       |
  |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Volume 63 - March 12, 2004 Materials in this newsletter are the sole possession of the authors and Dog Company. Please do not copy or use in any fashion without written permission |
|
IF YOU CAN'T START, DON'T STOP: Biking with Your Dog 101 There are way too many people riding bikes with little or no skill level at all! To add to this problem, they think this is a quick and easy way to exercise a dog. I have seen cars swerve into oncoming traffic trying to avoid dogs that were running beside a bicycle on the roadway. Unexpectedly, the dog darts out toward the traffic because the front wheel of the bike suddenly turns into him OH, MY GOD! (DOG spelled backwards; that's another article) Let's start with can you ride really well and are comfortable riding the traffic, etc. ALONE? Do you have good stopping skills, good balance, etc? If you hesitate with this answer or say "sometimes" or any other excuse, don't go there. In the words of Mom's mechanic, "If you can't stop, don't start!" Sooooooo let's start with learning how to ride properly and getting really good and reliable on your bike before you get your furry faithful friend with you. Then picture this (in the empty or the non-busy end of a parking lot) a slalom course made with cones or whatever. You and your dog start by pushing the bicycle. Dog: has had a chance to use the "facilities of the great outdoors" before you start. Has the leash on, and is walking beside you. You: are wearing a helmet, proper lace up shoes and clothes that are not going to snag or catch. You are walking your bike on one side of you and the dog is walking beside you. Confused yet? O.K. YOU are between the dog and the bike. Now if things are going perfectly, start turning the front wheel and watch your dog's reaction. If he backs up or stops, encourage him to keep on going and to just ignore it. Continue this until the dog just stays beside you and is not affected by the movement of the bike. Now move the bike between you and the dog; same as before with the walking, encouragement and wheel movements, etc. The dog must walk beside the bike, not ahead, but really amidships (head of dog by the seat of the bike) no further back or forward. Things are perfect! O.K, now just start riding on a pedal (like a scooter) and practice all the same things as before. Now up onto the bike and go slow, practicing again. Then a bit faster, then slow, then practice braking and turns, etc. (Just like leash training but this time with wheels) Get off, love up your dog, and walk some more. When you have gotten really good and the dog is great and watching, etc. you and the dog can do that slalom backward and forward at various speeds. Make sure your leash is always "loose." If you need to correct, it is a quick snap and the dog falls into line. Lots of praise, and remember the leash is always loose. When teaching a very young puppy to stay beside so you can begin to build their confidence and let them experience new things, etc, it is important that you WALK ONLY until they are at least twelve months old. DO NOT TIE YOUR LEASH TO YOUR BIKE If you need to do this, you are not ready to take your trusting dog on the road or trail. Be patient and learn to ride well, and teach your dog how to do it properly before you get out there. Once you have all the practice done, and are confident. Look out, I do believe you're ready! Use your common sense for this vigorous exercise. This is important for both of you. Please don't take your dog out on hot days and expect him to run for miles and miles. Take lots of water for both of you to drink. Like all other adventures, build up to this just like you would hiking, etc.
Waggin' tails 'n happy trails, everyone! Woof. Sweep ^..^~~! Dog Note: There are good products on the market that allow for hands free riding while attaching your dog's leash to your bike. I recommend you try these only after you have accustomed your dog to the rules of the road and you, the human, are experienced and confident!
|
|
Classified (To our advertisers: we'd love to hear if your ad in the Woof was successful. Please drop us a line and let us know.) Home found: Hey, everyone. I wanted you to know that I've found a forever home. I've got a great person... and he's really happy to have me as his "one and only". He's got lots of land for me to play on so I'm one happy puppy. All's right with my furry world. Shadow. Wanted: Quiet, responsible professional and very well-behaved cattle dog are looking for a nice little cottage or very quiet private suite with yard access, within easy commute to Camosun/UVic,starting May or June or ? Please contact Annette at 595-8907 or dehalt@camosun.bc.ca Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle, your ......... ????? By Wed. March 24th .... for the next Woof, please...... mailto:peni@dogcompany.com (Disclaimer: Advertisements posted by the Woof are done as a service, not as an endorsement. Please communicate directly with the ad contact for further information on any items.)
|
|
ASK MAM'SELLE Dear, Mam'selle, When I was 1one year old, my folks adopted me from the SPCA. We love each other a lot and I am trying to please them...most of the time I am adorable. However now I am a two year old rotti shepherd cross that sporadically urinates in the basement when my folks are not home. They leave for work at 8:30 a.m. and arrive home at 3:00 p.m. This is too long to leave me, I know. We have been to the vet and had me tested - no urinary problems. Before my folks leave every morning, I have peed numerous times, we walk and I even get to go to the park for about half an hour. I used to have a room in the basement with my crate, but because I didn't have any problems, my folks wanted me to have free roam of the house. Now I don't urinate in the house all the time, just sometimes when they aren't home. Let's face it; I am very smart, have learned many new tricks, and even ring some bells located by the back door when I need or want to go outside! The only place in the whole house that I pee in is the basement. We used to have carpet on the basement floor but because I was urinating on it, my folks took it away and thought this would fix the problem but I seem to have no qualms about going on the cement. Help! Any assistance would be appreciated; I just don't know what to do. Dear Rotti House breaking can be heartbreaking at times. Well, you were a young adult when you came to these great folks and have been living there a year....and it sounds like you are doing well other than this one small problem. You and your folks are doing all the right things before they leave you to go to work. Keeping to all you have told me, I would say that it is most likely you can still smell the urine on the cement. Many products used for cleaning have ammonia in them. It is so easy to not notice the ingredients .. however, ammonia is a key element in urine. A mixture of bleach and water will do the trick, but your folks must wash all the floor! Yes, even where they didn't see pee just in case there are dried up droplets. You know - the dreaded drips that stay on the fur and fall off as we walk away.
Hope this was helpful...let me know! woof......Poutine ^..^~~!
|
|
Tips and Tales by Miss Trouble I'm a star - a TV star! Well, maybe not exactly a star, but I did get a couple of moments of fame. It all happened just this last Tuesday. I knew something was up when Mom got up really early. Now, I mean early. Usually she doesn't get up 'til long after Cleo and I've had breakfast with Dad and even gone back to bed. Anyway, she got up and Dad didn't - that's not the normal routine at all. She let Kaleb and I go outside for a "business trip" and it was dark! Kaleb went back to bed but Mom gave me a little bit of breakfast - not nearly as much as Dad gives me. After awhile, she told Kaleb that he was staying home (he pouted) and told me to come outside with her. By now I was really curious because she had a bag with her and I could smell some of my food inside it. We didn't go in the car, but walked up the driveway. Now that's really, really unusual, 'cause when we go for a walk like that, Kaleb always gets to come. We went up the road a little way and waited for just a short time and then - there was Peni's van! I didn't hesitate. I love riding in that van. I could tell that the Border collie girls were all there in the back - I was really getting puzzled. We went and went and went for the longest time ever; I was starting to get a bit stressed (remember me? I'm the dog who doesn't like going in cars) so I was pretty happy when we finally stopped. We furfaces waited for a little while as Mom and Peni moved stuff out of the van, and then they took us for a bit of a walk. We could see our Agility stuff and our Flyball box - this was getting curiouser and curiouser. We went inside this place - lots and lots of bright lights, a floor that wasn't slippery (thank goodness) and some nice people. This one guy kept talking - lots of talking. Another guy was cooking something sure smelled good. We lay around for what seemed a long time (boring!) but finally Mom and Peni told Sweep and I to come outside with them. That's when we found out what it was all about. Some of the guys from inside followed us out - the one that did all the talking and the one who had the big boxy thing on his shoulder. Turns out they wanted us to play Agility! Great! We could do that! We did some weaves, some jumps and a tunnel, and boy, were they impressed. The whole time we were playing, the guy with the boxy thing on his shoulder kept pointing it at us.. hmmm. We did a bit, went inside, went back out and did some more, went inside, and then we did some Flyball too. That boxy thing just kept looking at us - even when we were inside just lying around. After a long time, Mom and Peni took us back outside, put us in the van, and loaded up our stuff. The van moved for awhile and when it stopped, we all got out and had breakfast and some water. Mom and Peni went and had some too, I think, 'cause when they came back, I could smell it! A lot more moving of the van and we were home - after a couple of stops but that's another story. Dad and Kaleb were real happy to see us 'cause we'd been gone such a long time. Dad gave Mom a little black thing, she put it in the TV thing, and then she and I watched TV. and that's when it all made sense! It was us in the TV!!! There we were Sweep, Poutine, Swift and me - and oh, yeah, Mom and Peni too. We looked great, if I do say so myself! The last piece of the puzzle fell into place. When that guy with the boxy thing looked at us, he was putting us in the TV. Everybody in the whole world could have seen us! Yep, a star is born. Wonder how long before we get movie offers? We've got a few pictures up on my website - http://www.members.shaw.ca/phurphotos/tvstars.htm HRH Trouble (athlete with attitude)
|
|
Phydeau Phun A sheepdog was sent to a kennel, where his owners hoped he might learn to stop jumping up on everybody who came into their home. At the kennel, he got into a conversation with a tiny French Poodle. "My name's Josette," said the little dog. "What's yours?" "I'm not sure," said the sheepdog, "but I think it's 'Downboy'"
|
|
Sandy, the Garden Guru Gardening tip for dogs.... Stay out of the garden...your job is to watch and happily wag your tail and greet your tired human after all the work is done. The Ancient Art of Coppicing Coppicing, or stooling as it is often called, dates back many centuries and was used as a sustainable way of harvesting wood for basketwork, poles and fuel. Trees were cut to the ground, usually in the winter, and come spring would quickly re-grow, producing multiple stems and lush growth. In England and France there are coppices dating back at least 600 years and still growing strong. A related technique is pollarding, in which the shoots arise from a clear trunk, cut a few feet from the ground. Modern gardeners use these techniques mainly for ornamental effect. New growth of shrubby dogwoods and willows has the brightest colour. Cotinus and eucalyptus produce larger leaves than normal when pruned this way while catalpa and paulownia produce enormous leaves. (NOTE: trees and shrubs that flower on old wood won't bloom when pruned this way.) The procedure is simple- in late winter or early spring prune all stems back to about 6 inches from the ground. With clean sharp tools cut at a 45 degree angle just above an outward facing bud. New growth is rapid once the weather warms up. Tips for Successful Planting 1. Choose a suitable plant for the site. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, a plant well suited to a particular site will do far better than one that is not. A plant that is a real sun lover will sulk in the shade and a real shade lover will look pale and stressed if it gets too much sun. Also, consider watering needs and try to group plants with similar water requirements together. Sometimes it is helpful to know where a plant originates and what its natural habitat is and use the information as a planting guide. Many plant reference books contain such information. The internet is also a great source of plant information. 2. Prepare the soil. As a rule of thumb: the larger the plant the less you should amend the soil. Trees send their roots out a long distance in search of water and nutrients, and this root structure helps to stabilize them. If trees are planted in a big hole full of compost and other goodies, there is a tendency for the roots to stay in the planting hole instead of spreading out. On the other hand, the roots of most shrubs and perennials don't travel great distances and the plants must survive and thrive on the nutrients 'closer to home'. Be aware that not all plants like a rich soil, many thrive in poor soil - all the more reason to do a little research. 3. Dig a wide hole. The planting hole should be two to three times the width of the plant pot. For trees, the hole should be about the same depth as the plant pot. Loosen the soil around the sides and at the bottom of the hole to make it easier for the roots to take hold. For best results with clematis, roses and other shrubs, dig deeper and add lots of compost to the soil at the bottom of the hole. 4. Plant at the correct depth. This is perhaps the most important point of all. Most plants should be planted so that the top of the root ball is level with the ground around the planting hole. This is particularly important for trees. Plant grafted roses so that the graft, or 'bud union', is just at ground level. A notable exception to the general rule is clematis: they can be planted as much as twice the depth of the root ball or at the very least 2 or 3 inches deeper than the top of the pot. This produces multiple stems and a strong healthy plant. (NOTE: don't plant deep if the drainage is poor.) 5. Loosen the roots. Gently teasing the roots away from the ball makes them move through the soil faster. 6. If soil is wet don't tamp it down too hard, press down lightly and water well to settle the soil around the roots. 7. Water regularly for the first season or two. Be sure that the water is directed to the root zone. Remember that until the roots start to spread, the root zone won't be much wider than the original pot size. Forming a 'donut' of soil around the top of the root ball helps to direct the water where it is needed. Keep an eye on sprinkler systems to ensure that coverage is adequate and emitters aren't blocked. Ruff....Sandy (CDG) Chief Dog Gardner Happy Gardening from all of us at Russell Nursery in North Saanich, B.C. Canada.
|
|
Monty's Movies Playing this week: The Lion King 1 1/2 "The Lion King 1 1/2 " reveals where Timon and Pumbaa came from, how they met, and what some of the great moments in the original " The Lion King" looked like from their perspective. This movie makes the most sense if you 've viewed the original "The Lion King;" but whether you've watched the first or not, it's still a fun and enjoyable movie. ruffff... Monty Hi All!! I know it's "The Full" Monty's area to recommend movies, but I thought you all might enjoy this movie - "My Dog Skip" -starring Frankie Muniz (of Malcolm in the Middle), Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. Not only will the dog in "My Dog Skip"-an adorable Jack Russell Terrier-make you ooh and aah, but the story will melt your heart. It's sweet and well-told, good entertainment for a Saturday night with the family. Enjoy!
|
|
In the News The Magic Car Wash was losing money every week from the coin machine.The owner was shocked that his customers would steal so he installed security cameras and discovered the thieves stealing the coins weren't human but clever Starlings. They'd stolen $4000.00 in quarters and stashed the coins on the carwash roof and in a nearby tree. The local bird experts figured that the Starlings were trying to empty the box and use it for nesting. Hmmmm..if they had a dog, this would not have happened. Thanks to a little bird friend in Maryland for the story!
Woofs of Wisdom If a dog's prayers were answered, bones would rain from the sky
Did You Know? The "Dog Days" of summer refer to the hottest and most unhealthy days of the year. The traditional timing of Dog Days are from July 3 to August 11.
Pheline Philosophy "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats"
|
|
The Purrrrrrr I live with a canine, as you might know. We share most things - our Mom and Dad, the bed, the tuna tin, and the whipped cream. We also share a Grandma, but she likes me best! I know this for a fact, because I was the one who got to go stay with her one time when Mom and Dad went away. Trouble wasn't invited.... just me! Staying with Grandma was quite an experience for me, and for her! I'm used to sleeping on the bed, but Grandma didn't want to share, even when I sat outside her bedroom door and told her how it was at home. Aside from that, things went along pretty well, until the last night. Grandma was getting dinner ready; you know, setting the table, doing the cooking thing, getting stuff out of the cold place and all that. She got sidetracked by something and left the room with part of the supper on the table. Now, I thought it was a special treat for me, and that because it was my last night, I was getting special treatment. I mean after all.... it was tuna!!! So naturally, I just hopped up on the table and dug in. Things sure got noisy when Grandma came back into the room! Eventually, she forgave me, and I'm still her favourite grandcat. And here's something from the news. Computer Software for cats Called Cyber Pounce, the world's first computer software for cats has been designed by Matt Wolf along with chief engineer Ed Sahakian, animator Rob Fiore, Scott Gordon and Tommi Valentino. Dr J. C. Wright, professor of psychology at Mercer University in Macon, Ga was consulted for insights into the workings of the feline mind. A certified animal behaviourist, Dr Wight looked into esoteric matters like how to attract and hold a feline's attention and the feline visual system. In trial tests on over a 100 cats, the response rate was very good! - 72 %. Available with Mr. Wolf's company called Double Twenty Productions, it has already sold a few thousand copies. Cyber Pounce also works well as a beautiful screen saver, which can entertain cats in their owners absence. And getting creative.... HAIKU: CAT attitude, with tail (C) Copy written, 2004, by Karla Dorman Cleocatra |
|
|
