New dog park in Dublin 15

A couple of weeks ago I suddenly found a new enclosed area in Harstown Park It is quite big and there is a big population of dog owners in the area so I believe it will have a lot of dogs in there soon! Jago and Buddy are not really interested in playing with other dogs, but Jago will join if there is a group of crazy running dogs! Otherwise they will keep asking me for the tennisball. So it won't be great for socialization for...

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Canicross event in Monaghan

Have you ever run with your dog? Have you ever tried CaniCross? Last weekend I went with Jago to a Canicross event in Monaghan. Canicross can be defined as "running with your dog attached to a belt". But it is much more than that. At the event there was bikejoring (dog attached to the bike) and also scooter. I was supposed to run as Jago and I went for a bit of training in the last few months, but unfortunately I am injured at the moment.. so we went only to check the event! I have to admit that usually I prefer to run...

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Dog Day Trips around Dublin

Hi everyone, maybe it is the same as dog walks, but actually I will be posting about day-trips around Dublin with dogs. What I personally need is a place where I can park my car-van-carcamper (not sure how to call it), stay inside a write my thesis and let the dogs have fun! I posted about Bettystown Beach few days ago. The weather was terrible, but maybe that's why it has been a success for me: not many people! I will put another post soon for another place where I have been last Sunday... and I guess I will write...

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Fostering experience - Buddy - day 1!

Everything is happening quickly these days. Two days ago I found a dog and in 12 hours I found the owner thanks to the facebook page Lors Lost dogs. In the afternoon I saw on Dog in Distress webpage that there were few dogs in the pound that would need urgent fostering. I applied months ago for fostering, but I never had the real chance to take a dog. So I called and yesterday Buddy came at home with me! He is an 8 years old border...

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Jago being bad :)

The daycare where I leave Jago send always a lot of photos.I thought that this one was funny! Jago looking at the other dog with his tongue out like saying "prrrr" and the other dog face so sad! I am not the best in writing caption for photos but here an experiment :P ...

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Back from work..

Coming back from work one day Jago didn't run to say hello...  I realized something was wrong....... ......................... ................... ........................................................................................................................     ............. ............. .................... .......... Here he is!!!! Busy destroying the new blanket!!   Me:...

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Dog neutering, Jago experience

I have read so many discussions about if it's right or not to neuter a dog. I spoke with many people and friends. Obviously the first reaction is: NO! It's against the nature, poor dog,we cannot choose for them and so on. Then I start thinking how many abandoned animals live out there. How many are put to sleep, just because nobody want them. We didn't neuter our first dog. I don't know exactly why, we were new to dogs and maybe we didn't...

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Compulsory microchipping in Ireland

I just read that it will be compulsory in Ireland to microchip your dog. I had Jago microchipped few months ago and I believe that it's very important! It's not an expensive procedure and not painful for the dog. Unfortunately many dogs are microchipped but not registered to the actual owner. Just beware that many vet will not register the dog to your name, so you must do it usually online. And also remember to change online your contact...

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Dog sick in the car

Jago used to be always sick in the car. Since the first time I brought him home, he started… vomiting :S It continued for EVERY trip, no matter how long and no matter if he had food or not before. Obviously I started  to carry around a lot of blankets, napkins, and cleaning products.. I have been asking around on forums and to the vet. He didn't have any health issue, but he was very stressed obviously and he started hating the car. Every time that he saw me taking the car keys he was running away, hiding, laying...

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Games to play with your dog: FIND IT

FIND IT! Playing this game with our dog we will help him to "use his nose", it will provide mental stimulation, training commands and will make him happy for the treats and praises he will receive! 1. Ask your dog to sit and stay 2. Show him a treat 3. Move away from him and hide the treat - if it's the first time show him where are you "hiding" the treat 4. Ask him "find it" and praise him! It is important to start slowly with easy steps or you will just confuse him. The first times the dog should see where you are hiding...

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Games to play with your dog: HIDE AND SEEK

Another way to play and train your dog! It's a very nice game and it is a great mental exercise! I've seen that Jago not only needs to release his energies, but also to feel engaged in something more "mental". And Hide and seek it's also good fun!! Your dog should already know the command "stay". 1. Show a treat to your dog or his favorite toy 2. Ask him to "stay". 3. Go to another room and hide somewhere. 4. Call your dog and wait until he finds you! 5. When he finally finds you praise him a lot and give him the treat / toy. My...

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Dog Walks - St. Catherine's Park

*** UPDATE *** Now there is an enclosed area in the park!Finally also dogs with no recall can run free and socialize with their friends!*************** Another beautiful dog walk where I bring Jago often is St. Catherine's Park. It is a very nice and big park between Lucan and Leixlip. In the main entrance there is a public car park with enough spaces and toilette. The park is 200 acres and has many different areas. In the southern...

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Games to play with your dog - TUG O'WAR

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs..  I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) *** When I decided to adopt a dog my main concern was: I don't want him to be aggressive! For this reason until few weeks ago I never played "Tug O'War" with him. I was sure it was a game that would teach him to be aggressive, to show aggressive behavior. Then I started reading...

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The peach stone experience!

Jago loves eating everything. He loves fruit as well. Especially clementines, but also apples and banana. I don't give him too much fruit, only sometimes. I had the brilliant idea to give him a peach. Argh. Intelligent idea. He started eating it all happy. I was looking at him and sure to be able to stop him.... but he then finished swallowing everything.. also the peach stone (pit). !!!! Panic!!! He is a crazy dog, but I am sometimes an anxious owner, so obviously I started googling for "dog ate peach stone". And obviously...

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Dog walks - Malahide beach

One of the first Jago’s walk has been Malahide beach! He was only a 3 months old puppy and it has been fantastic watching him enjoying and discovering the water! Since then we are going to Malahide beach often. Malahide village is 16 km from Dublin, on the North side. I usually go by car, there is a free public parking with a lot of space. The town is served also by the DART and some buses going there (42, 32 if I am not wrong). There...

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