Tomorrow I am headed on a trip out of state with my sister to go look at a litter of bulldog puppies. It took us a long time to get to this point and now it has arrived. I am excited but also reflective. Last May she lost her previous bulldog Zeus to temperment issues. This is his story.
Zeus originally came to her as a rescue out of hurricane Katrina. He was found with 2 other bulldogs outside in a yard. One of the other dogs had been killed by a fallen tree. He never did like windy days after that and would hide in his crate when storms came in. Who could blame him?
Many of you may not have had the opportuity to see Dr. Ian Dunbar speak publicly at a seminar as of yet, so we thought we'd give you a little taste. A few months ago he spoke at EG (Entertainment Gathering) where he shared what he believes are the top three important things people should know to live with and train dogs. We here at Dog Star Daily thought it would be a good idea to share the video with you. Enjoy!
As winter continues to linger in my neck of the woods, with day after day of cold, snow, wind, rock salt and the need to layer layer layer, I am heartened by the obvious lengthening of days. It is a sure sign that spring is really coming.
As I am working my own Six Pillar program with my 3 dogs, I note again for anyone who cares to listen, that training in winter is actually EASIER than other seasons, especially if you live in a 4 season climate. It may be a more daunting project to take the dog out and about, because of those aforementioned wintry elements, but once you're dressed, there are many reasons WHY it's easier.
Here's a short list:
This is the time of year when we find out which pet has won the Rover Awards—the canine and feline version of the Oscars.
The Rover Award winner for Art Direction goes to Molly the anxious cat. Her creative placement of cat poop in the middle of the den was her attempt to spell S-O-S. She stopped using her litter box when the household teenager started playing the video game Rock Band. Molly may not be entertained by the loud music, but sure certainly has a flair for ‘carpet art.’ Perhaps it is time to find a new location for the litter box?
This year’s Rover Award for Costume Design goes to a talented puppy named Chewy. A sculptor at heart, he carefully reshaped the shoes in the house to resemble modern art. Of course, Chewy’s muse was Ennui, the Goddess of Boredom . A little exercise and a few toys might have saved those shoes.
Nothing is as delightful to dog owners than seeing their pet engage in the lighthearted activity of play, whether it be for recreation, a game or exercise. While dogs acting playful might seem to be pleasing, the actual power of this play is highly underrated.
