Geocaching – Dog Friendly Hobby

Ah, it’s Fall again. Fall always inspires me to get outside and explore the world. It’s so easy to slip back into an exercise routine when the weather turns crisp. But guess who else wants to get out and frolic? Yes, the Big Dog. She loves this time of year and I can’t bear to leave her inside, with those big sad hound eyes, while I go off to mountain bike or some other activity she can’t do. And sometimes I just don’t want to walk the same old walk.

How about a new walk?! Geocaching seems a good activity for us both. It combines a walk in the outdoors with a little brain challenge for mom. Gets us out to new venues. And, maybe, teaches mom how to use the GPS so we can more safely explore even more new terrain (hmm, do you know about the helicopter “rescue”?)

Geocaching.com is a website to help you get started. It locates caches in your area with ratings on terrain and difficulty. It even has a “dog friendly” icon, so you know when it’s a good choice for the team : )
A GPS will cost a little to get started (so what doesn’t?) … looks like about $70 will get a serviceable entry model. Other than that, appropriate clothing, good shoes and some water should get you on your way. Remember water for the beastie!! Packs can be had so Big Dog can carry their own.
So have some fun on a techno-savvy treasure hunt with your Big Dog!

Dogs as College Mascot

As my big dog and I hung out watching football this weekend, I saw a couple of cute doggie mascots woofing and wagging for their team.  I got to wondering how many college athletic teams had a dog for their mascot.  Here’s what I found.

The Saluki Dog for Southern Illinois gets top billing as most surprising dog mascot.  The Saluki is a fast dog, apparently being clocked at 45 mph.  So not a bad choice at that.

I doubt you are surprised to read that the BULLDOG is the most prolific dog mascot.  I saw somewhere that there are 39 teams using the bulldog.  Among them…

Alabama A&M, Bryant University, Butler (Butler Blue II),

Citadel (Boo and General), Cumberland,

Drake, Ferris State, Fisk, Fresno State,

Gardner-Webb (Mac T. and Lulu), University of Georgia (Uga),

Georgetown Hoyas (Jack), Gonzaga (Q),

Louisiana Tech (Tech), McPherson (Ben), Minnesota Duluth,

Mississippi State (Bully), Samford, South  Carolina State,

Texas Lutheran, Truman State (Spike and Simone),

University of Puerto Rico (Tarzan), Union-KY, Union-TN

[and props to the Crestview HS Bulldawgs]

Wow.  I also found 9 HUSKY teams:  Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (Roongo), Houston Baptist U., Michigan Tech (Blizzard T. Husky), Northeastern (King Husky), Northern Illinois (Victor E. Huskie), St. Cloud State, U of Connecticut (Jonathan), U of Washington (Harry), and Wisconsin – Marathon County.

SCOTTISH TERRIERS get 2 teams if you can believe it.  Agnes Scott College and Carnegie Mellon (Scotty) are cheered by the plucky little dogs. Both Wofford and St. Francis use TERRIERS as a mascot. Boston University’s Rhett is a BOSTON TERRIER.

4 other breeds have representatives in the world of collegiate athletics.  The Tennessee Volunteer mascot is a fine, howling BLUE TICK HOUND named Smokey.  Reveille, Texas A&M Aggies, is a COLLIE, and Siena College’s mascot is the ST. BERNARD.

And my favorite of all…  The ALBANY GREAT DANES.

Hope your team did well this weekend. Now go walk your dog!

Martha Stewart and Jessica Simpson

I don’t keep up with a lot of celebrity news, but bits and pieces concerning critters do filter into my world now and again. I had heard about Jessica Simpson’s dog, Daisy – a maltipoo – being taken by a coyote somewhere in or around Los Angeles.  I don’t know the details, don’t know if they were shopping on a busy street, in their ‘hood, or hiking outside of the city.  It is apparent that Daisy was off leash.

So it seems Martha Stewart had an opinion on that and it was basically, it’s your fault, Jessica and just get over it.  I guess she was tweaked by Jessica’s Twittering heartbreak?  I don’t know.  Maybe Martha is right and Jessica was lax in her care of Daisy.  As for “get over it” …  I don’t know what the hell that was about.  It was her dog, not a bad haircut.

Martha caught some flack other than mine and decided to apologize.  Here it is:

But by this week, the talk show host known for her etiquette, thought better of her comments, saying, “I said that she should have been watching her dog more closely, but I feel very, very sorry for anybody that loses a pet. Jessica, I hope you find your pet, but if you don’t, I’m really sorry that you lost one.”

WOW!  Where’s my coat?  Was she forced to apologize at gunpoint?  Why bother if that’s all the warmth and empathy she could come up with?  What bugs me a lot is that Martha has (or at least had) a bunch of Chows and has made noise about being this dog person.   Someone so noted for etiquette maybe could do a bit better.  Brrrrr.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2009/09/25/2009-09-25_martha_stewart_apologizes_to_jessica_simpson_for_.html#ixzz0SP8jCiT3

High-Flying Frisbee Fun

HOWLLLLLLLLLL!

The weather man just said it might storm tomorrow. Ruby and I are bummed.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Hyperflite Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championships at the Palm Bay Regional Park.  We were thinking this could be Ruby’s debut. It is free to participate or spectate.  The event starts at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. It will take place near the youth camping area of the park.  For more information, call 255-4400 or visit skyhoundz.com.

Well, if it isn’t pouring rain, maybe they’ll be a big ole goofball in the novice competition. We call her Ruby.  Can we use our own floppy disc?

Ruby going for it. Frisbee dog?

A dog friendly attitude

A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwestern town he planned to visit on his vacation.

He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well
behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night???”

An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:

“I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels,
bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the
night for being drunk and disorderly. And I’ve never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes,
indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel.

And, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome to stay here, too.”

Ruby and I have always like this little story!

If you’re on the road with your dog, La Quinta is the place to start your hotel search. 99% of them allow pets – no weight limit, no number limit, no hassles. Just practice good animal-mommyanddaddy-ship, of course. A lot of La Quintas are remodeled and have mini-suites. Just passing the word about a business I consider a friend of big dogs – Ruby gives ‘em 5 woofs up.

Surf City Surf Dog 2009: Inaugural Event

October 11, 2009 Huntington Beach, CA

Not ready to let summer go so soon?  This doggy surfing event will keep you in the spirit just a bit longer.

Getting together to raise money for several worthy dog charities in Southern California, Surf City Surf Dog looks like a super good time.   

The Surf City Surf Dog event will be held at Huntington Dog Beach (corner of Goldenwest and Pacific Coast Highway) on Sunday, October 11. Registration starts at 8 am and the awards will be given out around 1ish. In between is the good stuff.

Dogs get the chance to surf in heats according to size – Large Dogs at 10 am and Extra Large Dogs at 10:45 am. Keep in mind the schedule can change due to tides. Each dog gets the chance to catch as many waves as possible in 12 minutes. The best 3 waves will be scored on length of the ride, size of the wave, and the dog’s confidence on the board. The top 3 in each weight category will go on the finals. In addition to the competition, there will be several other cool awards such as best trick, best wipeout, and best crowd pleaser. All dogs will get a participation award just for being awesome dogs.

If your big dog doesn’t quite know how to hang twenty, there is a Surf Clinic on September 26 (9 am to 11 am) at Huntington Beach Dog Beach. The Clinic is free to registered contest dogs, but for $10 any dog can join in. Umm, yeah, you’re gonna be in the water with that big dog, so you need to be prepared for that. It’s all on the website.

http://www.surfcitysurfdog.com/

All dogs gotta have on life vests and use a soft board for the contest. It’s all about the big dog’s safety. These will be available to rent at the contest if you’re not holding.

For the non-surfing crowd, there will be plenty of good doggy fun. K9 Kayak, 2 mile Woofin’ Walk, Owner-Dog Look-alike contest, and a Costume Contest. The Hot Diggety Dog Expo will be happening from 8 am to noon.

At 11 am, Surf Dog Richochet & Patrick Ivison Tandemn team will perform. Richochet is this amazing dog who lives to give! On this day, she is surfing to raise money for Patrick (also amazing), a 15 year-old boy who is in a wheelchair due to being run over by a car. Please follow the link and read their stories.

http://www.ripcurlricki.com/SurfinforPawsabilities.htm

There are other surf dog events out there.  Today, September 13, is the Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon to support the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego County.  These fine folks do very good work for a lot of critters.

http://surfdog.kintera.org

Peace Out, Play On!!

Surf City Surf Dog Logo

That’s a Big Dog!

It has been a long summer and a busy one. I have been to Pacific Grove, CA, to Chico, CA, to Shelbyville, IN, back to Satellite Beach, FL – 3 months, 2 cars, 1caravan; 1 Great Dane, 2 cats and a man; 9 hotel rooms and about 6,000 miles.

Last but not least – 1 new business.

That’s a Big Dog! opened for business August 20, 2009.  It is an online store carrying fabulous and functional supplies for really, really big dogs.  Of course!  So, please, check it out and let all your great friends know about us. I’m finding the best suppliers from all over and will be adding lots of great things all the time.

Pet Friendly Outer Banks, NC

Duck appears the clear winner as most awesome dog beach on the Outer Banks.

Dogs are allowed on the beaches year round. Dogs may run freely on the beaches while under the control of the owner. They must be leashed, with a leash not exceeding 10 ft. while in the town limits.

The other beaches allow dogs at certain times and on leashes…

• Cape Lookout National Seashore

The seashore is a 56 mile long section of the Outer Banks running from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast to Beaufort Inlet on the southeast. Dogs on a leash are allowed in the park and may be allowed on some public ferries (check with ferry operators), but are not permitted in concession lodgings.

• Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a 72-mile stretch of the Outer Banks from Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beaches in established off-road vehicle use areas, but are not permitted landward of the use area posts and on designated swimming beaches.

• Kitty Hawk

From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. dogs must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet. At all other times during the year, dogs must be restrained on a leash retractable to 12 feet. Dogs may be taken off the leash only if they will not disturb other people on the beach.

• Nags Head

Dogs are allowed on the beach year round with a leash.

• Ocracoke Island

Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round if they are restrained on a 6 ft. leash. Pets are prohibited on designated swimming beaches. All ferries to Ocracoke are pet friendly.

• Kill Devil Hills

Between May 15 and September 15 no dogs shall be permitted on the public beach between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. At all other times, no dogs shall be permitted on the public beaches except upon a leash.

Rental agencies with dog friendly rentals:

Twiddy

OBX Blue

Sun Realty

Atlantic Realty

Heatstroke in Dogs: When Sun is No Fun

When last I blogged, I mentioned heatstroke. I’m going to follow up on that today.

The situations where your dog is most in danger of heatstroke are in the car, out in the yard and frolicking happily in the great outdoors. Obviously, these are all wonderful things, but when the heat and humidity are up, caution is required. Short nosed dogs (think Bulldogs) are even more susceptible as they have less nasal passage for heat exchange and cooling.

1. In case you haven’t heard this enough, let me say it: do not leave your dog in the car when it is warm. Warm can be a pleasant 75 degrees! It doesn’t have to be miserable for you to be a potentially deadly situation for your dog. Avoid parking in the sun – I’ve been known to chance a parking ticket to get in some shade. And I’ve also been known just to abort the mission if there was no shade in which to park…nothing I’ve ever done or will do is worth putting my dog in danger. Cracking the windows isn’t enough, either. If there is no good air movement even leaving them down completely is no guarantee the temperature in the car will stay cool.
2. Don’t let your dog out in the backyard without shelter from the sun and plenty of fresh water. In an enclosed area such as a kennel, a dog has an even harder time cooler its body temperature. And some roofing options actually magnify the heat instead of keeping it cool! Don’t accidentally keep your dog in a greenhouse.
3. As great as it is to have your dog with you, sometimes the responsible thing to do is leave it at home. Spending hours on the beach or out in a sunny field listening to some bands is not the place for your dog. No way will there be enough water, shade or air movement to keep him safe. Also, and believe it or not, if you’re drinking you may just miss the signs if your dog becomes distressed.

And those signs would be:

• panting – it is not normal for a dog just to lie there and pant heavily
• drooling
• dry, sticky gums; thick saliva
• dizziness
• anxiety
• disobedience (atypical)
• staring; disorientation
• feeling very hot to the touch
• inability or unwillingness to get up
• collapse
• rectal temperature over 104 degrees

When you see any of these signs, immediate action is needed. Get the dog out of the sun and heat, then begin to cool him down. Put cool cloths or ice packs on the head and belly, around footpads and in the armpits; but don’t douse him in ice or cold water! Such immediate cooling can make the situation even worse. Don’t cool the body temperature to under 103 degrees. Get your dog to a vet as soon as you can. If you are able, have someone else call the vet or get the car while you try to cool the dog. Offer water to drink, but do not force it.  Use a fan or find air conditioning.

It’s great to play away the summer (and spring and fall) with your dog, just remember to be careful. Think about taking walks early or even at night (my favorite). Acclimate your dog to the heat slowly and have shorter playtimes. Keep a close eye on them to be sure they don’t overdue – don’t “check out” at the dog park. Shade and water, shade and water, shade and water. And sometimes, just let them chill on the couch in the AC, dreaming of your return.

Dog TuhDos – May/June 2009

Good Monday morning, everyone, and Happy Memorial Day. Today I have a lazy blog about random happy-fun stuff tuh do with your dog.

SOME UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Petpalooza May 30, 2009
  

Auburn, WA

• Dog Days of Hollister May 30, 2009

Hollister, CA

• Dog Day Festival hosted by Best Friends Pet Care

CA: Carmichael, San Diego June 7

IN: Carmel June 6; Indianapolis May 31

CT: Avon May 30; Norwalk, Rocky Hill June 13

MI: Lansing June 14

OH: Cincinnati June 28

IL: Chicago June 6 and 13; Prairie View June 6

MD: Rockville June 13

MA: Sudbury June 14

NJ: West Berlin, Cinnaminson, N. Plainfield June 6; Windsor June 7

NC: Charlotte June 13

GA: Duluth May 30

• Cary Dog Days of June June 6, 2009

Cary, NC

I’ve tried to be geographically diverse with the list of events with the resources I have. If you know of any cool dog events in your area, please drop me a comment about it. I’d love to spread the word.

Please, remember, summer is fun but HOT! Have water and a portable bowl with you always. Think about shade…maybe take a big umbrella? And keep an eye on your dog for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Dogs often will keep going past their limits – it’s up to moms and dads to take time outs and cool down.

Ruby chills in the pool