Hetzer

It was a fun day. Dr Katrina is really cool in real life, a very effervescent host.

Kimmi did not leave empty handed. She's now resting after a big day on her new "Pods4Pets" bed.

This looks like fun. There appear to be heaps of activities and presentations. I'm particularly interested in the Whisper Wise training with Dogtech, Dr Katrina and the "wonderdogs". Don't know what the wonderdogs are but I am keen to find out. Maybe see you there. Cheers.

"DOGS DAY OUT"

Venue: Clontarf Reserve, Clontarf

Date: Sunday 7 August 2011

Time: 10.30am until 2.30pm

LINK: http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/whatson/dogs-day-out/

PS - Just north of Clontarf Reserve there is an awesome Dog Beach, you just follow Sandy Bay Rd. A really nice view of the Spit Bridge and wonderful water views.

Do you work at Massimo's in Noosa or Gelato Mio in Coolum? Both those places are amazing!

My dog gets to lick the bowl if my boyfriend or I has ice cream, he loves it

You're not kidding! Massimo's at Noosa takes the word 'delicious' to new places! I've worked my way through most flavours...

My dog doesn't mind,

If it's bowl or stick.

When there's Ice Cream involved,

She'll get a lick!

I speak Czech but I am getting tongue tied trying to pronounce the name of the breed in Czech - "Pražský Krysarík". Looks like a cool little dog. Feisty!

The history of the dog breed is really interesting, with references to it dating back to the 11th century. Wow! - thanks for the link Corvus.

Kimmi gets a lick sometimes. She likes Vanilla. What is life without the occasional treat??

I speak Czech, but probably not with the technical formal accuracy you require.

I think you're doing the right thing finding alternate lodging. Here in Sydney it took me a while to find an ideal location but eventually I managed to find somewhere which had dogs already, was close to a dog beach, and had the perfect surroundings for brilliant dog walks. I wouldn't put up with people who aren't passionate about dogs, since you'd lack confidence about how your pet was being treated in your absence.

Both means double the fun!

A zoom up the F3 and you're at Umina Beach... its got an expansive off leash dog area that always satisfies. When I observe my dog, I know she has the BEST time there of any place we go to. And if your dogs like a swim, they get some fantastic extra exercise.

Actually, it's called 'pillaring'. No joke!!!

Hi Ashanali, I think pillaring is more about taking a pose in the shape of a pillar, as opposed to leaping up onto and balancing on a pillar-like object. To demonstrate, I compiled a little video montage. To borrow a classic Fast Forward phrase "Enjoy with me now..." :

Queue Van Halen's JUMP

So you're starting to yawn at the whole planking scene. You're not alone.

So why renew the buzz with a STUMP JUMP?!

The concept is simple, but the jump can be as technical as your skill allows.

Select your pole, log or stump. Run on up then JUMP JUMP JUMP!!

The more humans learn about animal cognition, the more they should realise that they're not that special or separate from other animals on the planet. I saw a documentary about crows recently too that really blew me away regarding their cognitive, problem-solving, emotional and social capabilities.

I love that Border Collie with the huge vocabulary in the documentary - super!

PS - found a wikipedia entry about this Border Collie: Betsy

SBS has brilliant documentaries, and this is one of the best I've seen. You can watch it online here : SBS Secret Life of the Dog. I found it a real eye opener and it took my appreciation of the canine mind to the next level. I hope you get something out of it like I did.

Summary:

We have an extraordinary relationship with dogs - closer than with any other animal on the planet. But what makes the bond between us so special?

Research into dogs is gaining momentum, and scientists are investigating them like never before. From the latest fossil evidence, to the sequencing of the canine genome, to cognitive experiments, dogs are fast turning into the new chimps as a window into understanding ourselves.

Where does this relationship come from? In Siberia, a unique breeding experiment reveals the astonishing secret of how dogs evolved from wolves. Swedish scientists demonstrate how the human/dog bond is controlled by a powerful hormone also responsible for bonding mothers to their babies.

Why are dogs so good at reading our emotions? Horizon meets Betsy, reputedly the world's most intelligent dog, and compares her incredible abilities to those of children. Man's best friend has recently gone one step further - helping us identify genes responsible for causing human diseases.

Well spotted Mr SM!

I used to work for Chew-Chew and still do IT tech support for Naoko, who runs the business. I was there helping out with the interview, and it was a fun morning with dogs getting their photos taken. The reporters were from the Mosman Daily, and their full story is here.

By the way, Chew Chew is online at www.chewchew.com.au. If you go to the 'gallery' you might spot my Vizsla, Kimmi, have a chew!

There was also a segment of Chanel 9 on Wednesday Night, which was fun to spot.

Check this out... here's an article from 2007 pertaining to a crackdown in Iran by the regime against dogs and dog owners. It's really horrible that dog owners and their loved pets can be treated like this, simply so the state apparatus can show them who's boss. Link here. It's easy to play the part of the impotent apologist and say hey, it's their belief system... but is it? Or is it some undemocratically appointed cleric wielding some political muscle and maintaining control of the population by terrorizing a specific part of it. Man, as if owning a dog aligns you to "the West" anyway.

So this is the genius who claims dogs are unclean, huh?

Yeah I just had a strong coffee so I'm on a roll this morning

That's OK as long as it is Fair Trade coffee beans, dude.

I am not sure about that, but it did say "suitable for vegetarians and vegans" on the jar! And I didn't eat a banana this morning so it lives another day!

As for vegans. Buy a pet rat. Or, leave some of your mung beans and lentils out on the bench, and a rat will find you. Leave dogs alone.

Rats are omnivores as well so let those poor little buggers have a TVP free diet.

My pet rat used to LOVE tasty meaty treats... oh yes... I can picture him now nibbling with real gusto! I hope they have good catering in the afterlife...

Extreme diets like the vegan are bad enough for humans let alone forcing them on carnivorous pets. Maybe a pet rock exists in harmony with the universe better... since a banana shares 50% of the DNA of a human then there's plenty of guilt potential there too.

I think I'll steal that line. Groovy, dude.

Yeah I just had a strong coffee so I'm on a roll this morning

I got told this one today.

"Purebred dogs all have horrible genetic problems because they're SO inbred"

A lady telling me my labradors where sure to die earlier than her Shmoodleywoo (or whatever the cute mutt was called) because they're purebred...

Yeah goes hand-in-hand (or paw-in-paw) with the hybrid-vigour myth, which is a borderline religion among designer-dog peddlers.

Extreme diets like the vegan are bad enough for humans let alone forcing them on carnivorous pets. Maybe a pet rock exists in harmony with the universe better... since a banana shares 50% of the DNA of a human then there's plenty of guilt potential there too.

There's a lot of swindlers out there. The buyer must beware at all times.

When dogs hump you they are just showing that they love you

obviously................................................

.....

My friend's Keeshond LOVED my leg. But I blame myself since I was wearing bicycle shorts during these "episodes" and who is responsible for their actions in the presence of spandex?

I don't recall wild dogs grazing, farming or picking fruit. Their teeth are constructed to hunt and chomp muscle tissue and bone, not grind up grains. They have claws to grab prey, not suited to manipulating fruit. Their short digestive system is indicative of specific adaptation to meat consumption, and the enzyme make-up of their digestive is not suited to digest starch or carbohydrate. Manufactured dog food is about maximising profit margins and human convenience, and the cheapest way to provide bulk in dog food is to use a cereal crop. Its only through a laborious factory process that this "food" is remotely palatable to the dog.

Remember, to be classified as a carnivore, an animal only has to have meat as its primary food source. There are sub-categories with differing levels of tolerance to other food sources. For example, dogs are more tolerant than cats.

The Pooch Pouch from Todds is a huge hit here They would be dead easy to make yourself if you had a little sewing ability, which I have none of

You got room for one more in there???