Good Bloggie!

An interesting postcard was in the Denton show catalog. It’s advertising a Summer Day Camp for kids and their dogs. What a great idea.

Sniffcerely stated by Millie, the child and dog will experience “A week full of FUN!!” as top professionals coach them how to do things such as: basic obedience (assuming for the dog!), agility, Canine Freestyle, and even preparing to compete in events.

If you live in the Denton/Dallas/Forth Worth area, this would be worth looking into. Or perhaps there is a facility in your home town offering similar Day Camps?

The number to sign up is (940) 765-8980 and here’s the link to the place offering the Day Camp:
Bed Biscuit and Beyond

And found this link offering more info about the Day Camp and what to expect:
Bark Here!

If you’d rather attend a one-day event, the AKC offers one-day Education Matches, which are organized through local clubs and are for for adults and kids.

Check here to see if one is scheduled near you. Or contact your local kennel club and see if they have one cooking or express your interest in attending one.
AKC Education Matches

The overhead fans were circulating warm, humid air and the ring was filled with panting and wilting Frenchies on Saturday, May 10th. Vivian managed to hang in there long enough to gait her way around the ring to the Winner’s purple ribbon adding 2 more points to her tally! She’s now down to that last, oh so crucial (and being told hard-to-get) point needed for her AKC championship title. Our thanks to Judge Gary L. Doerge for picking our girl out of the panting lineup for for this ribbon.

And just to prove the adage “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes,” Saturday evening a cold front came through and Sunday was a cool, breezy day. Much kinder to all the dogs, owners, and handlers at the show.

Picture to come!

Saw this on a fellow blogger’s site. Too good not to share.

This robot/machine created by Boston Dynamics, MIT is so good, and animal-like, it’s downright spooky!

Now if they will only make them Frenchie toy-sized…

And must give credit to our fellow blogger for posting about it:
Johann the Dog.com

This year’s Mighty Texas Dog Walk is schedule for May 17. Last year, Cocoa took part in the walk, along with other Frenchie, furry, and non-furry pals, and they enjoyed it tremendously. The proceeds of the walk go to the training and support of hearing and service dogs in Texas, AND attempts to break the world record for the number of dogs in a dog walk. This walk held the world’s record at one point, but the English “Great North Dog Walk” has been besting it out. We didn’t break the record last year, but we had fun, got a great t-shirt, and Cocoa also got a gold medal and some sponsor freebies for completing the walk.

This year’s walk will start and finish on the Congress Avenue bridge. During the walk, everyone will be treated to scenic views of Lady Bird Lake (previously Town Lake) as the route is along Cesar Chavez Street. Start time is 10:30 AM.

For more details, or to sign up early and get the $5 pre-registration discount, visit the official site:

Mighty Texas Dog Walk 2008

(reposted with permission)

Announcing a Joint $35,000 Matching Gift to the Rabies Challenge Fund

Jan Rasmusen, author of the national-award winning book, Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care, and two anonymous dog lovers announce a combined $35,000 matching gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund. Jan’s gift is being made on behalf of her dog, Chiclet, in honor of Chiclet’s companion, Jiggy, who developed autoimmune liver disease after a rabies shot.

Jan Rasmusen says,

“By helping to fund the Rabies Challenge studies, we have the chance to help better the lives of, not just hundreds of dogs, or even thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dogs. We can potentially help to improve the health of every pet dog in America. How exciting is that!”

The anonymous donors add:

“We are totally dedicated to the Rabies Challenge Fund and its mission and are so pleased to be able to support it with this matching gift of $25,000.”

From May 1st to August 31st, for donations of $100 or more, Jan and the anonymous donors will match $1 of every $2 donated up to $35,000, and Jan will send an autographed copy of her book for donations above $500 as well.

Also, Chiclet has enlisted the support of canine movie star, Benji, who says,

“This important study is long overdue. I give the Rabies Challenge study four BIG paws up!”

“Donations from our team of dedicated supporters, like Jan and the anonymous dog lovers, along with steady grass-roots public contributions have launched our second year of fund-raising with a bang!” responds Fund Co-Trustee, Dr. W. Jean Dodds.

Funded by grass-roots donations, the rabies challenge studies began in November 2007 with the goal of extending the required interval for rabies boosters to five, and then seven years. Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chair of the Department of Pathobiology of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, is conducting the studies according to USDA vaccine-licensing standards. Previous French research on the rabies vaccine demonstrated a minimum of five years duration of immunity by challenge. American serological studies showed a minimum duration of immunity of seven years.

“It is so exciting and important to get support for the Rabies Challenge Fund from as many dog owners as possible. The very generous combined $35,000 matching gift from Jan Rasmusen and the anonymous donors will go a long way to provide the funding required for these critically important rabies vaccine studies,” comments Dr. Schultz.

Fund founder, Kris L. Christine, says,

“We’re thrilled about these generous gifts and Benji’s endorsement, which will make a huge difference in helping us meet our second year’s budget for the studies!”

Find more information on the matching $35,000 gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund at our website designed by Andrea Brin www.RabiesChallengeFund.org and on Jan Rasmusen’s Truth 4 Dogs website at www.Truth4Dogs.org.