The DogCast Radio blog

Do you have blogs that you like to follow? Well obviously, in addition to this one! There are various ones that I like to check in with regularly, and I thought I'd share some with you.

High tech gadgets can be great fun, and there are some interesting ones available in connection with your pets. If you're into Tech for your pets, you can buy devices to help get a lost dog back, feed or water him, and more. For example, there's a combined camera and treat dispenser that enables you to interact via your computer or phone and reward the behaviour you want by releasing a treat.

The Paw Plunger can help get those dirty paws clean again. And now little paws can be accommodated. You can hear about the Paw Plunger from its creator, Brianne Leary in Episode 63 of DogCast Radio.

Meet the Petite!
Paw Plunger expands range to suit all breeds!

Whether you own a Great Dane or a Chihuahua you can wave goodbye to muddy paws forever as the Paw Plunger range has expanded. It’s time to meet the petite at Crufts on the Paw Plunger stand no:174. Hall 4.

Something to watch out for at Crufts:

 Support Dogs Introduces its First Canine Patron at Crufts.
NEC Birmingham, 5th-8th March 2009, Hall 2 – Stand 58

Support Dogs is pleased to announce that Saba, a rescue Saluki cross, has been honoured to become the first canine patron of this unique UK assistance dog charity.

We were off to training today, and I wanted Buddy to “toilet” before we went to the class. I always feel (based on experience) that he concentrates better without a full bowel impinging on his brain. The same could probably be said for many people, but I digress.

So this afternoon, in what the media and weather forecasters are describing as arctic conditions yet again, Buddy and I were pounding the streets near the training venue. I repeatedly issued the command to “hurry up” which is our code word attached to toileting.

Crufts is only just over a month away. In five weeks’ time we’ll be smack bang in the middle of it all. This year’s Crufts could of course be quite an unusual one.

There's been some some good, some bad and some just plain funny celebrity dog related news lately. First off, Burt Reynolds has adopted a rescue dog
. His criteria for choosing the dog? - she reminded him of Steve McQueen. Now there's something you don't hear every day!

This one, I just don't understand. Joan Rivers is convinced she ate dog

I mentioned Lee Gibson's new DVD last week, and it was while we were working with Lee that Buddy did one of the funniest things he's ever done. We were completely new to agility, and so we started where Julie Andrews recommended starting - at the very beginning. Lee believes in getting the basics right; of teaching your dog the commands for each piece of equipment, teaching a right and left command, teaching a pause on the contact points, and a priority is learning to trust your dog, and giving him the space to let him get it right.

It's an approach that pays dividends. You simply can't

We went to the Museum of Iron in Ironbridge, Shropshire, UK, last week. We've been before and I always admire this beautiful Greyhound table. Not only is it a fine example of craftsmanship, but the dogs look so proud; supporting and defending the table at the same time. Do you think they'd try and sneak the odd scrap as well though? They certainly would if they were Labradors!

It does pose a few questions - like what kind of tablecloth would you have to buy to allow for those dogs' heads? I also wonder about the people who

I haven't posted since Friday because Jenny and I spent the weekend stuck in bed with a horrible cough and really high temperatures. It was a real pain; we had to cancel a long anticipated family outing, as well as some quite important dog training. All the weekends when we had nothing planned when it wouldn't have mattered, and we had to be laid low this particular weekend. Ah well, worse things happen I know. I hope your weekend went well.
Anyway, Episode 81 of DogCast Radio is now available with two smashing interviews.