Deadline!

G'day Dog Lovers,

Sorry there's not much posting going on here at the moment. We're currently on deadline for the next issue of the magazine - which basically means we're madly writing, interviewing and editing our stories so that Dogs Life can be printed on time.

It's a very hectic time at the moment. All of us at the office would much rather spend our days playing with puppies at photo shoots and getting out and about to make new doggy friends instead of spending our days glued to the computer screen or the phone!

But not to worry, once we've finished all our stories it'll be time to get another batch of puppies in for a photo shoot - I can't wait!

Problem Barkers

G'day Dog Lovers,

You might have heard in the news recently that Brisbane City Council is testing dog collars designed to identify problem barkers. This move came about after some 11,500 complaints about barking dogs over the past two years.

Here's the rest of the article from news.com.au - http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24019986-3102,00.html

Community Services councillor Geraldine Knapp said the council still had to evaluate the results of the trials but anticipated a favourable outcome."I think they are a fantastic idea and I think that's the way everyone is going to go," she said.

The collars keep track of the barking and whether further action is warranted. That could include dog obedience classes or, in extreme cases, removal. Cr Knapp said she was confident the collars would prove effective in reducing complaints.

Ipswich City Council also is investigating if the collars have legal status."If it works legally, the days of bad barking dogs are numbered," Mayor Paul Pisasale said. "The collars won't stop the dogs barking, but they provide irrefutable evidence so owners can take the necessary steps to control their dogs' barking. "They also can prove that frivolous or vexatious complaints are false."

What do you think about the collars?

Make Your Dog A Star!

G'day Dog Lovers,

Does your dog want to be famous? Does he or she want to be the envy of all their friends?

If so, why not enter your pooch in the 2009 Bush's Livin' Large Calendar Competition? The full details are here - http://www.dogslife.com.au/competitions2/bushscalendar - but winners get a photo of their dog in the 2009 calendar that goes out with every issue of Dogs Life!!!

It's an awesome prize and all you have to do is answer a short survey (on pg 38 of Dogs Life July/August edition which is in stores now), tell us in 25 words how your dog lives life with Bush's Pet Foods, and then send us some pics of your dog with a Bush's product. Send your entries to Dogs Life Bush’s Livin’ Large Calendar Competition/Dogs Life, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email to dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au

It's that simple. As well as their photo going in the calendar, your dog also gets $100 worth of Bush's products and a $30 surprise hamper.

So what are you waiting for? Get your entry in now!