Seeing Eye Dogs Australia Open Day

G'day Dog Lovers,

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) is preparing for a paw-fect Open Day on November 21 at its headquarters in Kensington, Melbourne.

Everyone is invited to come along and witness first-hand the important work SEDA does and the amazing difference that Seeing Eye Dogs make to people's lives.

The day promises to be action-packed with lots of activities and attractions to entertain the whole family. There will be dog demonstrations, veterinary health checks, entertainment, food, and Eadie the Trick Dog will showcase her amazing talents.

Best of all, SEDA's special 50th Anniversary Golden Litter of seven-week old pups will be on show in the breeding centre.

For more information, call 1300 84 74 66 or visit www.seda.org.au

Dogs Day Out Manly

G'day Dog Lovers,

If you're a dog owner that lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches, I'm pleased to announce that Manly Council's hugely popular Dogs Day Out event will return to Clontarf Reserve (off Sandy Bay Rd, Clontarf) from 10:30am to 2:30pm on Sunday, August 8.

There will be a huge range of exciting ring and track events to enjoy as well as plenty of informative pet experts on hand to offer advice. The Norwest Thunderdogs Flyball Team will do their thing, there will be demonstrations of obedience and agility, and even a NSW Police Dog Squad demonstration.

The ever-popular fancy dress and look-alike competitions will take place once again, as will the Jack Russell Racing track event.

The day is all about family fun and promoting responsible pet ownership.

For more info, contact the Manly Visitor Information Centre on 9976 1430 or log on to http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/Dogs-Day-Out.html

RSPCA Million Paws Walk

G'day Dog Lovers,

It's that time of year again! The 14th annual RSPCA Million Paws Walk is being held across Australia on Sunday May 16, 2010 and is THE big day out for animal lovers! Whether you have pets in your family or not, you're invited to join the pack and walk with tens of thousands of people and pets throughout Australia to help raise vital funds for the RSPCA and the animals in their care.

The RSPCA cares for more than 154,000 animals annually and investigates more than 47,000 complaints each year. It has over 40 shelters and Adoption Centres Australia-wide to help give abandoned pets a second chance at life.

The Million Paws Walk is a great, fun day out for the whole family and an awesome way to raise money for this extremely worthy cause. Grab your pooch and head to www.millionpawswalk.com.au to find out all the details about the event for your state

Are you a rare dog breed lover?

Do you love beautiful rare dog breeds like the Dogue de Bordeaux (remember Hooch from Turner and Hooch), the Neapolitan Mastiff (like Fang from the Harry Potter series) or the Portuguese Water Dog (who could forget the world’s most popular president pooch, Bo Obama)? If you do, then head on over to the State Dog Centre KCC Park in Syke, Victoria, this Sunday, 26 July, for the Utility Dog Club’s Rare Breeds Show.

More familiar breeds from the Utility category will also be shown on the day, including Malamutes, Huskies, Dobermanns, Boxers, Samoyeds and Mastiffs. So, if you’re looking for a puppy, would like more information on the breeds or simply want to enjoy a fun day out and see some big, beautiful dogs strut their stuff in the show ring, then the watching the show sounds like the perfect way to finish off the weekend!

Where: State Dog Centre, KCC Park, is located at 655 Western Port Highway in Skye, Victoria.
When: Sunday July 26. Judging starts at 9am.
Cost: FREE!

Visit www.dogsvictoria.com.au for more information.

Upcoming events for you and your pooch

Hi pet lovers!

Looking for something to do with your furry family members, but are coming up with a blank? Well, the Companion Dog Club - an initiative of DOGS Victoria - has a bunch of great events coming up that all dog lovers in Victoria shouldn't miss!

Here are some of the upcoming events on the Companion Dog Club calendar:

• Thursday 28th May - KCC Park, State Dog Centre in Skye: Walk and Talk night - Learn about the rights and responsibilities of dog owners at this fun and informative night.
  
• Saturday 30th May - Tuck's Ridge Vineyard in Red Hill: Wine (and Dog Biscuit) Tasting – Sit back, relax, taste a drop of tasty wine (or bickies for our four-legged friends) and enjoy friendly conversation. People who wish to attend should RSVP, so that the club can ensure that there is enough wine and dog bickies to go around!
• Friday 5th June - Rhyll Fishing Park in RHYLL: Phillip Island Walk and Talk night - Find out about the latest trends in furry fashion when the club hosts their Winter Warmer Fashion Show “When Fur Just Isn’t Enough”.

To find out more about the Companion Dog Club and other great events that are coming up, click here.

Dogmania 2009

G'day Dog Lovers,

This is just a reminder that Dogmania 2009 starts tomorrow!

This carnival of dog sports will be held at the Pine Rivers Showground, Lawnton from 2-4 May, 2009. This action-packed and fun festival is filled with every doggy sport under the sun. If your dog loves agility, catching a frisbee, herding sheep or participating in IPO Dogsport, this event is for you!

There will also be market stalls, entertainment for the kids and a wide range of demonstrations. Gold coin entry. Free parking. Animal nursery. Camel rides. Dogs everywhere!

So tell your family, tell your friends and get ready for Dogmania 2009.For more information, log on to www.adaa.com.au/dogmania

Dogmania 2009

G'day Dog Lovers,

This is just a reminder that Dogmania 2009 is just days away!

This carnival of dog sports will be held at the Pine Rivers Showground, Lawnton from 2-4 May, 2009. This action-packed and fun festival is filled with every doggy sport under the sun. If your dog loves agility, catching a frisbee, herding sheep or participating in IPO Dogsport, this event is for you!

There will also be market stalls, entertainment for the kids and a wide range of demonstrations. So tell your family, tell your friends and get ready for Dogmania 2009.For more information, log on to www.adaa.com.au/dogmania

Furry fun day!

Hi pet lovers!

Got nothing planned for Saturday 2nd May? Well, then Sydneysiders should take a trip to Victoria Park, Camperdown, for Beneful's Bark in the Park!

This is the second year the fun and furry event has been held in Sydney (a similar event was held in Melbourne earlier this year) and has heaps of activities that you and your pooch will enjoy, including...

- The Famous BENEFUL DogSpa offering FREE
- Professional dog washing and grooming
- FREE massages for dogs and their owners
- A photographer to snap you and your best mate
- FREE BENEFUL goodie bags
- Live music
- FREE pet behaviour advice
- Competitions and prizes throughout the day

To find out more about Bark in the Park, visit Beneful's DogSpace here.

Dogs can join in the Easter fun too!

Your pooch may not be able to enjoy creamy chocolate eggs like the rest of the family, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on all the fun.

The Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Illinois, U.S., has come up with a novel way to include their furry friends in the Easter festivities – holding a Canine Easter Egg Hunt. This year, more than 100 dogs of all different ages, breeds and sizes participated in the fundraising event for a local animal charity, many of them veterans of the four-year-old event. "We come back every year," Priscilla Briggs of Granite City tells STLtoday.com, while her two poochs take a breather nearby. "They just like to go out and have fun."

Rather than chocolate eggs, candy-coloured plastic eggs containing doggy treats were used. When found by the dogs, the plastic eggs were picked up by their owners for their dogs to enjoy after the hunt. However, the main goal was to sniff out the “surprise egg”, with the winner receiving a gift basket with toys and a flea treatment.

Anyway, we think it’s a top idea – why not try holding your own doggy Easter Egg hunt with your furry friends this Easter?

Check out the full story here…

And, from the Dogs Life team, have a paw-tastic and safe Easter!

For The Four-legged Day - Whittlesea Community Dog Walk

G'day Dog Lovers,

I've recently heard news about a great doggy event to raise money for the animal victims of the Victorian bushfires and bushfire education. 'For The Four-legged Day' will be held on May 9 from 10am-1pm.

The day kicks off with a community dog walk. All are welcome - bring your dog and family for a fun community outing. It's a $10 donation per dog , with all funds going towards animal bushfire ongoing care & recovery. The 2km or 30min street walk starts and ends at JW Towt Reserve
Park at the end of Walnut Street, Whittlesea.

After the walk animal fun includes….
· Dogs Victoria will be in attendance to give dog education & information, show bags and responsible dog ownership
· German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria Inc. will be showing obedience and agility displays and a breed stand
· PETSTOCK South Morang stand will be there with microchipping on the day
· Whittlesea Council will have responsible dog ownership information
· Pawsonally Yours stand with on site photos, mugs, mouse pads
· The Vet Practice from Whittlesea will have an information stand

So if you're anywhere near Whittlesea, get yourself and your dog along to this great day to help raise some much-needed funds. For more info, contact Trish on 0408 366 336.

Dogmania 2009

G'day Dog Lovers,

I'm just passing on the news of a great dog event coming up in May in Brisbane - Dogmania 2009.

This carnival of dog sports will be held at the Pine Rivers Showground, Lawnton. Brisbane from 2-4 May, 2009.

This action-packed and fun festival is filled with every doggy sport under the sun. If your dog loves agility, catching a frisbee, herding sheep or participating in IPO Dogsport, this event is for you!

There will also be market stalls, entertainment for the kids and a wide range of demonstrations. So tell your family, tell your friends and get ready for Dogmania 2009.

For more information, log on to www.adaa.com.au/dogmania

New Website To Help Find Doggy Playmates

G'day Dog Lovers,

I received an email earlier during the week from a Melbourne woman named Britt Smith. She has set up a free website to pair up pooches with playmates while their masters are at work.

dogtree.com.au is a social networking site for man’s best friend. Smith quickly realised the need for a dog-match service after placing an ad for a playmate for her Tibetan terrier, Bearbear.
She received 20 phonecalls from time-poor professionals also seeking a canine pal for their pooch. "Dogs are intelligent creatures and just like us they need stimulation and company, yet we leave them alone all day to go barking mad in the dull backyard. Why aren’t we pairing them up?,’’ Ms Smith says.

"The website allows working people with busy lives to link up online and arrange daytime
playdates for their dogs, or take turns to dog-sit for each other on Friday nights or
a weekend away.’’

Members can search by postcode to find a potential match. The format is similar to
social networking site Facebook, but Ms Smith says dogtree’s purpose is unique.
"The goal of the site is to connect dogs and their owners in real life - in their own
neighbourhood so they can forge friendships for the wellbeing of the animal,’’ she
says.

dogtree.com.au is just starting out at the moment, but let's hope it takes off!

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.