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Some Fun Dog Sports

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Here’s a few fun sports and activities for dogs, “scootering” is a new one to me.

If you have a really active dog who just can’t seem to get enough exercise, scootering might be something to look into.  It’s sort of a warm-weather equivalent of dog sledding, great if you live in a warmer climate or just aren’t that into snow.  The dogs are harnessed to a two-wheeled scooter, and you ride along pulled behind the dogs.  Check out DogScooter.com to learn more.

An older activity similar to scootering is carting, where the dogs pull a human behind them in a wheeled cart, similar to a horse-drawn carriage but much smaller.  This sport is growing in popularity in North America.  It’s probably not as much fun for humans to ride as a scooter, but more practical for running errands.

If your dog loves jumping in the water, dock jumping is a really fun activity for him or her.  If your pooch excels at it and can leap a great distance off the end of the dock, there are even national competitions for dock jumping. A yellow Labrador Retriever named Heidi has a personal best of 25 feet, 2 inches, good enough for the 2008 DockDogs National Championships, being held this month.

Dock jumping dog
Dock jumping fun for dogs
Dog News

Have you seen this dog?

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  How many of you received this picture by e-mail, with an accompanying story about how Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor from his heroic activities in Iraq?  I have received it several times, and almost posted it, but decided to check it out on Snopes.com first.

According to Snopes, the dog pictured above is Spike, a retired police dog from Scottsdale, Arizona.  Spike is a Belgian Malinois, not a Boxer/Bull Mastiff mix, as the e-mail asserts.

If you want to check it out yourself, click here.

And don’t believe everything you read on the Internet!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 

 

Shelters

Shelter Dog Rescued

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What a great story!  (And perfect timing, since this is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month.)

Blackie, a 3-year old Labrador retriever mix was turned over to the Edmonton Humane Society last May when his guardians couldn’t afford the $3,500 surgery he needed to repair his back leg.  The people had paid for similar surgery on his other leg, but apparently just couldn’t swing it twice.  (Who could???)

Anyways, the shelter was afraid that a new adoptive family would be tough to find, given that the new guardians would have to foot the bill for the surgery.  They were just sure they’d have to put the dog down. 

But, lo and behold, the good people of Edmonton came through, donating enough to the shelter’s sick and injured animal fund to pay for the surgery.  Blackie had his operation at the end of August and has been recovering in a foster home.  He was put up for adoption today – no word yet on who the lucky adoptive family is.

I told you it was a great story!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 [Picture credit:  David Bloom / Sun Media]

Shelters

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

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October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!  What will you do to celebrate?

Nearly 10 million animals enter shelters each year in the United States for reasons ranging from behavior problems to housing or lifestyle conflicts to expectations not being met.  Only about 25% of these animals are subsequently adopted, and although progress has been made, as many as 50% of shelter animals are still euthanized. 

So, other than adopting another dog for your family, which many of us can’t necessarily do, how else can you help?  Consider spending a few hours a week volunteering.  Shelters can always use dog walkers, dog bathers, cage cleaners, or any number of other helpers.

If you can’t spare even an extra hour out of your busy schedule, you might make a donation to your local shelter.  They can always use cash, of course, but will also appreciate food, towels, paper towels, cat litter, leashes/collars, food dishes, and newspapers.

Above all, before you adopt any dog into your home, make sure you are willing to make a lifetime commitment to him, so that you don’t add to the problem  – your dog must never become a shelter dog!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

Behavior and Psychology, Dog News, Human or Doggy Nature, Shelters, Training

Second Chances for Jailbirds and Jail Dogs

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New hope for shelter dogs in prison program
New hope for shelter dogs in prison program

Innovative prison program teaches dogs and men

At Wakulla Correctional Institute in Florida, an inmate reaches into his pocket and finds a dog biscuit for Pooh, a Husky-Labrador Retriever-Chow mix. Pooh gobbles the treat too enthusiastically and the inmate pushes him gently and firmly to the floor to calm him. Settled down, Pooh licks his hand.

Not too long ago, things looked bleak for Pooh. He was big and unruly and no one wanted to adopt him. Then Pooh got lucky and became part of a new program, Paws in Prison. Working with “dog whisperer” Jay King, inmates are taught how to train a dog, giving them useful skills and providing pound pooches a second chance.

The dogs move in with the inmates for two months, sleeping in kennels pushed right up against the bunks. King teaches them that it isn’t rocket science to train a dog–to teach them stability you have to be stable. He teaches them to train with kindness and treats, never harshness or punishment.

The end goal is to give the prisoners valuable skills that they can use outside prison (some dream of one day opening their own dog training schools), and to rehabilitate otherwise un-adoptable dogs to help them find forever homes.

Breed Specific, Health, Nutrition

Sled Dog Endurance

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Any of you who study the science of exercise know that experts recommend you do different types of exercise or work out only every-other day to prevent muscle damage.  So, how do sled dogs compete in the 1,100 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, which spreads over nine days?

 

Michael Davis of Oklahoma State University‘s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has studied the sled dogs for the past 10 years, before, during, and after races both in the lab and in the field.   His findings may even have implications for humans.

  Continue reading Sled Dog Endurance →

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