Educating Our Leaders

A friend emailed me today with a copy of something this Big Dog hadn't seen before .... a copy of AKC's "In Session" -- a well-written newsletter that AKC sends to members of Congress and their staff, discussing issues that affect the "dog world," and a spotlight of a congressional member with their dog.  AKC has also now started producing a State version of "In Session" that goes to all members of each of the state legislatures and their staff. 

I agreed with my friend's conclusion that this is a "well-written, interesting and informative newsletter" prepared by the AKC -- and a good step in the right direction toward educating those who impact our future. 

You can view copies of the current and previous issues of In Session at AKC's website -- I hope you do, and that you share them with all of your friends.  And while you're at it -- please share a copy of this blog, too!  Have news that affects Dogs in the Hot Zone? Send us a Bark (friedo-at-arizonadogblog.com) and we'll pass it along!

Do You Know Where Your Dog Is??

Did you know that 1 in 3 pets goes missing at some point in its lifetime?  Microchips can help return your pet safely to its home. A microchip is a simple procedure - your veterinarian simply injects a microchip for pets, about the size of a grain of rice (12mm), beneath the surface of your pets skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to a routine shot, takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required.  But a microchip does no good unless your pet is registered with one of the pet microchip databases.  Where can you get your pet microchipped and entered into a pet database?  Most vets offer this service, the Cavalier Club of  Central Arizona hosts a twice a year health clinic, Petco offerings monthly in-store clinics, as does The Pudgy Pup, among others.It doesn't really matter where you get the chipping done, as long as you make sure the chip is registered and you keep the papers in an easily-accessible location in case your dog turns up missing.

Looking for a Cool Summer Activity? Arizona Dog Sports is hosting an open house on August 8, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Go check out their facility (which is fully air conditioned and available for hourly rental at very reasonable rates - a good training option for you and your dog during these hot summer months).
Arizona Dog Sports is located at 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 200, Scottsdale, AZ
For more information visit:  www.azdogsports.com

Two Upcoming Seminars:

• Structure & Movement by Carmen Battaglia, Ph.D., sponsored by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Central Arizona and held THIS SATURDAY, August 7, 2010 at LaQuinta Inn Phoenix North. Price is $100 at the door (pre-orders for lunches has passed but there are eating places nearby). Visit their website for more information  www.cavalierclubofarizona.com/seminar.html.
  
• Myra Harris Seminar on Canine Reproduction, sponsored by the Caliente All-Breed Canine Association and held at Mesa Community College on August 14-15, 2010. Attend either day or both. Prices $65-125 depending on attendance and timeliness of registration. Contact wamo51@yahoo.com, or miracleterriers@gmail.com for more information. You may also visit their facebook page for more info about this Phoenix UKC canine club.

Hi, I'm Shy....

What a great idea! Bark Avenue in Mesa is hosting a special training mini class on July 10th for owners of "Shy Guys." Dog trainer Stacey Larson will help owners understand why their dogs are shy. Class will practice exercises that will help overcome their shyness! Learn to empower your dog: overcome their issues, be more confident, & proudly "meet the world on all fours"!

* Does your dog back away when a stranger attempts to pet him?
* Does your dog meet other dogs on a leash with a big vocal response?
* Does your dog shy away from children? Men with beards? Or people in hats?
* Does your dog pee when approached by a stranger?
* Do you find that you are picking up your dog, when another dog is approaching?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, this class is for you!!
Class is held in the Bark Avenue store, 3109 E. McKellips Road, Suite 104, Mesa, AZ  85213, 480-832-2510. Pre-Registration in the store. Fee $10

Here's barkin' atcha!
Friedo & Guido

North or South?

Maybe you'd like to escape "the hot zone" for a day?  The Prescott Kennel Club is holding a match on Sunday, August 15, 2010 that includes conformation, rally & obedience, a parade of titleholders, junior showmanship, and CGC (canine good citizenship) testing.  Check here for more information and to download a match entry form.  Their annual two-day show will be held on September 18-19, 2010.

Also on September 18-19, 2010, the Greater Sierra Vista Kennel Club will be holding a match and responsible dog ownership event.  Click on this link for more information.

Bark About Books!

A friend with some new puppies turned me on to these two great puppy training books so I'm passing the favor on to you! They both use the positive-reinforcement technique of clicker-training.


51 Puppy Tricks - by Kyra Sundance-  http://www.amazon.com/Puppy-Tricks-Step-Step-Activities/dp/1592535712 --  This book is very user-friendly because it has step-by-step photos on each page, as well as "troubleshooting" if you are not getting the desired result.  Older children who want to participate in the process will also appreciate the easy-to-understand instructions and photos in this book. This would be a great book to include with your puppy packs.

Clicker Training for Dogs, by Karen Pryor.  http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Clicker-Training-Dogs/dp/1890948217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277916312&sr=1-1 -- Karen Pryor is the "grand dame" of clicker training and gives a clear, easily understood explanation of the process.

Another Great Seminar!

Many of you know first-hand what a terrific club the Phoenix Field & Obedience Club is.  They offer sooo much to their membership.  Now, they've dog-gone done it again!  They're offering a great seminar by Laura Romanik on "Bridging the Gap Between Training and Showing" on 9/24, 9/25 & 9/26. "An approach to obedience training designed to produce a happy, upbeat performance both in training and in the ring!" Class is limited to 40 people & 20 dogs each day.  Click here to download a flyer or register online here.  Bark about it!

Agility

Agility.  This fun-filled activity is enjoyed by many dog owners and cool canines.  Apart from all the fun, there are other benefits to agility that you may not have considered.

First of all, any "team" activity between you and your dog helps to create a better canine-owner bond.  It establishes/improves your pet’s trust and confidence in you as his friend and owner.  It improves the communication between the pet and the pet owner, and also sharpens your dog’s mind and teaches him to think.

Agility helps to create a smarter dog as he learns to follow basic obedience instructions.  Agility training helps to keep your dog vigorous and alert, and increases his problem-solving skills with obstacle-training and problem-solving inherent in the sport of agility.

Agility helps keep your dog healthy.  It improves your dog’s coordination, improves balance and flexibility,  strengthens and tones muscles and keeps your pet in tip-top shape. Think of the muscles needed to climb ramps, make jumps, run through tunnels, walk the teeter-tot, etc.

By participating in an active sport such as agility, you will find your dog is probably less inclined toward destructive, boredom-produced activities, which helps maker a calmer, happier dog.

Agility also helps the owners!  As an owner-active sport, agility with help keep you in good shape, too.  It will help build muscle and lose fat.  It increases your flexibility and endurance.

Including it in your daily or weekly activities will surely strengthen your relationship with your dog and provide him with an outlet for his natural energy. 

Arizona is home to several agility, flyball and coursing clubs.  Check out the links on the right side of the page (under "performance") and consider signing up for a course!  Your dog will thank you for it!