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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Another dog lost!

Again I found a dog lost! People start making fun of me, telling I am stealing dogs or I have a magnet that attracts dog lost. To be honest I see that in those situation I am the only one "doing something". The first time I found a dog, the wee small was crossing the road at a traffic light in a dangerous situation and was shaking scared. People watching and laughing. I stopped the car and took her and after 24 hours he has been reunited...

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dog training: sit

***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 :) ***  Let's start the training series with a basic command: SIT With Jago has been very easy to teach him sit, but maybe not for all the dogs is so easy. First thing to remember is that the dog should have fun during the training and should be able to concentrate. So...

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is it possible to train two dogs together?

***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 :) *** Well I am trying, just for fun :D I've read that is not possible because they are too distracted or for other reasons. I am not really trying to train them, but yesterday when they started to be bored / too much tennisball obsessed I started with Sit - Down command and it works really good! Now, Buddy doesn't give paw and I saw he doesn't like to be touched...

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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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What to do if you find a lost dog?

For the second time I found a dog in Dublin and I found the owner as well, so I am becoming expert? :) Please feel free to add in the comments if you know more resources or if you have any tip or experience to share. So what to do if you find a dog? First of all thanks for trying to help him! - Usually I walk in the area and I try to ask people if they recognize him or can give me some information. - Keep the dog safe at home and don't...

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National chipping month + competition!!!

I wrote few days ago an article about the compulsory microchipping in Ireland. September is the Ireland's National chipping month That means that there will be initiatives all around the country and there will be more opportunities to have your dog microchipped at reduced price or free of charge! There are many sponsors and associations involved and you can find updated information here: http://www.ncm.ie/ and here on the...

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doggie day care

Since I got Jago my concern was: will he be bored at home? I live in a house with a garden, medium size garden. I work not far from my house, 10 minutes by car. I adopted Jago when he was a tiny 10 weeks old puppy. I know that many people are against adopting a puppy if you work full time, but the owner couldn't find a home for the 8 puppies and he was ready to bring them to the pound. So I took some days off and on a Friday I brought...

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Training: recall!

***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 :) *** Well, we all know that one of the most important things is to be able to control our dogs. And especially... to make them come back when called! I thought it was kind of impossible... I've never been able! So with Jago I started early. I got Jago when he was 10 weeks old, a scared tiny puppy. Since his 1st walk outside I started the recall training. I was bringing...

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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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HOUSE TRAINING YOUR PUPPY – my experience

Here we are! The puppy is beautiful and cute... but how difficult is to house train him? Obviously it depends! I got my first dog when he was 6 months old, coming from a pound. We were living in an apartment and he was NEVER soiling in the apartment! Incredible!  I don’t know how he learnt himself... but he was brilliant! I spoke with a friend that got his Labrador from the breeder when he was a tiny pup. He learnt alone as well to don’t pee in the house! With Jago… another story! He needed to pee? Everywhere...

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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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