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#FollowFriday Fab 4: November 5, 2010

Nov 5th, 2010 by

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.

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Posted in #FollowFriday Fab Four, APDT Conference 2010, Best Friends Blogs, Debbie Jacobs, Fearfuldog's Blog, Hound Girl, ThatMutt.com, The Dog Files | 11 Comments »

#Follow Friday Fab 4: APDT Edition!

Oct 28th, 2010 by

Dogs, dogs, and dogs! My three favorite subjects were front and center for five woof-waggin’ days last week in Atlanta at the best APDT Conference ever! Okay, I’ve only been to two, so technically this one was the better, way better, of the two I’ve attended. In short, more variety and greater depth in the workshops.

I was flying so high from the conference when I returned home that I easily succumbed to Debbie Jacob’s (fearfuldogs.com) generous offer to pick me up at the Albany airport and ride with her to Suzanne Clothier’s workshop which is being held in little town in upstate New York this weekend.

Without thinking too much (If I had, reason might have applied the brakes.) I scoured the internet for flights from Denver to Albany. Of course, you can’t get there from here. You have to go somewhere else first. My head is spinning! I’m going! As for the not inconsiderable cost especially on the heels of APDT? Scarlet nailed it when she said, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

I tell you all of this not only because I’m as excited as Sadie on the trail of a herd of squirrels, but because this post will be necessarily short. I can’t go into much depth about the bloggers. My pre-departure to-do list looms.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to this week’s #FollowFriday fab four blogs that I discovered during APDT last week.

Let’s begin with John Rogerson. He doesn’t write a blog. That’s too bad. And, his book, The Dog Vinci Code is sold out! Still, you can find out about his 3-week dog training seminar in India (Yes, India!) from Sue McCabe. She went last January (He’s conducting another one January 2011. I so want to do this. Maybe 2012.) and writes a nice description of the experience on her blog, Muttamorphous: Notice the Change in Your Dog Blog. You’ll find other cool stuff there too. Look around.

One of the points John drove home at the conference is that one person can make a difference for dogs. Take Shirin Merchan. In 1998, Shirin founded Canines Can Care, India’s first and only organization dedicated to pioneering a variety of canine related activities including search and rescue, and she’s the editor of Woof: The Mag with Wag. John called Woof, the only dog magazine in India, the best dog magazine in the world!

Dr. Myrna Milani wowed me during her presentation. She’s smart, refreshing in her perspective and insight, and all about seeing the world from the dog’s point of view. And, she blogs! You can find her blog, articles, services, commentaries (love these), and everything else at MMilani.com. Do yourself a favor. Fetch a cup of tea or coffee and set some time aside to leisurely explore Myrna’s site. Click through the options in the left sidebar. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally, I had to go to all the way to Atlanta to find out about two doggie pros in my own backyard. Actually, I knew about Dr. Suzanne Hetts and her husband and partner, Dr. Daniel Estep. Both are applied animal behaviorists. In fact, Sadie and I sought help from Daniel within days of Sadie’s first barking and lunging episode when she was about 8 months old. I was totally freaked out and Daniel helped us both. What I didn’t know about is BEN, Behavior Education Network. I joined BEN when I stumbled across Suzanne tending her booth at the APDT trade show. You can learn more about BEN here, and their website for Animal Behavior Associates is chock full of informative free articles and downloads.

Okay. Gotta pack and gather all of Sadie’s food and favorite blankets to take to Mama Kitty’s where she’ll be happy to spend another four days.

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Posted in #FollowFriday Fab Four, APDT Conference 2010 | 5 Comments »

Adopt this Awesomely Adoptable Dog: Lucy!

Oct 27th, 2010 by

I love Lucy! Look at that face. Isn’t she a sweetheart? Lucy’s a sharp cookie. I’ll let her introduce herself.

My name is Lucy. Adopt me...please.

Hi There!

My name is Lucy and a I survived hurricane Katrina. I was caught in the chaos of it’s aftermath, and, thanks to the kindness of strangers at shelters along the way, I eventually made it to beautiful Colorado and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. The people here are awesome, but, truth be told, I really want to find my forever home.

I did live with a family for awhile, and although they were nice they just couldn’t give me the exercise I need. I am a true Colorado Girl. I love the outdoors and activities like hiking and running. If you adopt me, I would be so happy to be your exercise buddy.

I adore children and even have experience living with them. Not every dog can say that! And, I don’t mean to bark about it, but I am smart. I already know several commands and am eager to learn more.

You’re probably wondering how old I an and stuff like that, so here are my vital statistics: I’m a 4 year old Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer mix. I’m a female, of course, spayed and up-to-date on all my shots. Let’s see what else? Oh yes, if you adopt me I’ll get a 24PetWatch microchip free and we’ll receive 30 days of pre-paid pet health insurance from ShelterCare. I told you the people at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley are terrific!

I’m currently living with a foster family, so if you would like to meet me, and I hope you do, please call the Humane Society of Boulder Valley at 303-442-4030 during regular shelter hours to speak to an animal welfare associate. They’re really nice. I know you’ll like them.

Yours Truly,

Lucy

P.S. I just thought you would want to know that if you adopt me before October 31 you can help the Humane Society of Boulder Valley win the ASPCA $100,000 Adopt-a-Pet Challenge.

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Posted in Adopt this Awesomely Adoptable Dog, ASPCA, Humane Society of Boulder Valley | 1 Comment »

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