It’s time for the weekend edition and there’s some useful and interesting  conversations going on in the blog world for you and your dog on different aspects of the bond we share and the life partnership that results, including a contest!  These are my picks for the week.  If you have some faves I missed, let me know.

There’s a great post over at Edie Jarolim’s blog, Will My Dog Hate Me?, asking to what degree do we accept our dog’s personalities and where’s the line on trying to change the dog’s behavior versus letting the dog be who he is? She collaborated with Debbie Jacobs, who writes and speaks on the subject of  working with fearful dogs.

At Dog Lover’s Digest, Kevin Meyers has a letter to humans from a dog looking at behavior and human frustrations. It’s a great reminder that behavior just is; it’s neither good nor bad, but needs to be directed or redirected. So the next time you just say “no” to your dog and you don’t get the reaction you expect, you’ve got Kevin’s post to refer to!  Via Jim McBean at Doggybytes with thanks. 

I heard about this particular blogpost by Katalin Kerekes at Special Paws via twitterpals Mary @turtlelady81 and Hilary @fangshuicanines which  takes a look at the question what is “trained” and what should it mean to honor the bond between you and your dog.

And for a different spin on behavior, this contest and last entry from the Susquehanna Service Dogs organization who breed, raise, and train dogs for people with autism, physical and psychological disabilities, for the mililtary, and more. The contest: Answer the question”How has a dog changed your life?” in less than 500 words, they are looking for all stories, not just service dog stories. The prize? $1000. Contest closes March 1, 2010. Here’s the link to enter. 

Happy reading (and maybe some writing)!

I spoke to Red Moon’s President, Jason Bailey, from his Alberta office this afternoon.  Bailey designed this unique online business concept as a concerned industry insider “to put some control back in the hands of consumers.” Bailey said, 

“the customer can now get involved with their pet’s nutrition and gain a better understanding of quality products, like the low ash chicken meal we use. [note that low ash is an indicator of quality meal, having to do with the proportion of bone to muscle meat used] We’d rather spend the extra money on these premium ingredients. Because we don’t use traditional distribution channels, we can save the customer the extra $30 it would cost if we did.”

RedMoon’s production facilities are in Alberta and Minnesota, the latter is USDA organic certified.  They use regionally sourced antibiotic and hormone-free meats, whole raw fruits and vegetables, and slow cook them in small batches to preserves nutrients otherwise lost in high heat commercial cooking methods.  RedMoon products are gluten, grain, soy, wheat, rice and corn-free so allergic reactions are not a concern.

Bailey noted “This is custom nutrition delivered. Even our supplements are in doses high enough to get results.  People can name their own blend after their dog or cat and we will personalize the bag. Soon, you’ll be able to have your pet’s picture on the bag too!”

Prices range from $17.99 to $89.99 which includes shipping and one free supplement. There is a 110% money back satisfaction guarantee, and you can read more here RedMoon Pet Food .

Tashi can’t tolerate kibble at all so I have no taste testers. If you’ve tried this product yet, I’d really like to hear your review!

before you go…

This list was sent by Sara, a twitter pal who goes by @ersle, on animal rescue fakes on the internet designed to take money from unsuspecting donors. For your bookmarks and word file.

When she stepped off the plane,  it looked like a war zone.  Tracy Reis of American Humane emergency services, and part of the ARCH Mission started by IFAW and WSPA  in Haiti, gave her exclusive interview to Steve Dale on his WLS “Steve Dale’s Pet World”radio program.

Reis gave an update on what’s happening on the ground.  The assessment process continues, while field medicine and antibiotics are being administered to sick and injured animals. Dogs, goats, pigs, chickens and a handful of cattle are everywhere.  Dale asked Reis about zoonotic disease worries, rabies in particular, and about distemper that could prove to be devastating to the population of wild, domestic, and community dogs. (Community dogs are owned by no one but fed and cared for by the neighborhood.  Food is left for them but often they are left to find their own water according to Janice Girardi of Bali BAWA  in my interview with her.) You won’t believe what happened with the rabies vaccination program that was being administered before the quake hit.

Dale asked about the state of the food problem for people, aftershocks, and where people are sleeping, touching on security issues.  (He also wondered how Anderson Cooper looks so clean and coiffed, but I think that’s just Anderson Cooper:)

Check out his excellent interview with Tracy Reis and his blog at Chicago Now.

Steve Dale is a leader in the animal welfare community in Chicago, a Certified Pet Dog and Cat Behavior consultant, writes a syndicated pet column for the Chicago Tribune, is an author, recipient of the AVMA Humane Award, and that’s just for starters. 

While the market says the pet industry is doing well and will continue to do so this year, there are also incidents like the cancellation of the Luxury Pet Pavilion scheduled for March 12 and 13 in Los Angeles with no reason offered that appear to be a nod to not pushing your luck.  Given our economic “one foot in the water, one in the sand” perspective, what’s the pet product market doing to keep up with niche market demands?

People want products that go with their personal lifestyles and even their philospophical sensibilities. With Yep Yup and other design companies that focus on the whole lifestyle of you and your furry family beds, your sofa pillows, collars and leashes too, our interior lives with our dogs and cats are harmonious. But what about when we go out for long walks (on the beach would be nice about now…oh, sorry…digressing) or hiking with our dogs?  Spring is fast approaching (thank you!) and we’ll be outside again. What’s new that works? What are you packing in your backpack?

The Squishy bowl started as an item that could easily be squeezed into ahiker’s backpack, or a camper’s kit.  Josh Guyot, CEO, designer and owner of Guyot Designs in Deer Isle, Maine, used flexible silicone and the bowl fits active people’s lifestyles. Then came the line for dogs, too, from the new 12oz  to 48oz capacity. Prices start at $10.95 (BPA and polycarbonate free).

Aqua Pure Breed Mountain, Natural, and Mineral Enhanced dog waters available for “on-the-go canines” can be purchased retail or delivered.  They have several formulas: Bone & Joint Support; Healthy Skin & Coat; Pure Premium Spring Water Pink with natural spring water, and Blue with more Magnesium for, as the maker states, ”maintaining nerve function and combating heart disease.”

This is a portable disposable water “bottle”, which is really shaped like a jar that holds 8 ounces. There are some questions, but I’ll go for two here.  Shallow jars are not ideal for other than small dogs in terms of spill over from actively lapping tongues.  Was the target market only small dogs? And regarding the disposable concept, does the product have an eco-friendly component?  

When I called, Igot a voicemail system that did not identify the company. I’ve not had a return call.  Perhaps they are closed on Mondays.  Or there’s a nice website with the sound of the surf playing in the background that we can use to stay relaxed while we work:) 

If  you’ve used the Squishy bowl, how has it worked for you? Is it easy to clean on trails?

Another week has come and gone and it’s time to take a look at things I liked that I didn’t write about .  We’ve got some fun for the gamers in the family with something new from National Geographic. “DogTown” is a game where volunteers must rehabilitate every dog that comes in. You’ll work with the staff and the stars of the show  to improve the physical and mental health of the dogs as well as deal with the emotional wounds these misused abused dogs need to work through.  You’ll teach them tricks and introduce them to the world outside DogTown.  Save the pit bull, save the world:) And John McFeely, the communications coordinator at  National Geographic sent along a link so we can all play the game for one hour for FREE!  Here ya go.  Let me know what you think!

Another excellent and hilarious post can be found at Eric Goebelbecker’s Dog Spelled Forward blog here he talks about training to “settle” (what used to be called “play dead”) and then shows you how on video.  Caffeine, the dog in the video, is looking for a hollywood contract…what  ham!

And here’s for all the busy people who don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done; I confess I put myself in this category and I would bet you do to: Zenhabits was something I stumbled on thanks to someone on my tweetdeck…only sorry I don’t know who it was, or I would give kudos.  Here’s a little excerpt:

“Maybe we’re playing the wrong game — we’ve been conditioned to believe that busier is better, but actually the speed of doing is not as important as what we focus on doing.

Maybe we’re going at the wrong speed. Maybe if we are constantly rushing, we will miss out on life itself. Let’s let go of the obsession with speed, and instead slow down, stop rushing, and enjoy life.

And still get everything done.”

The piece is entitled “How Not To Hurry” and was written by Leo Babauta

That’s it for this weekend.  Hope you enjoy the game (don’t forget to tell me what you really think), the laugh, and a good post with food for thought. Enjoy, and see you next week!

City budgets have sliced the life out of dollars allotted to Animal Care and Control (ACC) agencies across the US.  Skeleton crews work the problems of caring for and tending to the needs of dogs and cats. Those needs would not be met by most measures if volunteers did not step in to fill the gaps. 

In Chicago, cutbacks forced ACC to reduce adoption hours from 49 per week to 17, closing for adoption on Sundays.  Volunteers revolted, the Sun-Times reported it, and a semblance of sanity was restored to the program’s hours.  Volunteers and the work they do should be respected. They are the life’s blood of many organizations.  I don’t think many would disagree, so this news comes as a surprise.

According to Fran Spielman, City Hall reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, the city “overlooked” the fact that Animal Care and Control volunteers (more than 250) have not been subject to what is said to have been policy since 2008. All 110 other volunteers for city departments have provided and allowed: social security numbers, background checks, and fingerprints.

That last was not a typo. Fingerprints are required of volunteers  just as if they were applying for a civil service or federal job. To do work no one else will do in a noisy, stressful environment and all without a paycheck, you now have to be subjected to jumping through more hoops than if you were actually getting hired by a corporation. 

Perhaps there are Federal guidelines suggesting fingerprinting for city volunteers; please share if you have any knowledge in this area or can cite Homeland Security guides that list what I see as a shocking request demand. In federal buildings this makes sense; there, they have security personnel to actually check credentials.  But Animal Care and Control?

How many hurtles are volunteers supposed to clear before they can actually contribute?  How many hurtles will be set up before volunteers just stop jumping?  There are plenty of dogs and cats to care for.  We know volunteers are needed, but are they really wanted?

Do you think this is a reasonable demand to make of a volunteer and I’m just barking up the wrong tree?  Where do you draw the line? What’s the story in your city?