13 Weeks of Summer: Week 2

Now that summer is officially here it’s time to get out of the house and make the most of these three short months.  Each week will include a new idea, dog event, or activity for you and your dog to try.  Don’t be afraid to try something new or invite a friend along. 

Coming up this Week:

California Dreamin’ Pet Fair

If you (or your friend) don’t have a dog yet to be able to enjoy the 13 weeks of summer series, well, here is your chance to get a new furry companion. Saturday, June 30^th, 2012, OC Animal Care will be hosting a pet adoption event at the OC animal shelter in Orange.  From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. visitors can check out the pets available for adoption as well as local pet-friendly vendors, demonstrations, and more.  The OC Animal Care’s California Dreamin’ PetFair is a great chance to give a dog, cat, or other small animal a second chance and a new forever home.   

The OC animal shelter is located at 561 The City Dr. S, Orange, Ca 92868.

4th of July Parades

Fireworks are a major part of our Independence Day celebration, but they aren’t the only way, nor the best way, to celebrate with your dog.  Any 4^th of July parade is a patriotic way to celebrate our freedom and it’s a great way to involve your dog in the celebration as well. 

 Enjoy the festivities of 4^th of July this year by lining up along Main Street in Corona for their annual 4^th of July parade.  The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Ontario and continues until 12 p.m. ending at Main Street and Olive Street.

The Huntington Beach 4^th of July Parade is said to be “the largest Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi River” with more than 300 entries, from bands and floats to celebrities and community groups.  The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway and will end at Main Street and Yorktown Avenue.

The Newport Beach Harbor Old Glory Boat Parade is a festive spectacle of boats, decorated in red, white, and blue, cruising around the harbor.  The fun filled day begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast for a donation of $8 per person.  Lunch and dinner (tri-tip and chicken) will be available from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. for a donation of $10 per person.  There will be raffles and live entertainment throughout the day as well.

There will plenty of patriotic parades throughout Southern California this Independence Day, such as the parades in Ontario and Lake Forest, so check your local city calendar to see if your city will be hosting a parade this year.  And remember that fireworks can be very upsetting for a dog, so please leave your dog at home in a secure room with soothing music on if you can’t be with them.  Have a safe and fun 4^th of July.   

13 Weeks of Summer

Now that summer is officially here it’s time to get out of the house and make the most of these three short months.  Each week will include a new idea, dog event, or activity for you and your dog to try.  Don’t be afraid to try something new or invite a friend along. 

This Weekend:

Helpful Honda Pet Adoption

If you (or your friend) don’t have a dog yet to be able to enjoy the 13 weeks of summer series, well, now is the time to get one. Tomorrow, Saturday, June 23^rd, 2012, Honda will be sponsoring a pet adoption at the Fairview Park in Costa Mesa.  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Helpful Honda people will be helping i.C.A.R.E DogRescue find new forever homes for their available dogs.  As if that wasn’t great enough, SoCal Honda will also be sending each adopted dog home with a new leash and collar and they will also be donating supplies to the rescue group.  In addition, Natura Pet Products will be sending each adopted dog home with a 5lb. bag of premium pet food.  

The park is located at 2525 Placentia Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92628.   

Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters 15th Annual Benefit Car Show

On Sunday, June 24^th, 2012, you and your dog can attend your first event of the summer at the Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters 15^th Annual Benefit Car Show.  The event will be taking place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Red Hill Community Park in Rancho Cucamonga in support of local burn survivors through the Burn institute – Inland Empire.  Awards will be given to the top 10 cars and truck, including Best in Show.  Admission for spectators is free, so bring the kids and the dog to check out the classic cars and trucks and enjoy the food, music, vendors and more.

The Park is located at 7484 Vineyard Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Man's Best Friend Mondays

Whether you like baseball or not, Man’s Best Friend Mondays are a great opportunity to try something new and meet new people or create new memories with your friends. Starting this Monday, June 25^th, 2012, San Manuel Stadium invites you and your dog to come and enjoy a 66er’s baseball game in the lawn section with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley Man’s Best Friend Monday.  The cost is only $5 to you and your dog gets in for free. You and your dog are invited to come back again for the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley Man’s Best Friend Monday on July 9^th and August 27^th.  The 66er's play the Lake Elsinor Storm this Monday and the game starts at 7 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket for you and plenty of water for your pup.

The San Manuel Stadium is located at 280 South E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401

Paws to Review Your Petiquette

Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to get out of the house and see the world.  Even if that means you only make it across town, it’s time to get out and do things.  But don’t forget to bring the dog.  There will be plenty of opportunities this summer to share an adventure with your pup, which means now is the best time to brush up on your petiquette.  

 Here are 10 simple petiquette rules that every dog and dog owner should practice.  And even though these refer to the dog park, these manners are good rules of thumb for any dog interaction scenario.

#1.   Choose the appropriate area for your dog.  Most dog parks have a small dog yard and a big dog yard.  While you may be ok with your smaller dog in the big dog yard, you cannot expect larger dogs to accommodate you by restricting their play and you assume the additional risk.  Larger dogs are not usually appreciated in the smaller dog yards at all. 

#2.  Enter the dog park (or any dog situation) calmly.  Never let your dog get overly excited or aggressive when approaching or entering an area with a lot of dogs. Too much excitement or fear will elevate the energy level of all the dogs greeting him/her and that high energy level can lead to problems.  Work on rewarding calm energy around the park and discourage elevated energy of any kind.

#3.  Watch your dog.  A trip to the dog park is not the time to get lost in conversation or stick your nose in a book.  A trip to the dog park is about bonding with your dog by interacting with him/her, reading his/her body language, and observing his/her interactions with other dogs.  Any situation can change in a moment.  Owners should be close by and ready to take action if needed.

#4.  Avoid an ambush.  Too often dogs will be surrounded by other dogs when entering the park. This level of energy can escalate very fast and, depending on the mix of dog personalities, it can lead to a serious problem.  When a new dog arrives, call your dog over to you and give him/her some attention until the new dog has a chance to get through the gate.  Wait for the crowd to disperse then let your dog go and greet.  I'm sure your dog would appreciate this same courtesy when entering the park as well.

#5.  Don’t let your dog obsess over another dog.  Too much attention can be a very bad thing, and unlike humans, dogs can’t use words to express their displeasure.  If your dog is annoying another dog he/she is at risk for a bite (or worse).  Puppies are usually the biggest offenders.  If your dog is obsessing over another dog who does not want his/her attention try to refocus his/her attention on something else. If that doesn’t work, you may need to leave early.

#6.  Keep your puppy in line.  While you may love and adore puppies, most adult dogs do not care for puppies at all. Why? Because puppies lack dog manners and constantly break petiquette rules.  And while other dogs may be the best teachers for a puppy (most of the time) you should keep in mind that not all owners appreciate their dog being bothered for the sake of your puppy’s petiquette lesson.  If your puppy is obsessing over another dog, refer to #5.  You may also consider befriending other puppy owners and coordinating a meetup time for your puppies to play together.  

#7.  Curb your dog’s barking.  If your dog barks out of excitement or frustration, you may be irritating other dogs and their owners.  Barking can be considered aggressive and excessive barking will get you complaints. To avoid scowls and dog fights, work with your dog more at home on curbing his/her barking habit.   

#8.  Pick up your dog’s poop.  There are no employees who come to pick it up and there are no magical poop-be-gone fairies to make it disappear.  More importantly, there are no excuses for not picking up after your dog.  And nothing ruins your day like when you or your dog steps in poop while trying to enjoy your time at the park.  We won’t even get into the unsanitary statistics of it all.  Pick up after your dog.

#9.   Dogs have good days and bad days.  If your dog seems to be overly aggressive, sensitive, or irritable in any way, then the dog park is not the place to go that day.  This could mean changing your plans for the day or leaving the dog park early.  Despite the wrench in your plans, avoiding a dog fight should always be your priority.

#10.  Don’t let your dog jump on or scratch at people’s legs for attention, no matter how small they are.  Small dogs are the worst offenders and because they are so cute we let them get away with it instead of discouraging the habit.  Of course, when those small dogs grow up to be big dogs weighing 60lbs plus, it isn’t so cute anymore.  Great or small, no one likes to be a dog’s jungle gym or scratching post, so be considerate of others.