DCR Middlesex Fells Meeting, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at McGlynn School, Medford

This is a meeting for Dog Advocacy at the Fells which is an amazing outdoor area that sits just Northwest of Boston situated in parts of four different towns. If you attend it's often helpful to have a short comment prepared ahead of time-- that way if you want to sign up to speak you're ready to be brief and to the point.  Dogs don't pay taxes, so focus on how much more YOU enjoy the Fells when you bring your dog along. Please pass the word on to your friends! We must ensure that the voices of dog owners are heard at this meeting! This is our chance toshow the DCR how many dog owners use the Fells, and care aboutprotecting this natural resource. There is no better way to part of the new Trail System Plan, and can be implemented in a way which respects the rights of all park users.

In addition to dog owners and other park users, there will surely be a strong contingent of members of the New England Mountain Bike Association and also the Friends of the Fells.

One of my suggestions for indoor activities for your dog is the treadmill. This video is the first time that My dog Chloe got on ours! She can now do it for 20 minutes with no leash and at a much faster pace! If you need advice on how to get your dog on the treadmill we at Boston Dogs can help!

The Cesar’s Way Challenge-

Last week Cesar Millan posted a 50-week challenge- The Cesar’s way Challenge to become a pack leader- on his website http://www.cesarsway.com/. The first week’s challenge was to take your dog for an HOUR walk everyday- either at one time or in two 30-minute intervals. We all know that the walk is the most important part of the equation- exercise, discipline affection. And that it is important to get out there for AT LEAST 45 minutes a day depending on your dog’s breed and energy level. You may be asking the same question I asked myself, How can I get out there for an hour everyday with all of this snow and ice everywhere? Well not to worry! The second week’s challenge is to find an indoor activity to do with your dog. Mentally stimulating your dog is JUST as important as draining the physical energy. The thing about dogs is it doesn’t take much to create a fun mental challenge for them! Below are some indoor suggestions for you and your dog. Does anyone else have any fun indoor games that you play with your dogs?

Play Hide and Seek-

You can do this one or two ways. If it is just you and your dog, Ask your dog to stay in one position as you go hide. Once you have found your hiding spot yell your dog your release (and or recall) command and ask him to come find you! This will help tire your dog out mentally by having to look for you and you can use it to work on the basic “stay” command and it’s a fun way to work on your dogs recall. Just make sure when your dog finds you that you praise him up and down and make yourself the most rewarding part of the game! If there are two or more of you- Have your dog stay with one of you (the handler) and work on basic obedience or trick skills while the other person hides. Once the person hiding has found his spot- have him yell to the handler that he is ready and make sure the dog waits until the handler gives the release command to go and find him! This works on your dog’s impulse control. Learning that even though there is someone more exciting hiding somewhere, he or she still needs to be able to wait until the handler gives permission to go find him!

Play a “Structured” game of tug of war-

Always make sure that you are the one who starts the game and who ends the game- Not your dog! A structured game of tug of war involves you the handler playing tug with your dog and being in control of the game. Let your dog really get into the game of tug with the toy and then ask him for a “leave it” or a “drop it”, whatever your command may be. Make the dog work for the next tug. Make him sit, down etc. Once he does as you ask you can then tug again. A good 10 minutes of structured tug is a GREAT way to mentally and physically tire your dog out.

Utilize that treadmill for more than just yourself! I recently got one for my super high-energy rescue and she is up to 25 minutes a day on it. In combination with our walks and structured play, I am finally able to achieve a tired happy dog!

Feed your dog from interactive toys like a treat ball or a kong. This is a great way for them to use their brain and to “work for their food”!

House Bill 344- Prohibiting Dog Devocalization Update

We first help bring to your attention Bill 344 a few days ago. We are requesting people to contact their State Representative to send a support statement to House Speaker DeLeo urging him to move the bill quickly to the floor to produce higher chances of the bill being passed with amendments or passed at all. The steps you can do to help are:
1. Contact House Speaker DeLeo at 617.722.2500
2. You can find your state rep at 1.800.462.8683 or www.wheredoivotema.com
United, we can help stop this inhumane act!

MeetUp Two- Playing About at Brookline Avenue Playground

It was a beautiful (warmer) day in Boston this past Sunday for fun with friends and our four-legged companions!!! We had a great turnout of old and new members (40+ dogs of all sizes) for our Second MeetUp group at the Brookline Avenue Playground. It was one of the largest gated dog parks in the Metro Boston area. Here are just a few pictures (more to follow)......

Boston-dogs Organization MeetUp gathers twice a month at different dog parks throughout the area. Please join us at http://www.meetup.com/Boston-Dogs-Organization/. We invite dog lovers of any sort to help join us in saving and enriching the lives of dogs and their owners!!!  

Devocalization Bill of Dogs in Massachusetts ------------ MA - Bill 344

http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00344.pdf

Will bring you to the actual Bill submitted and you can call your local MA House and Senate Representative. As a former intern back in college, I will tell you that though the Congressman don't answer the phone personally, they do watch very carefully what their constituents and callers actually call about.

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act prohibiting devocalization of dogs and cats.

Veterinarians clearly state that is is a inhumane and useless act to devocalize a dog. We, Boston Dogs Organization can fix ANY barking issue. That's why we exist, to help dogs.

This practice is already banned in many states and in the "Bluest of the Blue," we don't protect our Best Friends who can't verbalize to protect themselves, its our duty, responsibility and its ethically right

MAKE ONE PHONE CALL AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Shamrock's Birthday Presents and Cake Videos

 The cake!


Eating a treat - so spoiled!


help with wrapping paper


And to many more birthdays in the future


To see more video including Shamrock, Cesar Millan, Training, and Advocacy click here

Please Join Us on Dogster!

Visit my family 
#1 dog site for dogs

We joined Dogster click to join our Group to converse with other dog advocates and nonprofits on a global basis. You can add your dog as well like Shamrock is and do lots of fun stuff!There are more than 100,000+ dogs on the site!

Devocalization - Help Make it a Crime in Massachusetts!

Now you have the knowledge, so Now make a Phone Call -- leave a comment if you do Call. Thank You.

Don't know what Breeds your Dog is and you want to?

There are now simple mouth swab tests that can determine what part of the 357 recognized breeds of do yours is.  They have these at many larger stores like Petco ranging from $40 to $80.  The more costly the test, the more breeds are included in the DNA match. Also some provide just a first and secondary breed, others provide up to four and with percentage.  Again, this is great for people who have rescued dogs - as is the process we advocate - and are often a mixed breed. 

Along the same-lines, having your Vet "chip" your dog (by embedding a small microchip under their skin that does not hurt,) so in case of a lost dog, you to track-down your pet. Someone should build and iPhone app for this? I am claiming intellectual property rights to this idea.

Another Corporate Sponsor "CoupMe" = More Saved Dogs

CoupMe has selected Boston Dogs Organization as its Charity of the Month for January 2009. There website is www.coupme.com and you can see our highlights directly here http://www.coupme.com/Charity_s/29.htm CoupMe is a home-grown Boston based LLC that is making immense strides in utilizing the power of mass buying and Web 2.0 to bring consumers a daily Feature of another Boston business.

Shamrock on Video -- only a minute of him messing in the house

To see this video directly on YouTube click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IzUH4T2oU
Our YouTube URL is http://www.youtube.com/bostondogsorg . You will also find there Videos of us with Cesar and Cesar teaching some specifically selected lessons and techniques.

Job Opening - Trainer

We are looking to add an additional dog trainer to our team of four trainers.  Please send resume and/or bio to info@boston-dogs.com

Pictures from one of our four trainers with dog guru Cesar Milan!!

Our trainer Jaime and her dog Chloe were lucky enough to spend time with Cesar

Jamie, her dog Chloe, and her Sponser

Wow are they lucky to have spent a private afternoon learning the wisdom Cesar can impart. We are hoping Cesar can make a visit to our clients and Meetup group too!

Causes Page

Our Causes Page on FaceBook. Please support our Mission Statement.


http://apps.facebook.com/causes/404207?m=618c3fb4

owners may not want to hear it but...

In rehabilitating dogs often, very often owners take longer to train the the dogs themselves.  Animals/Dogs/Breeds in that order operate off of first ENERGY - the energy the owner(s) exhibit.

Its important to bring yourself to the more primal energy level of the dog that will enable to get the healthy, happy, attentive, structured dog.  This where we - BDO - come into the picture.  Its a difficult task for most owners to get to the correct place and their are many minute aspects that can make the difference for you and your dog.  Let us help instill in you calm, assertive energy to begin to work with your dog.

Often an owners "diagnosis" by the owners and even other experts in the dog sphere - from Vets on down - are incorrect. And that incorrect diagnosis leads everyone - dog, owner, supporters - down the wrong path and may exacerbate the situation instead of help it.

Best for 2010 and make a resolution to help you and your dog!

Final Location Decision for Next Meetup!

Please use our Meetup Board to http://www.meetup.com/Boston-Dogs-Organization/ to Choose - We are thinking the Brookline Avenue Playground http://www.dogparkusa.com/massachusetts/boston-cambridge/brookline-avenue-playground-dog-park or the Fells www.fells.org/

Both locations have been proposed by our members of Boston Dogs Org Meetup Group.

National Train Your Dog Month

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the largest educational and professional association for dog trainers in the world, has proclaimed January "National Train Your Dog Month." The goal of this campaign is to promote the importance of training and socialization to all dog owners.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, between six and eight million dogs and cats are turned in to animal shelters each year, and about four million are euthanized for lack of good homes. Many dogs are turned in to shelters for common behavior and training issues that could easily be solved with the assistance of a professional trainer or behavior counselor. In fact, it has been proven that training and socializing dogs when they're young reduces or eliminates behavior problems in the future.

Since January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, it is the perfect time for the dog-owners of {insert name of town/city/state here}, and those who may be considering getting a dog, to learn about the importance and impact of training for their pet. The APDT web site has a wealth of helpful information for pet owners at www.apdt.com/petowners.

APDT and its over 5,000 member trainers are dedicated to helping to keep dogs in homes, in showing dog owners how to fully enjoy and have fun with their dogs, and to experience the joys of having a well-trained dog.