The Dog Blog is a community of ordinary dog lovers who have come together to discuss our extraordinary dogs. Each Monday, a new topic is introduced. If you've got an opinion, share it. If not, look for the current "anything goes" topic and introduce a discussion of your own. On Fridays, weigh in about your training questions and successes.
Your host: Mike Lewis is a little-dog nerd and the proud owner of Eddie and Jillian, a pair of Yorkies who think they're Labs, and Rusty, an elderly Lab who thinks he's a Yorkie.
READER-SUBMITTED
It's time for our annual Howwwwl-oween costume contest, your chance to make your Scary Scottie, Ghoulish Greyhound or Princess Pug famous.
PHOTOS
In the third Alaska Pet Idol contest, a throng of hooting pet fans watched 15 dogs walk a red carpet and perform tricks at the Alaska Mill and Feed warehouse.
Anything goes - 11/7/2009 11:25 am
Howllll-oween Costume Contest, epilog - 11/6/2009 2:18 pm
Friday training talk: How's it going with your pack? - 11/6/2009 11:29 am
Adoption of the week: Here's Titan - 11/4/2009 10:18 am
Anything goes - 11/2/2009 1:33 pm
Positive vs. negative reinforcement - 11/2/2009 12:48 pm
Morgan the Devil wins 3rd Annual Howllll-oween Costume Contest - 10/31/2009 3:54 am
Friday training talk: What's up with your pack? - 10/29/2009 2:42 pm
People's Choice Award: Vote for your favorite costume - 10/29/2009 10:47 am
Entry deadline passes for Howllll-oween Costume Contest - 10/29/2009 1:46 am
Entry deadline is midnight tonight (10/28) for Howwwwl-oween Costume contest - 10/28/2009 3:09 pm
2010 AACCC Poster Dog Contest Entry Deadline Nears - 10/28/2009 3:09 pm
Adoption of the week: Meet Alosea - 10/28/2009 1:27 pm
2 days left to enter Howwwwl-oween Costume Contest - 10/26/2009 3:12 pm
What's your proudest moment with your dog? - 10/26/2009 2:45 pm
Friday training talk - 10/23/2009 1:17 am
Adoption of the week: Meet Tank - 10/22/2009 1:51 am
Howl-o-ween pet adoption fair - 10/20/2009 2:26 pm
Who suffers separation anxiety the worst: you or your dogs? - 10/19/2009 6:05 pm
Anything goes: What's up, dog lovers? - 10/17/2009 2:47 pm
Friday training talk: How's it going with your pack? - 10/16/2009 1:53 pm
Anything goes: What's new with your pack? - 10/14/2009 8:53 am
NOVEMBER 7, 2009 - 11:25 AM
Use this space to introduce your own topics of discussion or just to stop by and say hi.
Featured breed: Neapolitan mastiff
NOVEMBER 6, 2009 - 2:18 PM
Morgan the Devil won the first-place prize.
Bozlee the pirate won the People's Choice Award.
NOVEMBER 6, 2009 - 11:29 AM
Use this space to discuss training issues: successes, setbacks or just to pose a question for the group.
Here's what's up with my pack:
* Jillie's successes continue to be in baby steps. While she's developed a stay, it's not improving much in time elapsed and distance. And her "down" suddenly got shaky, so it's back to square one there. Took her to Petco yesterday and discovered she's growing up. At nearly 7 months, she's suddenly interested in everything and has the confidence to explore. She's never been much of a puller on the leash, but she started. We worked for 15 minutes or so on sits, stays and heels, and she showed some improvement -- although she did pee in the store. Still struggling with that. I'm trying to teach the bell technique at home, but I'm seriously considering not weening her off the litter box. Anything below 30 seems too cold for her, and I have to double coat her just to go outside to pee. That's going to get old quick.
NOVEMBER 4, 2009 - 10:18 AM
Meet Titan
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACC's public relations coordinator.
Titan is a 1.5-year-old neutered male, American Bulldog mix. His neuter surgery was done this past week by Southside Animal Hospital, which has been generously donating some dog spay/neuters to AACCC dogs to help get them adopted!
NOVEMBER 2, 2009 - 1:33 PM
Use this space to discuss anything you'd like.
Featured breed: Miniature schnauzer
I know one of these!
NOVEMBER 2, 2009 - 12:48 PM
How do you feel about the use of negative reinforcement in dog training? Do you still use it? Do you use it less than you did, say, 5 or 10 years ago?
I only became interested in organized dog training 5 years ago, but even in that short time it feels like the pendulum has swung even more toward positive training methods. In our first obedience classes, sharp "pops" on the leash were encouraged as corrections. A couple instructors recommended prong collars to keep my Yorkie from pulling. I was also encouraged to use my hands to manually put my dog in sits or downs. I'm not criticizing those methods in general, but they weren't right for my little dogs.
OCTOBER 31, 2009 - 3:54 AM
Morgan the Devil
After a banner year for entries and overall quality of costumes, the winner of the 3rd Annual Dog Blog Howllll-oween Costume Contest is Morgan the Devil. Congratulations, Linda Henning. The judges loved your costume and your picture. "Spooky," was the description.
Linda, who publishes Alaska Dog News (www.AlaskaDogNews.com), is a regular contributor to the blog. She wins a $50 gift certificate to Paw Prince, the posh pet supply store in Anchorage that sponsored the contest.
OCTOBER 29, 2009 - 2:42 PM
Use this space to discuss recent training successes, setbacks or to seek or offer advice.
Liz from Alaska Dog Sports suggested I try Jillie on clicker training, and that appears to be going well. I conditioned her to the sound/reward, then started clicking for correct behavior. No huge successes yet, but she definitely understands what's going on. She was pooping in the yard this morning, and a click afterward sent her running to me for a reward. I think it's going to help.
In fact, I noticed the clicker noise wasn't bothering Eddie, so I've started him on the clicker too. In the past, the click used to send him running to hide under the bed.
OCTOBER 29, 2009 - 10:47 AM
With the entry deadline past in our 3rd Annual Dog Blog Howllll-oween Costume Contest, it's now up to our elite panel of judges to determine the winner of the $50 gift certificate donated by Paw Prince, which will be announced on Halloween Day.
In the meantime, vote for your favorite to receive the People's Choice Award by midnight Friday.
There's no prize for that, just the satisfaction that comes from peer adulation. ;)
OCTOBER 29, 2009 - 1:46 AM
Deadline for submitting photos to the 2009 contest passed at midnight. Check out all the submissions by clicking on the contest at right, then check back later today for a poll to determine the People's Choice Award.
We had a record 36 entries, not counting a costumed Guinea pig, which was cute but didn't meet the species requirement. ;)
Thanks to all who submitted entries. This was our best year yet for quantity and overall quality.
The winner will be announced on Halloween Day.
OCTOBER 28, 2009 - 3:09 PM
KJ and Zito as Bumblebee and Banana
The clock is ticking on the midnight entry deadline for this year's Howwwl-oween Costume contest. Just a few more hours to submit your entry. See the section at right to find rules, see the current entries and to submit your own.
Thirty-one pictures have been submitted so far, which leaves us just two short of the number of entries we received in each of the last two years.
OCTOBER 28, 2009 - 3:09 PM
Check out the attached flier to find out how to enter the Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center's Poster Dog Contest.
Entry deadline is Oct. 30, so don't delay. I know a lot of you have some terrific pictures of your dogs, and here's your chance to make them famous.
OCTOBER 28, 2009 - 1:27 PM
Alosea
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACC's public relations coordinator.
Please meet Alosea, a 6-year-old, female, pit bull mix. Alosea loves to go for walks and jogs, and is very good on leash. She is very sweet and likes to carry around her favorite toy to show to everyone. She has a fun personality and likes to give kisses. She also did well when given a bath! She is truly a sweet girl with a tail always wagging. She can be adopted for $137, which includes her spay deposit, MOA license, vaccinations, and microchip.
OCTOBER 26, 2009 - 3:12 PM
Flyer the friendly ghost
Woohoo, with the midnight Wednesday deadline still three days off, we're up to 22 entries in this year's Dog Blog Howwwwl-oween Costume Contest. I'm just thankful I don't have to be a judge because all of the entries are awesome this year. We have entries from our most prolific dog bloggers, we have some newbies and the pugs are back in force this year.
OCTOBER 26, 2009 - 2:45 PM
We've discussed "most embarrassing" moments, but we've never really discussed the times we've been most proud of our dogs.
It could be passing an obedience course, retrieving a duck, coming when called, anything. Just so it made you smile and think, "YES! You done good!"
The one that comes to mind for Eddie was the first time he completed an agility course at a trial. I fully expected him to run off course and have everyone at the trial give me the "What are you doing wasting our time by having a Yorkie run agility" look. But it was just the opposite. I got a lot of pats on the back.
OCTOBER 23, 2009 - 1:17 AM
I'm still out of town and dogless, so I get a free pass this week. :p Everyone else should use this space to discuss training successes, challenges or to pose questions for the group.
OCTOBER 22, 2009 - 1:51 AM
Tank
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACC's public relations coordinator.
Tank is a 5 year old, neutered male, Catahoula mix. He is friendly and curious, and likes to explore his surroundings. He is easy to handle and already knows “sit” and “shake”. He did well both having his nails clipped and taking a bath. He has a happy personality and is very easy going. He loves to go for walks and be outdoors. He can be adopted for $72, as he is already neutered, which covers his MOA license, vaccinations, and microchip.
OCTOBER 20, 2009 - 2:26 PM
Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center is holding a fun, Halloween-themed pet adoption fair Sunday, Oct. 25, and Brooke says the volunteers have really outdone themselves with prizes and games.
Here are the details in case the attached link doesn't work. My laptop is being hinky.
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 25, Noon to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center, 4711 Elmore Road (just south of Tudor, near APD).
OCTOBER 19, 2009 - 6:05 PM
Take our poll: Who misses who most?
I'm heading out of town tonight and having to leave the three dogs behind. I've already typed up my two pages of instructions for the housesitter, and walked him through everything from feeding to poop schedules.
I've dotted all the i's and crossed the t's, but I'll still worry about them while I'm gone. I've gotten better over the years and even come to appreciate the break it gives me.
I'm not really sure how much separation anxiety they suffer. I hear they mope for a few days, then settle in to a new routine. They're always animated and happy when we return.
OCTOBER 17, 2009 - 2:47 PM
Use this space to discuss anything you'd like, to pose questions for the group or just to say hi to fellow dog lovers.
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