Who can blame us for trying to squeeze every last drop of sunshine out of this season after that abysmal wet summer? We’ve got the camping bug and we’ve got it bad! We just have to be outside as much as possible and you can bet Pluto isn’t complaining.

Last weekend found us at Riverwood Downs. This is a great dog friendly destination if you like a bit camping… or even if you prefer the resort lifestyle. As I’m a little bit country and a little bit rock’n roll I’ve gone both ways at Riverwood Downs. There’s even a variety of cabin options for those in between.

The location is just breathtaking… right at the foothills of Barrington Tops. And this place is a canine heaven. Dogs are welcome pretty much everywhere except the bar. My first trip there we arrived on Christmas when Pluto was a puppy. I had Pluto on lead and entered the bar as I wasn’t sure where to book in. Pluto was sporting her new Christmas collar. Turns out it was too big. She slipped her collar and hopped dirty pawed right up on an older woman in a white pants suit. Not Pluto’s best moment! (I’m pretty sure dogs weren’t allowed in there before that day either!) That year they had a Christmas dinner inside for people and their dogs complete with a Santa Claus delivering dog bikkies. Canine heaven.. didn’t I tell you? The kiosk & cafe offer puppacinos and all sorts of other dog delights. Dogs can be booked into any of the accommodations whether resort or camping. And they don’t need to be kept on lead! Of course you know your mate and can make a decision for more control where needed.

It’s quite an isolated property and yet you have all the amenities of a small resort right within arm’s reach. For example, you can hop out of your tent in the morning and grab a cappuccino. Go bushwalking and then book yourself in for a catered dinner. Rent a canoe and then get a Black Russian at the bar.  If it’s warm you can go for a swim or float down river in an inner tube. Or you can look for Platypus in the river. Yes, we’ve seen them. Horse riding is available and beautiful horses gallop through a paddock adjacent to the campground. You can hear cows in the morning from across the river.

Riverwood Downs may not be the best match if you’re a hard core camper. If free hot showers and well kept facilities scare you off this may not be the place for your backwoods adventure. A serious bush walk may require a short drive. While the canoeing  the river is beautiful, if you’re looking for some serious paddling the river doesn’t stay deep enough for long for me to get a paddling workout.

This is a fantastic place to just kick back with your dogs. Camping is easy and it’s right on the river so you can always cool off. Dogs can swim to their hearts content. It’s a bit of a drive for me at 4 hours with a 3 year old in the car, but I know I’ll be going back. Happy camping!

Check out Riverwood Downs.

The tiny little town is home to a handful of shops including a historic pub, a wee general store, a couple of cafes, a camping goods store and lollies store. It’s quaint, friendly and even has a dog friendly campground right in town for those of you who like to be real close to amenities. The Village campground is small and grassy. It was super packed on the Easter weekend you can be sure.

We opted for the other close by campground called Glendora, just a 5 minute drive from town. This is a larger campground with both powered and unpowered options. Both camp grounds are dog friendly, but there was a volunteer at ours who asked us to keep Pluto on leash, so it’s not completely free range for dogs. We did encounter a good number of kangaroos on fire trails and walks so it’s a good idea to make sure your Fido can’t chase off into the wild blue yonder.

There are many lovely bushy sites, drinkable water, 4 minute hot showers for a dollar coin and a nice outdoor hot water sink for cleaning dishes. This is not roughing it. This is camping luxury. There’s also a fire trail you can take for a stroll right into town if you’re looking for a beautiful walk with a cuppa at the end. I’ve heard that there is delicious Devonshire tea available too and Hosie’s cafe is comes with high recommendation.

We arrived on Thurs morning to an empty campground but by Friday arvo things were getting wild. If you want to have a very quiet camping experience I wouldn’t recommend Hill End during big holiday weekends. We were happy to mingle with the minions this time. The people in town were friendly and welcoming as well.

If you’d like to check out Hill End here’s a link to see more about the area. We had a great time.

We can stop puppy mills! If we all just say no to buying animals from pet stores then puppy mills will be forced out of business. It’s that simple!

If there’s anyone out there who’s unfamiliar with the terms ‘puppy farm’, ‘puppy mill’ or ‘puppy factory’, they refer to the mass breeding of puppies for profit, generally in very poor living conditions. Sadly, this is where the cute little puppies you see in pet stores most likely have come from.

Not only do these pups and their poor mums, suffer from caged life in disturbing conditions, but they are also more likely to develop psychological and behavioural issues in the future as a result of this poor upbringing. The time between 3 weeks to 12 weeks is a crucial development time for young pups and spending this time in isolation wreaks havoc on their psychological development. Worse yet, the female adult dogs are forced to breed every time they come into heat until their pup rearing days are over… with no hopes of finding a loving home. It’s a truly barbaric practice.

Unfortunately people don’t realise when they buy animals from pet stores that this is what they are supporting. That’s why getting the word out is so important. With so many wonderful dogs out there on death row it’s tragic that people still buy from pet stores and, knowingly or not, support puppy factories while they do. So many fabulous dogs are euthanised every day while waiting to find homes. If you are looking for a loving canine companion the RSPCA and other dog rescue organisations have plenty of delightful dogs who are just waiting for the you to come along.

I know many of you out there are educated about the horrors of puppy farms. The outraged response to a Facebook post about Julia Gillard getting a spoodle was an indication of just how strongly many of you feel. And I’m really happy to see such strong energy directed to encourage rescue dog adoption. I fully support the cause of rescue dogs. However, as a serious poodle & poodle mix lover, I want to address the backlash on what many people refer to disdainfully as ‘designer dogs’. As a labradoodle, my dog Pluto is classified within this label. Yes, she’s a mixed breed dog. But no, this doesn’t mean that she came from a puppy farm or that she was mass produced or kept in isolation.

I wasn’t as educated on this topic when we adopted Pluto, the furry, chocolate love of our lives. And I may well have made a different choice had I been. My beautiful shaggy girl isn’t from a pet store but from a registered breeder. We spoke to her breeder often and in detail about her rearing. We saw weekly photos/videos of her frolicking out in the grass with her puppy mates during her first 10 weeks of life. And we drove up to the Gold Coast where we personally met her beautiful mother who gave birth to two litters and then happily retired from puppy rearing. Please don’t pass judgment on these lovely dogs and their owners without any information at all on their actual circumstances. There are honest, dog-loving breeders out there who put their hearts fully into raising dogs to the best of their ability.

BUT, if any of you out there, for whatever reasons, plan to purchase a dog from a breeder, please thoroughly RESEARCH your breeder and make sure they are registered with the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). Find out as much as you can. Make sure you are not inadvertently buying from a puppy farm. Rescuing a dog in need is definitely the best ethical choice, but buying from a trustworthy breeder is a step up from buying from a pet shop for sure.

We can do it. We can stop puppy mills. Please think about the implications when you adopt your furry mates. Rescue dogs make fabulous pets and your choice WILL make a difference.  Puppy factories can be stopped if we spread the word. I really feel that if people knew what was going on in the pet store industry they would not be able to bring themselves to buy from pet stores. There’s an excellent website www.oscarslaw.org which provides educational information about puppy factories as well as petitions and leaflets to print out if you’d like to get behind the cause. We can work together to stop this cruelty and even something small like sharing a website link on Facebook can help to make a difference.

It would be really nice if I could answer that question in this post. And I would love to. But unfortunately, probably like you, it’s really hard for me to know.

There has been long term, ongoing heated debate over whether vaccinations are safe for young children. It seems that the idea that children’s vaccinations can result in autism has finally been debunked. Vaccines can definitely prevent a good number of dangerous diseases. While that doesn’t mean they are actually good for you, they are surely better for you than the diseases are at least.

But what about vaccines for our canine buddies? A while back I came across an article entitled “Is Over Vaccination Killing Our Dogs?” that got me thinking. High drama title, I know. The gist of the article was that this guy, James Schwartz, had a really bad experience with a rabies vaccination gone wrong. His dog Moolah had an auto-immune disease which should have stopped her from being vaccinated. And he lost her as a result of the vaccine.

Since then James researched and published a book exploring the legalities and sometimes tragic results of over-vaccination in pets and is leading an anti-vaccination campaign in Colorado. This has led to threats and harassment from the veterinary community. Just what do the vets have to lose? Well.. lots and lots of money of course! Here’s an excerpt from the article:

In his book he demonstrates how vaccinations and their revenue offshoots serve as huge income sources for vet practices.

Schwartz calculates that 300 animal hospitals would administer an average of 2.25 million shots per year with a profit of $156 million over three years. He also notes that 63 percent of canine and 70 percent of feline vet office visits are for vaccination shots.

Schwartz learned that a British study demonstrated that up to 12 percent of vaccinated animals showed adverse reactions within 45 days of vaccination. Schwartz views current American vaccination practices as a betrayal of trust by the vet industry, quoting the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Journal as stating: “The one-year vaccination frequency recommendations for rabies found on many vaccine labels is based only on historical precedent, NOT on scientific data.”

The vets know a heck of a lot more than I know. That said, it’s very difficult to get an unbiased answer on something when the industry endorsing the vaccines is the same industry who stands to profit.  I do worry about veterinarian bias… such as endorsing specific brands of kibble by selling it in their stores. From what I’ve researched kibble isn’t an incredibly healthy food for dogs to begin with. I mean, would you feed your human child a bowl of processed cereal and then call it a day? Nutrition achieved? I’ve asked several vets about their training in dog nutrition and they’ve honestly told me that nutrition isn’t a big part of their curriculum. I think what you eat makes you what you are so it’s a bit of a worry. But that’s another story for another discussion.

I absolutely love my vets and trust them with my dog’s life. We’ve got a fantastic relationship.

However, that doesn’t mean I have complete confidence in the veterinary institution as a whole… and some of the beliefs that may be inherent to veterinarian training. If the drug companies which provide the vaccinations are as powerful and influential as the companies which produce and provide the kibble, and I would expect they definitely are, then things are bound to get a bit messy.

So what do you think? Are you vaccine confident? Have you had any misgivings about vaccinations or any related canine health issues? I’d love to hear your view.

Canny Collar

Another balmy Katoomba winter morning & it looks warmer than it was!

It was last week on one of those frightfully frigid winter mornings in Katoomba. The wind blowing like there’s no tomorrow… and you could almost believe there wouldn’t be one. It felt like a frozen razor to the skin. This is a day where you’re definitely NOT in the mood for a dog to pull your arm off in many diverse directions on the morning walk. The shortest possible distance from point A to point B is a MUST.

My girl Pluto is not a puller. She saunters along beside me on a walk, generally keeping a lively & harmonious tempo. Enter Chico, a canine guest holidaying with us for four weeks. Quite a determined and strong fellow, Chico takes no notice that walking is a sport played by two. He’s in it for himself. God help the person on the other end of the leash! Two chocolately delicious labradoodles. A completely different walk experience.

In my no-nonsense mood I quickly decided to give Chico a go on the Canny Collar. This is a special collar we carry at Waggle purposely designed to stop dog’s pulling. The construction is like a regular collar, but there is an added slip strap which is worn over your dog’s snout. It is threaded through the collar and then the two ends of the strap come together where you attach the leash. Unlike the Gentle Leader, this training collar doesn’t pull your dog’s head to the side…which can be very disruptive for your dog’s alignment. Instead it gently lowers your dog’s snout in a natural curve toward the chest.

So.. there we were… out for the test drive. Pluto has never worn a Canny Collar so I’d never used one before. The directions on the box were very clear. I had no trouble getting the collar fitted onto Chico. We left the house and I’m not going to tell you there wasn’t a little bit of grumbling on Chico’s part. Clearly he was not thrilled. But he was not very uncomfortable either. A few minutes after our departure the whinging diminished. By the return trip typical Chico exuberance and joie de vivre was restored. Yaaay!

And my experience? Well, the difference in pulling was astonishing. Walking Chico was pretty effortless and he definitely noticed that we were working as a team this time. I’d call it a total victory! The pulling was virtually non-existant while using the Canny Collar.

I am well pleased with the whole experience. I mean there was no training involved or any preparation needed. We just popped the Canny Collar on our man Chico and that was that. To stop dogs from pulling on the leash, I highly recommend the Canny Collar. It’s a great tool for making walks more harmonious and enjoyable.

Bart Chambers at work

If you ever wanted to have your canine buddy immortalised here’s the answer! May I introduce Bart Chambers who heads up the phenomenal team at Sculptures by Teangi. Under his close supervision Teangi creates fantastic metal works inspired by animals… with a special niche in custom designed sculptures of beloved pets. My cat Maxine, who disappeared several years back, is now immortalised in metal and the results are just  joyful. It’s magical for us to see her each day now in the garden.. sniffing the flowers as she used to. Read on to hear more of the story behind the art.

Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.

Drew Carey

How could anyone hate their job when they have a great job like I do? My name is Bart Chambers and I am CEO of Sculpture by Teangi. I also happen to be an 11 year old part Staffy, part Cattle dog. I should be retired but the Cattle dog in me says ‘work, work, work’. I love to work!

Bob the sculpture & Bob the dog

My job means I spend all day supervising my 4 staff, usually from a horizontal position, usually with my eyes shut.

My second in charge is my sculptor, her name is Teangi Chambers. I also have 3 production assistants who spend the day doing very little apart from what I call ‘reverse gardening’, putting everything where it shouldn’t be. They are collectively called ‘the girls’ or the ‘chook chooks’ and they often appear in the background of our photo shoots.

So what do we do at Sculpture by Teangi?

Well the name is a little bit explanatory. My sculptor Teangi makes a huge array of different animals from sheet metal.

Growing up as a young child a couple of things made Teangi who she is today. Her love for two things… one of them was her best friend, the family dog, a golden Cocker Spaniel named Sammy. As a child she was happiest walking, training, playing and just being with Sammy. Sammy trained Teangi well in having a great respect and love for all things canine and this transpired into all animals and nature in general.

Eddie the sculpture & Eddie the dog

Her other love was art. All things art basically but she really loved to use her hands and sculpture started to become a favourite.

Unfortunately life ‘intervened’ for Teangi. Sammy passed away and the stereotypical lure of a ‘real job’ took over. Luckily for Teangi she has come the full circle and now lives her dream everyday at Sculpture by Teangi.

Each of Teangi’s sculptures starts out with a particular animal ‘speaking to her’. We have a huge list of animals that we would one day like to sculpt but it’s a matter of each one having its right moment. When that moment arrives Teangi studies pictures of the animal, or when she is really lucky, she observes it in real life. The sketching then begins. Teangi tries to get to know the animal and from that a design eventually evolves.  The next step is on to the making stage when the animal gets ‘im –metal-ised’.

All the pieces Teangi makes are hand made ~ hand cut, shaped, drilled, punched, filed, riveted and painted. They are all individuals and made without patterns so, just like in nature, no two are ever the same.  It can take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks to make each piece depending on the size and painted finish of the piece. We even use steel sheeting, mainly offcuts, which would otherwise be returned to the smelt for reforming.

Gypsy the sculpture & Gypsy the dog

Recently Teangi has been really enjoying making commissions as part of her ‘Sculpt your Pet’ project. Teangi makes these great little sculptures based on people’s real pets. She understands that not all pets are just pets – they are part of the family and a huge part of people’s lives.

To make a pet commission Teangi studies photos people send of their pets as well as hearing about their personalities and loves. This enables Teangi to get a feel for the pet and then portray that as a sort of metal caricature. Teangi takes a great deal of time making an individual sculpture to show the pet’s personality but also in painting it’s unique markings, collar and tag. She loves getting to know her subjects and each one holds a special, welcomed place in her heart.

Maxine the sculpture & my sweet Maxine the cat

Teangi really likes to personally hand over each ‘Sculpt your pet’ sculpture as she loves, above everything, to see the smiles and sometimes tears that come with the owners seeing their pets in metal. It’s usual that these first meetings are charged with emotion as sometimes the real pets are no longer around but they live on as a happy memory in metal in their favourite spot in the garden.

One day I hope Teangi makes me … she promised that she would do so at the end of the year as a Christmas present to the family. I can’t wait to be immortalised in metal!

In the meantime I will continue to be the best CEO I can. I am vigilant, like any good cattle dog, in keeping everything in its place and in good order.

So that is why I love to work. It is in my DNA but I also have the best job in the world. Not only do I get to spend all day with my pack but I also love what we make at Sculpture by Teangi.

So back to my supervising role. I think I will spend the day supervising in the sun with my eyes closed again… for something different. So I better make like a cattle dog and get the flock out of here.

To see more of Teangi’s fabulous creations check out Teangi’s Facebook page or the Sculpture By Teangi website.

Ziggy the sculpture & Ziggy the dog

the chickens inspecting the work with a final quality check

Bart on a well deserved break

Here’s the good news to all furry renters out there. An Australian website now provides a pet-friendly rentals search tool to put you on the road to success. Rental contracts can be so ambiguous about dogs and cats. It’s great to finally have a resource which will let you know where you stand. The tool is something you download which will give you a listing of pet-friendly rentals in your area from realestate.com.au and domain.com.au, two of the largest real estate websites.

You can sign up for email updates and even create a pet resumé for each member of your pack to hand in with your rental applications. A sterling resumé should impress the renters. If your dog chewed through the bathroom door in your last flat I wouldn’t recommend mentioning that….

Click here to give Pet Friendly Rentals a go!

Navy Seal Dog wearing Protective Armor and infrared camera

It never ceases to astound me how much dogs are able and willing to do for us! When I heard that a Navy Seal Dog was involved in the taking of Osama Bin Laden I shouldn’t have been surprised. Explosive sniffing dogs do their job better than any human or even specially designed machinery could ever hope to.

Navy Seals descending from helicopterr

One brave and incredible canine recruit descended from a Black Hawk helicopter into Bin Laden’s compound with the rest of his human team in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Apparently he was strapped to an assault team member of the most prestigious Navy Seals unit. This dog took part in a dangerous and strategic mission that made a dynamic impact across the globe. To him…. probably just an ordinary work day.

Amazing, eh! Working army dogs wearing ballistic armor have been an important members of specialist army units for decades.

They wear infrared cameras that send live televised information in the dark to warn of ambushes and provide visual information about their surroundings. They are kitted out with body armor that can protect them from knife wounds, shrapnel and gunfire. The dogs wear oxygen masks and can jump from aircraft at 25,000 ft!  And they are trained to attack anyone carrying a weapon.

That picture I’ve posted of the dogs descending from the helicopter says it all. These dogs are superheroic and I am so proud to think that my dog is in the same species. Once again I say go working dogs go!!! You rock hard!

If you want to see the fabulousness of working dogs in action don’t miss Extraordinary Dogs on Chanel 7 on Sundays. Or you can watch episodes of online here. This week another amazing dog was sporting the Ruff Wear Dog Booties we sell. An expert in his line of work, this happy dog identifies fires that have been started by arson.  Look no further to be inspired by dog power!

Pluto & Lola frolic @ Avoca Beach

Fun at the beach

Pluto & her Ruff Wear Hydroplane couldn't be separated!

Nothing beats a good splash about!

Avoca beach is just a hop, skip and a jump away. This is another great beach where dogs seem to be a consistent part of the action.. despite signs which declare the opposite. Really there were dogs, dogs, dogs everywhere. We enjoyed delightful brekkies at the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club Cafe which is right on the beach with gorgeous views and canines aplenty in the outdoor seating. A bonus for parents of young children is the toy basket here. Avoca beach is just gorgeous & has a great sheltered area created by a rock break so if you have young children it’s easy for them to swim & carry on safely.

Pluto gave her stay at Copa Beach House a double paws up!

For more information on great dog friendly accommodations check out these great books: Life Be In It Holidaying With Dogs and Bush Camping With Dogs.

When Susanne Edwards casually mentioned on our facebook wall that she’d been dogsledding in the Arctic with a pack of 50 dogs I was more than impressed. And I had to hear the story! I knew you’d love it too. I asked her if she’d like to contribute to the All Things Dog Blog and what follows is her fabulous contribution. Thanks so much Susanne for sharing this amazing story with us!

Susanne Edwards : Dogsledding in the Arctic

Getting the feeding equip ready (We are stood on a frozen lake)

Team Edwards

This is the dawn breaking, a few moments later all fifty dogs howled at the sun

Susanne with her lead dogs

There I was, after some 8 months of fitness training, sat in a wooden cabin in the Arctic Circle being briefed on what we were about to undertake and what we needed to know to be safe. Was I worried at this point? You bet I was worried! I was about to sled over 200 kilometres from our base camp into the Arctic wilds of the most northern European country of Norway.

We ate a hearty supper before being kitted out with a survival suit, boots and gloves. Under the provided kit, we had our own sub zero layers, wind proof fleeces and seriously thick socks.

Our first lesson, and the most important, was in caring for the fifty dogs that we would be depending on over the six days of our adventure.

The pack consisted of a variety of Siberian Husky crosses, all bred with speed and endurance in mind. These dogs work hard, they like it that way. They sleep outside tethered to a line. When you go to them in the morning they are curled in a ball under a layer of snow, and yes, they like it that way.

The dogs are very cuddly and sweet with humans, But, as a large pack, their instincts are strong and fighting often broke out. A stapler was an essential part of the expedition leader’s kit, these creatures could put nasty wounds in each other faces. I also saw that there was no room for a softly, softly approach in this environment. The expedition leader, the owner of the dogs, ruled his pack with a firm hand and two heavy boots!

Feeding that many dogs is a challenge in the best circumstances, but when the temperature is -28°C it becomes a major feat. The dogs were always fed before us humans, twice a day, 6 to 6.30am and before supper in the evening.

To get the dogs fed, we had “the mix team”, and “the bowl runners”. As the food was made ready by the mix team, the bowl runners lined up stainless steel bowls for the brown sludge to be slopped into, they then dashed at the best speed possible, considering the snow was up to our knees at times. With bowls placed in front of dogs, the runners collected empties on the way back and the cycle continued until all the dogs had full bellies.

Now if feeding them sounds like a tough job, imagine the poop scooping. You scoop one and six more appear!

Speed in preparing the dogs was critical, firstly, the days are short in the winters of Norway, so an early departure was essential for safety. Secondly, Huskies don’t like to stand still, they just want to get running, so the slower you are, the more noise they make!

Dogs and humans fed, we worked on mastering the quick attachment of dog from tether to sled line. The dogs are strong and handling them is not easy, and letting go is not an option, even when you have fallen face first in deep snow.

The sled is held by a snow anchor, a two pronged hook that is dug into the snow, not always reliable, and often a struggle to release when you have four dogs jumping forward on the lines in their eagerness. The brake is operated by a foot plate that digs spikes into the snow beneath it, but even with my full weight, I never once managed a controlled stop, I had wished I had eaten more donuts prior to my trip!

The feeling of gliding over the snow and the sound of the sled runners swishing through the snow is something special. When everything is running smoothly it is bliss, the isolation, the sparkling air, the vast whiteness and the lack of any other noises.

However, when the dogs decide to slow up and you must jog for long stints to aid them, it is hot, tiring work. Running in so many layers of clothing, in large snow boots in deep, soft snow is exhausting. Add to this, the terrain would turn from flat to mountainous. A long struggle up, followed by a panic to get on the sled to control the fast descent.

I was terrified of falling. We had seen one head injury on day two, which fed my fear further. My first fall was comical. I had taken a downhill turn badly and literally flew through the air and landed in a snow drift. Up I jumped. I had let go of my sled! As predicted my team were racing to the front of the train. I am up and running as quick as a flash, shouting “Dogs loose!” Loose sleds are very dangerous. I caught up with my sled and took a huge leap and landed, somehow, with my feet on the runners. I had got away with it, and entertained my fellow sledders too!

Each day presented it’s own challenges. Factors included the weather, from white outs, to biting winds that reduced the temperatures to -34°C. The terrain, changing from frozen lakes and rivers to beautiful forests with hard to navigate tracks. The dogs, they had good days and terrible days, my team managed to win me the award for the most “off-piste” sledding.

We would stop briefly to eat and drink. Hot drinks would be cold by lunchtime and the only way to keep your food thawed was to put it inside your suit. All food was high carb and drinks high calorie.

At the end of each day we stayed in cabins. They were very basic, but perfectly cosy and comfortable. We would fetch water from icy streams, on one occasion we drilled a hole in the ice of a frozen lake and used a small bucket on a line to draw water. Wet wipes became my best friend as did my woolly hat that hid my grotty hair.

Toilet facilities were outside and either of the “long-drop” or the “find a private spot” variety. Both gave me a good chance to marvel at the Northern Lights in the depths of the night.

I think back to my adventure in 2006 and recall some magical moments. But the most notable was the morning we had just finished feeding the dogs and the sun began to rise above the hill turning the blue tinted snow pink, as we stood in awe, the dogs lifted their heads and howled, fifty dogs howling at the break of dawn put a tear in the eyes of us all.

So why did I undertake such a challenge? As a member of a team of 10 women, we raised just over 50,000 UK pounds for our local cancer hospice. Plus, I came home with a new perspective on what I am capable of, and a much fitter mind and body.

If you ever get the chance to try dog sledding…. do! It is, as you guys say here in Australia “AWESOME”

Susanne Edwards, I live in the Hills of Melbourne with my patient husband, my Brittany Merlin and my English Cocker Spaniel Budleigh. http://about.me/SusanneEdwards

Thundershirt - tool for helping dogs with anxiety

I read a fabulous article by Debra Flick - Scrunchies and Lavender Candles for Thunder Phobia? Yep. - on solving a serious dog anxiety issue. Pepper the dog was a really serious case. At the onset of a storm she’d begin by pacing and panting. This quickly escalated to racing from room to room and chewing at the carpets and floorboards. Bad news! Luckily she hooked up with a talented trainer who initiated some innovative therapies which really paid off.

So how did this trainer John Visconti produce such amazing results with a hair scrunchie, a lavender scented candle, a white noise machine, CD of soft music, and some food? If your dog suffers from serious anxiety issues I highly recommend you read the article and find out! It’s quite amazing and it reminds me of techniques I learned during a course to become an NLP practitioner. It’s all about positive reconditioning of brain patterns. Instead of trying to train Pepper not to react to thunderstorms the trainer chose to create a positive environment with such strong positive anchors and associations that Pepper would be immune to the thunderstorms when in that environment. In the end it worked and Pepper now seeks out this specific room to take refuge from the storms. A fantastic result and what a change!

Among the tools that John Visconti would normally use to alleviate this type of canine anxiety is the Thundershirt which we carry at Waggle. One important take away from this article for me was when John Visconti mentioned he wouldn’t put a Thundershirt on an anxious dog just when a storm was brewing. This would work to reinforce the dog’s mental connection between the Thundershirt and the unpleasantness of the storm. If you are using a Thundershirt it’s really important to put the shirt on your dog during times when your dog is relaxed and happy to solidify a connection between the shirt and a chilled out feeling. Once established as a positive experience the Thundershirt can then be applied during times of stress.

This article provides a really positive outcome to a situation which I’m sure leads many very anxious dogs to being abandoned at shelters. There are ways to solve these problems!  If you know anyone with a dog who is suffering from extreme anxiety like Pepper’s please pass this article along to help and inspire them.

Dog Umbrella

Just when you think you’ve seen everything…..!

This inverted bumbershoot forms a waterproof cocoon around a small dog, enabling canine and master to maintain a walking regimen in inclement weather. The umbrella’s 29″ diameter canopy is made from 8-gauge clear polypropylene that sheds rain, sleet, and snow while allowing an unfettered view of your walking companion. Not only does the umbrella eliminate the excuse “it’s too wet for a walk” from a dog owner’s lexicon (to the delight of most canines and the amusement of most spouses), it prevents moisture from getting spread throughout the home, along with the unpleasant scent of a wet dog. The tip of the umbrella hooks to your pet’s leash to keep it from straying beyond its protective canopy.

What do you think?

Ian Dunbar: King of positive dog training

Ian Dunbar is arguably the biggest name in positive reinforcement dog training. I just read this article of his and I’m sharing it with you. It’s a bit heavy with dog training terminology, but I found it very inspiring. Two points stood out to me:

1. Training your dog with with treats as a reward is useful in the beginning, but it shouldn’t be used as a permanent fixture in your training. During adolescence dogs are less likely to respond to food so it’s best to switch over to real life rewards such as playing tug or fetch. My dog certainly prefers playing to food any day.
2. New directions in dog training involve using a dog’s problem behaviours as a reward. Interesting eh? So if your dog performs really well during training you can use ‘Running Away on Cue’ as a reward. Dogs love to be chased so if you engineer this into a reward it can be very effective. I like it. As long as your dog doesn’t run too far!

> Here’s a link to the article from Ian Dunbar

Pluto

Does my dog Pluto have perfect recall? Absolutely not. So why would I ever in my right mind walk her along our neighbourhood streets off the lead? A VERY good question… one that I’ve had to seriously ponder since I read this article by a vet about how to save money on vet bills. Basically the vet’s answer is a no brainer. Here’s what Dr. Eric Barchas says:

On-leash dogs almost never get hit by cars. They almost never fall off cliffs. They rarely get into fights (and, if everyone properly leashed dogs with poor recall, they never would get into fights). Off-leash dogs, on the other hand, get into trouble all the time. 95% of the canine trauma cases I have seen could have been avoided with proper leashing.

Rocket science, right? I bet it won’t come as a shock to any of us that dog leashes are the strongest tool we have to keep our dogs safe. And yet… we still see so many dogs out there roaming free with or without their people in sight. Why? Don’t we love our dogs? YES! We’re just suckers for the frolic! What’s better than seeing your dog galavanting along, sniffing and snorfling as it suits her, back legs kicking up joyously in the air in front of you?  I just love to see Pluto running joyously and I like to think she has some time outside to make her own choices in the world.

Our streets a very quiet and yet there have been some recent incidents which should have set off alarm bells. There have been several cases of the disappearing doodle. And then on a walk a few weeks back Pluto suddenly shot across the street to investigate a neighbourhood cat. Puffed up like a blowfish the cat scampered into the highest branches of the tallest tree. The neighbours were absolutely fuming and rightfully so. What could I say? She doesn’t normally do this. But does she occasionally do this?

After reading this  vet’s article I just can’t in good conscience walk Pluto off lead any more. That’s it. We are sorted and have been on lead ever since. If like me you’ve felt any ambiguity in this area I hope my post can help you as well. Take the lead.. and walk your dog safely!

obese dog

I just read a good article on canine obesity. Veterinarian Dr. Sophia Yin is very concerned about the canine obesity epidemic facing our dogs. Here’s an amusing excerpt:

I glanced toward the lone dog in the room and made the diagnosis. She was a beagle. A very large beagle. She looked at me from her station next to her owner’s chair, her front legs barely propping her up. It was hard to tell, but the head and coat color were a giveaway. She had the typical beagle head, only it sort of melted into the rest of her body, a non-distinct black-and-tan blob.

“She’s good,” said Mrs. Peabody, “except sometimes she has trouble getting around. She seems stiff in the morning.”

“Does she get much exercise?”

“Oh, yes. During the day, she’s outside, and she has the whole backyard to herself. She can run as much as she wants.”

Knowing how little I work out when I have an exercise area available to me all day, I asked, “Do you actually see her run around much in the yard on her own?”

“No. She must run around when we’re not home. We take her swimming sometimes, though.”

Sure she’s being funny, but Dr. Yin is deadly serious. In her view people just don’t seem to notice that their dogs are overweight and I’m inclined to agree. Even if we consider our dog a bit pudgy we may not be take it as seriously as we ought. I think people adjust to their dog’s growing size and are not considering the serious health implications of carrying that extra weight.

Do we know what a healthy dog looks like size wise? Here are some indications in case you’re wondering:

According to Dr. Yin it should be fairly easy to get our dogs’ weight back on track. After all, they don’t have access to the fridge like we do. (But has she seen the way they look at us when we go in the fridge?) Theoretically we should be their only source of food.

Feeding: The dog food producers recommend one size serving to fit all dogs and this really shouldn’t be the case. They have to recommend the highest caloric intake so that it will cover times when a dog will require more energy, such a pregnancy and when lactating. I certainly wouldn’t eat as much now as I did when I was pregnant or I’d probably have to get a larger house!  Even ‘low calorie’ foods can be too high in calories for your dog, depending on your dog’s health situation. In the case of overweight dogs Dr Lin recommends reducing your dog’s serving size a bit below what’s on the package.

What about exercise? Overweight dogs should be seriously encouraged to exercise. And that means more than just a vacant yard to run in. Exercise is such a great time for us to bond with canine buddies as they just love interactive play and face it: they’re not the only ones who could use a good walk.

Working for food. This bit is interesting. Dr. Lin also contrasts how dogs in the wild would have to work for their food while our dogs just wait for their food to be plopped down in front of them.  She suggests most of our dogs would be better off working for their food. A great way to do this is to feed your dog in an interactive treat toy. If your dog’s a gulper you might want to have a look at our Nina Ottoson toys. With these toys you can stash a whole meal inside and give your dog an appetising challenge at meal time. This slows down the eating process and gives your dog time to appreciate the food more.

Those are some tips, but of course it’s always good to talk to your vet about your specific dog’s needs. If you’ve had any success at slimming down your pooch we’d love to hear what worked for you.

Within Australia it’s all doable. But what about when an overseas trip is in the cards? We put visiting our friends and family off for years feeling very uneasy about leaving Pluto with anyone. Finally we used a house sitting website service and got referred some matches of people looking for a place to house sit. We interviewed some, but it’s so hard to know if they are really interested in being a companion to your dog or whether they are just looking for free accommodations in the Blue Mountains for a month. The idea of leaving my dog with virtual strangers, even at my house, doesn’t sit well with me. Would I leave my toddler under these circumstances? No way! And I’ve had my dog even longer.

That’s why it’s such great news to hear of fabulous holiday accommodations for dogs… where dogs can go on their own for a retreat while their people go elsewhere. This is an option for us!

Walkies, A new dog boarding retreat has opened in the Southern Highlands, and from the pictures it looks like a dog’s paradise. Here’s how it’s described:

“The property is 5 acres, the block has a walking track around the land, which the dogs love, along the path the dogs discover a large dam and have swims retrieving toys and sticks. Daily hour walks separate to property are taken place including a weekly beach run. Once morning walk is completed the dogs receive enrichment toys, such as everlasting treat balls, tux toys, rita’s, bento balls, twist n treats, ice blocks, kongs and a few original designs to keep them occupied till the afternoon. During the day there is sleeping in the sun or following Kylie or Phil around the property while they potter about, meanwhile playing with the other puppies, then its another walk or a session of retrieve in the afternoon.”

We are going to go and have a visit and we’ll update you with a review when we do. But from the looks of these pictures, the dogs are having a ball.

What I like most about this place so far:

1. Only 5 dogs stay at once so the pack atmosphere won’t be overwhelming for the dogs
2. The owner is a dog trainer as well as a qualified vet nurse so if anything happens your dog is in good hands
3. Quality dog food is part of the program and specialised diets are happily adhered to
4. The land looks beautiful and swimming is what our Pluto loves best

> Find out more about these canine holiday accommodations here.

Lola & Pluto

I just read this article on bringing up babies with dogs. So I brought my baby up wrong. Should I act surprised? It was my first go after all. My daughter Lola (who is now 2) became enthralled with our toy tester Pluto at an early age. What did we do? We encouraged it like crazy of course… as we consider Pluto an important member of our family. We talked to her about Pluto constantly while she remained forever fascinated. We lay them down together and let them roll all over each other. Many a kiss was exchanged. The mother-in-law did not like the video footage I can tell you that! But they were so sweet. And Pluto remained always gentle. This is apparently how you ‘magnetise’ a baby to dogs.

But, as we’ve all heard in anecdotes, even the sweetest dogs can react with a bite when a baby or toddler pushes their buttons. I sympathise. For certain I’ve reacted out of character to some of the things my little angel has done to me. For whatever reason we just don’t imagine that our dog will be the one to react that way. It’s like when we leave food on the table and expect our hungry canines not to help themselves when we leave the room. If someone left something delicious you loved on the table when you were really hungry wouldn’t you be tempted to have a little bite? Or just snorffle the whole thing!

Even today at 2 years old Lola talks about Pluto non-stop. My Lola is a cautious girl though and doesn’t approach strange dogs. Yet. Probably no thanks to me. I think I should be doing a bit more to retrain her that dogs are not her casual play pals. And I’m going to work on it. I’ve definitely been complicit in helping her ‘magnetise’ to Pluto. And it’s never too late to train her.

Read more about how we as parents magnetise our babies to dogs.

Tiger & Pig spooning

Here’s another gorgeous pig. I know, I know this is a dog blog, but just look at them! I can’t help it if there are a lot of pigs doing marvellous things at the moment. Interspecies love is just so incredibly sweet. It’s what we share with our wonderful canines. There, I’ve tied it in I think. Enjoy! Thought: I wonder why the dangerous piglet is wearing a harness while the innocent tiger is just chillaxing?

Louie the agility pig

Ok, so maybe he isn’t the fastest in the pack, but we’ve got to give this guy some kudos. Louie the pig is super cute and very ambitious indeed. This photo is too precious not to share.
Read more about him.

Working dog

Last night I was watching coverage of the devastation from the earthquake in Christchurch. My heart goes out to all the people in that area and of course their furry ones. It really makes you realise just how fragile we are on this earth. While I was watching some footage of a rescue team I saw a beautiful white dog hard at work in the rescue efforts, sniffing out people beneath the rubble. It brought me back to 2001 when I was living in Toronto, Canada. The World Trade Towers had just collapsed and New York police and firefighters were requesting donations of dog boots.

Back then Waggle wasn’t even a twinkle in our eyes yet and I’d actually never heard of dog boots. At first it seemed like such a strange request. Then as we learned more about the working dogs on the scene I became aware of how important protective gear such as high quality dog boots and dog goggles can be for the working dogs.

It struck me then how hard the dogs were working for us to save as much human life as possible. Dogs do so much for us. Sometimes I think humans forget how much. Dogs have such a beautiful willingness to apply themselves to our projects once we communicate our goals. It’s truly amazing. Dogs and humans have been working as a team together since we lived in caves as hunters & gatherers. We have been destined for a beautiful friendship and partnership.

At Waggle we take great pleasure in improving the lives of Australian working dogs. When Australian Army Dogs are despatched for overseas missions they are often fitted out with our Ruff Wear Boots and Doggles to protect them while they sniff out bombs in the desserts of the Middle East. Australian police dogs and many of the Guide Dogs are also geared up with our boots to help them with their work. It is all truly inspiring.

I guess I just want to take a minute and send positive vibes to all the dogs out there working to make our lives better. Whether you’re off on special missions or helping us out on our farms or guiding us through life… you dogs rock!!

Canine Anxiety

Apparently humans and canines have more in common than you might think. A research study at a university in Spain has discovered that aggressive dogs had much lower levels of seratonin in their blood than samples from non-aggressive dogs. Seratonin is the magic substance in the brain which regulates moods in people as well.

This is not the only study to have found these results. Could it be that some dogs would be much better off on anti-depressants? It’s certainly a better outcome than euthanasia, but can this be necessary? Personally, I believe that some people are definitely much better off on anti-depressants so why would I not feel the same way for dogs? Anxiety in dogs is definitely linked to aggression and dog aggression is pretty much the biggest canine behaviour problem. I guess my feeling is that the dogs involved would not be making the conscious choice to hop on the medication ride. This makes the decision less clear. While we can get pretty close to our canine friends, can we really be sure we know what they are thinking and feeling? On the other hand depression and anxiety are terrible things to live with day in and day out. If we can do something for our fuzzy friends, shouldn’t we do it? Please, feel free to comment and share your view. If you have a dog who has benefited from anti-depressants we’d love to hear about it.

Read more about: low seratonin and canine aggression.

If you have an aggressive or anxious dog and you’re not up for the medication route there are other options to try. One option is to try a Thundershirt for your dog. It’s a shirt that wraps around and compresses your dog with a gentle calming pressure. Sounds simple, but the results we’ve seen and heard about have been pretty remarkable. If you have any questions or want to have a chat about these just give me a call – 1300 725 781.

Victoria vs. Cesar

I’m totally with Victoria on the positive training. Think about it. If you train your children not to hit by hitting them, that method may stop them in their tracks in the moment but it will probably convince them that hitting is a normal way to be in control. Being aggressive toward your dog seems like it would give your dog the same message. I think we want our dogs to be making positive choices rather than behaving based on fear of consequences.

Victoria’s training methods are meant to be tried by viewers, whereas if you watch the Dog Whisperer messages pop up that say ‘Don’t try these techniques at home’. Cesar is definitely getting results with the dogs on his show. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I question the idea of domination as a training method. Sure packs have an Alpha. Groups of individuals -be they canine or human- are unlikely to all reach consensus on things. Someone has to have the final word. But I think leadership based on positive reward rather than force is going to be more effective in the long run… especially for the psyche of those who are following.

Read more: Victoria Stillwell rejects intimidation in the LA Times