The Ottawa Canine School presents: Be a Tree seminar, June 13th
A big thank you to Liz of ottawadogblog.ca for sending me this poster to put on my blog.
Bark Walkathon
CAPPDT 2009 Conference
The OCS team was in Fredericton for the May long weekend, to attend the 3 day Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers’s annual conference.
I attended conferences by Robin Bennet, and realized that I have one of her books (Off Leash Dog Play). Interesting conference, with a lot of videos to help explain the dogs’ non verbal language. Always good to have a reminder.
Off Leash Dog Play
I also attended a fascinating conferency by the infamous Dr. Jean Dodds, on canine vaccines. I learned a LOT and am convinced that I am doing the right thing by not having my dogs get an annual booster. I will go for the titer instead.
I was glad to see that Dr. Simon Gadbois was a speaker this year, as I quite enjoyed his conference last year. This year’s was also interesting, but seemed too short! I can’t get enough of hearing about animal behaviour and behavioural neuroscience.
Sean Senechal is the founder of the AnimalSign Centre where she is an animal language educator. Her conferences were touted as the highlight of the weekend, but to be honest, I was mildly disappointed. She examines the capability of dogs, cats and horses to learn language, but her presentation did not convince me that this was possible. Though I do believe that dogs understand words, I am not convinced that they can learn language, then use it to “make sentences”. I skipped her workshop to attend Sue Alexander’s conferences.
In fact, I think I attended all of Sue Alexander’s conferences. VERY interesting and thought provoking. What I liked most about her conferences, was that she gave us a LOT. Some of the more seasonned speakers didn’t seem to give us fresh, new food for thought but rather chose to rehash what they had written about (read it already, thank you very much), or spend TOOoooo much time on one topic. After Sue’s conferences, my head was spinning, ready to burst with all the information.
All in all, a wonderful weekend that is sure to make the OCS team even better!
Thanks to the CAPPDT for offering this continued education. I’m already planning on being in Calgary for next year’s.
Urban agility/outdoor Reality Training
WHAT: Outdoor Urban Agiliyt/Reality Training
WHEN: May 21st (Thursday) at 7pm
WHERE: Meet at the corner of Dufferin and Crichton
HOW MUCH: $30
HOW LONG: 75 minutes
THE SESSION: Priceless
Come out and have a good time with your dog. Wear shoes you can move in, water for you and your dog, and baggies to pick up after your pooch. No previous experience necessary.
Cute video of Great Dane and kitten playing
I found this video and thought it was just too cute. It’s a bit long, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The kitten is so playful and the Great Dane incredibly patient.
Enjoy!
Outdoor Urban Agility – tonight May 12th, 7pm
TONIGHT May 12th is the first Outdoor Urban Agility of the Season. We meet at 7pm, outside, on the corner of Dufferin and Crichton (200 Crichton). Drop-in fee is $30.
If you have adopted a dog from Hopeful Hearts, fee is $20.
Great fun! Guaranteed to have happy, tired dogs at the end of the session.
The Purina Dog Chow Diet
I got this from my dad, who is retired….
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A New Diet …
Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet,Biscuit, the Wonder Dog. I was in the checkout line when woman behind me asked if Ihad a dog.
What did she think I had, an elephant? So since I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I’d lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter’s ass and a car hit us both.
I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.
Costco won’t let me shop there anymore.
Better watch what you ask retired people.
They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
How to avoid buying from a Puppy Mill
I found this on Cesar Millan’s website and thought it was important to share. As some of you may know, my Great Dane Hemi was rescued from the Rawdon Puppy Mill bust back in September. He came to us emaciated at 75lbs, and lacked a zest for life. He is now a healthy 131lbs. He actually skips a meal now and then… something that would have been unthinkable the first months he was with us!
Puppy mills can be a danger for families that want to adopt a new dog. A puppy mill is a breeding facility with the sole purpose of churning out the most dogs for the least money – and to make the most profit. Substandard breeding conditions and inbreeding can lead to health and behavioral problems in the puppies bred there. You can do your part by making sure to research before you adopt and by keeping yourself informed! Here are some tips to avoid adopting from a puppy mill:
Avoid: Pet stores, newspaper or journal ads, and great deals on the internet! Many puppy mills supply local pet stores, and ads in newspapers or on websites can easily falsify information.
Visit the breeder and ask questions! Ask to see the entire facility where the dogs are bred and kept. Is it clean? Spacious enough? Ask to see the parent dogs as well. Does the breeder show hesitation to let you see the facility or to let you meet the other dogs who are being kept there? Or is the breeder willing to just sell one of his puppies to anyone who walks in off the street, sight unseen? Reputable breeders will want to make sure their puppies are going to good homes. Beware of all these red flags.
Adopt from a shelter or rescue instead! This is the simplest solution. Rescues and shelters most often have the best interest of the animal at heart, and many of them are last chance adoptions. Remember: don’t feel sorry! Adopt based on your energy level and compatibility!
For more tips on finding a responsible breeder, check out the HSUS.org guide.
BARK WALKATHON June 14th
* copied from the BARK website*
Bark Walkathon
NEW DATE NEW LOCATION
When: Sunday June 14, 2009
Where: The Bruce Pit – Hunt Club and Cedarview Drive
Time: Registration starts at 8 am walk starts at 9 am
Cost: Anyone who has not collected pledges will be required to pay a $25 registration fee
BBQ and all Activities are FREE for all Walk Participants
BBQ with hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks (veggie too)
Come out and join Codi Jeffreys, and the whole B.A.R.K. team for a fun filled family day. Barbecue and social will follow the walk with FREE hotdogs, hamburgers (veggie too) and ice cold drinks.
Again this year “The Bark Boutique” – Tons of wonderful Bark items for sale all proceeds to benefit Bark. Also the Bark Thrift Shop with tons of great items for fantastic prices
FREE Coffee and donuts available before the walk
FREE B.A.R.K. T shirt for anyone collecting $100 or more
$100 gas card for anyone collecting over $1000
Top Ten Prizes
1. $1000 Gas Card
2. $500 Gas Card
3. $500 Gas Card
4.Sue Bird Photo Session ($800 value)
5. Cottage Weekend for you and your dog(s)
6. Family Gym Membership
7. Bicycle
8. Bicycle
9. Video Camera
10. Oil Painting of your dog by Local Artist
Activities
• Agility demo – Shake-a-Paw Dog Training – Paola Hoger
• Interactive Scenting Demo – K9 Common Scents Dog Training
• Flyball Demo
• Disk Dog Demo – Pam Casselman
• “Ask the Behaviour Consultant” –Cheryl Smith of Forever Friends Dog Training
• Suzanne Bird Pet Photographer – 5×7 colour photo of your dog
• Christine’s Pet Parlour – Christine Latter – nail trim, ear cleaning
• Dr Lianna Titcombe – vet check your dog
• Dog Chiropractor – Dr Alison Seely will adjust your dog
• Therapeutic Paws of Canada – is your dog therapy dog material? – find out
• Tellington Touch reatment for your dog by Helen McGraw
• Elizabeth Wright Animal Communicator will talk to your dog
• RDOC – Responsible Dog Owners of Canada – these are the people who lobby for our dogs rights
* check out the website (http://home.ican.net/~933435/UpcomingEvents.htm)for the map and pledgeform! Everest and Hemingway will be there!!! We are looking forward to this event.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR PETS
Monday MAy 4th, at 7pm there is an information session on Acupuncture for pets.
WHERE: Natural Pet Foods , 61 Bridge St, Carleton Place.
REGISTRATION: $10
WHO: Dr. Helen Douglas