Upcoming Events - BRAT Basset Palooza- Saturday, May 18, 2013 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, May 18, 2013
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

BRAT PAWLOOZA

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MAY 18, 2013
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Frisco Commons Park
8000 McKinney Road
Frisco, TX 75034

The second annual BRAT Pawlooza, celebrating our second birthday, is a can’t-miss event!
All breeds are welcome – not just bassets!

Bo Roberts, from the Bo and Jim show on Lonestar 92.5, will be there to greet the public and to judge our popular howling contest.

If your dog can’t howl, participate in another one of our fun contests such as the
Dress-To-Impress Costume Contest
or
Weenie Toss
That’s a favorite with the canines!!!!
And like last year, we have another pawsome raffle!
Apple iPad Mini
Kindle Reader
Dallas Cowboy Memorabilia
Sporting Event Tickets
Gift Baskets
Gift Cards
and much, much more.
Plus, we’ll have vendors displaying their services and products such as:
Costco
Bow Wow Wow Designs
Camp Bow Wow – High Five
Dressed to the K-9s
Scentsy
Invisible Fence of Greater Dallas
Initials Design Handbags
Shagly Pet Photography
and more…

So be sure to come.
Fun for the whole family – even the 4-legged members!
We’ll have a howling good time!!!

Upcoming Events- Happy Tails – Ice Cream in the Park - Saturday, May 18, 2013

Happy Tails – Ice Cream in the Park

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, May 18, 2013
All Day

Bring your fur-baby to the Pavilion at Trinity Park on Saturday, May 18 for games, contests, and of course, ice cream!
Happy Tails will be a fundrasier this year, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Don’t Forget to Feed Me!  We thank you for your continued support of this fun event and your continued dedication to ensuring families get to stay together.

Interested in sponsoring Happy Tails? Contact Liesl Gray at
director@dontforgettofeedme.org!

Ticket packages are available in advance or at the door.  TICKETS WILL NOT BE MAILED, but will be held at Will Call.
**Children under 12 are FREE.**
Order tickets HERE: http://www.dontforgettofeedme.org/event/happy-tails/

Upcoming Events- Mazie’s Mission 2nd Annual BARC Gala- Friday, May 17, 2013 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Mazie’s Mission 2nd Annual BARC Gala

Date/Time
Date(s) - Friday, May 17, 2013
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Dinner, Drinks, Disco and Dancing. 70′s theme. Embassy Suites Hotel, Frisco. Help raise funds to build a rescue clinic for Mazie’s Mission. Come get your groove on! 

Please contact Dr. Erin Shults if you have any questions: drhsults@maziesmission.org or (214) 502-5497.

10 Fun Ways to Bond With Your Dog

Written on 05/07/2013 by Brandy Arnold
original post: http://dogingtonpost.com/fun-ways-bond-your-dog/#.UYlpYkqyyM0

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Arguably the most important step in successfully training your pooch is relationship building. It is through bonding with you, his pet-parent, that your dog is made to feel secure, knowing that he is accepted as part of your family. By developing a loving and caring relationship, trust is built and companionship between you and your dog is made strong. This allows him not only to respond more promisingly to obedience training but also to improve the quality of both of your lives in the long run.

Fun Activities to Get Closer to Fido
1. Have a picnic. Look for a dog-friendly park and then pack a dog-friendly lunch for both you and your pup. Here, you and Fido can take a laid-back breath of air as you enjoy a healthy meal together without breaking a sweat.
2. Hiking. Head for a hiking trail or wooded hillside that permits leashed dogs Spend the day together, exploring and looking for new sites and smells. If you find n interesting rock or spot a lizard, show it to your dog. Likewise, if your dog seems interested in something, get in for a closer look. Your dog will love bonding over nature. And, as you continue to show him interesting found objects, he’ll continue to look up to you for more!  Just make sure to use flea or tick preventatives on your pooch while you use an insect repellant for yourself.
3. Road trip. Decide your destination, pick the routes to take, and bring along lots of things your dog loves. If you choose an overnight stay somewhere, make sure that you ask first if the hotel you intend to check in accepts pets. If not, you can rent a mobile home and travel en route for dog-friendly spots. Better yet, spend the night in a dog-friendly campsite and take your four-legged friend on an outdoor adventure while you’re there!
4. Take your dog to work. Some companies set aside a single day a year for pet owners to bring their pets into work. Check if the corporation you’re working for will permit your pooch to participate. While he’s at the office with you, take him around to meet co-workers and their pets. Take him for a long walk on your lunch break, and bring plenty of treats to keep him happy through the day.
5. Nursing home or hospital visits. For owners of mellow dogs, you can try spending some time together while helping others. Visit hospitals or nursing homes to cheer up some room-bound patients.
6. Teach new tricks. Train your pooch to respond to new commands. Just don’t expend too much time on your practice. Ten minutes will be enough for Fido to be excited about picking up something new and to interact with you. He’ll love the treats and undivided attention he gets from you. Make sure to give plenty of praise and over-the-top excitement when he “gets it.”
7. Winning titles. When your pooch has already learned the basic obedience commands, try working together to earn some obedience titless. Visit your local kennel club to learn more about how Fido can reach a companion dog status and later win higher titles. More important than any title is the extra time you spend together to earn it.
8. Movie marathon. Choose a film where the main characters are dogs (e.g. Homeward Bound, Milo and Otis, Dr. Dolittle, or Air Bud). Get a bag of tasty popcorn and a bowl of delicious dog bones, and then watch the video with your canine friend. Invite your dog onto the couch with you, or make a cozy spot on the floor for you both. Even if he’s not interested in the movie, he’ll enjoy your quiet time together.
9. Frisbee. Not only is tossing a Frisbee around very fun, it can also help your pooch stay healthy. Although it may take several tries to get Fido excited about chasing the toy, but if he enjoys playing fetch then he should also enjoy Frisbee. If your pup has trouble picking up a standard Frisbee, try a floppy, disk-style instead.
10. Buy a new toy together. Visit your local pet store and let your pooch pick out his own new toy or treat. There are lots of doggie playthings that will stimulate Fido both mentally and physically, and entertain him for hours. While you’re there, take a walk past the other animals, too. He’ll enjoy checking out the fish, birds, and other animals, too!

Whistle Training: Getting Your Dog to Come Every Time

Written on 05/07/2013 by Dianne Sarasin

original post: http://dogingtonpost.com/whistle-training-getting-your-dog-come-every-time/#.UYlo3EqyyM0

Object of this exercise is to train your dog to respond to a whistle – and to stop what he is doing and return immediately to the person blowing the whistle. But this exercise is not a substitute for the verbal recall; your dog should be trained to respond to both the whistle and the command come.
After you have trained a reliable verbal recall you can begin with the whistle training. Advantages: The whistle carries further than your voice, and the dog will respond to the whistle no matter who is blowing it.
Instructions:

• Take your dog to a room with no distractions. Have some special treats in your pocket and the whistle around your neck.
• When the dog is paying no attention to you, blow the whistle – one short blast- and wait until the dog comes over to you to investigate.
• As soon as he does, praise and give him a very special treat. Repeat the same sequence as soon as he is no longer paying any attention to you.
• The dog will learn to come to you when he hears the whistle because he is rewarded for doing so every time. No need for talking during the exercise, but you can certainly praise him. No coaxing or begging for the dog to come.
• Repeat this exercise until your dog makes the connection between the whistle and the reward. This will be apparent to you by the eager response to the whistle blast. Practice 5 times on the first session and 3 times per session thereafter. Only practice this exercise every second day or 3 days during the week.
• Only reward with something of extremely high value to the dog, something he would never get otherwise. You have to make it worth his while to stop and come running no matter what he is doing. Blow the whistle to give him a bone for chewing.

Watch for:

• If your dog is particularly sensitive to sounds, blow the whistle quietly. The sound of the whistle should be the only stimulus that attracts the dog to you. Do not give any other commands or signals to try and attract the dog to come to you as that would defeat the object of this exercise.
• The dog must be rewarded every single time he comes after the whistle blast.
• The next progression is for you and your dog to practice in a confined area. Blow the whistle and praise / reward your dog for coming to you.
• Practice this only three times per session and in three different locations. It’s important to change location as dogs don’t generalize very well.

Final Progression
Continue practicing this exercise in a confined area.  By now you will be able to tell whether or not your dog is reliable returning when you blow the whistle. The value of this exercise is that it gives you a means of having your dog return from a distance should you need him to return fast.
Only you can decide whether or not your dog is dependable enough to be trusted off leash under such circumstances. I only use this recall once a week to keep it in check.  I reward the dog lavishly for stopping, turning and running back to me no matter what the distraction may be.

Dog Friendly Events-Level-1 Off Leash May 11, 2013

Level-1 Off Leash

May 11, 2013 by DallasDogLife

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, May 11, 2013
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Main behavior in this class is FOCUS on Mom or Dad and COME!. By conducting the class primarily OFF-Leash, we use the other dogs in the class as a reward as well as a distraction. Dogs that normally pay no attention with other dogs around will find VALUE in doing just that! We will also be working on the normal stuff like ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stay’, as well as ‘shaping’, but in a fun game-like way, so the dog stays interested and learns in such a way that it’s all FUN! This is just LEVEL 1! There are many more levels to come after this class. Whether competition in sport is our goal or just a nice family pet, you will find a dog that seeks you out and finds you very valuable.

No class June 1
Saturdays 11:30am to 12:30pm
6-weeks for $175
For more info, contact DCTC at info@dogcitytrainingcenter.com or (214) 506-3282. You can also visit their website at http://www.dctc-tx.com.

Dog Friendly Events-Bark for Life 2013 May 11, 2013

Bark for Life 2013

May 11, 2013 by DallasDogLife 

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, May 11, 2013
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Second Annual Bark For Life, hosted by the American Cancer Society, is a dog-friendly event that celebrates cancer survivors, remembers those who we’ve lost, and fights back against the disease. Join us for an exciting dog event filled with food, entertainment, music, activities, and competitions! This event also recognizes our canine companions, who in many cases, help those living with cancer. Dogs can be amazing emotional care givers for those needing support during tough times.
For more information, visit http://www.relayforlife.org/barkdallastx or email sarah.frye@cancer.org.