Buddy and I are going on a Rally course on Sunday. It's a sport I've researched for articles, but never actually taken part in before. Although it's established in America, it's very new to the UK, and we're lucky to have a course going on so close to us. As I understand it in the easier level the dog can stay on lead, which is a comfort when you have a friendly Labrador whose mission in life seems to be to meet and greet as many people and dogs as he possibly can. But what are the behaviours that we have to carry out as we work our way around the course? I have to say that while I'm excited, I'm now getting a little nervous too.

So I've been investigating online, and here's the findings of my in depth research so far: some of it we'll be able to manage, some of it we might well make a mess of. So it should be a fun day, and at least we'll give some of the other participants a good laugh.

The point is that we can have a go, and we can enjoy the experience knowing that's it's doing both of us a lot of good and strengthening our bond. I learned last year while trying out a lot of canine activities and sports (and leaving my comfort zone a long way behind) that I've wasted a lot of time standing at the edges of arenas and rings, watching someone else and their dog performing or competing, thinking, "One day Buddy and I will try that." But for so long we just didn't get around to it. Until last year, when we both learned a lot - and had a lot of fun in the process.

I have to admit that I don't think Buddy and I will ever be as good as Clarissa Bergeman (the handler in the video above) and her dog, but I suspect we're not on our own in that. The important thing is that we can try it out and see if it suits us. It will be an adventure. We may not put in the best performance, but as the saying goes, I know I'll be bringing home the best dog. The real challenge is to make it so pleasant and fun that Buddy thinks he's bringing home the best human. Fingers crossed!

Take care,

Julie x

I posted yesterday about my belief that our dogs would not want us to be miserable and dogless after they have passed over. One of my Facebook and Twitter friends Jenny Prevel replied with her experiences of loss and moving on, and a beautiful poem that expresses what a dog's feelings about the subject might be:

The Legacy

I heard from Ted Kerasote, author of Merle's Door yesterday. If you haven't read Merle's Door yet you have missed out on probably the best dog book in the world. You can hear an interview with Ted about his book in Episode 64 of DogCast Radio. It is an interweaving of Merle's biography with fascinating research, all permeated by the love story of Ted and Merle.

I've just read an article entitled Jessica Simpson to replace dead dog. It's an emotive headline isn't it?

Will you be watching?

THREE NEW AKC BREEDS TO DEBUT IN NOVEMBER
AT “THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA®”

Apparently the latest dog getting attention in the US is Willow. Her talent? - well amazingly apparently she can read. Watch the video for yourself and see what you think. I'd like to see her "read" more signs before I could form a stronger opinion, but she's certainly a cutie, and very bright with it.

If your dog can read - or has another impressive talent, do let me know.

Take care,

Julie x

Sometimes you come across a story that makes your blood run cold, and the one below did just that to me. This is an appalling case, and is a shocking example of the scant regard some people hold dogs in, as well as an owner's love for her dog. It's bad enough to lose a dog however it happens, but it was in a possibly avoidable way, it's ten times as bad. I wish Melanie Hawes and her family lots of strength as they try to come to terms with the loss of Sam in these horrible circumstances.

Metropolitan Police Mistake Kills Family Pet:

There are headlines around about Cheryl Cole at the moment saying that she only trusts her mother and her dogs. Her husband is conspicuous by his absence from that list, and it's grabbed her a lot of media attention, so I guess she's happy with that. But it initially struck me as very sad.