Cool Runnings

Haliburton Highlands Dogsled Derby is being held this weekend, and there's one cool team making waves! Damion Robb from the Jamaican Dogsled Team continues to break barriers and buck trends that folks from the Caribbean don't enjoy winter sports! (I really like this, as both my pawrents roots are Caribbean-based!)

They train mostly on dryland, in Jamaica, with strays they rescue from "death row". Then during the race season, they move to colder climates and work with their snow dog team mates. To meet the dogs...visit their site here.

Paws up to this very cool team!!

If you want to help support the team, visit their website to purchase their documentary, Sun Dogs. Proceeds go to team training and the JSPCA (Jamaican SPCA).

All Wet...

Tomorrow's the day...the dreaded "fun swim".

I'll let you all know how it goes! *gulp*

Is Your Computer Screen Dirty??

BOL! Click HERE to clean it!

Happy Friday!

Fighting BSL to Save Puppy

From the Toronto Star today:
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A pit bull puppy in Mississauga has won a five-week stay of execution, while his owner contests the charges, in one of the first challenges to Ontario's ban on the breed.

The 10-month-old dog, named Rambo, was caught by animal control officers on Christmas Day after he ran away from the back yard of his owner, Gabriela Nowakowska.

The puppy was born after a province-wide ban on new pit bulls took effect Aug. 29, 2005. By law, the city must put the dog down.

According to the Dog Owners' Liability Act, pit bulls born more than 90 days after the ban took effect must be put down.

"It's so sad that a simple thing like your dog escaping can mean your dog is killed," said King, spokesperson for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada, part of a coalition that protested the ban. "It's incredibly heartbreaking for the people forced to live with the consequences of a bad law."

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Details of the ban

When did the amended Dog Owners' Liability Act take effect?

Aug. 29, 2005.

Which breeds are banned?

Pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any other dog with traits "substantially similar" to those breeds.

What are the terms of the ban?

The legislation prohibits the ownership, transfer, import, breeding and abandonment of pit bulls.

Dogs that belonged to an Ontario resident when the ban took effect, or were born within 90 days after the ban, are allowed but must be spayed or neutered and muzzled in public. ("Public" includes everything but the owner's property.) The muzzle must be strong enough to prevent the dog from biting through but can't hinder the dog's ability to breathe, see, pant or drink.

The dogs may not be trained to fight and must be kept on a leash shorter than 1.8 meters.

What happens if you break the law?

The dog will be confiscated and euthanized.

The owner could face: up to six months in jail; a maximum fine of $10,000 ($60,000 for corporations); a court order to compensate a victim.
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For more info on BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) visit the Dog Legislation Council of Canada.

Building a Great Foundation!

Well, I wrapped up my Agility Foundation course yesterday, and WOW was it ever great!

We did our first mini sequence, and I TOTALLY ROCKED IT! HM was very proud of me and our teacher Brandi was too! We had to go over two jumps, then through the tunnel.

We practiced weaves again, and we're doing channels to help us get used to it, and I had no problems with it this week!

I was very confident on the teeter too! (it was just stationary on the ground...) But it's great practice for the Dog Walk too!

I can't wait, the next round of classes starts in two weeks!
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PLUS!! After HM tries to get me to swim next week, I get to go to a real agility trial!! Brandi is competing with her dogs Soshi and Zona in the same area that our swim session will be!!! So pop over to her blog and wish her luck!!

Even Dogs Have Bad Days!

Now every pup knows I’m full of energy and love to put HM through her paces! I love to run around and go crazy, especially when I’m at the park with my pals. HM has recently been looking into pet insurance for me. When one loves zoomie's and agility as much as I do, anything could happen and my pawrents want to protect me the best they can. Even my buddy Johann and my best girl Denali have experienced some recent health issues that have landed them at the vets office. Pet insurance is a pawesome way they can get dog insurance just for me!

They’ve been comparing pet insurance on a few websites, including About Your Money. That site is a good comparison website so they don’t have to do more work than necessary to find me the best policy! You can even compare car insurance too. You know I ride in style when I'm off on my adventures and my pawrents want all bases covered.

Pet insurance is important for every dog because vet appointments can get pricey, and isn't it better to spend that money on treats for us??

Bulldog cracks the Top Ten

First time in over 70 years, the Bulldog cracks the Top Ten most popular breeds in the US.
Did you make the list?

10. Bulldog

9. Shih Tzu

8. Poodle

7. Dachshund

6. Boxer

5. Beagle

4. Golden Retriever

3. German Shepherd

2. Yorkshire Terrier

1. Labrador Retriever
HM says we didn't crack the Top Ten cause we're the best kept secret in the dog world! BOL!

[source/photo credits]

Who Loves Snow??

Bailey does!!! This is one of the cutest dog video's I've seen. It's Bailey the Unknown Reindeer! BOL! Enjoy!

What was she thinking???

Oh.My.Dog.

HM has really done it this time. She was all excited coming home to tell me she planned a really cool play date for me. Yaaay! Right??

The play date is to go SWIMMING!! The Ontario DockDogs club is having a fun swim in 2 weeks for members.

HM thought it would be "fun" to let me get comfortable with water again. She's determined to get me to jump off the stupid dock. I won't do it! I don't mind going to sniff some new butts and make new friends...but no way am I going in.

Here's a shot of me last year, in my stupid life jacket. Do I look impressed?

Here's video of the #1 DockDog in Canada, Diesel. His owner, Heather McLeod tried to help HM get me off the dock last summer. Hrmpf. Not cool. But whatever, Diesel is a pretty sick dock jumper.

Best Sunday! (ie: Dog Tired)

Well, the day started off great! AGILITY!! Whoot whoot!

I had a great class, we even had an extra half hour of class! I practiced the Bang Game (on the teeter), weaves, and one of my favourites: TUNNEL!

My instructor had her new puppy Brix there too! Soooo cute!!

If that wasn't enough...I got to go to Westney today for a play date with Denali!!

I also met 2 German Shepherds, 2 Golden Retrievers and a Boston Terrier. We all had sooo much fun!!

I'm pretty pooped now...off to snuggle under the covers.