Here’s the info straight from the mailer: “The Kootenai County Dog Park Association will meet Tuesday 7/20 6:00 PM at Coldwell-Banker Schneidmiller Realty, 1924 Northwest Boulevard, CdA. It sounds like there may be a SECOND dog park in the works! Join the meeting for full details!”
Used with full permission.

To go to the Kootenai County Dog Park Association’s website click on the icon to the right. If you would like to read an article about them written by the Cd’A Press click on the article. There is some great information about the process of creating a dog park as well as some interesting comments.

For all of you in the Coeur d’Alene area the dog park is well on its way! The Kootenai County Dog Park Association will be a part of the 4th of July parade. For those of you who would like to participate their float (a dog park being pulled by a refurbished tractor) is going to be #71 on the south side of Sherman Ave on 19th St. They will be meeting around 10:30 and the parade starts at 11:00. Participants are welcome to bring their friendly, leashed, dogs to either walk with the float or ride on it.
If you are planning to participate in the 4th of July Parade, the CdA Parks Dept float depicting a dog park pulled by a refurbished tractor is assigned to number 71 on the south side of Sherman Avenue on 19th Street. Meet about 10:30ish and the parade starts at 11:00 a.m. You can walk the parade route with the float (dogs on leash) or ride on the float!
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Karen Horton is starting beginners agility training July 14! The classes will be on Wednesday nights and are designed to be a fun way to learn the basics of agility. Karen boasts a full set of agility equipment at her location with lots of trees for shade. Classes are structured for drop in learners with friendly dogs. If you don’t think your dog would be able to be around other dogs you can still give Karen a call as she has been involved in training (and breeding) for years. If you are interested call Karen at (208) 265-4541 or visit her website KaleaShelties.com.

These people were always finding water all over their pool deck and furniture, every time they came home, after being away for a few hours. They thought the neighbourhood kids were watching for them to leave, and using the pool. However, they could never catch them doing it. So, they set up their video cam and left. This is what they found out.

In a city called Natchez there have been problems with dogs. Not just dogs pooping on other people’s lawns, but big, mean, dogs roaming around and keeping children from being able to play out side. Parents make phone calls and complain, but if the dog isn’t a stray then it can’t be picked up by animal control. (more…)

Firefox Shiba Inus just got a lift! Check out this article written by the Bonner County Daily Bee. In short Fire Fox bought two dogs, never received them, took the issue to court and won. Fire Fox was awarded over $100,000!

Click on the article to read what was reported.

If you’ve ever wanted to see sheep herding here’s your chance! Randy Curliss a local trainer here in Sandpoint is putting on the Riv Memorial Stock Dog Trial at the Bonner County Fairgrounds Outdoor Arena.
If you would like to enter your dog click on the link below for the entry form:
Sheep Herding June 5th

Mikkel comes highly recommended by Karen from A Family Dog.

Mikkel has been teaching classes and helping individuals with great success. She is a proponent of positive training and uses clicker training to bring about the best results. There is a rumor that she might have the first class in Coeur d’Alene that focuses on mothers, children and dogs!

Here is PetConnection.com’s biography on Mikkel:

“Mikkel Becker Shannon is a professonal dog trainer and author, and host with her father of “The Pet Doctor With Dr. Marty Becker” for ABC News.

A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in international communications, Mikkel completed with honors the rigorous program of the Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA. (more…)

I’ve just found out that Glenna Hendrix of The Family Dog in Ponderay will be teaching flyball classes this summer! Anyone interested in participating should contact her to reserve their spot in the class. Call Glenna at (208) 255-7687 or (208) 255-7041.

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This message was forwarded to me this morning.

A DOG’S TEN COMMANDMENTS…

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

I would like to put a shout out to SandpointOnline.com and FYINorthIdaho.com to say thank you for all your help and support as this website gets going. Both of these great websites put up links to NorthIdahoDogFun.com and were nice to work with.

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Pawsitive Works™ helps struggling youth identify and modify damaging behavior patterns through the training of behaviorally challenged homeless dogs. They are a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization dedicated to helping youth at risk through animal assisted activities with shelter dogs.

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Here is a poem you don’t have to be educated to enjoy! This poem was printed in Clark Fork’s own River Journal in October 2009.

By Scott Clawson
Used with permission.

You lock me up and go away
and don’t come home ’til the end of the day.
Leavin’ me here to sit and stare,
their ain’t no way you can call this fair!
I ain’t no ‘watch dog,’ I’m a do-dog, see;
this pen don’t cut it, I’ve gotta be free.
I’ve got all day to work myself through it
in hopes that someday you’ll say, “Aw, screw it!”
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No site about dogs in North Idaho would be complete with out a post on EZY Dog so here it is!

EZY Dog is a local company out of Sandpoint that makes quality equipment for dogs; collars, harnesses, leashes, packs, coats, etc. Their niche is in making dog products that work, last, and they all look good. Their products are geared toward outdoor fun with your dog; what could be more perfect for North Idaho?
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If anyone has been to the Pend Oreille Dog Park lately they know not to go back until the ground freezes, it snows, or by some miraculous event, the mud dries up. That is unless you like your dog to be caked in a mud / dog poop combination. A combination that you will also be washing off your shoes, pants, gloves, and car. The things we go through for our dogs…

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Once again, Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival K-9 Keg Pull was a hit! A big thank you to Eichardts, Ezy Dog, and all the other volunteers that made it possible.

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Okay, so I’ve made a page with a list of breeders in our north Idaho and I am sure there are a lot more people breeding dogs that I don’t have listed. No, I have not contacted any of them but all of these people are or have been advertising themselves.
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For Christmas my mother in law gave me a book that I’ve really been enjoying – Beyond Fetch. Of course I saw the border collie and borzoi on the front and instantly liked it, but I had done a bit of research before putting the book on my wish list and its living up to its reputation as a book that has some meat to it with new ideas that will entertain you and your dog.
I think a big problem for people these days is staying active with their dogs, something that is healthy for both ends of the equation and builds up trust and respect, resulting in a stronger bond. This book has some awesome activities for when its freezing out side, like right now, outside games, sports, parties, toys, etc… (more…)

Well my dog has caught it, has yours? She woke up one morning with some bright green eye goupies, a sneeze and itchy eyes. She’s had eye goupies before and I think that perhaps that might be the first sign that her white blood cells are going to town on something. She had them so often this spring without other apparent symptoms that it looked like she had a minor allergy. This time, one of her best doggy friends (Suka) had green eye amigos and then a couple days latter so did my dog Ellie. Is it a cold or a flu? My guess is a simple cold since Suka is already over it.

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“What makes a good breeder?” This is a question Sue Sternberg asked us all at the conference. We thought a breeder that only bred dogs with good temperaments and health, and a person that would always take their dogs back if the original owner could no longer care for it was a good breeder. Then we were asked why breeders typically only breed dogs from the same breed? And the answer is this: their first goal is looks. If it wasn’t then we would be breeding only exceptional dogs regardless of their breed. What does this lady have against pure breeds you ask? What is wrong with breeding healthy dogs with good temperaments to the other 3% of the breed that is healthy and has good temperaments? Its called inbreeding, no matter what we do to get the best of a breed we will always be getting closer and closer to developing dogs with major problems because of inbreeding. Sue is one of the only people I’ve had experience with that can really see a dog for what it is. I have a hard time looking at a border collie in a shelter, and beautiful golden retrievers for that matter. She challenged us with breeding two dogs with different genetic backgrounds for temperament, so we can have social dogs that have high thresholds and are unlikely to bite children. She also made a point to remind us of WWII and what the idea of a pure race can do.