Category Archives: Training

Disability, Schmisability: Wheelchair no impediment to agility champion


From Life with Dogs: Zip, a Border Collie who had five agility championships under her belt, was hit by a car last January. Now fitted for a wheelchair, she wanted to continue to compete. Would she let a physical disability stop her? Not a chance! Check out how she tries to jump over the hurdles which were taken down in consideration of her chair.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Crisp, the Assistance Companion

"Anywhere Mason goes, the dog goes," Page Murphy says of her son and Crisp, who performs all the physical motions that Mason can't. Breeding and training such a dog can cost $45,000. / The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II

How do you get a dog not to be afraid of a youngster in a power wheelchair?  The best way I know of is to get the dog from Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, CA or one of their local training centers such as the one in Delaware, OH.

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OFF-LEASH DOGS IN THE CITY – my peeve with owners

Have you ever seen those so-well-behaved dogs that follow their owners around without a leash even in a busy city centre? Their dogs sit at stop-lights, run ahead or behind but never out of sight, and wait at intersections for their masters to arrive. It appears to be any dog-owner’s dream to have such a well-behaved pet, BUT, isn’t it dangerous?

I’ve always been afraid to even TRY that with my dog…… isn’t it JUST possible that an off-leash dog would spot a cat, or squirrel, and just BOLT off into traffic??? Isn’t it just possible that for whatever reason, a dog could suddenly take off and come in harm’s way or attack another animal?

I just think that no matter how well trained a dog is, there’s always that possibility that he could spot something that might trigger a chase reaction! Worse, without a tether, one has NO control over one’s pet.

I personally just couldn’t take that chance with my dog, for her own or someone else’s safety, no matter how convinced she might have me that she’d always stay by me without a leash!!

What do you think????

Saturday Survey: What’s It Take to Get A Treat Around Here?

Hi!  My name’s Penny Layne.  You may as well go ahead & start singing the Beatles song – it’s all I ever hear.

Anyways, my mom, the Dog Lady, is off at the State Special Olympics Games with the boys, so I decided to take over the blog for t0day.

Here’s what I’m curious about.  Mom keeps telling the boys to lay off the treats for me because I’m getting too fat.  (As if!)  Usually, I can get them to give me one anyways by standing up on my hind feet and begging, but that’s awful hard work with such a large belly – it throws off my balance.

So, here’s my question: how hard do you make your dog work for treats?

Continue reading Saturday Survey: What’s It Take to Get A Treat Around Here?