       |
  |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Volume 66 - April 23th, 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 |
|
From the Editor's Paw: Wait a the Curb Tricks and good obedience go paw in paw! You just can't separate the two and be reliable. So I thought we could explore how useful it is! We are now teaching this to our new addition to our family and she is very good at 6 months old. Having you wait at the curb until told to go ahead will be useful for your people. If they are holding your leash and juggling packages or children as well, you won't want to be dashing ahead off the curb and into the street. This will also save your life!!! Is this then truly a trick? Well, to the uninitiated, it will look like one. All my tricks are full of training secrets. And isn't that the most important "trick" of all for our people to keep us dogs healthy, safe, and obedient. O.K. let's get waiting! Now of course you're walking perfectly beside your handler when you're strolling down the street. You're walking calmly and are walking at the same speed as you approach the curb. When you get to the curb, you should "sit" automatically These curbs are the "down" curbs. Your handler will be stepping down onto the street. When you are told "with me" or "forward" you need to start to look for the "up curb" as you cross the street, and stop (standing) so your handler does not trip as they reach the sidewalk on the other side. Iit is amazing how unsure some people are on their feet. Could it be the shoes they wear? For our "trick" we want to teach you that you can never just walk off the curb without being given a command even if your handler does. Once you are accustomed to stopping at the curb, your handler will walk ahead and this time proceed without stopping. If you don't stop and sit, she will correct you quickly and place you right back on the curb and have you "sit." She will tap the curb with her foot and tell you to "sit." Then you will get lots of "praise and petting." There's lots of practicing to get this perfect. So do it all the time - everywhere - even in your driveway. This is a great trick when you are in the city or town and there's all the busy streets and cars. Especially if you are allowed off leash. Practice, all the time and remember, if you are trained to the curbs and must sit before going out into the street , "YOU" can learn to look for cars and buses and just might save your handler's life if she is chatting to her friend and just walks out without looking ! OH,YES ! YOU ARE BRILLIANT, YOU ARE WELL TRAINED AND GO EVERYWHERE WITH YOUR PEOPLE......YOU ARE A DOG ! (God spelled backwards) Walking, sitting, standing, waiting at the curb....... Sweep.^..^~~!
|
|
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.) Found: Remember Max & Molly, the older chocolate labs that were looking for a new home? (Vol. 57 - Dec.19, 2003) They 've now found one. They're living on 3 acres in a home with teenage boys and a mom that dotes on them. After the death of their master and best friend, they fulfilled the important role of emotionally supporting their mistress, but now that she is able to care for herself, she finally decided to get them a new dream home.
|
|
|
Classified Wanted: Homes My name is "Georgia" and I am a 4 year old short haired Jack Russel. I have a winning personality and am well loved. I am looking for a new home because my owner has moved to a sheep farm and I do not like living with sheep. I love to go for walks and love being cuddled. I also love children and lots of fun times with other dogs and people. I am a people dog. If you would like more information from my beloved owner, please call, 382-2612 My name is "Winston." I live with Georgia, but am not related. I am a two year old rough coat Jack Russel and I love people and ball throwing. I would be a star candidate for "fly ball." But I also like people and just hanging out with them. I am a little bit more energetic and would like an owner who has time to play with me and go for long walks. Please call 382-2612 for more information. Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle, your ......... ????? By Wed. May 5 .... 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, What is wrong with my boyfriend? He's perfectly good and wonderful with me, but sometimes with other dogs, he gets all bent out of shape. Yesterday, one of our neighbours came over for a visit with her person, and he greeted her just fine, and then without any provocation on her part, he barked and sort of grumbled at her and chased her... scared the heck out of her. Of course, he got royally scolded by my mom, but why is he doing this? Puzzled Petunia Dear P.P. Well, your boyfriend is everyone's nightmare! Most dogs are protective of their territory. However your "friend " is taking it to a high degree indeed. He is being Aggressive and Charging! When your people are not able to have him completely under control, he should be inside. Do not allow him to be able to run at people. A good fence keeps a dog from leaving but it can also make them confident and bold about their territory. Never leave a dog in a yard unsupervised. Nothing replaces great training! Get your boy friend's mom to email or call us so we can help them help him stop this unwanted behaviour before it escalates. No charging!!! Poutine ^..^~~!
|
|
Tips and Tales by Miss Trouble Well, we did it. We walked the walk - the 10K Blossom Walk that is. Saturday, April 17th was a day to remember. Last year, we only went half as far, but you know what? This didn't seem that much further! Sure we got more tired, but .... oops, I'm getting ahead of my story. Let me back up to the beginning. That beginning was pretty early too. I had breakfast with Dad and Cleo as usual, but then Mom came along earlier than normal. She puttered about gathering stuff and first thing I knew, the three of us were heading out for the car. We went for a long time it seemed; I could see lots of buildings around, not trees and park like we see on the usual Saturday walks. When we stopped and got out of the car, the folks took me on a business trip to a little grassy area, so being a good girl, I did what I was supposed to. We saw Sally doing this too, so we talked to them a bit. Then we went inside a big building, with lots of people and noise, and colour and all that. I thought they were all strangers, but hey, one of them called my name and came out from behind her table to pet me. This was Laurie; she was the one Mom had talked to when she organized the walk, and Laurie remembered me from last year. Once Mom had all the card things for the people, we went back out to the place where the cars were and waited for everyone else to show up. As they did, they got their scarf and some flowers to wear from Peni, and their cards from Mom. Mom had made me a special flower bracelet, but it didn't fit very well, so she'd put it on my scarf instead, and the others did that too. When we were all ready, we went inside the building again and our people had their cards stamped. Then we had to pose for our picture in front of all the flags like we did last year. There were lots of people with cameras again; there seems to be something about us canines that makes people want to take our pictures. Finally we were able to head off on the walk. The humans were much smarter this time - lots of them had maps!! Like last year, we walked past lovely gardens and yards and some that were plain. The humans seemed to find interesting things to see most of the time; I heard things like, "nice balcony" and "cute little house" and stuff like that. We furfaces were more interested in the smells and the sounds; dogs saw us and barked in envy, a loud siren car thing went past and we heard them in the distance, and of course there was lots and lots of pmail to read. Part of the walk went past a big open green space; there were people in it with sticks, and I'm sure I saw little white balls! I wanted to investigate more closely, but there was a big high fence to keep me out. Another part of the route was beside some water and that was pretty. About half way along (so they said) we stopped on a little grassy spot beside the road for water. Our people had all carried some and brought bowls or foldups for us to drink from. Even some of the people had water. It was a nice break, because even though it wasn't sunny, it felt warm. Some of our people even took off part of their fur! We reached a place they called "checkpoint." Our people had to get the cards stamped again and had a drink or a piece of orange. Fine thing... there wasn't anything there for us to eat! When we left there, we headed away from the water but after awhile, we could see some again. We got near one building right near the water and boy did it smell good! Even the humans were licking their chops. Our people talked a bit and then they put their hands up in the air; Mom went inside the building and then we walked on - not sure what that was all about! Something I haven't mentioned was the way we furfaces walked our people. Now, I mostly walked with Dad or Mom, and let them take turns being the one on the leash. Little Monty walked Joanne and Pat, and most of the others, Peaches, Jacques, Sally, Finnegan, Murphy, Cricket and Kali (who was walking instead of Charlie who was home because he'd had "the cut") kept their moms on leash. I saw Chinook mostly with Brianna, and Big Monty kept Pia company. Sage and Winston took turns with Susan and George. Swift kept Peni busy, which left Sweep and Poutine without their mom, so they walked Carina and Jarrod. Later on, Poutine wanted a change, so she walked my Dad for awhile. Most of our people walk quite well on the short leash, and have learned to not pull too hard. It started getting warmer and some of us furfaces began to feel it. Poor Sage really started to pant; I think everyone was glad to reach the car place again. We had to go back inside so our humans could get their rewards for having walked all that way. I think we furfaces need to speak up - there wasn't anything for us! That floor sure felt nice and cool; most of us lay down while we were waiting, and I did my dead dog imitation which got a few laughs. At last it was back outside and into the car. We drove for a little bit, and when we stopped, I could smell those good food smells again. Mom and Dad disappeared so I just went to sleep on the back seat - I was tired!!! When they came back, they had a little bit of a treat for me. Yep, it was a really good walk and I think everyone enjoyed it. Rabbit, Kona and Buck were going to come too, but they had to change their minds. Maybe they'll get to go next year.
|
|
Phydeau Phun Agility could take on a whole new twist!  (Thanks to Brianna for this one!)
|
|
|
Monty's Movies Monster's Inc Staring the Voices of: John Goodman and Billy Crystal Monsters Inc. is a great children's movie. It's about how Monsters generate their city's power by scaring children, but they have been taught to fear them so they will not be contaminated by children. So when one enters Monstropolis, top scarer James P. "Sulley" Sullivan, assisted by one-eyed Mike Wazowski, find their world disrupted. As they try to save Monstropolis's power supply, they need to save the little girl and outwit a nasty chameleon named Randall who wants to be the best scarer. Woofs of Wisdom "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you;
that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
|
  
|
Birthday Bouquets To Miss Sophie L, budding flyballer..... the Woof gang hopes you had a very happy first birthday on April 21. Lots of wooooofffss and rufffffs from all of us. And also a belated happy birthday to Rawley, adopted brother of Teena.... Rawley turned 1 on April 18. Rufffs and woofffs from us at the Woof.
*****Birth Announcement***** Susan, Kryn, Jenna, Hayley and 'Uncle Jack' wish to announce the birth of 4 Shiba Inu puppies! Empress Ivy whelped 3 girls and 1 boy on the evening of Wednesday, April 14. She did a fantastic job of whelping, with just a few 'Shiba screams' during the final contractions. The first girl was born at 7:30 pm and the next pups followed at half hour intervals, with the last one coming into the world at about 9:00 pm.
Congratulations, Empress Ivy and family, from the Woof gang. 
*****Birth Announcement***** Fran is pleased to announce that 4 bouncing baby malamutes were born March 9, 2004 to Storm Kloud's Aaztec Moon and Storm Kloud's Uucluelet Lady. The 3 boys and 1 girl come from a long line of champions; in 1994, the grand-parents on both sides were part of the only all AKC registered Alaskan Malamute team to ever compete in the Iditarod sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. There were 15 AKC registered Malamutes, 7 of which (including the puppies' grandparents) were AKC champions. Congratulations to Nancy Russell of Storm Kloud Kennels, who not only breeds confirmation champions, but is willing to prove the working worth of her dogs, as well. And of course, congratulations to Uucluelet Lady and family, from the gang at the Woof. (Dog Note: Aaztec has graciously agreed to take time out from being a father and contribute an article for the next Woof.) *****Birth Announcement***** Jesse & Lucy Conspirito (Shetland Sheepdogs) "Sheltie's" are happy to announce the births of their adorable 5 puppies. All are Tri-coloured - 3 males and 2 females. You can contact our mom Joanne Howe 474-2472 area code 250 or djhowe@telus.net She is good at taking our messages and emails.
|
|
Swift's Books No Bad Dogs - Barbara Woodhouse LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK. by Shel Silverstein "You are not a hunter", said the old lion "you are a lion." THE MISSING PIECE. by Shel Silverstein It was missing a piece, and it was not happy. So it set off in search of its missing piece.
Did you know? 33% of U.S. dog owners admit that they talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages on an answering machine while away. Pheline Philosophy "Time spent with cats is never wasted"
|
|
The Purrrrrrr Yeah, yeah, yeah... same old thing. It's always "Trouble this" and "Trouble that" and when Kaleb is here, it's twice as bad! Mom and Dad are fooled by those big canine grins - as are most people. It's time they all started taking us more seriously. While some felines might doubt the wisdom of releasing these secret documents, it's hoped that upon reading them, humans might begin to realize the true state of affairs and treat us with the respect to which we are entitled. Ecerpts from a Dog's daily diary: 8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE! See? Completely brainless! But please, read on... Ecerpts from a Cat's daily diary: Day 183 of my captivity - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today, my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan. There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of time... You have been warned, humans! Cleocatra |
|
|
