I’ve been on the run. Two weeks ago I was lapping up as many APDT presentations as I could in Atlanta. No sooner than I had returned home a week 
ago Monday and I spontaneously, with a little prompting from Debbie Jacobs (fearfuldogs.com), hopped on up to New Palz, New York (lovely little town) for a 3-day workshop with Suzanne Clothier on reactive and fearful dogs. (Awesome.) When I returned home in the wee hours of last Tuesday morning all bleary-eyed, I next ran headlong into the on-going Boulder brew-ha-ha over dogs on open space trails. I’ll spare you the details for now. Suffice to say, it’s not a great day for dogs in Boulder.
Frankly I was afraid I’d have to skip today’s #FollowFriday. Something I didn’t want to do, and as it turns out I don’t have to. In the few spare moments I have on this hectic Friday morning, let me introduce you to this week’s Fab 4.
Let’s begin with The Dog Files: Everything you wanted to know about dogs and the people who love them. It’s wonderful video blog and Kenn Bell, the creator of the blog, actively encourages you to embed his videos on your blog. Take this one: Pit Proud: The History of the Pit Bull
How did The Dog Files come about you wonder? Here’s what Kenn says: After adopting an American Foxhound/Pointer mix named Max from a local shelter, Kenn Bell decided to combine his skills as a filmmaker with his immense love of all things Canine to create the very best Dog Video Series and Website on the web. Read more about Kenn here. He’s an award winning filmmaker. Heads up! Kenn does feature a video about Cesar Milan’s adoption efforts. Also, check out Dog Files Viewpoint: The dog world seen from a different perspective. You might not agree with all you read here, but that’s not the point. I find it to be an engaging blog browsing experience.
Next up is Hound Girl. I have no idea who the hound girl is, but here’s
Fred the Bloodhound
how she introduces herself on her blog: I share my Texas home with two hounds from hell! There is Fred the bloodhound and Haylie the Labrador – they are full of energy, mischief, and humor. I hold nothing back and tell it how it is. Stop by and say Hi for laughs, tears and stories about being a dog owner. Photographs of dogs are my favorite eye candy, and Hound Girl doesn’t disappoint. I enjoyed TGIF. She catches Fred and Haylie crashing into each other. It’s just the sort of play that Sadie enjoys with her BFF, Romeo.
Let’s move on to Best Friend’s Blogs. I should have known about this blog, after all I contribute to Best Friends Animal Society and receive 
their magazine. But it wasn’t until I learned about a deadly incident that occurred one night recently at their sanctuary and their response to it (Read about it here and here.) that I discovered the blog–a wealth of information about animal welfare. For example, check out Prop B: What You Can Do Now in Your Neighborhood. As you probably know Missouri voters approved a ballot measure last Tuesday to put tighter controls on puppy mills. Did you know that Missouri is home to 30% of the puppy mills in the United States? I didn’t. The post goes on to suggest ways to keep up the pressure: To find out how you can continue to create change in your neighborhood and to help bring an end to the abuses of puppy mills visit Best Friends Puppies Aren’t Products campaign site. (For a downloadable action kit on how to start your own peaceful pet store protest, click here).
Finally it’s ThatMutt.com: A dog blog. I found this delightful blog by
Liindsay and Friends
perusing the blog roll of another favorite, Dawg Business. Lindsay Stordahl writes ThatMutt.com. She owns a dog running and pet sitting business in Fargo, N.D., and she is, by her own admission, pretty much obsessed with dogs. How many of you looked forward to Halloween because the parade of trick-or-treaters would present you with near endless opportunities to teach your dog how to behave when people come to the door? Hmm. Just as I thought. Not many of you. Well, Lindsay did and she wrote a nice post about teaching your doggie door manners. It’s called My dog barks at the door. I love Lindsay’s enthusiasm. She’s perpetually on the outlook for new and interesting things to do with her dogs. (A woman after my own heart.) In this post she tells us about her excursion to Pawsitive Vybe Dog Training in Fargo with her mutt, Ace. I have to laugh. When I think Fargo I think of the Coen brother’s dark comedy, one of my favorites, by the same name. Juxtaposing the delightful Frances McDormand as a pregnant police chief who investigates a series of homicides all they while speaking in a pitch perfect Fargo accent with positive dog training, well, it tickles me.
Okay. Gotta run. I’m so behind in reading my buddies’ blogs and commenting. I don’t even want to think about how much I’ve missed on Twitter. And then there’s checking in with the great dog people I follow on Facebook. See you in the twittersphere. Have a great weekend and do something with your dog that makes her or him REALLY happy.
Thanks for the links and nice words! “Fargo accent with positive dog training” – Ha! I’m glad you find that amusing 🙂
You’re welcome. How about Frances McDormand in the role of a positive dog trainer from Fargo, N.D.? 🙂
Always nice to find new, good blogs to read! Thanks for doing the legwork for me.
Hey there, if you come across a blog(s) you like, let me know. I’m always on the prowl.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rod Burkert, Kim Clune. Kim Clune said: Checking out: #FollowFriday Fab 4: November 5, 2010 http://bit.ly/dpVKR5 (via @boulderdog1) […]
As always Deborah I learn something from your writing and observations. Hound Girl is a treat to find. Thanks for carving time out to share these today!
You’re most welcome. I’m so glad you like Hound Girl 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations – there are some ones here that I might not otherwise have found!
Oh good 🙂
Do you do a #FollowFriday Fab Four link up? You’ve inspired me…I’d like to take part if there’s one available… 🙂
Erica, #Follow-Friday Fab Four is on sabbatical, so to speak. Still, I’m curious, what is a “link-up”?