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Shanti – Victoria’s dog

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Lewis and I attended Shanti's 6th birthday party yesterday — she's a few months older than Lewis so they've been friends most of their lives.

Name: Shanti
Breed: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Hood: Gordon Head
Fave hangouts: Mt. Doug beach (Winter, or Dogville (fetch in the yard)
Favourite snack: Shanti likes the Bully Sticks! But she will eat anything that will not kill her leaving no crumbs on the floors to clean up.
More scoop: Shanti LOVES fetch and will play it forever with you. She gets very excited when she meets a new person (especially children) because they simply MUST throw the ball!! She can also be a very patient model for photoshoots. (Food's the key)

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Cesar Millan comes to Victoria Oct. 26

Cesar Millan, the hugely popular trainer with the TV series The Dog Whisperer, is about to embark on a cross-Canada tour.

His BC stops include visits to Victoria and Vancouver, where he'll give talks on how to "unleash your pack power."

According to his website, the event will include multimedia and an entertaining live show. Unfortunately, dogs will not be permitted at the event.

Cesar will perform on Oct. 26 at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria. Tickets go on sale today at http://www.cesarmillanlive.ca/, starting at $25.

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Help find Spot a home

While walking in our neighbourhood, Lewis and I met a lovely dog named Spot. Turns out he's part of the SPCA's "SOS" program, so he spends the night in a volunteer's home, and days at the shelter.

Spot's an adult fox terrier cross who was at the SPCA a few years ago. He found a lovely home, but sadly his owner passed away recently.

Spot loves his walks, and despite what it says on the SPCA site, he's a BIG cuddlebug!

He's having a tough time at the kennel, & was attacked by another dog there.

Do you know anybody who could be Spot's forever guardian?

Here's Spot's bio on the SPCA. You can meet him at the Victoria SPCA on Napier Lane!

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The four reasons our dogs misbehave

puppy ruining pillow

1. Lack of understanding

Some communication is so unclear that it is a miracle that dogs are able to meet any of our requests!

Sometimes they simply have no clue what we want of them.

And generally we keep asking the same thing, only with a louder voice, and more forceful actions, not realizing that the explanation needs to be delivered in a different way.

2. Lack of motivation

The dog is not motivated to do it. Lack of motivation can come from a variety of reasons.

My favourite that I like to pick on clients for is plain and simply “owners are boring”. Dogs have too many rules, and are never actually allowed to be dogs. The owners are incredibly dull, always trying to suppress their dogs from actually being dogs! Because of the constant rules, when the dogs finally get a taste of freedom, you will lose all control, as there is no way that you can compare with a running-rabbit or great dog-game. Please remember that the entire purpose of giving rules is to give freedom.

Other reasons are rewards are predictable and always present. If you ask your dog to come ten times, and each of the ten times he gets a piece of cheese, it won’t take him long to realize the food is always there, so skipping an occasion to chase a rabbit won’t kill him. But if the food is only sometimes there (variable reinforcement schedule) then he has a reason to find out if maybe this time he will get something. We want to turn our dogs into little gamblers. It is worth coming, just to find out if this time something might be given.

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Scallywaggs dog agility competitions

Friday, August 20th, 2010 – Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Dogs! Dogs! Dogs! Come down to the Blue Heron Park next Friday, Saturday or Sunday for some fun in the sun with the family! Watch as the ScallyWaggs of Victoria BC put on the Dog Agility Show of a lifetime!

Hoops and loops and twists and turns…watch trainers lead their pooches through weaves and tunnels and many many other obstacles for your enjoyment.

Free to watch!

Blue Heron Park
10714 McDonald Park Rd, Sidney

 

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Dog cookies by Iris

I enjoyed meeting Iris at last month's Oak Bay Market, and Lewis is nuts about her bacon trainer bits!

Where to find dog cookies by Iris:

  • Sidney market – Thursday Aug 26 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (the last Sidney market for the year). 
  • Moss Street market every Saturday from 10 – 2:00 p.m. (until end of October)
  • Duncan Farmers' Market Saturdays from 10 – 2:00 p.m. (until end of October)

Dog Cookies by Iris is a proudly Canadian company, based out of Cobble Hill. Dog Cookies by Iris was started by Iris Gilchrist, in her own kitchen for the love of her own two beagles, back in 1987.

Because Iris loved her two dogs so very much, and she wasn't finding the type of quality product on the market that she wanted for her own dogs, she decided to create her own product for them!

Taking a generic recipe she found in the newspaper, Iris slowly began substituting the ingredients with healthier alternatives and eventually settled on what is now known as the Iris Cookies original recipe. Iris made these original recipe cookies for years, for her own dogs and for friends' dogs as gifts. Eventually people started ordering cookies from her for special occasions and were paying for the healthy treats.

From there, Iris started selling the cookies both privately and at a few craft shows. Iris Cookies were such a success, that she began building a larger following of loyal dog treat buyers. Her original recipe cookie became so popular and the demand became so large, that she knew she had a real business going.

Iris knew she couldn't make it alone on a single cookie recipe and has since developed several other healthy treats for dogs. Based on the original recipe, Iris began creating tiny, bite size squares, which now are known as bacon trainer bits (Lewis' favourite).

From there, such treats as Bacon and Molasses, Cookie Bars, Bacon, Beet and Alfalfa Swirls, Cheesy Sweet Potato Kelpie Treats, Cheesy Breadsticks, Savory Veggie Hearts, Peanut Butter Bears, Liver Kelpie Rye Snacks, Kelpie Liver Cakes and many additional recipes were added to the original recipe cookies to make a variety of healthy, human grade treats unlike any others on the market.

Iris Cookies are sold in retail stores throughout lower Vancouver Island. In Victoria you'll find them at Chez Terry, The Village Patisserie, and Bagel Queen.

The quality of the product has never been compromised though, because Iris still makes every cookie by herself. Each quality cookie is rolled, cut, baked, inspected and packaged by Iris, resulting in the utmost highest standards. In fact, Iris cookies are made to human grade quality and organic ingredients are used whenever possible. Check out the ingredients.

Iris Cookies are nutritiously sound and bring joy to your hound. Look for Iris at local markets, or check out the Iris Cookies website!

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2010 Paws for a cause SPCA fundraiser event

Lewis and I had a great time last year & will be there again — come on out!

Scotiabank & BCSPCA Paws for a Cause

Sunday, September 12 at Galey Farms!

Registration starts at 10 am

Bring along your furry friend and join us for a great day of family fun! Enjoy a corn maze, train rides, a petting zoo, an inflatable bouncer, kids' crafts, dog games, a BBQ and much more! Special rates for registered walk participants and their families.

Register today and start fundraising in support of animals who need your help. For more information, to register online, or download a pledge form at spca.bc.ca/walk

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