The Maynard Dog Owners Group, Inc. (MayDOG) and Tumeria Langlois, ABCDT, a certified dog trainer and owner of Sirius Dawg Training, are joining together to offer a FREE workshop on “Picking a Pup” on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 1pm the Maynard Public Library.

“We are thrilled about this opportunity to provide people who are thinking about getting a puppy or new dog with the information they need to pick the right dog for their family,” says Lisa Lines, MayDOG’s president. “This workshop is the second this year in our series of free educational workshops about responsible dog ownership.”

At this interactive workshop, attendees will learn about such important topics as: Are you ready for a new dog or puppy?  When and where should you get your puppy or dog? Purebred, mixed breed, or All-American mutt? Which breeds are best for which lifestyles? How can you gain insight into a puppy’s or dog’s personality in just a few minutes? In addition, MayDOG and Sirius Dawg Training will be giving away coupons, handouts, and free samples of dog food. The Maynard Public Library is located at 77 Main Street, Maynard. Plenty of free parking is available on site.

“It’s important to involve the whole family in the process of getting a new puppy or dog,” says Tumeria Langlois, owner of Sirius Dawg Training. “This workshop will provide you with the information you’ll need to confidently assess if you’re ready for a dog, and if so, how to find the right dog for your lifestyle.”

This workshop is free, but registration is recommended. Call 978-310-3364 (978-3310-DOG) and leave your name, phone number, and the number of attendees — or register online at www.maydog.org.

Download the flyer for this event here.

###

Founded in 2008, the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. MayDOG’s mission is to promote responsible dog ownership and help build community through safe, legal off-leash recreation in Maynard, MA and the surrounding areas. MayDOG is working to create a fenced dog park in Maynard. Other activities include holding social events, sponsoring a walking group, developing and distributing educational materials about responsible pet care, conducting workshops on training and dog behavior, promoting pet emergency preparedness and first aid programs, and encouraging dog-friendly businesses. For more information, please visit www.maydog.org.

Tumeria Langlois, ABCDT, is the owner of Sirius Dawg Training in Maynard, MA, which offers professional, individual pet dog training and other services, including dog walking and Reiki. Ms. Langlois is an experienced trainer of both humans and animals and received her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College. For more information, please visit www.siriusdawg.com.

If you’re stumped for costume ideas for your favorite critter, here are some pictures to get your creative juices flowing!

(Photo credits reference Creative Commons license holders on Flickr)

See also: The Huffington Post

Whether you walk your dog on leash or off, there’s always the possibility you’ll be involved in a dog fight some day. This can be terrifying for both of you.

A dog fight is any interaction between two dogs where at least one of the dogs has the intent of hurting the other. It doesn’t matter what size, shape or breed the dogs are, they are still more than capable of fighting.

It may be possible to prevent a dog fight before it even starts. You can learn to interpret an approaching dog’s body language, and that can help let you know if he’s likely to be agressive.

If an approaching dog isn’t very big, don’t be complacent and think because he’s small, he’s harmless. Many little dogs are as feisty as their larger counterparts. It doesn’t matter how small a dog is, he still has teeth, and he can still do serious damage.

A confident assertive dog will stand tall, with his ears erect. His tail will be held high, and he will also stare at your dog. If a dog shows this type of behavior towards you, it’s a good idea for you and your dog to calmly walk away. Hopefully, he’ll decide he’s won that battle for dominance and won’t bother to follow you.

If a loose dog does attack your dog, whatever you do, don’t scream and yell. That’s not easy when you’re scared, but the high pitched noise may escalate the aggression and make the situation worse.

Never ever put your hands anywhere near the head ends of fighting dogs - don’t try and grab their collars. That’s a recipe for serious injury.

The best way to stop a dog fight is to startle the dogs. A loud shrill noise such as that from a can of compressed air is ideal. Alternatively, a bucket of water may be enough to distract them for a moment.

For the next step, you need a second pair of hands. When the dogs have been startled and stopped fighting for a moment, someone needs to grab the back legs of each of the dogs, drag them apart and start walking them in a circle on their front legs. This makes them lose balance, and they can’t try to attack if they’re wobbly on their feet.

It’s a very good idea to keep the dogs out of sight of each other until they’ve calmed down. You can then check them for bite wounds and punctures, and consider whether or not they need veterinary attention. Some dog fights are very noisy but there’s remarkably little damage done. If in doubt, have your dog checked by your vet; puncture wounds can be deep and he may need antibiotics and pain relief.

Dogs who have been involved in a dog fight are occasionally very apprehensive about meeting new dogs. It’s important that you help him get over this nervousness, because it may make it difficult for you both on future outings.

Arrange to get together with friends who have amiable dogs, and allow your dog to meet them under safe, controlled circumstances. If he has several positive enjoyable experiences with new dogs, he’ll be back to his confident self very quickly.

Customer-hungry merchants in Escondido are hoping to attract more business by welcoming dogs, and in turn their owners, to downtown.

The Downtown Business Association of Escondido … is hoping to expand the dog hospitality that some businesses already have shown, such as Vinz Wine Bar’s doggie nights, to the rest of downtown and even to Grape Day Park, the only park downtown, but which bans dogs.

“We would just like to have downtown dog-friendly so people who have dogs can bring them downtown, take them to some of the stores, and not have to tie them up outside,” said Thora Guthrie, CEO of the downtown business association.

Full article here.

This program is for female dogs only. Dogs must be between 3 months and 7 years of age, and must weigh between 10 and 60 pounds. The clinic cannot accept short-snouted dogs like pugs and boxers. Dogs must be in good health and have current rabies and distemper shots. The spay clinic includes a heartworm test, which is also free.

To book an appointment or learn more, please email Sue Carbone or call her at 508-887-4326.

L to R: Lisa Lines, Keira, Chief Stephen Kulik, Mollie, Troy, Captain Pat Sullivan

Thanks to a donation from a member of the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG), pet owners in Maynard can breathe a little easier — and their pets can, too.

MayDOG president Lisa Lines and member Veronica Zolina presented a set of pet-sized oxygen masks to Chief Stephen Kulik of the Maynard Fire Department today.  Although the Department already had one set of pet masks on its ambulance, this additional set will ensure that the engine company is also equipped to help dogs, cats, and other pets pulled from a burning building.

“We are always happy and grateful for any and all additional donations, as you never know when you will need them,” said Chief Kulik, who accepted the donation.  The set contains three masks of different sizes, which can fit animals from a Saint Bernard down to a kitten.

L to R: Lisa Lines, Chief Stephen Kulik, Mollie, Troy, Captain Pat Sullivan

Zolina and her husband own two greyhounds and a cat.  She decided to donate the masks on behalf of MayDOG because of that group’s efforts to promote Maynard as a dog-friendly community.  She said, “I want to be sure that all of Maynard’s pets, including my own, can receive lifesaving treatment in a fire if they need it.  It was reassuring to learn that the Department is prepared to aid animals as well as people, because so many Maynard residents are pet owners too.”

“More than 40,000 pets across the country perished in fires in 2006, with the majority dying from smoke inhalation,” said Lines.  “We hope that giving these masks to the Maynard Fire Department will raise awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness for rescue agencies and pet owners alike,” she said.

MayDOG Media Contact:
Lisa Lines
978-331-0364 (978-3310-dog)
lisa

MAYNARD—The Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) today announced the winners of their first annual Dog-Friendly Business Award. There was a three-way tie between Aubuchon Hardware, at 33 Main Street, Erikson’s Ice Cream, at 12 Great Road, and the Maynard Barber Shop, at 75 Main Street, all in Maynard. Six other nominees were also recognized, including LOOK Optical, Ray & Sons Cycle & Ski, and Middlesex Savings Bank in Maynard, and Sweet Bites Café, Sawyer Automotive, and Ace Hardware in Acton.

“We want to promote our local businesses, and we believe that one of the easiest things they can do to gain attention and goodwill is by being friendly to our furry family members,” said Lisa Lines, president of the group. She then described the reasons for each business being nominated. All of the nominees were recognized for their dog-friendly business practices, such as providing a water bowl, giving out dog treats, and allowing customers’ dogs inside. In the case of Erikson’s, their free doggie ice cream draws dog owners from around the area. Bob at the Maynard Barber Shop is known for giving out dog biscuits and having a water bowl for dogs. And Aubuchon Hardware sees up to 40 dog visitors a week, whose owners bring them in for belly rubs and cookies.

“Ask any dog owner: they love to take their dogs with them when they are out and about,” said Alex Landsman, the MayDOG member who announced the winners. “Here in Maynard, many people come downtown on foot with their dogs. On these hot summer days, dog owners really appreciate a business that allows dogs inside or puts a water bowl out in front and provides a place for the dog to be safely secured while the owner is inside.”

MayDOG members who spoke at the event offered several reasons for businesses to be friendly to Fido. “In this economy, anything a business can do to set itself apart from the competition is a good thing, and while dogs themselves don’t shop much, their owners do,” said Landsman. “Dog owners are very loyal to businesses that cater to their needs and the needs of their dogs.”

“If a business is known for being dog friendly, dog owners would rather go there than a competing business simply because they’re able to bring their dogs along,” added Lines.

###

Founded in 2008, the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. MayDOG’s mission is to promote responsible dog ownership and help build community through safe, legal off-leash recreation in Maynard, MA and the surrounding areas. MayDOG is working to create a fenced dog park in Maynard. Other activities include holding social events, sponsoring a walking group, organizing an annual “fun-raiser”, developing and distributing educational materials about responsible pet care, conducting workshops on training and dog behavior, promoting pet emergency preparedness and first aid programs, participating in town-wide clean-ups, promoting dog-friendly improvements to the town, and encouraging dog-friendly businesses. For more information, please visit www.maydog.org.

Photo credits: All photos taken by Mark Genest for MayDOG.

Pictured: Representatives from Aubuchon, Erikson’s Ice Cream, and the Maynard Barber Shop receiving their award certificates from Lisa Lines of MayDOG.

For the most part, I am pleased with how the article turned out.  Hopefully it will lead to a good turnout at our August 1 Kids & K-9s workshop and generate lots of interest in our group.