My story continues.
So off we go. Sometime we go for “walkies in the car” which simply means they drive somewhere then we walk. Trouble is for them though is that I whinge all the way there, even though I don’t know where “there” is!……. click on the right for more.
I am having a very lazy day today because it is too hot. It is also humid and a bit uncomfortable for me with all my fur.
I went for my usual walk this morning whilst it was still cool; in fact the sun was just rising.
I will now sit under the desk and wait until it goes cooler later which is when I will be happy to go for another walk. I wander into the garden now and again, but that’s it!
This is my blog where I talk about all things pet and dog related and anything else that is of interest.
Register your support for the Blue Cross and help save many pets. Last year saw a sharp increase in the number of pets being brought to the centres because their owners could no longer afford to look after them. They expect more pets to lose their homes for this reason in 2009. Please register your support for the good work they do.
What’s in a name?
So you have your new pet dog, or are planning to get one. Now you have to think of what to call it. The choice of name is important as it says as much about you as it does your pet.
Your dog will be a member of your family so as much thought should go into its name as you would a child. Its name will be called out on many occasions, especially when out on a walk; what will people think when they hear you calling out?
It is best to keep to one or two syllables as these are easily understood by your pet. Try to avoid names that are similar to other family members or may resemble a command word. If you use a two syllable name, then you can create a two tone whistle to go with it, enabling you to call and/or whistle the pets name.
Dog names can come into categories, such as:
Characteristics
Spot, Patch, Blackie, Skruffy
Character or personality
Rocky, Lucky, Buddie
Gender
For girl dogs: Molly, Daisy, Lucy
For boy dogs: Sam, Max, Charlie
Size
A large dog would not appreciate being called Tinker!
A small dog called Rover does not quite go!
Favourite places or people
Chester, Sydney, Churchill, Winston.
There are of course many names to choose from; getting it right however, is quite difficult especially if the whole family is involved and everyone has a different suggestion. Ultimately, the person to have the final say over the pets name should be the one who will be closest to it, its master, as that is the person the dog will respect most and respond to. Also that person will generally be the one who takes it out the most and ends up calling its name out!
Here are some top 10 names from the UK, USA and Australia.
The top ten most common dog names in the UK, as polled by Greenbee Pet Insurance, are:
10. Ruby
9. Daisy
8. Rosie
7. Jack
6. Millie
5. Alfie
4. Max
3. Charlie
2. Poppy
1. Molly
The top ten most common dog names in the USA, as published in Dog Fancy magazine:
10. Buddy
9. Lucky
8. Molly
7. Lucy
6. Bailey
5. Maggie
4. Sammy
3. Oscar
2. Sasha
1. Max
The top ten most common dog names in Australia, from a pet id tag maker:
10. Sam
9. Molly
8. Jessie
7. Aley
6. Timmy
5. Jess
4. Zoe
3. Daisy
2. Max
1. Skruffy
And some from Europe:
Autobahn (Germany)
Frankfurter (Germany)
Fritz (Germany)
Bonapart (France)
Bordeaux (France)
Channel (France)
Bruno (Italy)
Elmo (Italy)
Rinaldo (Italy)
Carlos (Spain)
Don (Spain)
Manuel (Spain)
Suggestions always welcome. I hope to expand on these lists in the near future so stay tuned!
Today is a great day for me. The other day I was so sad because my old Kong died, well its end fell off so its purpose as a treat dispenser didn’t work as the treats just fell through from one end to the other.
Anyway the postman called with a parcel for me. I do not get much post so it really is exciting when I am told that “this one is for you”. I am not allowed to try and open it myself, although I would like to, in case there are stapes in the packaging which may cause me injury.
As they were opening it on the kitchen table I had to watch what they were doing and find out what it was. So up with paws on the table and yes, it was my new black Kong and I was so pleased I ran up and down the house, wagging my tail and taking my new toy to each of them so they could see it.
Kong plays a specific and significant role for me; it provides treats outside my meal times. If you have read any of my stories, you will know that I am never fed, well certainly not fed enough; I can’t be as I am always hungry.
Kong gives me treats. Usually treats that do not come out very easily are put inside it, such as Shapes or small Bonios, and then I have to exercise my jaw to crush the Kong and therefore the treats inside so the bits come out and I can eat them.
Kong is also a throw toy and is great fun because it never bounces in the direction I expect it to due to its shape and keeps me going in all directions until I eventually either catch it or wait for it to land; then I return it and it is thrown again. I never get bored of that game; they do!
This Kong is black; the old Kong was blue. Colour doesn’t matter as it’s what goes inside that is important.
So, folks, I am one happy Labrador today. OK, an even happier Labrador today; I am always happy, except of course when Kong 1 died!
Medium Puppy Kong Dogs Activity Toy Pets Pet Puppy Dog
I awoke from a little nap and we all set off for a walk. There are so many new smells here; wild sage, many different wild herbs and aromatic flowers like Honeysuckle and Jasmine that seem to be everywhere. There are also animal smells; ones that I have not encountered before. In an Olive grove just down the road there are goats with….read my blog, click right!
I joined http://www.technorati.com the blogosphere.
101 Dog Tricks: Step-by-step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
by Kyra Sundance.
This book is a must for all dog lovers who love to interact and play with their pets. It does not include stupid tricks, more towards training; it starts with the basics and moves upwards. It gives step by step instructions with some excellent photographs as well as troubleshooting hints.
Today’s highlighted product is a dog satellite navigation system that is built into a collar allowing your dog to explore and giving you the peace of mind you know where he is!
Dog Satnav – never lose me again! Dog Tracking GPS
Product Description
Garmin ASTRO BUNDLE DC 30 Collar Plus Astro 220. Tired of searching for your dog in tall grass or dense cover, up the mountains or in the fields? Now you can leave the exploring entirely to him. Introducing Astro, the first high sensitivity GPS enabled dog tracking system for hunters,sportsmen and dog owners generally. This unique system pinpoints your dogs position and shows you exactly where he is, even when you cant see or hear him. The Astro system includes a bright color screen handheld GPS device and the rugged, all weather DC 30 collar. The collar has an integrated GPS transmitter and is specially weighted so the antenna will always point to the sky for optimum signal. To get started, just take Astro outdoors and turn on the handheld and transmitter to acquire GPS satellite signals. Then attach the DC 30 to your dog. Now you are ready to turn him loose / no other setup required. As often as every five seconds, your dogs DC 30 transmits his position to your handheld, and you can see his current location and a trail of where he is been on the Map page of your handheld. Switch over to the Dog Tracker page to view a compass pointing to your dogs location as well as his current status: whether he is running, sitting, on point or treeing quarry. Astro can also sound an alarm to let you know instantly when your dog goes on point. Astro boasts a high sensitivity GPS receiver that can track your dogs position even in the densest cover. You can track up to ten dogs at one time with Astro, at a distance of up to seven miles away /depending on terrain/. The system transmits information by line of sight, so it reaches farthest in flat, open territory.
Dog Tracking GPS
Buy it now!
The Death of Kong – A sad day!
As an 8 year old chocolate Labrador and I have many toys.
I know them all by name and usually bring the one I have been asked for. For some reason only known to others, I am not allowed those that squeak. I have a green toy, it used to squeak but I’ve had it since I was a puppy and the squeak went a long time ago, it’s a long dog holding a little bone.
Then there’s my tugger toy, a flat rubber figure of eight and I am supposed to hold one end and someone else hold the other and we tug – I want both ends though and often hold it in the middle so the principle of its function doesn’t work with me.
Then I have a large blue flat rubber ring, not one of my favourites but it comes out now and again, I tend to try and use this one as a tugger-toy but I think they are supposed to throw it like a frisby and then I have to bring it back.
I also have a large red rubber bone which I try to eat; it’s apparently good for my teeth and makes my breath smell nice.
But my very favourite is Kong. It used to belong to my uncle Offa (Chocolate Labrador 1989 – 2004) but when he had to have all his teeth out, he couldn’t play with it any more so I took it over. Kong is brilliant, it was invented by Doctor Mumford (a doggie expert) – when it is thrown, because it is hard rubber and has a bumpy conical shape it never goes the way I expect it to and it bounces well so that is great fun, but best of all it is hollow with a little hole through which biscuits are put and I have to get them out and this can be quite difficult so I have to exercise my jaw and try and squash it in order to crunch the biscuits inside so they will fall out.
Kong comes out on a very regular basis, especially when I feel like a snack. They are really pleased if I place it nicely on their knee and usually fill it up for me; they are not keen if I try and get them to chase me for it, well I have to tease them and pretend to give it them then move away so they can’t quite get it.
Kong can be filled with all sorts of food and titbits; it can be put in the fridge (if necessary to set titbit mixtures) and is dishwasher proof (I don’t like it when it’s clean; I like to savour its history of good smells).
Kong has been on all my travels but today, sadly the end is nigh. In fact the end is falling off.
After all these years my best toy needs to be replaced with a new Kong Natural Rubber Red Dog Chew Medium
A picture of me relaxing with my favourite toy.
DB and his favourite toy
