutes. He arrived at Deshka Landing this morning at 5:08 with 10 dogs in harness.

Aaron Burmeister finished 2nd, his best race yet. He arrived at 8:23 AM, also with 10 dogs.

Brent Sass finished 3rd, arriving at 9:41 AM, with 13 dogs.

Wade Marrs, currently in 4th place, left Skwentna at 3:42 AM with 10 dogs.

Mille Porslid left two minutes behind him with 9 dogs.

The last racer, Rookie Will Troshynski left Nikolai on the way back to the Start/Finish this morning at 8:43.

I’ll try to keep an eye out for when he finishes, but will no longer be giving daily updates.

If you’re counting on me to track a specific racer, comment below and I’ll let you know their status.

Dog Activities

Iditarod Standings as of 3/14/2021 at 2:17 PM Alaska Time

The top two mushers are into Skwentna, the last checkpoint on the way back to Deshka Landing. The others are out of Finger Lake, heading to Skwentna.

Dallas Seavey arrived at Skwentna at 12:44 PM with 10 dogs.
Aaron Burmeister arrived at Skwentna at 1:45 PM with 13 dogs.
Brent Sass left Finger Lake at 9:27 AM with 13 dogs.
Mille Porsild left Finger Lake at 11:25 AM with 10 dogs.
Wade Marrs left Finger Lake at 1:24 PM with 10 dogs.

It’s getting exciting now!

Dog Activities

Iditarod Standings as of 3/13/2021 at 12:15 PM Alaska Time

The top five mushers have all passed through the Nikolai checkpoint on their way back to the start/finish line. All have completed both their 8-hour and 24-hour rest periods.

Aaron Burmeister left Nikolai at 2:27 AM, with all 14 of his dogs still in harness
Brent Sass left at 3:25 AM with 13 dogs
Dallas Seavey left at 3:50 AM with 12 dogs
Ryan Redington left at 6:56 AM with 9 dogs
Joar Leifseth Ulsom left at 7:20 AM with 13 dogs

Onward to Rohn!