Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Choose the right breed of puppy - terrestial TV to your aid!
Terrestial TV in the UK has been good to dogs, and education and rescue, this year.
There has been coverage of Crufts. We have had the excellent show presented by Julian Clary... The Underdog Show.
Also there was a most interesting programme about a couple of 'problem' dogs. Two breeds were featured the Bearded Collie and a Bloodhound.
The dogs in question were 'problem' dogs - basically they were probably not suited to the lifestyle they were forced to live and could have been bored! This helps point out the vital importance of choosing the right breed for your lifestyle... see link at the bottom of this post.
Once these dogs were taken on by dog trainers who trained them for what the breed is naturally adapted to do... they not only became well behaved, but they also became interested and competent at their jobs. As a bloodhound, and a collie/sheepdog!
The next date for your diary is I believe 16th July when Matt Baker [of Blue Peter fame] and Selina Scott [triumphant in the Underdog Show with Chump] will start a new show which aims to help people find the ideal rescue dog [or puppy] for their particular lifestyle.
This all points out most clearly that whilst different lifestyles suit different people, so different breeds of dog need different lifestyles to suit their inbred needs!
Let's hope that terrestial TV can set up some brilliant partnerships - and that it will inform those who are looking to have a puppy, or re-home a dog, a little about the very different requirements of some of the various dog breeds.
For those who want further (and extremely useful) information on choosing the right puppy for your lifestyle, here is a link to Discover Dogs... with loads of varied info and dates for your diary... from The Kennel Club.
There has been coverage of Crufts. We have had the excellent show presented by Julian Clary... The Underdog Show.
Also there was a most interesting programme about a couple of 'problem' dogs. Two breeds were featured the Bearded Collie and a Bloodhound.
The dogs in question were 'problem' dogs - basically they were probably not suited to the lifestyle they were forced to live and could have been bored! This helps point out the vital importance of choosing the right breed for your lifestyle... see link at the bottom of this post.
Once these dogs were taken on by dog trainers who trained them for what the breed is naturally adapted to do... they not only became well behaved, but they also became interested and competent at their jobs. As a bloodhound, and a collie/sheepdog!
The next date for your diary is I believe 16th July when Matt Baker [of Blue Peter fame] and Selina Scott [triumphant in the Underdog Show with Chump] will start a new show which aims to help people find the ideal rescue dog [or puppy] for their particular lifestyle.
This all points out most clearly that whilst different lifestyles suit different people, so different breeds of dog need different lifestyles to suit their inbred needs!
Let's hope that terrestial TV can set up some brilliant partnerships - and that it will inform those who are looking to have a puppy, or re-home a dog, a little about the very different requirements of some of the various dog breeds.
For those who want further (and extremely useful) information on choosing the right puppy for your lifestyle, here is a link to Discover Dogs... with loads of varied info and dates for your diary... from The Kennel Club.
Labels: bearded collie, bloodhound, Matt Baker, Selina Scott, terrestial TV, The Underdog Show
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Puppies learn SO well, if trained properly!
Can I recommend that, if you want an inspiring story, you just click over to one of our other blogs?
Puppies can learn SO well - even those who have had a terrible past. Sad to say, puppies as young as four months, are often abandoned, ill-treated, or put out for re-homing.
[Our present dog is a rescue who was ill-treated from four to eleven months of age... before going to the RSPCA for a longish stay, then re-homed, then returned to the RSPCA who contacted Ridgeback Rescue, and a breeder took him in until he could be permanently re-homed. We had him some six weeks later as we were looking to re-home... he was somewhere around two and a half years old by that time!]
The inspiring story is about the dogs from the Dogs Trust who were featured on The UnderDog Show... some of them were mere pups, yet with proper training they learnt so quickly and so well - and became confident, affectionate, happy, and delightful pets.
Another thing I would recommend is the course by Dove Cresswell - her Dog Training Online has a freebie lesson which you must check out. It works so well, our dog picked it up amazingly quickly. Do try it!
I almost forgot the link to... Dog Agility Training where you can read about the inspiring story of Chump the Champ and his canine companions at the UnderDog Show!
Puppies can learn SO well - even those who have had a terrible past. Sad to say, puppies as young as four months, are often abandoned, ill-treated, or put out for re-homing.
[Our present dog is a rescue who was ill-treated from four to eleven months of age... before going to the RSPCA for a longish stay, then re-homed, then returned to the RSPCA who contacted Ridgeback Rescue, and a breeder took him in until he could be permanently re-homed. We had him some six weeks later as we were looking to re-home... he was somewhere around two and a half years old by that time!]
The inspiring story is about the dogs from the Dogs Trust who were featured on The UnderDog Show... some of them were mere pups, yet with proper training they learnt so quickly and so well - and became confident, affectionate, happy, and delightful pets.
Another thing I would recommend is the course by Dove Cresswell - her Dog Training Online has a freebie lesson which you must check out. It works so well, our dog picked it up amazingly quickly. Do try it!
I almost forgot the link to... Dog Agility Training where you can read about the inspiring story of Chump the Champ and his canine companions at the UnderDog Show!
Labels: Chump the Champ, Dove Cresswell, proper training, The Underdog Show
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Underdog Show... updated
Last nights show saw the number of dogs and celebrity handlers whittled down to four to compete in next weeks semi-final... and again the voting of the public to save Casper did not agree at all with the opinion of the judges.
But, part of the reason behind the show is to get the public to vote in order to donate some of the call cost to a charity... though in my opinion, and that of many other viewers, the belief is, that at least some of that charity donation should be to the Dogs Trust... or another animal welfare charity.
So Clive Anderson and Alfred were eliminated. And, happily, Alfred had already become firmly installed as part of Clive's family... so Alfred's tale [or tail!] had a 'happy ending'.
As of today you will find details of all the dogs who are, or have been, on the Underdog Show at the following web page... please just copy and paste the address into your browser... http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press_office/underdogs/bbc2show/ ...
I don't know how long that web address will stay online, so I thought if you had full access to the entire address, should it be removed, you can try just part of the address and navigate to the information you require from the first part of the address!
There is a full profile of the dogs, or as full as they can get it... and details of their new lives... a rewarding read.
The show itself last night gave the dogs and handlers two different challenges... one an Agility, plus obedience and tricks type challenge, the other to put on a type of show or play, which involved the dogs in doing whatever tricks and behaviours which could be incorporated into the play, one even showed what flyball dogs have to do by opening a box.
Casper and Huey came well at the bottom in both disciplines... and Clive and Albert were joint second, but as mentioned above, it was Casper who went through.
The results show had a demonstration of freestyle dancing to music - which is what the finalists will be expected to do - the dog was called Tapper and was handled by Gina Pink who really made my day by choosing "Ain't that a kick in the head" sung by Dean Martin to do the routine to! Also featured this week were several Dogs Trust dogs who need a rescue home... they were promoted by the celebrity handlers.
What is just so upsetting is that so many of the dogs featured on the Underdog Show are so young, under 18 months for many... just puppies. What a terrible start in life... how can people be so cruel. Why don't they realise that a serious commitment must be made to care for the life and welfare of a defenceless animal?
So many sad stories in need of a happy ending!
But, part of the reason behind the show is to get the public to vote in order to donate some of the call cost to a charity... though in my opinion, and that of many other viewers, the belief is, that at least some of that charity donation should be to the Dogs Trust... or another animal welfare charity.
So Clive Anderson and Alfred were eliminated. And, happily, Alfred had already become firmly installed as part of Clive's family... so Alfred's tale [or tail!] had a 'happy ending'.
As of today you will find details of all the dogs who are, or have been, on the Underdog Show at the following web page... please just copy and paste the address into your browser... http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press_office/underdogs/bbc2show/ ...
I don't know how long that web address will stay online, so I thought if you had full access to the entire address, should it be removed, you can try just part of the address and navigate to the information you require from the first part of the address!
There is a full profile of the dogs, or as full as they can get it... and details of their new lives... a rewarding read.
The show itself last night gave the dogs and handlers two different challenges... one an Agility, plus obedience and tricks type challenge, the other to put on a type of show or play, which involved the dogs in doing whatever tricks and behaviours which could be incorporated into the play, one even showed what flyball dogs have to do by opening a box.
Casper and Huey came well at the bottom in both disciplines... and Clive and Albert were joint second, but as mentioned above, it was Casper who went through.
The results show had a demonstration of freestyle dancing to music - which is what the finalists will be expected to do - the dog was called Tapper and was handled by Gina Pink who really made my day by choosing "Ain't that a kick in the head" sung by Dean Martin to do the routine to! Also featured this week were several Dogs Trust dogs who need a rescue home... they were promoted by the celebrity handlers.
What is just so upsetting is that so many of the dogs featured on the Underdog Show are so young, under 18 months for many... just puppies. What a terrible start in life... how can people be so cruel. Why don't they realise that a serious commitment must be made to care for the life and welfare of a defenceless animal?
So many sad stories in need of a happy ending!
Labels: Clive Anderson, Dean Martin, dogs trust, Gina Pink, handlers, puppies, rescue home, The Underdog Show
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Underdog Show
New to TV in the UK this week [Tuesday] was the Underdog Show... the first of six programs.
The format for the show was to partner eight celebrities with a rescue dog and to partner each celebrity and their dog with a professional trainer. Then they had three weeks of training to get their dogs to do an agility type course. Three judges gave marks to each pair... their combined mark made up half the total vote... the public were encouraged to vote for their favorite, the money raised by the phone vote going to Children in Need.
Julian Clary and his dog Valerie fronted the show. What was on offer was a delightful hour for dog lovers and then the results show was another half-hour later in the evening, which included a display by Mary Ray with her dogs dancing to music... totally brilliant!
The dog which comes last, after combining both judges and public votes, at the end of each show is eliminated... last night it was the Afghan and Theo from 'Dragon's Den' who were eliminated... but there was a happy ending for the dog as he chose to adopt it and take it home!
The dogs who progress to the last show will be expected to do some dancing to music.
The dog which was placed last by the judges was really only a puppy... just eight months old... I think it was a bit much to expect it to concentrate for the full amount of time allotted especially with so many distractions of audience, lights, noise, etcetera.
But in reality I thought it did brilliantly. It just shows what can be achieved in such a short space of time with proper training of both puppy and handler.
If you can, make a date in your diary to watch The Underdog Show next Tuesday!
And if you are looking for training books, courses, or videos... just check our left-hand margin for the very best in training! Don't forget to check the FREE video at the Dove Cresswell link... your pup will love the training it offers.
The format for the show was to partner eight celebrities with a rescue dog and to partner each celebrity and their dog with a professional trainer. Then they had three weeks of training to get their dogs to do an agility type course. Three judges gave marks to each pair... their combined mark made up half the total vote... the public were encouraged to vote for their favorite, the money raised by the phone vote going to Children in Need.
Julian Clary and his dog Valerie fronted the show. What was on offer was a delightful hour for dog lovers and then the results show was another half-hour later in the evening, which included a display by Mary Ray with her dogs dancing to music... totally brilliant!
The dog which comes last, after combining both judges and public votes, at the end of each show is eliminated... last night it was the Afghan and Theo from 'Dragon's Den' who were eliminated... but there was a happy ending for the dog as he chose to adopt it and take it home!
The dogs who progress to the last show will be expected to do some dancing to music.
The dog which was placed last by the judges was really only a puppy... just eight months old... I think it was a bit much to expect it to concentrate for the full amount of time allotted especially with so many distractions of audience, lights, noise, etcetera.
But in reality I thought it did brilliantly. It just shows what can be achieved in such a short space of time with proper training of both puppy and handler.
If you can, make a date in your diary to watch The Underdog Show next Tuesday!
And if you are looking for training books, courses, or videos... just check our left-hand margin for the very best in training! Don't forget to check the FREE video at the Dove Cresswell link... your pup will love the training it offers.
Labels: Julian Clary, Julian Clary and Valerie, puppy training, The Underdog Show, Underdog Show
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