The DogCast Radio blog

Apparently I’m now going where no other media organisations have gone before, because although the press release below was sent out, it has not been published – so you read it here first. (probably) It comes from Catherine O'Driscoll and Canine Health Concern (http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/) and I find it very worrying.

I want to know what is safe for our dogs – and I don’t want any attempts to brow beat me into having my dog vaccinated. For example if there is an event I want to take my dog to, I don’t want to have to produce a “valid” vaccination certificate.

Puppy Farm Awareness Day is a terrific idea. If we can establish in enough minds that puppy farms are evil, and definitely not the right place to buy a dog from, perhaps they will finally go out of business. It's on 19th September this year, and to celebrate ThePet.net are throwing a party:

Celebrities support ThePet.net’s ‘World’s Biggest Puppy Party’
Puppy Farm Awareness Day 2009

TV Vet’s ‘Social petworking’ website leads fight against cruel UK Puppy Farming trade

I now live in a house with two gold dogs - Kennel Club Good Citizen gold dogs that is. Buddy passed his last year, and Star has passed hers tonight. I am so proud of my daughter and her dog, and it's been fascinating for me to see them train together.

Just had a press release from The Bella Moss Foundation. The paper referred to is in The Lancet and is called Bite-related and septic syndromes caused by cats and dogs
.

If you are looking for something fun next weekend and you're anywhere near Shropshire, try this:

FABULOUS FAMILY FUN WITH YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS

Dogs Trust Roden hosts its annual Open Day this Sunday 5th July 2009

Dogs and dog lovers are in for a real treat on Sunday 5th July 2009, as Dogs Trust Roden Rehoming Centre hosts this year’s Open Day and Fun Dog Show!

I've reported some odd dog stories over the years - dogs seem to be able to find danger everywhere. They get stuck in holes, wells and under floorboards. They eat all kinds of things they shouldn't, and they even cause their owners to have accidents at home or out and about. But this Monday morning brought a story that I had not encountered before.

It's Saturday again and there'll be a new episode of DogCast Radio out later, but in the meantime I've found a couple of interesting article to amuse you.

I posed the question yesterday of what your style of walking is - but what's your dog's? Our two do like to be out in the lead a lot of the time. I put this down in Buddy's case to wanting to be the first one to encounter anything edible we might come across, rather than any dominant traits. In Star's case, she likes to be up with her big brother; it's a comical site him loping along, with her little legs scurrying away to keep up with him.

What they will both be distracted by is mud or water. What they seem to enjoy most are really big, really

It amused me when reading Stephen Foster's Along Came Dylan, when he brooched the subject of how fast you go on a walk. He is a strider outer, whereas his partner is a meanderer who likes to take a more leisurely pace, and enjoy the walk. Maybe this is a female/male divide, because it's the same in my house. My husband wants to step it out and look lively, while I want to stroll and savour it, particularly if I've got someone I can chat to. (Unless it's raining.) (If it's raining I'm happy for him to step it out. On his own of course.)

If you fancy being a record breaker, check this out:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BARKING TO BREAK A WORLD RECORD…BUT YOUR DOGS DO! 

Disney attempts the world's loudest bark to mark the release of Bolt on Blu-ray and DVD

Dog owners across the country are being urged to “bolt” down to London 's Finsbury Park next Monday, 15 June, to help set a new Guinness World record for the loudest bark in history.