FDR once spent $15,000 to have a destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands and retrieve his Scottie, Fala, who had been left behind.

Now the question is, would any of you dog owners and loves out there spend that much money (if you had it of course) to get your dog or pet back?

Animal Planet’s DOGS 101 is looking for great stories for their Spring and Summer filming line-up!  If you have a dog of one of the following breeds which has a unique or unusual story, please e-mail Mr. John Gates at jgates@powderhouse.net.

 Spring

Cocker Spaniel (March 2010)

Shetland Sheepdog (March 2010)

Irish Wolfhound

Papillon

Gordon Setter

American Eskimo

Catahoula Leopard Dog

American Pit Bull

Cocker Spaniel

Bullmastiff

Silky Terrier

Great Pyrenees

Basenji

Coton de Tulear

Summer

Bull Terrier

Saluki

Japanese Chin

English Setter

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Caronlina Dog

Shiba Inu

Brussels Griffon

Norfolk Terrier

Tibetan Terrier

Giant Schnauzer

Irish Water Spaniel

American Foxhound

Samoyed

Greyhound

Keeshund

Komondor

Miniature Bull Terrier

 The 2010 Best In Show Trophy was awarded to “Ch Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot,” a.k.a. “Sadie,” a Scottish Terrier

It’s a Dog’s Life: A World of PawsAbilities!

As soon as you walk into PawsAbilities 2010, you will realize that this is a day for the dogs. On March 13-14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Susquehanna Service Dogs will transform the Main Hall of the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA into a dog’s delight, with Dog Olympics, agility, demonstrations of canine skills, dock jumping, canine freestyle and much more! With an entire weekend of canine fun to benefit SSD ahead of you, the pawsabilities are endless.

Do you know what you’re going to do at PawsAbilities 2010?

Ultimate Air Dogs

New for 2010 is the Ultimate Air Dogs! Watch these dogs seem to fly off the end of the dock as they catch some serious air. Ultimate Air Dogs is a dock jumping organization with exciting events such as Splash (similar to a long jump off the end of the dock) and Ultimate Vertical (a high jump). You and your dog can watch this canine sport and maybe even try dock jumping for yourselves. You may discover a fun new sport for you and your dog!

Register to participate

Dog Olympic Games

Find out if your dog has what it takes to be a canine Olympian is the Dog Olympic Games! If your dog can wriggle under a limbo stick, retrieve socks or give doggy kisses like a champ, your dog may have what it takes to clinch the gold. You can register for the games the day of the event. Each game costs $1. Or you can purchase a bandana and play as many games as you want on both Saturday and Sunday!

Great Biscuit Bite-Off

If you enjoy baking special homemade treats for your favorite four-legged friend, be sure to enter the Great Biscuit Bite Off! Our very own service dogs will judge the competition to decide which homemade treat is the tastiest! It’s free to enter. Click here to register. We will recognize the top three winners on our blog and Facebook page.

Canine Marketplace

Our Canine Marketplace is filled with vendors offering everything from homemade dog biscuits, dog collars and toys to beautiful photography and portraits. You and your dog can browse the booths – you’re sure to find something you like! Last year we had over 60 vendors for all your shopping needs. If you’re interested in becoming a vendor for PawsAbilities 2010, visit our Vendors page and complete our online registration form. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

More Fun!

Other fun events for you and your dog to participate in and watch include Rally-O, the costume contest, the Abrams & Weakley Parade, Agility Tryouts, Steppin’ Woofs Canine Freestyle, Kid’s Corner, dog wash, and many fun demonstrations. Don’t forget about the Breed Fun Match, Obedience Show & Go, and the Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International testing!

Tickets

Tickets cost $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-12 through March 8, 2010. You can purchase tickets online or you can call SSD at 717-671-7813. Presales end at 5 p.m. on March 8. After March 9, you will need to purchase tickets at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for children. Your tickets are good for both days, so you can enjoy the entire PawsAbilities weekend!

For up-to-date information about PawsAbilities and Susquehanna Service Dogs, follow @SSDOGS on Twitter, become a fan of SSD on Facebook or follow the SSD blog. We will be posting photos from last year’s big event and stories about the other exciting things to do at PawsAbilities 2010.

Dogs have an amazing ability to bring a smile to your face. Even something as simple as petting a dog can brighten your day. Susquehanna Service Dogs, a program of Keystone Human Services, trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with disabilities. These service dogs assist children and adults to become more independent and lead full, rich lives in the community – truly earning the nickname “man’s best friend.” All proceeds from PawsAbilities benefit the work of Susquehanna Service Dogs and Keystone Therapy Dogs, so bring your dog and family and have fun supporting these wonderful service dogs!

If you’d like to support SSD, make a donation, become a vendor or a sponsor of PawsAbilities, or support SSD on Facebook Causes. It’s only with your support that we are able to continue providing service dogs to assist people to become more independent.

We hope to see you and your four-legged friends there!

Chantilly
March 19-21, 2010

Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center
Chantilly, VA 20153

SHOW HOURS:
Friday, March 19, 2010 4 PM – 9 PM
Saturday, March 20, 2010 10 AM – 7 PM
Sunday, March 21, 2010 10 AM – 5 PM

LEASHED PETS WELCOMED

http://www.superpetexpo.com/

There will be lots of vendors there, rescue infromation, and plently of entertainment! It should be a great weekend!

Rabies Clinics

The League holds regular low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Clinics begin at 6:30 PM and are open until 8:30 PM. Avoid the crowd by coming the last hour. Cats, dogs and ferrets can be vaccinated for $10.00 per pet. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Please note, all cats and dogs over the age of six months are required by law to have a current rabies vaccination. We are not able to provide microchipping at our clinics at this time. We hope to resume this service in the future. For more information about our Rabies Clinics call (703) 931-9241 ext 200. See calendar, at right, for clinic schedule. Find out more about rabies.

Dedicated to animal health and well-being since 1995, PetSage is:

• a leader in holistic health for companion animals worldwide,
• recognized as a resource for extensive lines of holistic therapies, natural foods, and eco-friendly products, and
• a respected and trusted source for product information and industry knowledge.

PetSage offers:

• An on-line store with information center,
• A 4,500 ft brick and mortar retail location in Alexandria, VA,
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• Educational seminars and specialty events to holistic and integrative pet care.

http://www.petsage.com/about/

Contact

E-Mail: info@petsage.com

PetSage Hours:
Mon – Fri 10am to 6pm
Thur open till 8pm
Sat 9am to 2pm

tel.: 703.299.5044
fax: 703.299.5047

Toll Free:
1-800-PET-HLTH
1-800- 738-4584

Request a catalog:

http://shop.petsage.com/Inforequest.asp

Did you know that February is pet dental month? Yeah, neither did i!?

Bad breath in a dog is often dismissed simply as “doggy breath.” In fact, it may signal periodontal disease, which is the most common ailment suffered by dogs and cats over 3 years old. Preventing periodontal disease can result in longer, healthier lives for pets.

To educate owners of this, February has been designated National Pet Dental Month by the American Veterinary Medical Society, the American Veterinary Dental Society and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Unfortunately, dental care is often ignored by owners. One survey notes that just 1 out of 10 owners make sure their pets’ teeth are cared for. Although dogs and cats rarely get cavities, the plaque and tartar that do form can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease. This can lead to tooth decay, bleeding gums and tooth loss. The bacteria that cause all this can travel through the bloodstream and eventually damage the major organs.

For all of you owners out there that did not know that dogs having bad teeth as also bad for their health you are not alone. This is relatively new. Dogs are just like you humans when if they or you do not take care of your teeth it can lead to other health problems. Considering us dogs can’t grip onto a tooth brush and many of us don’t like when our teeth get brushed (me included) it is up to you owners to make sure your dogs teeth are in good health. A tip is to start brushing your dog’s teeth as early as possible. Just like with nail trims, your dogs will get used to the routine.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/february-is-pet-dental-month-2/page1.aspx

By Roger Nelson, Special to the Green Valley News

Remember what it was like to be a kid on a Saturday morning. No school, the sun was shining and time was all yours. How about those weekends when it was raining hard and you were stuck inside all day. It was enough to make you bounce off the walls.

That’s how it is for our dogs when they don’t get enough exercise. They can literally go bonkers with pent-up energy they don’t know what to do with. Behavioral issues often result and many dogs are given up for adoption or, worse, dumped along the highway or in the desert. Sometimes a trainer or behaviorist is called in to figure out a dog’s problem. More often than not a lack of exercise is one of the major underlying causes of behavioral problems.

I own a border collie, a very intense sheep-herding dog with a strong work ethic. Even though she knows at least 200 words, is obedience trained, a demo dog for my classes, and a Canine Good Citizen (CGC), she will tear up her toys out of frustration when not exercised enough. That’s when I know I am falling down on my job and need to get her out for a long walk or a run (not always easy for an aging dog trainer who never has enough time). I make every effort to get her out twice a day and run her along side my bike until she is huffing and puffing. This usually will do the trick and drains off that excess energy that becomes cumulative if not released. She does not tear up toys and is much easier to live with, as long as I am consistent in exercising her. It is wise when choosing a dog to do your research and get a dog that matches your energy and activity level … more on that topic at another time.

Get out and walk

Walking is a primal activity for a dog and they need to do it every day. For those who are able, two 45-minute walks daily is recommended. These are not to be slow, meandering walks where your dog stops to sniff every rock and bush. Walk as quickly as you are comfortable with so that you and your dog get a workout. Get into a rhythm, get your heart rate up, take charge and see if you can log a couple miles on your walk.

If you cannot walk your dog at a brisk steady clip, consider a professional dog walker who is able to do so. On days when you absolutely cannot get outside to walk, find fun activities you and your dog can do indoors such as hide-and-seek. Dogs love to search for you. Teaching your dog to walk on a treadmill is another good alternative.

Before you give up on your misbehaving dog stop and ask yourself, “Am I exercising my dog enough?” The answer might surprise you.

 

This is the way I see it… you dog owners out there have two options. Either walk your dog or just bring them to doggy daycare. My choice, well I believe many of you know what I would choose. Dog daycare of course! 

 

 

http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2010/02/03/columns/5cnelsonpets0203.txt 

Follow me
Wherever I go,
And do what I do
When I tell you so.

First we walk

And then we skip,

And then we will bark
With a ruff ruff ruff!

Now we’ll run
A merry race

And then we will STOP!
Ev’ryone, stay in place!

We’re following the leader!

You’ll find our doggies playing follow the leader in both the Toybox and in the Gym. In the Toybox it’s probably when some of our Pug or Terriers like to run laps around the room, or when some want to follow each other onto the play equipment. The Gym dogs like following each other when they chase after the Kongs, or when a pack leader walks laps round the room there is usually at least 4 or 5 dogs always following them. Sometimes it can get to be like NASCAR in the rooms when the dogs are playing follow the leader!