Pet Photos

As some of you may know, I have been on both sides of the fence recently when it comes to lost pets. Last month, our German Shepherd Kona went missing for 24 hours, after wandering down the street while playing with a young lab. Surely I thought with a microchip she'll be home in no time once somebody calls 311, our number for Animal Care and Control. However this individual, thoughtful as she was merely brought our dog into her home to play with her dog and kept her for the night. Meanwhile, I walked, biked, and hiked through the night (she saw a flyer on her door and called the next night).  Now, just this Monday morning I found this little girl wandering the street in front of my home. As I was loading the dogs up for work, she came up to say "hello", and "I'm lost". I heard her loud and clear and the steps were in motion. Trips up and down the street on a leash, a visit to the vet to see if she was micro-chipped (no), and several dozen flyers placed throughout the neighborhood. Having learned from my own experience, we called Animal Care & Control and filed a report, however we opted to keep her at our house versus having her go live in a kennel throughout the holidays. As of this writing, she's still with us. I'm desperately telling myself that she merely ran away or got loose, as I would hate to think that somebody has abandoned her on purpose. However, a microchip, a tag, or tattoo would've remedied this situation with one phone call.

Here's a great little story on a reunion that was made possible after 3 years apart. During the holidays, please don't lose sight of your little friend(s) amidst the hustle and bustle of the season. And please, be sure to identify your dog(s) to the extent which you're comfortable, it could be the greatest gift you give YOURSELF.

You’ve heard it a thousand times, that over time, owners and their dog(s) start to look alike. True? Who knows? What I do know is that dogs will start to match the energy level of their owners, be that for good or bad. So if you live a sedentary lifestyle, then over time your dog too will learn to adapt to that lifestyle, as will their metabolism. With that comes an expanding waistline and a whole host of related issues.

The solution: Get Active! Not all of us are in the best shape of our lives, however there are tons of ways to get back into it, especially now that the weather is finally getting cooler in some parts of the US. Here are a few quick ideas to step it up in the energy department.

1. Human’s best friend- the dog; A Dog’s best friend- the walk. That’s right, one of the best things you can offer your dog is a brisk 20-30 minute walk. Not only do you get exercise during the walk, but you establish pack rules and obedience training opportunities while your buddy’s behind (not in front of you pulling) the leash. Use that time to reconnect with your dog and to use stop signs, other dogs, and all things furry that scurry out in front of you as training opportunities.
2. Get involved in various types of obedience & agility trials. There are so many wonderful groups that can be found on sites like Meetup or local blogs that can direct you to well established groups. This week alone I have heard of two great classes,  one was on agility and the other was an urban scent class. How much fun would that be! One class even had a “bring me a beer” retrieval command. I saw it first hand and was so envious!
3. Finally try something brand new. You don’t have to walk laps around your neighborhood, those sights and sounds can get old after awhile. Go for a hike at a new park, make a go of Dock Diving, or take your dog geocaching for the first time. Keep it fun & fresh and the experience will be great for both of you. Just remember, if your heading to the water, just grab your Original All Style, No Stink collar to stay as fresh as your new found spirit for exercise.
   

   dock diving fun

You’re at the park, enjoying the sunny afternoon and your four-legged friend is having the time of her life. Then, as if being pulled by some invisible lasso, she makes a b-line to that dark area in the grass over by the tree. Suddenly, she stops, drops and rolls as if trying to put out a small fire set by worker ants (it must be a big fire, cause there's a lot of rollin' taking place). Then just as unexpectedly she trots over to you as if looking for a merit badge for her accomplishment. Then it hits you, like an uppercut to the nose. “The Funk”.

So why do dogs roll in the nasty nectar of dead things, poop, and all things gross? Here’s three explanations:

1)Dog’s use the scent or odor of what we would otherwise find disgusting as a type of perfume for themselves. Many times, we clean our dogs with perfumed soaps and sprays, however that can smell horrible to them. In return, they shop down a slightly different aisle and go for the scent that is most pleasing to them, like the nasty tidbits left laying in the field.

2)The dominant theory is that this is a trait carried over from their wolf ancestry, whereby canines would use these scents to cover up, or disguise their own scent as a way to sneak up on their prey. In some cases, they could almost be invited by their prey to come closer if they chose the most appealing scent.

3)Getting covered and smothered in nasty goodness can also be a way of alerting their pack or pack leader “hey look what I found over here, take a whiff”. It’s a way to communicate that they’ve found the booty, and you’re missing out. No really, you are.

It’s for this reason I created the Original All Style, No Stink dog collar for Dublin Dog Co.. Dogs will be dogs, and that’s why we love them, for all their quarks, traits, and characteristics. But leave the funk in the field and keep your collars clean. Did you know you can put your waterproof ASNS Dublin Dog Collar in the dishwasher? Try it.

A brand new batch of photos were added to the Dublin Dog photo page today. Be sure to continue to send in your photography and we'll add them to the Dublin Dog Diggidy photo gallery. Any great shots from the weekend? What about a crazy Roxxter in the air with kibble falling out while the dog waits in reckless anticipation as the sun cascades off their nose? Yea....No? Oh well, shoot what you got and share it with the rest of us crazy dog lovers!

Spring is in the air

Dublin Dog Co put together a fun little video explaining why the Original All Style, No Stink dog collar is a must for all dog owners. Unless you keep your dog tucked away in a padded room, they're going to get dirty, smelly, and well....doglike. We've got the answer!

It's not too late to enter the Winter/Christmas photo contest... Every participant will receive a 10% coupon code to use towards the purchase of a Winter Bliss dog collar. One lucky winner will receive $150.00 worth of Dublin Dog product of their choice. Funny, Silly, Whacky, or whatever, we want to see it.  This time of year is all about having fun, spending time with the ones we love, and sharing lots of smiles. So make the Dublin Dog community smile with a one of a kind photo of your dog. Simply go to the photo section of the website and upload your photo today!

The Winning photo will appear on the homepage of the website, seen by tens of thousands every month! Now say "chicken" for the camera!

Go dashing through the snow

Snow-sational

Ever get tired of all the same ol' same ol' Christmas and holiday cards? Cute kids, adorable baby, and that questionable holiday sweater with the blinking lights? Yea, we do too. So upload your funniest, craziest, cutest holiday or winter inspired picture of your four legged friend for all of us to see! Every person who uploads a photo from now until Dec. 25th will receive a 10% coupon code via email to spend on the Dublin Dog website good towards the purchase of our limited edition "Winter Bliss" collar.(*coupon will arrive at the end of the contest) One lucky winner with the best holiday/winter photo will be chosen by the staff of Dublin Dog Co., & the Dublin Dog Foundation and will receive a $150.00 gift certificate to use at your discretion on the Dublin Dog website. So get your cameras ready, and get that precious photo of "Fido" chowing down on your holiday Turkey, or "Princess" frolicking in the snow with 4" snowballs hanging from her belly! On behalf of the entire team here at Dublin Dog Co., we wish you lots of luck and joy during this wonderful Holiday Season.

You can almost smell the salt air now, the breeze on your face, and the sand in your toes, eerr paws. I know my two dogs are thrilled with the warm weather, the longer days, and the brilliant sunshine. It makes them want to BARK, throw your tail up and BARK, hey hey hey hey....Wait I digress.  In the spirit of vacations, and all things fun, tell us what you are doing this Summer. Are your furry friends included? What's their favorite thing to do in the Summer? Be sure to include them in our Photo Gallery. I'll create a special folder to spotlight our Summer Shananigans. Don't forget the boat drinks, suntan lotion, biscuits, and of course your Original All Style, No Stink Dog Collar.