Inexpensive software downloads for your PDA abound.

If you have a Palm PDA, visit Palm Gear and search under the keywords dog and pets. There are programs to organize your dog’s information, and keep veterinary, show and training records. You’ll find games, eBooks, and AKC breed standards for a dozen breeds. There is even a program that simulates clicker sounds, just in case your dog ate your clicker.

Here is a sampling of programs:

• HandyClic Virtual Dog Trainer 1.0 (free)
• PetPal - Dog & Cat Info Organizer (free)
• AKC Dog Pocket Breed Standards (free)
• Good Dog PDA Journal 1.2 (shareware benefits dog rescue)

A Google search will reveal software downloads, such as DataDog: PDA software for the canine sports enthusiast.

Are you busily loading music, games, and video onto a shiny new iPod, PDA, or computer? Why not add some dog-related information and entertainment? Here are some free audio downloads:

• Dogcast radio offers downloads of more than 30 UK-based canine podcasts. You’ll find everything from interviews with well-known experts to topics for kids. Check the subject or episode indices.

• Pet World Radio features interviews with a wide variety of “dog people” from Jean Donaldson to Betty White, and topics like Canine Freestyle and coping with summer heat.

• K9 Cast with Walter and Tara offers more than 60 podcasts covering a variety of canine topics. Search the archives at the upper right of their blog.

A number of dog-related audio books are available for purchase from sites like Amazon.com and Audible.com. An audio version of the classic Don’t Shoot the Dog is available on Karen Pryor’s Clicker Training.com (as well as dog training eBooks which can be read on your PDA or computer.)

Why not find a good audio book and listen to it the next time you’re on the road to a dog show!

Everyone’s talking about getting organized. It’s that time of year. Why not organize your dog’s records?

You may need to access your dog’s records for:

• Veterinary consults
• Kennels, petsitters
• Training classes
• Events (You’ll need basic info to register, and often proof of vaccination.)
• Disaster preparedness
• Travel outside the country
• If your dog is lost or you need proof of ownership
• If you are a breeder, detailed information is appreciated by new owners.

Choose the format that best fits your style. Records can be kept:

• Digitally, on your computer or PDA. Disadvantages; accessibility, power-outages, and not having a hard-copy when you need one. However, having a digital backup of paper records is a great idea.
• In a binder with originals, certificates, and registration papers tucked safely in a file. Disadvantages: paper in binders can tear loose or become dog-eared. Consider page protectors or heavy-weight paper and hole punch reinforcements. You may want to protect your information by using a zip-up binder, or making a pouch to keep it in.
• Loose in file folders or in a portable file pocket.
• In an index card file. Disadvantages: Limited to written information; this format is too small for photocopies.
• In a “My Dog” recordkeeping book (usually found at bookstores) Disadvantages: you cannot add pages to a bound book. Tucking records in the pages is not secure.

I decided to keep Dash’s information in a binder that I can easily take with me. This method has worked very well for us. Here’s how we did it:

• I bought an inexpensive binder with clear pockets on the front, back and spine, and a package of clear, archival-quality page protectors.
• I printed a title sheet for the binder and slipped it under the clear front pocket.
• When I want to add information to Dash’s binder, I slide it into a page protector and place that in the binder. No hole punching necessary!
• I filled out our downloadable dog data sheets, saved them on my computer and PDA, and printed a copy for his book. I can update and reprint Dash’s data whenever I need to.

Here’s to an easy, organized New Year!

Getting ready for the New Year? Why not put together your own calendar of fun dog events in your area? You’ll find events you and your dog can participate in, and others where you can just sit back and enjoy the show.

To find events:

• Local dog clubs or individuals may maintain websites that focus on your area. These can be goldmines. Search for the keywords “dogs”, “events” and “your city” in your favorite search engine.
• Read your local paper
• Contact local dog clubs
• Ask trainers and students at training facilities
• Inquire at animal shelters
• Check for flyers in local dog-related businesses. Talk to the staff.
• Is there a local venue that often hosts dog events? Ask for their event listing.
• Check with the AKC for conformation, obedience, rally, tracking, and agility.
• Are you interested in a particular dog sport? Check the parent organization’s event calendar. Find the organization by querying your favorite search engine with the name of the sport (i.e. “agility”, “schutzhund”, or “flyball”) and “organizations”.
• If you have a breed you’re interested in, check with their parent club for local activities. Often these wonderful events are not widely-publicized. Some examples are:
• Australian Shepherd Club of America herding trials
• Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America carting competitions
• Newfoundland Dog Club of America water rescue tests

Some non-dog events in your town are great to take dogs to. In St. Louis, many locals and their dogs happily make a day of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. If you’d like to take your dog to such an event, be sure to add it to your calendar. Here’s our calendar, in it’s early stages.

Finally, keep your calendar where you’ll be most likely to update and refer to it. Use the type of calendar that is easiest for you; paper, online, or your PDA.

May you enjoy 2007 with your dog. Happy New Year!

Do you have airline crates you’d like to mark with your name? I did. Rather than quickly handwrite my name with a marker, I wanted to make it look a little nicer. In an hour, I had two crates, neatly marked with my name and a graphic. Here’s how:

Supplies: craft knife, permanent marker (I used a chisel-point Sharpie), cutting board, tape, paper or transparent sheet, computer, and printer.

1. Wash and dry your crates.
2. Open your word processing program.
3. Type your name in an easy-to-read font. Size it to fit your crate.
4. Add a graphic, if desired (bone, pawprint, dog silhouette, your logo, etc.)
5. Print your name on paper or a transparent sheet (like an overhead projector sheet).
6. With a sharp craft knife, carefully cut out the letters (and graphic, if used). Now you have a stencil you can mark multiple crates with.
7. Tape the stencil securely to your clean and dry crate.
8. Carefully color in the open areas with a permanent marker.
   • You will need to hold the interior of the stencil steady while you mark.
   • For letters with enclosed negative space, like “a”, “o” and “e”, you’ll have to free-hand that area.
   • My crate was textured, so I had to go over the areas a few times to get full coverage.
9. Carefully remove the stencil.
10. Your crate should dry quickly, but let it sit undisturbed for a moment. You can carefully blot with a paper towel to make sure the ink has set.

You’re all done!

Gift: Dog magazines are great Christmas presents for you or your dog-loving friends. Subscribe now and the first issue may arrive before the end of the year.

Below is a list of some of the most popular dog magazines, most of which can be found on the newsstand:

• AKC Gazette
• AKC Family Dog
• Animal Wellness
• Bark
• Dog Fancy
• Dog and Kennel
• Dog World
• Dogs for Kids
• Fido Friendly
• Modern Dog

Another popular publication is the Whole Dog Journal. WDJ is a journal, rather than a magazine. There are no ads; each page is pure content. You can receive a paper copy of the Whole Dog Journal via snailmail, or you may choose a digital subscription for a reduced rate. With the digital subscription, you can read the issue online, and download and save each issue on your computer to print or read later.

There are many magazines, not found on the newsstands, that are breed or sport-specific. Search online for those you might be interested in, or start at World Newspapers for a ready-made list of various dog magazines.

Share: Do you subscribe to dog magazines, read them once, and then throw them away? Why not give the magazines to a library, junior dog group (such as 4H), bring them to a club meeting, or give to friends.

Swap: Swap magazines with someone in another country for a different perspective. Are you on a dog forum or discussion list? Ask if anyone would like to swap magazines with you. To save money, send via media mail in the US and surface mail overseas. You package will take longer to arrive, but it’s much cheaper. It’s a good idea to waterproof your package. Put magazines in a plastic bag before wrapping them to mail.

Recycle: If you tear out pages you’re interested in and then discard your magazines, why not recycle them? Abitibi has many locations across North America, and they welcome magazines, catalogs and other slick paper.

Some friends of mine keep an attractive basket of neatly folded kitchen towels by the back door. They sit ready for muddy paws, grooming sessions, dog drool or accidents. The white towels are easily laundered, with bleach if necessary. Sensible and inexpensive, they are in constant use by this busy family.

The simplest ideas usually are the best!

If you’re active in the dog world, you probably freqeuntly exchange names and numbers with other dog people. Rather than fumbling for pens and scraps of paper, or using your card from work, why not print dog-related cards at home?

You can print small amounts of customized cards as you need them. (Who needs a box of 500 identical cards from the printshop?) Some companies, like Avery, have blank and pre-designed templates to help you design and print your own cards.

For privacy reasons, you may want some cards with only your name and telephone number or email address. You can also print some that include your home address.

You can feature your favorite breed, dog sport, your dog’s name, a special interest, certifications you’ve earned, or your club affiliation (if permitted by the club).

There are a wide variety of card types available for inkjet or laser printers; clean-edged or micro-perforated, print-to-edge or cards with margins, bright white, vellum, glossy, matte, extra-thick, and photo paper.

Ballpark: For about $15-20 you can get a pack of 200-300 cards. That’s enough to split with a friend!

Fall was in the air, and it was back-to-school for Dash. The dog bag was carefully packed, and inside, the longline was neatly hanked and tied. Even so, when I pulled it out in class, it tangled.

Sandy, our favorite clicker-friendly instructor, reminded me that I could both avoid a tangled longline and shorten my line for storage with one repetitive “weaving” motion. The instructions are below, for those who need a refresher (as I did) and for those who haven’t learned this handy trick. (The instructions are written for the right hand; please reverse if you’re a leftie.)

1. Put your left hand through the handle of the longline, while holding the longline with your right hand. Grasp the line a little below the handle with your left hand and pull your left hand back through the handle. You’ll need to use your right hand to pull the handle over your left hand. Keep hold of the line with your right hand while you…
2. Reach through the new loop you just created with your left hand, grasp the line a little below the loop, and pull your left hand back through the loop, again using your right hand to pull the handle over your left hand. Your right hand will continue to hold the loop it pulled over your left hand, until your left hand reaches for a new section of line.

That’s it! Repeat this step until you get to the end of the longline.

Note: As you “weave” your longline, it will naturally make quarter-turns away from you.

To release the longline, just pull the last loop, and the line will easily unwind.

After you get the hang of the technique, you can make the “weave” tighter by just reaching through the handle with your left thumb and forefinger (rather than your entire hand). Grasp the longline closer to the loop and pull through enough to make a loop just big enough to reach through with your thumb and forefinger. You’ll use your right hand to help pull the loop over your left hand, as before.

If you want to make the final length even shorter, you can double your longline before you begin weaving it. Clip the leash onto the loop. You will “weave” your leash as above, but you’ll pull two thicknesses of longline through each loop. My 30 foot longline done this way becomes only 30 inches!

Dash and I were headed out for a walk yesterday, when I realized that I had no pockets for my key or even belt loops for a treat bag. My dog looked expectantly from me to the door, as I stood wondering where to put the potty bags, cell phone, key, etc.

So, I switched to an extendable leash and tied a plastic bag to the handle to hold the things we needed on our walk.

Later that night, I packed a small fanny pack for future walks. I included:

• Pick up bags
• Clicker
• Treats
• Spare house key

For the cooler weather, I’ll probably add:

• A few kleenex
• Lipbalm
• Fleece ear-warmer headband

All I have to do is add my cell phone and I’m ready to go. I’ll have to replenish the pick up bags and treats as they are used, but it’s nice to be ready for a walk at a moment’s notice, no matter what I’m wearing!

Try packing your own dog walk bag. Besides a fanny pack, you could use a drawstring dog treat bag or a rock climber’s chalk bag. Both would clip onto your clothing or dog’s leash. Minimalists could use a jogger’s wristband or bag that attaches to your shoe laces. If you’re the creative type, you could make your own custom dog walk bag!