Dog tales

My dog's name is Jimmy. When I first met him as a three month old puppy his licking and nuzzling into my neck stole my heart. In fact over the last year Jimmy has stolen my slippers, glasses, wallet, several papers and anything else he can chew to bits. We even had to replace our box spring under the mattress as Jimmy burrowed himself a little den in the old one. Thankfully he is a little over a year old and his puppy ways are slowly leaving him. But for all the chewing, peeing and pooping, I could not think of a day without his big brown eyes looking up as he lets loose what sounds like a cross between a growl and an excited yelp telling me to get off the computer and take him for a walk. And on those walks I have met many dog lovers as his instinctual social behavior seeks out and connects with others inevitably drawing me and other human dog companions into conversations as the dogs frolic together. Sometimes large groups gather in what results in a doggy free for all.

Jimmy

Not only are dogs great and faithful companions, but for PWDs they are often a lifeline performing a variety of tasks. Early on in humanity's relationship with dogs it became clear that these intelligent animals were not only social but could be trained to assist with hunting, guarding, herding and a variety of tasks. The first dogs used for PWDs were "seeing eye dogs". Literature about such dogs dates back to the early 1800s but they were not recognized under American law until the early 1920s. By the 1970s hearing assistance dogs were used and protected under the same legislation. In BC three categories of canine helpers are recognized under the Guide Animal Act. For more on the Act and it's implications go to www.bccpd.bc.ca/gada.htm.

The Pacific Association of Assistance Dogs (PADS) is an excellent organization that provides assistive dogs and hearing dogs. They offer a variety of programs along with amazing dogs that perform remarkable tasks. Disabled or not, if you love dogs check out these canines and their trainers. http://www.pads.ca/.

For guide dog information visit the BC and Alberta Guide Dog Services website at www.bcguidedog.com/. If you have a licensed guide dog and receive income assistance from the BC Ministry of Social Development don't forget to ask your worker for the allowance.

Hitching a ride

 Buddy and his dog ZZ Top (or is it the other way around)

Big fetch

If you're thinking of getting a dog as a pet my unfortunately titled list of Doggy Doos is guaranteed to keep you out of the deep stuff.

1. Remember: it's a lifetime commitment. A puppy from 3-6 months requires constant attention. From 6 months to a year it should not be left alone for more than 4 hours. No dog should be left alone for more than 10  hours and many say that is too long. So what's your plan to meet this demand?  It's an essential question.
2. Research the breed. From lap dogs to Great Danes, dogs are bred with inherent traits. It's important to understand the breed's purpose (e.g. retrieving game during hunting), energy level, exercise needs and temperament. All dogs have distinct personalities but understanding the traits will go a long way in helping you choose the right dog.
3. Get a health plan or start saving. Vet bills are inevitable and can be costly. You owe it to your dog to plan for them.
4. Have it spayed or neutered before it becomes sexually mature, which is usually around 6 months or as soon as it has lost all its first set of teeth. Waiting can be frustrating. When I was a boy my family had a dog called Hucka named after the cartoon character Huckleberry Hound. We did not have Hucka spayed and experienced much heartache as a result because poor Hucka kept "going missing" from the house to fill her need to breed. All the male dogs within smelling distance did the same, leading us to reconsider her name as the Happy Hucka after the author Xaviera Hollander.
5. Get a licence. It's the best chance of identifying the dog as yours if it's lost or stolen.
6. Adopt when possible, and if you do buy a dog, never buy from a puppy mill. Ensure your dog has come from a credible licenced breeder who breeds from outside the pack.
7. Enjoy it and give it lots of exercise. To that end here some good places to let Jimmy, ZZ Top or Rover off leash in the city.

Hundreds of  laminated dog greeting cards (not the kind the dogs make by themselves)
adorn the trees during Yuletide

Everett Crowley is my favorite (see post "Paradise recycled"). Not only am I lucky enough to have this park in my backyard, the comunity of dog walkers is a strong one. Looking out for each other and our dogs is the norm and during the Yuletide season owners take time to decorate trees and post laminated greetings from thier beloved pets. For a good doggy swim, nothing beats Trout Lake which is very accessible for dogs and chairs (see post "Hendry Park and Trout Lake").

Last one in smells nice

Labs

For a complete list of Vancouver's off leash parks go to www.vancouver.ca/parks or look to your local civic government website.