RSPCA Million Paws Walk this Sunday

Hi animal lovers,

Just a reminder that the RSPCA Million Paws Walk is happening this Sunday, 18 May.

Whether you’re a pet owner or not, it’s a great day out and an important fundraising event for the RSPCA.

Funds raised from the Walk will go towards animal shelters and will help the RSPCA investigate animal cruelty cases, provide community education programs, operate animal welfare centres and ambulances, and provide dog obedience training.

The Walk will take place at more than 70 locations across Australia, including in every capital city. Visit www.millionpawswalk.com.au for location details.

Online registrations have now closed, but you can still donate or sponsor your friends as they participate on the day.

Hope to see you there!

Interesting Seminar

I heard about this seminar presented by the Parramatta International Canine Sports Inc. and featuring some great speakers!

Location: Parramatta Town Hall in Parramatta, Sydney
Date: Monday, 30 June 2008 starting
Time: 7.30pm - 10.30pm, plus Q&A session
Cost: $25

Dr W Jean Dodds will speak about canine vaccination protocols, blood and endocrine diseases, autoimmunity, nutrition. This is a rare opportunity for dog owners, breeders and veterinary practitioners to hear one of the world's most renowned vaccine research scientists speak on the judicious use of vaccines, titre testing and the holistic approach to happy and healthy dogs.

Guest speakers will be Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet Care, Sydney and Dr John Jardine from Vetpath Laboratories, Perth.

One session only and there's limited seats so you have to pre-book. For more information or to register online, visit http://picsi.org.au/

Help celebrate International Guide Dogs Day

Guide Dogs play a hugely important role in the community — they help the blind and vision impaired achieve safe and independent travel. International Guide Dog Day, coming up on Wednesday April 30, is a day where we can celebrate the work of these heroic dogs and learn more about the issues facing Guide Dog users.

Unfortunately a number of things can distract Guide Dogs while they are on the job. Guide Dogs Victoria has issued some tips to help Guide Dogs carry out their imperative work and keep their users safe.

Stewart Blair from Guide Dogs Victoria reminds dog owners to keep their dogs in a leash so they cannot approach working Guide Dogs. "Unrestrained dogs can distract Guide Dogs and endanger a vision impaired person's safety," he says.

Stewart also reminds us that Guide Dogs are legally allowed into all public places except for zoos and operating theatres. "It is a case of discrimination if a Guide Dog and its handler are refused access to any other public place including shops, restaurants, hotels and taxis," he says.

So, this International Guide Dog Day, remember these canine heroes and the fabulous work they do in our communities. For more information visit www.guidedogsaustralia.com and click on the link to your state Guide Dogs association.

Image courtesy of Guide Dogs Victoria www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au

The Great Ocean Walk for Guide Dogs

I just got this media release in from Guide Dogs Victoria. As our March/April 2008 edition is already out, thought I let you know about this fabulous event happening in April!

Guide Dogs Victoria, in conjunction with Intrepid Challenges, is organising an exciting challenge – Guide Dogs Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk. Taking place from Friday, 4 April until Sunday, 6 April, participants involved in the Walk will embark on an amazing journey, taking them along one of the most spectacular stretches of Australian coastline, spanning 91 kilometres.

Stretching from Apollo Bay through the Great Otway National Park to the 12 Apostles near Port Campbell, Guide Dogs Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk will take participants to unspoiled and previously inaccessible terrain, far from crowds and traffic. Breathtaking coastal scenery, deserted wild beaches, sheer cliffs, historical lighthouses and shipwrecks, giant mountain ash forests, pristine river estuaries, abundant wildlife, dunes and coastal heath lands all await the intrepid traveller on this exciting adventure.

The cost of this three-day adventure is $1200, which includes a registration fee of $290 and a commitment to fundraise the remaining $910 – which will go directly towards the breeding and training of Guide Dogs for vision impaired Victorians.

What’s included: Return transfers from Melbourne, experienced walking guides, two nights accommodation, support vehicle, luggage transfers each day, safety radios, park fees, water and snacks and breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Guide Dogs Victoria provides a range of mobility services to people who are blind or vision impaired, including Guide Dog Mobility, Children’s Mobility and services for people whose vision loss results from an acquired brain injury such as stroke. With minimal government funding, Guide Dogs Victoria relies heavily on the generosity of Victorians to continue to provide services completely free of charge. Services are available across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

To register for Guide Dogs Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk, visit www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au or
www.intrepidchallenges.com.au

Coat roadtest

Writing about dogs is fun, but actually working with them just takes the cake! We are currently in deadline for the May/June 2008 - Winter Special edition for which we roadtested some beautiful dog coats.

Here is Bliksem, a fun-loving Kelpie who came in to to our studio to roadtest some of the coats along with many other other friendly canines. You'll have to wait and see the May/June 2008 edition to find out which coats the dogs drooled all over!

See you at the Melbourne Pet & Animal Expo!

Hi fellow dog lovers,

Dogs Life will be attending the Melbourne Pet & Animal Expo this weekend, and we're very excited! The Expo will run from Friday, 1 February to Sunday, 3 February at Caulfield Racecourse (20 minutes from the City Centre along Dandenong Road).

We can't wait to meet you all at the Expo, along with your four-legged friends. Not only are we selling mags and subscriptions (special deals exclusively for Expo visitors), but if you pop in and visit us at the Dogs Life stand, you will have the chance to win some FANTASTIC prizes...

Enter our raffle for your chance to win a Dyson DC16 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, valued at over $200!

Also, be sure to pick up an entry form to our Kids Club Colouring Competition for your chance to win a Love'Em Liver Treats hamper and loads of other canine goodies including books, DVDs, toys, treats and more! Entries to the competition will be judged by Dogs Life Kids Club celebrity vet, Dr Katrina Warren.

Can't wait to see you all at the Expo - it will be a grrreat weekend!

Woof!

Surprise doggy visitor

We are on deadline at the moment and it can be rather tiring editing stories all day. But I got a surprise doggy visitor that gave me a much-needed break away from my desk!

Meet Keesie, the 12-week-old adorable Keeshond, who belongs to the family of one of our staff members. I don't think I have ever seen a Keeshond in person before - only in pictures. What a beautiful little face and such soft coat!

Keesie seems to enjoy hanging out in the Dogs Life office. Perhaps she will visit me again?

Dogs surfing the net

One of our longtime readers, Judy Small, from Victoria sent me a picture of her dog, Anzac. You may recognise him as he is a regular pooch in the magazine!

Seems Judy is not the only one reading the Dogs Life website.

Top American Breeds

The American Kennel Club lists the top 10 breeds in America.

#10 Bulldog

#9 Shih Tzu

#8 Poodle

#7 Dachshund

#6 Boxer

#5 Beagle

#4 Golden Retriever

#3 German Shepherd

#2 Yorkshire Terrier

#1 Labrador Retriever

I'm disappointed the Dobermann didn't make the list. They are such wonderful family dogs! Doesn't matter what anyone says - my 'Doberboys' Logan and Chase are tops for me!

Happy Xmas For Tuppy

One of our Dogs Life writers, Sue Moses, sent me a lovely email with pictures of her three lovable canines playing with their Christmas toys and ripping up wrapping paper from their pressies in little bits all over the floor.

There is 13-year-old Ally, a Foxie x Jack Russell (nicknamed wolf mother!), eight-month-old Strauchanie, a Jack Russell x Chihuahua stray that Sue found wandering in the bush, and Tuppy, a 10-year-old Jack Russell rescued from a very sad situation where she had been kept in a filthy pen for four years and never socialised.

But take a look at Tuppy today -- so happy in her loving new home. It seems she loves dress-up and wears her Santa hat all day. She looks so happy after feasting on a big holiday lunch with roast chicken, pork with all the trimmings and her favourite liver treats and homemade xmas cookies.

After eating all that yummy food, perhaps we should change her name to 'Tubby'? :)

Dogs & Relationships

Dogs have a great sense of smell, but I think they can also sniff out a great guy from all the ones who stand at the doorway of your home, ready to take you on a date.

I remember when I was at uni, I briefly went out with a guy who turned out to be a total loser. I wish I had listened to my dog at the time. Rex was a German Shepherd with the most beautiful temperament, always welcoming our guests with a friendly wagging tail, sniff and a lick... until he met this guy. Rex did not like him at all. So much so that he actually growled - perhaps the first time ever?! It took him five seconds to figure out this guy was not for me. I apologised and took Rex away. The guy responded 'I don't like dogs.' (Hmmm... alarm bells should have been ringing then! What was wrong with me?!!)

Perhaps you can help. Dogs Life is doing research for a story about how dogs can be a great judge of character, including helping you find your perfect mate. If you have a dog and are in a relationship or considering a new relationship, and would like to be a part of the story, please contact me.

You never know - we might save you some heartache or find you the man of your dreams! Email dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au

Strangers in the house!

Ok, well they are not strangers to me. They are my parents who have come from overseas to spend Christmas with us. But for my two 'Doberboys', Logan and Chase, they represent a smell that comes out of my luggage when I return from visiting my parents overseas.

When I open my suitcase, my dogs would sniff and smell every corner, inside and out, and then take a final deep breath before ending the sensual journey with a big snort and sneeze. And this is how they responded to my mum and dad at the door!

Yep, it's family all right!

Dogs Life Wins Award

The 2007 Australian Business and Specialist Publishers (ABSP) Bell Awards were held on Friday, November 23 in Sydney to highlight excellence in business and consumer publishing.

We are thrilled to announce that Dogs Life was one of three finalists and received a "Highly Commended Award" for Consumer Magazine of the Year (print run less than 30,000).

Thank you for supporting the magazine - together we are making a difference to the welfare of dogs around the country.

Big Dog Day Out!

Did you take your pooch along to DOGS Victoria's Big Dog Day Out on the weekend?

The event, which took place at KCC Park in Cranbourne, Victoria, attracted dogs from far and wide.

Stacks of awards, including annual Dogs Life subscription prizes, were given out on the day for 'Best Old Dog', the 'Waggiest Tail' and many more.

And animal behaviourist and friend of Dogs Life, Dr Joanne Righetti, was there on the day giving expert advice on barking, biting and doggie misbehaviour.

If you took your dog along to Big Dog Day Out, tell us all about it! Comment on our Dog-a-Blog.

If you missed the Big Dog Day Out this year, be sure to check it out in 2008. Visit the DOGS Victoria website for more information.

Going to Crufts 2008?

I got a call from 60 Minutes Producer Julia Timms - they are keen to do a story on the world's biggest dog show - Crufts - and focus on the Australian dogs and owners taking part. They intend to go over to the UK in March 2008 to film the story and have already begun planning the trip.

If you are keen to take part please send Julia a brief outline of your dog's achievements, a couple of pics if possible and a contact number/email, and she will get back to you. It will be great to highlight just how well Australians are doing in this field.

Anyone interested please contact producer Julia Timms via email - jtimms@nine.com.au.

Dancing with Danes

Have you ever wondered what Dogs Life writers get up to when they are not writing a doggy story?

Our New Zealand writer, Hsin-Yi Cohen, has been dancing with her adorable Great Dane, Honey. The pair have been doing Heelwork to music and they recently entered the National Dog Training Championships in New Zealand.

Hsin-Yi and Honey were competing against dogs from all over the country. And, we would like to congratulate the duo for being awarded . . . FIRST PLACE!

It seems Honey’s win shocked everyone at the show, including Hsin-Yi, because advanced dog training like this is usually dominated by fast, clever, agile breeds like Border Collies. Hsin-Yi told us no one ever does things like this with slow, clumsy, giant breeds like Great Danes! She was as shocked as everybody else when they announced their name as the winner.

Who said Great Danes aren’t graceful?

Check out a video of Hsin-Yi and Honey’s dance routine here.

PetFest 2007!

On Sunday September 16, Dogs Life Editor Caroline and I had the pleasure of attending PetFest 2007 at Merrylands in Western Sydney. This was the first PetFest Dogs Life magazine has attended, but this was the fifth PetFest organised by Holroyd City Council – to promote responsible pet ownership and its low kill policy for unwanted companion animals.

Our stall was positioned right near the stage, so we were lucky enough to catch glimpses of the fabulous performances and demonstrations on stage. Enthusiastic pet owners entered their beloved companions into the many competitions, including: Pet-Owner Look Alike, Littlest Pet, Biggest Pet, Best Dressed Pet, Best Trick and Most Unusual Pet.

Our very own Caroline was invited onto the stage to judge the Littlest Pet competition with Holroyd City Council Mayor Clr Dr John H Brodie and Toni Comerford from Supercoat. The award went to . . . a tadpole!It was great to see hundreds of responsible pet owners out on the day, enjoying the sunshine with their pooches and families.

The Dogs Life team met lots of happy faces and we can't wait to head back to PetFest in 2008!