Random Stuff

At Dublin Dog Co, we realize our business and our products are only as good as the retailers and distributors who help promote them. So going forward, we want to help put the spotlight on those business who do it right and live out the Dublin Dog philosophy of creating your own luck and making a difference to our customers and dog lovers everywhere.

Our first feature is on Ketchum, Idaho's very own, Thunderpaws Pet Shoppe. Nestled right in the heart of main street Ketchum, owner Hurley Hamilton has spent the last twelve years catering to dog lovers and outdoor enthusiasts all around the Wood River Valley. Hurley focuses on giving back to her wonderful surroundings as much as she can by supporting the Wood River Valley Animal Shelter as well as the Environment Resource Center (ERC). Being a lover of the outdoors herself, Hurley loves skiing in the Winter with her granddaughter and hanging out at her cabin in the Summer. Being that Ketchum is a small town, Hurley has the benefit of walking to work with her dog and is only 5 minutes away  from the forest. So when pressed about her favorite place in Ketchum, she quickly responded with "everywhere".

Thunderpaws focuses on environmentally sustainable products and tries to rely on those made in the USA whenever possible. They share the Dublin Dog passion for getting out and getting active and Hurley Hamilton and her team do that with flare. Just take a look at their "Paw and Pole" event and you tell me if they're committed to making the most of your surroundings. Ineed, Hurley Hamilton and the staff at Thunderpaws have the right outlook on life, on their customers, and their pets. " I love having earned my grey hair, I no longer have to try so hard to be right about so many things. Age does mellow a person", says Hamilton. We know one thing for sure, when it comes to being RIGHT about great products and great nutrition, Thunderpaws in Ketchum Idaho is the place to go. We appreciate you and your great team!

Check out Mickey with his Roxxter from Dublin Dog Co. The more videos we get on this, the more we find that dogs just go nuts for the wild action of this toy. They are a lot of fun, both with & without treats. We especially love the ending of this video where Mickey shows off his skills. Great fan contribution, we love it, and of course we love Mickey!

Here's a sneak peek of the new movie "Darling Companion" set to be released on April 20th. From the director of the Big Chill, it showcases the love between a woman and her dog, and the husband that loses it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll certainly want to snuggle up to your own dog by the end. Looks like a touching tale....one that I'm sure Dublin Dog fans will appreciate.

Thank you to every single individual, volunteer, and business who have helped to make 2011 so successful for the Dublin Dog Foundation. Through your efforts we are closing in on changing Clarke Ringelstein's life forever. Special thanks to all the wonderful people at paws4people who have worked tirelessly on "Benning", Clarke's future service dog in training.

At the Dublin Dog Co., we're all about getting out there and being active with your dog(s). But hey, we understand that sometimes work obligations, kids, errands, etc get in the way of the hike, the game of fetch, or the run around the neighborhood. Well just take a page from our parents when we were young, "just go outside and play. Use your imagination, and get your finger out of your nose", something like that anyways. Well this little guy has done just that. Lacking an active participant, this dog finds a clever way to enjoy a game of fetch old school style. There's no Chuckit, no auto-feeding, ball-dispensing gadget, just a dog, a ball and a willingness to make it work. Cheers to having fun....now go PLAY!

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

So the swing of Spring is certainly here, with days in the Carolinas (Dublin Dog’s Headquarters) already reaching the mid 80’s. That’s got me thinking, how do I get out there and enjoy the wonderful weather, while at the same time giving the dogs a new form of exercise and excitement?

While many of us are already contemplating bathing suit season, and “finally” getting in shape, let’s discuss some new ways of doing just that with your best exercise buddy, your dog.

Bikejoring- Think urban mushing on streets or trails versus snow. This is a great low impact exercise for you; bicycling, and some wonderful running for your dog. This may take some getting used to, however for those breeds, human and canine alike that want to get out there, this could be your calling.

Rollerblading- Now don’t go and pull out your walkman, knee high socks, and daisy dukes, this is active blading. I’ve found this to be a blast, however ensure that your brake pad is in good shape and that you’re in control of your own actions before introducing a dog into the equation. I’ve also done this with a longboard style skateboard and have had a great time. My dogs love it, however I've found it easier to do the longboard while only having one dog pull, versus both. With two big breed dogs, I've picked up some serious speed and got the speed wobbles. Should have been on youtube, you would have died laughing.

The main thing this Spring is to find activities that make you sweat and increase your heart rate while allowing your dog(s) to get some much needed exercise in the process. Be sure to check with your vet to ensure your dog is in good health prior to establishing a routine.

What’s your favorite routine? How many times a week do your exercise with your dog? Below is a video from youtube showing a bikejoring club up in Boston.

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

Please join Dublin Dog Co on Facebook or Twitter for your chance to win some fabulous prizes. Winners will be chosen this St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. In honor of all things green, Dublin Dog Co announces our newest line of "green & sustainable" collars, leashes, and soon to arrive, dog beds! We use our own special eco-Lucks material which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. They are absolutely beautiful, extremely easy to clean, and MADE IN THE USA! How lucky are you?

We've partnered with Canidae Pet Foods to help promote living a clean and healthy lifestyle with your dog(s). So take a look at our brand new eco-Lucks line of products and join us on one of the social media sites for your chance to be one lucky dog this St. Paddy's Day.

You could win this custom Jeep

As most of you know by now, here at Dublin Dog Co, we're all about good fortune and good luck. The only difference is, that we like to MAKE our luck happen. That's right, being lucky is not only possible, but it's a given when you make good decisions and work hard to make those dreams come true.

So on this St. Patrick's Day I wanted to share a dream that we have for one of our Nation's finest. Our non-profit sister organization, the Dublin Dog Foundation has launched our Canines for Comrades Campaign. We are currently raffling off this custom Jeep Wrangler at $20.00 a ticket to help a soldier back from Iraq or Afghanistan who has suffered an amputation while serving to protect our freedom! The donations received from this raffle will help us sponsor a service dog from Freedom Service Dogs to help this individual get back their freedom and their sense of independence. We can't rely on luck alone to make this happen, we need your support! Please visit www.dublindogfoundation.org to see how you can MAKE a dog and a US soldier very, very , lucky. By doing so, perhaps your luck will change and you'll be driving this one of a kind Jeep this Summer! "We should all be so lucky"  Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours from the entire team at Dublin Dog Co and the Dublin Dog Foundation!