Event Recap: Kids Fair, Paws on Ice, N. Charleston St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Check out all the fun from this weekend at the Kids Fair, Paws & Claws on Ice and the North Charleston St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Thanks to everyone that came out to show their support and all of the volunteers’ hard work!

Photos courtesy of CAS & Pet Helpers

Charleston Dog Show SCBT Dog Patron of the Year Award

Photo via teambigdoglittledog

It’s that time of year again! The Charleston Dog Show is looking for your nominations for the South Carolina Bank & Trust Dog Patron of the Year Award. Below you will find an outline of the award and the nomination form.  Collaborations are encouraged, as are multiple letters of support.  Please note the deadline of Friday, April 2nd.

Eligibility:

A resident residing in the Charleston Tri-County community; (they should not have previously received this award or currently serve on the Co-Chair Committee for The Charleston Dog Show).

Award Criteria:

Determination of the award will be based on an outstanding or exceptional contribution to the canine community of the Charleston Tri-County area. Examples include an achievement, or on-going high quality of work, a creative idea or innovation, etc., expressed in some action within the applicant’s/nominee’s personal or professional life that can be shown to have an exceptional impact upon dogs.

The identified contribution(s) may have resulted in a wide range of outcomes, including, but not limited to, enhancing the quality of life for dogs, innovations in veterinary health, outstanding dedication to rescue and adoption, exceptional philanthropy to dog and animal related non-profit organizations, etc.

The overarching principle in the review process is the principle of exceptional dedication to the health, happiness and quality of life of Lowcountry dogs.

Nominations:

Notice will be sent to all CDS volunteers and associated organizations. Nominations will be accepted from any resident of the Charleston Tri-County area.

The Selection Process

The Selection Committee consists of the current Co-Chair committee assigned each year by the Chairman of the Charleston Dog Show. From recommendations received, a member of the Selection Committee shall compile a list of all potential candidates. The committee shall convene at an appropriate time to review all completed nominations and shall select by majority vote the recipient of the award for that particular year. Each individual member of the Co-Chair (i.e. Selection) Committee shall be eligible for one vote. This business may also be conducted via email for time and organizational purposes. The announcement of the winner shall be made available to the Selection Committee prior to the Show, but otherwise, the winner will not be announced until event day of the Charleston Dog Show.

2010 Deadlines are as follows:

All nominations must be received by Friday, April 2nd 2010 (and the Committee vote shall occur no later than Friday, April 9th, 2010)

Submissions shall be sent or emailed to the following by Friday, April 2nd:

Debbie Bordeau

4824 Old Park Road

North Charleston, SC 29405

debbordeau@yahoo.com

NOMINATION FORM:

Name and contact information of Nominator:

Name and contact information of Nominee:

Based upon the criteria of the Dog Patron of the Year award (outstanding or exceptional contribution to the canine community of the Charleston Tri-County area) please give a brief history of this individual’s involvement in the Charleston Tri-County canine community.

Describe specific outcomes of the related involvement

Please attach additional letters of support for this nomination.

March Contest: Everlasting Treat Ball Giveaway

Got a bored dog with a destructive streak? Or a stinky breath? Or jaws of death that mean a quick annihilation of every other toy you purchase for them?  Then here’s the contest for you, the Everlasting Treat Ball Giveaway, compliments of Hairy Winston Pet Boutique and Grocery. I’ve heard nothing but amazing stories about this treat ball. The most tenacious of Terriers finds it challenging, the most voracious Chow chewers can’t destroy it, and the smartest of Schnauzers finds it stimulating. 

The Everlasting Treat Ball can be filled with food, or any snack your dog enjoys and then capped with one or two Everlasting Treats. Everlasting Treats can also be inserted upside down or into the center cavity of the ball for more challenging play. Dishwasher safe in the top rack for easy clean up. Completely free of latex, vinyl, and phthalates.

 Available in blue in sizes:

Large (5″ diameter) recommended for dogs over 40 pounds

Medium (3.75″ diameter) recommended for dogs under 40 pounds

Small (2.5″ diameter) recommended for dogs under 12 pounds

If your dog is a strong chewer, we recommend selecting the larger size.

Retail $15-$25 depending on size.

Check out this vide of an adorable Bernese Mountain Dog pup going to town on an Everlasting Treat Ball! So cute!

HOW TO ENTER THE EVERLASTING TREAT BALL GIVEAWAY

#1 Leave a comment below on this post, sharing why your dog deserves the everlasting treat ball. Did they chew up your couch? Have they destroyed every other toy in a matter of minutes? Make sure to use a valid email address when leaving a comment. It won’t be posted, but will be how we contact you if you’re the winner.

#2 For an extra entry, become a fan of LCD on Facebook HERE.   And leave a comment on the LCD wall that you became a fan for the Everlasting Treat Ball Giveaway. If you are already a fan, just leave a comment on the LCD wall!

#3 For another extra entry, become a fan of Hairy Winston on Facebook HERE.  And leave a comment on the Hairy Winston wall that you became a fan for the Everlasting Treat Ball Giveaway.

#4 Check back here on March 30th for the announcement of the winner.  We will tally up all the comments here on the blog and on Facebook, and the winning number will be chosen using random.org’s random number generator.

#5 If you are the winner, head to Hairy Winston to pick up your treat ball. It’s located in the Towne Centre in Mt. Pleasant. (Sorry to all my non-Charleston area readers, but the treat ball can’t be mailed.)

Sunday Funnies

Courtesy of Cartoonist Jerry King

For more of his work: www.jerryking.com

Adoptable Dogs

What better way to spend the weekend than to welcome a new member into your home! There are many different dogs throughout the Lowcountry, all different shapes and sizes…one is bound to be perfect for you. If you can’t adopt a dog, fostering or sponsoring is a great alternative! Your sponsoring donations will aid in their care while they are awaiting their forever home!

Artie is a a terrier mix. He is almost two years old and has been neutered. He is an adorable little guy and is partially housetrained. If you think Artie could be a great addition to your family, check out the Pet Helpers website www.pethelpers.org

Hope is a 6 month old Terrier/American Pit Bull mix. Won’t you give her some ‘hope’ this weekend by adopting her into your family? If you’re interested in meeting Hope, visit the Charleston Animal Society website for more information.

Callie is a 15-month old blonde beauty who’s family had to turn her in after they decided she was not getting the time she needed and deserved. She is a wonderful, loving girl who gets along extremely well with her dog and cat friends. Callie loves to fetch and will play with you until you are worn out… bring the kids on! She will make a wonderful addition to any family with kids, dogs, cats, and yes, adults too! If you’re interested in being that family please visit the GGRLC website.

Hunter is the ‘honorary greyhound’ of Greyhound Pets of America in Charleston. He is very affectionate and likes to give hugs despite being found hungry and nearly hairless a couple of months ago. The good people at Animal Medical West have nursed him back to health. He seems to get along with other dogs of all size. He does need some training about living in home (no paws on the table or countertop) but he’s just being curious. If you’re interested in adopting Hunter go to www.adoptcharlestongreys.org and fill out an application.

Reba is a an 8 year old yellow girl. She is a fabulous mature girl who loves to retrieve the ball, hang-out, and go for rides. She is crate & house trained. She currently lives in a foster home with 2 other dogs and a cat.Reba is good with children of all ages. Reba was used for breeding and turned into the shelter when they thought she was no longer useful-(they thought she was too old to breed anymore). She is currently finishing heartworm treatment. If you think Reba would be a great addition to your home visit the Lowcountry Lab Rescue website for more information on the adoption process.

Lucky Dog Collar Giveaway WINNER!!

 

Congrats to Susie, lucky number 29!! She’s the winner of the Collar Giveaway from Dolittle’s. One of Susie’s two adopted dogs, Jack and Maggie, will look adorable in the DublinDog no stink collar. Susie did travel to Ireland and kissed the Blarney Stone in 2007, so it must have brought her and her doggies some luck.

Bummed you didn’t win? No worries! Enter our next contest, to be announced here on the blog on MONDAY!

Wondering how we pick our winners? I count up all the comments here on the blog, add the extra entries on the LCD Fan Page, then add the extra entries over on Dolittle’s Facebook Fan Page. I use Random.org for a random number and find the corresponding number  from all the comments.

Emergency Preparedness Training Part 2: by Krisitie Allen

This post is the 2nd in a series about training your dog for an emergency. For Part One, Click HERE.

People:

Introduce your dogs to as many different people that you can.  Some examples are: children, people of different ethnic origins, people who wear uniforms, people who wear caps or glasses, people with beards, young people, older people, and people in wheelchairs, using a cane, or walker.  And don’t forget about people engaging in activities such as walking, running, jumping, crawling, swimming, bathing, carrying things, exercising, etc.   Many dogs are startled or worried by people riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters, go carts, wagons, etc., so the earlier you can expose your dog to these things and teach them these things are safe, the better.  Showing your dog that even people that look different, act different, or move differently than what they see on a daily basis can help him to accept a man with a crazy hat and a scary looking coat pulling him to safety.

Places that Offer Training Opportunities:

Vet’s office – not only when he has an appt.

Pet store and any other pet friendly locations you can find

Strip malls and shopping centers and their parking lots

Your friend’s and family’s houses and their pets if applicable

Your car, friend’s and family’s car, if allowed (don’t ever force your dog on anyone either…..you have to face that not all people are dog people)

Puppy Kindergarten and Basic Obedience Class, at the least

Parks, beaches, lakes, any outdoor dog friendly place you can find

Exposing your dog to unfamiliar places properly will allow her to understand that every new portion of our human world is not so scary. Even if it is, she should be able to handle her stress more easily than if she never left her immediate environment.

**NOTE**

*Do your research on these areas – find out if and when your dog is allowed in the park or beach, what the leash rules are, and if your dog is required to be licensed or have a permit. 

*Alligators populate most fresh and brackish water lakes and rivers in the Southern Region of the US – please don’t allow your dog to swim in these areas.  If you are not sure, or don’t know…..don’t risk it.

Surfaces:

Expose your dog to rain, water, waves, tall grass, short grass, wet grass, bushes, flowers, sand, dirt, concrete, rocks, gravel, asphalt, stairs, floor, carpet, snow, mud, puddles and anything different you can think of.   Once again, if your dog is in a predicament and needs assistance of either you or another person, this is already stressful for them.  If they are acclimated to these things, or at least acclimated to change or unfamiliar territory, it won’t perpetuate the anxiety.

Jocelyn Augustino / FEMA Photo 17680
“New Orleans, LA, September 5, 2005–FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force members and local rescue workers and US Coast Guard, search for residents in neighborhoods impactd by Hurricane Katrina.” 

Sounds:

Your dog should be exposed to as many sounds as you can think of, but this doesn’t mean that you take the stereo that he’s never seen or heard before, set it in front of him and then blast it away……take it slow.   For sounds in which you can control the volume, start with low volume and slowly increase the volume.  For those items you cannot control the volume, and it is too loud for your dog to handle, use distance in the beginning and then slowly decrease the distance.   Examples of sounds to introduce your dog to are: the TV, stereo or radio (let them see you dance too!), a doorbell, any bell, the vacuum cleaner, clapping hands, stomping your feet, a whistle, sirens, a car horn and a car that backfires, balloons popping, electric tools, kitchen appliances, a stainless steel bowl falling to the floor, pots and pans clanging together, singing, laughing, other dogs barking, and a knock at the door.  If your dog seems a little stressed, but not overwhelmed, you can do things with your body to calm her down.  Try yawning, licking your lips and/or blinking your eyes.  Try eating something.  If your dog sees you doing these things, it can help to make her more comfortable as they are calming signals to dogs.  Whatever you do, don’t make a big deal about these noises.  If you accidentally drop something and it scares the puppy, don’t go running over to her to hover and make sure she is ok.  Just act nonchalantly as if it were no big deal at all.  Your dog will usually follow your lead and your body language.  If you are calm, your dog is more likely to be calm just as if you are frantic, your dog is more likely to be frantic.   If your dog learns that loud or different sounds are just a part of life, they don’t become so reactive to it.  Dogs are creatures of habit – if they continue to practice to be reactive or anxious when hearing loud or different sounds, they just build the habit even stronger.  If they practice being calm around these things, they in turn make that habit stronger – which could also carry over to helping your dog to stay calm during an emergency. 

Multiple Handlers:

Finally, teach your dog to be to be handled by and to respond to other people.  Start with family and friends who are willing to help and then try to incorporate new people and strangers into the training and handling your dog.  You may have to take a group class for this, but it is well worth it.  If your dog is used to being handled by lots of different people, along with all the above mentioned examples, if and when he is need of rescue, he may be able to cope much better than if not exposed at all. 

Emergency situations don’t always apply to the dog being rescued away from home.  What if there was a natural disaster or if you were in an accident……. If you could not get home and you had to send someone to assist your dog – would she allow a stranger into her “den” to leash her, put her in the car, and care for her while you are unable to?  If your answer is yes, then great job!  Now let’s get her ready for the helicopter ride!  If your answer is no, or I don’t know, it’s time to get to work!  

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, Bite Inhibition, and  the discussion of how this skill can possibly even save your dog’s life!

Kristie Allen is a graduate of Animal Behavior College where she earned a certification as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer.  Animal Behavior College (ABC) is approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education and is an internationally recognized school.  Her year long commitment to this program has provided her with a formal education in canine obedience training and understanding behavior and its motives. Kristie’s certification, education and experience provide her with the skills required to effectively and humanely train your dog while keeping alive the spark that makes your dog so special to you. To learn more about Kristie Allen and The Learning Canine click to her website HERE.

Iditarod

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race started Sunday, and there’s fantastic coverage over on the official Iditarod site HERE.

It might be a little hard for our  southern dogs to wrap their brains around, but the race goes 1,100 miles from Willow to Nome through “unforgiving terrain and downright nasty weather” according to Alaskan Dude. Check out some of his photos below of this year’s race thus far. These dogs are amazing.

Weekend Events 3/12-3/14

Photo via www.aboutlabradoodles.com

Paw to Palette March 13th 10-11am

Paw to Palette will take place at the All is Well location on James Island. The experts from Bark Busters and All is Well will discuss canine psyche and nutrition. Learn how dogs communicate within a pack, what ingredients to look for on a dog food label and much, much more. There will be time at the end for questions and the seminar is free. Event for humans only, not appropriate for children under 12yrs. Reserve a seat in advance at the store or by calling All is Well 795-2001.

Paws on Ice March 13th 4pm

Featuring National Champion & former Olympian Sandy Lenz Jackson, Professional World Class Figure Skaters, and music by the Pinewood Music Techs. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children 8 years & under are FREE. Tickets available at the Frances R. Willis SPCA or at the door on the day of the event. All proceeds benefit the Frances R. Willis SPCA. For more information call 843-532-3791. FREE Skate after the show.

Kids Fair at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium March 14th 10 am–5 pm

Be a part of Charleston’s 22nd annual premier family fun event! Free entertainment, give-a-ways, and activities for all. Pet Helpers will have a booth so stop by and visit!

Paddy’s Day Fun for the Pups

Mark your calendars for these fun, dog-friendly St. Patrick day celebrations.

Lucia’s St. Paddy’s Day Yappy Hour

Join us at Lucia’s on Wednesday, March 17 at 4pm for green beer, wine, goodies and a great sale! We are offering 20% off all green products! This includes green collars, leashes, harnesses, toys, beds, bowls, and treats (with green packaging)…Now that’s a fun sale!!! Come by from 4-7 and join the party! Don’t forget to bring the furry ones. Lucia’s Premium Pet is on Daniel Island. In the Publix shopping center.

St. Paddy’s Meet the Puppies at Dog & Duck

Come out for a relaxing evening and join the Goldens on Wednesday, March 17 at 5pm as we relax with drinks and food to welcome the newest members of the LCGRR Family – 7 SWEET PUPPYIES!!! 3 Female/4 Male Golden Mix Puppys will be there to meet all kinds of new people and enjoy their first get-together on the Dog & Duck Patio, Belle Hall, 5-7pm.