Browsing “Blog Your Dog”

NAME: Astro

AGE: 7 human years

BREED: Black lab

GUARDIANS: Natasha, Laura, Carolyn & Cesare

FAVOURITE THING TO EAT: Anything. Especially Italian.

WHAT I LIKE TO DO ALL DAY: I like to wake up at 5am to get someone to feed me because I love food so much. Then, I like to fall asleep until I can go for a long walk in the trails and catch up with some of my buddies. In the summer, my favourite pastime is lying on the sailboat or going swimming in the pool.

FAVOURITE GAME: I love to play tag with my owners around the kitchen island or racing my owners around the pool as they do laps.

THINGS THAT VEX ME: I like to chase squirrels as they run up the trees and chase rabbits.

HOW I GOT MY NAME: My parents started off as my foster family. They were helping me become a future guide dog for the Lions Foundation. I was born in a litter that had all ‘A’ names. My family ended up keeping me though since my hips aren’t strong enough to be a working dog since I was the smallest lab out of my litter. Plus, I like to go swimming too much. Luckily, my family got to keep me – they tell me I’m the best part of our family.

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

Hello Blog your Dog fans, we’ve got a special treat for you! We’re marking new territories with Yelp’s first every doggy day with our friends at Back in the Pack… and you and your dog are invited! Get “glammed” with a fabulous dog groomer, strut your stuff with a complimentary mini photo shoot for owners and dogs… even teach an old dog a new trick with training demos.

Ten lucky Calgary Is Awesome readers will also have their dog featured after the event in a special edition of Blog Your Dog. The doggy day will be taking place next Saturday, April 13th from 1-4PM.

Get ready, set, shoot! Taking puppy portraits is a specialty for Back in the Pack owner, Brian Burke and he’s got some fun and useful tips on prepping your furry friend for the perfect portrait at the event’s free photo booth!

1) Shoes off! Make sure those toesies and pawsies are clean before you come into the studio.
2) Primp and preen! Are you all brushed up and looking your best? Put a bow in your hair or fur, or put on that favourite collar (or not!)
3) Decide if you’ll be in the picture with your pup. If you are, do you have matching socks? Yes, matching socks! Rinse and repeat the above tips for yourself!

Date: Saturday, April 13th
Time: 1-4pm
Location: Back in the Pack, 3131 68 St NW, Calgary
To RSVP, email your name, your dog’s name and your email address to calgary@yelp.com.

Occupation: I am a Search-and-Rescue dog in training with the Canadian Search Dog Association CSDA. I get trained to search for and indicate to my mum the presence of human scent in a given area. The search for a lost person is often a life and death situation, and I MUST be proficient and absolutely reliable in this profile. This is why my mum and many more dedicated individuals volunteer their time, energy, and resources to help save lives. We do this at no cost ready to respond 24 hours a day. I am very happy about this, because I get physical and mental exercise, no matter if rain or shine, minus or plus 20°, and best: I can use my nose!

 

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

Name: Chester
Parents: Tracy and Lui
Breed: Cairn / Westie Cross
Age: 2.5 years old
Favourite thing to eat:  While I would love to eat EVERYTHING… I try to stay true to eating a holistic diet.
What I like to do all day:  Well, when I think no one is watching, I jump onto the kitchen table to do some sun tanning.
Other tidbits: I may be small, but I have a huge personality! Some people say that I’m a bit of kleptomaniac, but boy, it is hard to not get carried away with other dogs balls and toys at the dog park! Those other pooches love to “share” with me.

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

Name: Juno
Parent: Mike Crape
Breed: Retriever / Bernese
Age: 4, almost 5
Where do you live?: I live downtown in a condo – it is awesome! I get walked constantly, tons of parks and there is even rabbits and squirrels!
Favorite thing to eat:  Anything raw really – veggies, buffalos, chickens, cows. I even had a mouse a while back! Dad doesn’t let me have chocolate or macadamia nuts – he says they make me really sick and I could die and that would make him sad.
What I like to do all day: I like being with my Dad. I go to work with him some days otherwise I hang out at the condo and wait for him.  He is always back in what seems like seconds!
What most people say when they meet me: “Who’s that cute guy your walking?” Just kidding.  They say I am beautiful and then they ask what I am. People – I am a DOG.
Best Friend: Keeva – we are like sisters except she is a 100% Retriever. You don’t hear that too often.
What do you do in your spare time?: We go for runs or hikes and sometimes I take my Dad to People Training at Clever Canines. It is a great way to get him to be more consistent with me, he can be pretty confusing at times!

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

Name: Sparky Spartacus
Parents: Brent & Vicki a.k.a. Team Sparky
Breed: Pomeranian
Age: 5.5 months
Favorite Thing to Eat: Anything chewy at the moment (including human fingers. Oops.)
Grooming habits: It’s pure bliss to get my hair brushed but the hair dryer gives me the heebie jeebies.
Favorite game: It’s a tie between hide-and-seek and fetch & tug.
What I like to do all day: Nap, play, repeat.
What I want to be when I grow up: A movie star! Watch my movie below:

 
Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

This story is a little different than our usual Blog Your Dog features. But it was so nice and sweet, we had to share it! Warning, you may tear up a little.

“I discovered Dexter in a field off busy Blackfoot Trail around 42nd Ave SE after doing a delivery around mid-March. I rarely take that busy return route but on this day, I did. I knew right away he was lost.  Maybe in his thoughts he thought he was having an adventure! I pulled over quickly and called him. Somehow, he came bouncing over to me like he knew me. Amazingly, he got in the car, traffic whizzing by, leaping right in like he was happy to go for a ride.

He was handsome and lovely. A mutt, the best kind of dog: a bit of spaniel maybe and I don’t know what else. Dexter sat nicely in the car outside our unbakery while we wondered what was the best thing to do for him. He had no ID except a bone-shaped tag with his name on it. No phone number or license. We gave him some water which he drank politely and brioche which he inhaled. I tweeted madly, “Does anyone know Dexter? His family is missing!” Finally, I brought him to a nearby vet as I didn’t have the heart to bring him directly to the pound.

 

Dexter did end up in the pound of course. I checked online the next day and there he was. His bone-shaped tag with ‘Dexter’ on it was nowhere to be seen. He was now just a number in a cell. A prisoner. I kept my eye on his profile. The next day, it was removed. Good news because it meant his family found him. But they wouldn’t be able to find me. Even though I left my phone number indicating that I had found the dog, owners cannot make contact due to our sometimes cumbersome privacy laws.

Often I think of that handsome hound: how is he? Is he home and happy? How is Dexter doing? I’m writing to you even though Dexter does not belong to me: but a little part of me belongs to him.”

 

- Lison McCullough, Purveyor of Fine Pastries and Lover of Dogs

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!

Name: Harley (no relation to Davidson)
Parents: Samantha, Darren, Petra, and Dallas Peck
Breed: Pug
Age: I just turned 3!
Favorite things to eat: Carrots, apple pears, cheese, sweet potato dog chips, and anything from the table that my parents are willing to toss to me. Seriously, I’ll sit and wait there all night if I have to.
What I like to do all day: I love walks, especially when my parents bring my Chuckit – it’s my favourite toy. When I’m inside at home you can usually find me playing with my toys, watching T.V., staring out the window, or sleeping. I love sleeping. I’m also a bit of a trouble maker, so sometimes I’ll unwind the toilet paper rolls (you should see my parents’ reactions, hilarious), or play with their old newspapers. When I’m outside I like to sniff things, roll in the grass, and chase squirrels.
Best Trait: I turn even the most stubborn pug-hater into a pug-lover. Well, maybe just a Harley-lover. But that’s fine with me!
If I had a bone: For every time one of my parents’ friends complimented me on my tongue, I’d be rich (or full)!
Life Goal: To finally be able to move my tongue over to the left side of my mouth, I just haven’t figured out how to get it over there yet!

Got an awesome dog? EMAIL us and let us know about your best pal. We may share your story on Calgary is Awesome!