by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

The blur of fur flies past you, dogs racing over jumps, crashing onto the box and catching a tennis ball and flying back down over the jumps as the next dog hurdles past for his turn. Cheering from the crowd and handlers, dogs barking and squealing with excitement can be deafening, but the noise drowns away as you watch flyball in amazement.

The relay race for dogs, known as flyball will amaze the on looker, average dog owner and seasoned dog professional alike.  My question has always been, how do they get the dogs to fly past each other, over that last or first hurdle depending on which direction they are going?  They can easly skip the hurdles, but they don’t.  Flyball, like agility takes training and a lot of practice.  But if you have ever witnessed it in person you can see how much the dogs absolutely love it, and any breed, mixed breed, little dog, big dog – it doesn’t matter.

Recently, Family Pet Shows Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo hosted their first Flyball tournament during their pet expo.  The tournament was run by Team Hard Drive and during the weekend event they had 27 teams compete from all over the tri-state area.

Andy and Kris Patzer, the husband and wife co-captians for Team Hard Drive Flyball did a great job with the tournament and plan to be back at the expo next year!  I wanted to know more about the sport and interviewed Kris, in addition there is a video of the event below too!

LIPP: What do Novice dog owners who want to get into flyball do?  Is there a national association, do they look for local clubs, etc.?

Kris: “North American Flyball Association is the organization that we race under. They have a web site www.flyball.org that has information about the sport and also a tab FLYBALL LOCATOR that lists flyball clubs all over the counrty so that someone can find a club near them.”

LIPP: About how long does it take to train a new dog for flyball?
Kris: “At least one year but usually closer to 2 years. Every dog is different.”

LIPP: I love that flyball seems to have every breed, mixed breed and size that compete.  What is the most amazing transformation of a dog (perhaps a shelter dog that was shut down – that is now a flyball champ) you have seen since they are now doing flyball?

LIPP: How long have you been involved with flyball, competiting, training?
Kris: “I started flyball about 12 years ago with my very large Labradoodle Mick. A few months later I got my husband Andy involved after some protest.  Now we are both hooked and have a super bunch of people on our team Hard Drive.”

LIPP: What is the best thing you love about flyball?
Kris: “Building relationships with our dogs and the great flyball community. We have met so many nice people near and far away.  We’ve  had lots of great times, so many laughs.  We’ve made some really great friends and the bonds with our dogs have grown much stronger.  My husband and I have a hobby we can enjoy together.”

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Over the past couple of weeks LIPetPlace.com has visited, (or re-visited in some cases), some of our municipal animal shelters, private animal rescues and attended an adoptathon this past weekend.  While I am not in the trenches of rescue like so many wonderful people here are – I do what I can.  I donate what I can.  Whether that donation is time, promotion of animals in need of homes via the Pet Events Newsletter or on social media, or by connecting people who I think would be a great match, through product donations and monetary donations.  If you are able to do one thing a day, a week, or one thing a month – it will help.  The needs of the animals in rescue is a daily commitment – and our rescues could use your help.   Many adoptable dogs, cats, horses and other pets who sit waiting for a home in our LI shelters.  Some have been in our shelters for 2, 3, 4 and even met at dog that has been in a shelter 6 years.  6 years.

While visiting the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter recently, and getting the full tour from Dr. Bob Slifkin of The Shelter Connection, (the non-profit volunteer group that works with the shelter), – it is a great animal shelter.  It is very clean, they have fantastic programs training dogs getting them ready for their forever homes, their have a good adoption rate, nature trails that the dogs get to go on walks or play groups in, a room that is like a room you would find in a home for dogs to get adjusted to and more.  But it is still a shelter – and there are a lot of great dogs waiting there.   The day I visited there were 2 German Shepards, a Beagle (there is always a Beagle at every shelter!), a little white poodle (who was scared out of it’s mind, poor thing), a Yorkie, a Bulldog (was just adopted), a Husky, 2 Cane Corsos (goregous and friendly), a Pointer mix (who was so sweet), and beautiful Pit Bulls and pit mixes – who the majority were wiggle butts, calm, sat when asked.  Bob told me a lot of the dogs personalities and, “while that dog may be barking, once out of the kennel – the best dog.”  About another pit bull Prince – there 2 years, Bob said, “That is the best trained dog in the kennel, and incredibly smart,” – and guess what, Prince is a Pit Bull.

This scruffy little guy was at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter – go there to see if he is still waiting for a home!

Prince – so sweet, calm and at the shelter for 2 years.

So how can you help?

What can you do if you can’t adopt or foster?

• Maybe you can volunteer at a local shelter to help walk a dog, or put your skills to use.  Often times animal rescue groups need people to volunteer their professional skills – and not be another dog walker.
• My suggestion, is contact a local rescue – how can you help?  What skills are they looking for?  Go to a volunteer orientation.  I have a friend who is a mom of 6-year old triplets and makes the time to go 2-days a week to volunteer at the shelter and attends events when she can!  Maybe the rescue needs help with their social media pages, website, grant writing, public relations, or needs product donations – perhaps you could be the facilitator to help them get more of their needs met.
• Are you a teacher?  Maybe one of your school projects could be collecting donations that your local animal shelter or rescue group needs.  Contact the shelter near you and find out what they need help with.
• Are you a carpenter?  Maybe the local animal shelter needs houses for the feral cats they take care of, or the horse rescue needs repairs at their barn.
• Love taking photo’s?  Animal rescues are always happy to work with a great photographer to capture the essence of the pets for adoption.

There are so many ways to help, and the help needed is endless.

This handsome fella is available for adoption at ARF (Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons).

Brooklyn who is available at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shetler.  Brooklyn, what can I say, what a sweet, calm, smart and beautiful dog.  He sat for this photo before I even had the chance to ask him to sit.    He has been at the shelter for about 2 years.

Squeaky a sweet cuddle bug who is available for adoption at the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.  He has been there about a year.

Emmy – OMD (That’s Oh My Dog!) What a sweetheart!! She is at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. She likes people and dogs, and while she may have barked while in her crate at the adoption, once out – super calm and oh so sweet.  She just met me and let me put this coat on her! (Who knew it was going to fit her perfectly and I think Purple is her color don’t you!)  She also is small – so if you looking for pint sized wiggle butt – here ya go! (Black dogs get over looked the most at shelters.)

This little peanut mixed breed is at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter – again another sweet dog!

This adorable fella is up for adoption at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter – a shelter that is bursting at the seems with dogs.

BRUCE!!! Love, love, love this goofball of a dog!  The only reason Bruce barked at all in his cage, is because he wanted attention.  When I sat next to him while he was barking, I said, “You’re a big phony baloney aren’t you? You silly phony baloney!” And with that he flopped on his side, and was non-stop waggin his tail.  See another picture of him below.  He is not big, not sure what he is mix with – we were guessing Bull Mastiff and Beagle! He is available at the Town of Hempsead Animal Shelter.  Likes dogs and people.

To see many more pictures, please Click here!

And let us know how you help by posting a comment!  Or if you are rescue what your needs are.
A big thanks to ARF for putting on the adoption event over the weekend – to their staff and volunteers and a big thanks to all the volunteers who are out there day after day helping!

Squeakys paw by the way – he was a love bug!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Recently I was given a couple cool new and innovative pet products – two ideas that makes me think, ‘that is a great idea, why didn’t I think of that?  You know an simple idea yet something we generally wouldn’t think of.  The two products have the same concept but are both different in the their design, effectiveness, and one may be safer if you have a pet that likes to chew things.  What could these products be?  Dog bowls, but not your average bowl.

These cool products are both literal and figuratively cool.  With the crazy heat we have had all across the country and here on Long Island the past 6 weeks this summer, these products could not have come at a better time.  The FrostyBowlz® and FroBo, pictured below, were put to a test during a 97 degree day here on Long Island.  First, with both bowls there is a core that  can be frozen, just like you own ice packs you would put in a cooler.  I put both the FrostyCore™ and the bowl part (which contains the blue ice packs) in the freezer for two days.  You can just do overnight but I wanted to be sure they were frozen!

Then at 2pm on a 97 degree towards the end of July, I put them in the direct sun, with about the same amount of water.  I tested them about an hour later and both bowls had the same cold temperature.  I came back 4 hours after that – and although the FroBo’s water was definitely still cool, but the water in the FrostyBowlz was still very cold.

So if this were an Olympic competition, you could say the FrostyBowlz got the gold, but I think they were very close.  The FrostyBowlz has a few features that make it unique and safer if you have a dog that likes to chew.  First the FrostyCore is non-toxic and completely covered by the stainless steel parts of the bowl and it is a bit heaver and has better tracking on the bottom of the bowl.  It also has a moat, which is a pretty neat part of it.  So if you had wet food in the bowl instead of water, pour a little water in the moat and ants won’t be able to climb up into the food without falling in the moat!   But of course that won’t stop a fly from landing on the food, but still a cool idea.  You can put the stainless steel part of FrostyBowlz in the dishwasher, you cannot with the FroBo as it could get damaged.   The only thing I didn’t like, so far about the FrostyBowlz is that it only comes in one size, but the company, Talega Products,  is working on a larger version for larger dogs.  And I would suggest to the company a small version for the tiny pups out there too.  Igor seems to really like the FrostyBowlz:

For the FroBo, my dog Max uses it daily – but he is not a chewer so I don’t have to worry about him trying to knock the bowl over and chewing the plastic.  I wouldn’t recommend this bowl for dogs that chew, since it is made of plastic and the ice pack part of it is part of the bowls design, although your dog is not exposed to that part and it says it is also non-toxic.  The bowl part easily comes out to clean, refreeze and refill.  But you do have to refreeze it, so you should have another water bowl handy for your pup while it is in the freezer.

So I really like the concept of both bowls, and think if you are looking for a solution to keeping your pet’s water cool, without having to add ice cubes – both are a great option.  And with this hot, hot weather we have had all summer long both bowls are a great way to keep your pets water cold for up to 8 to 12 hours.

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Earlier today an excited crowd of onlookers, dogs and press were at Mutts & Butts in Merrick, NY for the HALO pet food delivery truck there to deliver holiday cheer to two very deserving local animal rescue organizations.

The HALO and Freekibble.com Holiday Kibble Drop kicked off in Cincinnati this week and made its Long Island stop, after stopping at the ASPCA in NYC in the morning.  The program in which Ellen DeGeneres, Co-owner of HALO and 15-year‐old Mimi Ausland are spreading much needed free pet food, 400,000 meals to be exact, to shelter pets across the U.S.  Two local organizations Bobbi & The Strays and Shelter Partners were on hand to pick up their donation of healthy, nutritious Halo pet food. Bobbi of Bobbi and the Strays said, “I think I am going to cry, I am so touched by this donation from HALO and FreeKibble.com.”  Shelter Partners is a group of rescues and shelters that share and redistribute supplies and services between a number of their groups.

HALO and Freekibble are embarking on their first ever Freekibble.com ‘Koast‐to‐Koast Kibble Drop,’ where shelters and rescues up and down the east and west coasts will receive the donations of all natural Halo Spot’s Stew for the holidays.  There were at least 4 to 5 large palettes unloaded at the Long Island location, now that’s a lot of kibble.  Such a great thing to see, and knowing so many homeless pets will benefit from this, it’s very inspiring.

News 12 interviewing Bobbi of Bobbi & the Strays

Casey watching all the action!

by Nancy E. Hassel

Dog Park Safety

We are lucky to now have more and more dog runs or dog parks if you will here on Long Island.  But there are safety factors that dog owners should follow and be aware of.

Sadly and recently a small Yorkie at an off leash park was killed by a larger Lab mix.  It’s a terrible tragedy for the dog and his owner – and since I was not there to witness it, I am not jumping to conclusions – I am sure it has been a devastating time for both parties involved.  My heart really goes out to them.  What I was told is that the larger dog, that was leashed, pulled away from the person walking it and the dog ran over to the smaller dog.  Was it a vicious attack or did the big dog merely not know his size and strength over a 3 or 5lb little dog?  We can speculate – but this very sad loss is not about speculation but teaching dog owners to be more aware your surroundings and where you are brining your dog to socialize, play and take precautions while there to keep him safe.

It’s easy to get into a routine while at a dog park and letting your guard down, especially if you are there everyday and know most of the other dogs.  But if you are going to an enclosed (fenced in) dog run here are a few tips to help keep your dog safe from possible injury:

Most dog runs, the newer ones, have small dog areas and large dog areas.  It’s pretty simple if your dog is small; bring him into the small dog area.  Bringing you tiny dog into the large dog part of the dog run, can cause serious prey drive in the larger breeds and before you know it, you could have 20 large dogs chasing and cornering your tiny dog.  This is not fair to your dog who cannot defend himself, but also not fair to the large dogs as it can spark their natural prey drive.  A dog fight could break out and how are you going to get your 5lb dog away from the 50lb+ dogs?
Its common sense, those dog run rules are there for a reason.  Safety for you and for your dog.

If you want to start going to a dog park with your dog, go their first and observe the owners and their dogs, ask how the park is, etc.  Get a feel for the park before just bringing your dog there and dropping him into an environment that can be scary for some dogs.

Parking:  Parking your car and letting your dog out loose to run across the parking lot, or up the trail to the dog run is another huge safety problem.  The area for your dog to be off leash is within the fenced area.  I have seen this all too often where people get too comfortable, think they own the place and just let their dogs out of the car off leash to run all over the parking lot.  I have also seen dogs almost get hit by cars while running to the dog run.  Keep your dogs leashed until you are in the dog run.

Toys:  Some dogs that go to the dog park daily can become territorial about the location, and bringing toys into the mix is not a great idea.  Many people want to exercise and have their dog play with a ball or Frisbee, it’s understandable.  But if there is a dog there that is possessive or aggressively defends his or her toy – it’s just a dog fight waiting to happen.  Now of course this doesn’t happen every time, but why chance it?

Coffee Clutch:  The dog park is great to socialize your dog and you end socializing as well.  How often are you at a dog park and can remember the dog’s name, but maybe not necessarily the owners?  J  It’s great to meet new friends, other dog owners who are passionate about their dogs at the park, but just be sure while you’re having that coffee clutch of a conversation that you are still paying attention to your dog while in the dog run. Watching your dog to make sure he or she is behaving, not scared or nervous around the other dogs, and not developing a new ‘bad’ doggie habit she just learned from her new four legged buddy.

Acting up: If your dog is having an off day, acting up or bullying other dogs, it’s time for you to take him out of the park.  Maybe do some fun one on one training session with your dog, so while he is in the dog park, you will have better control.

Newbie: If your dog is not used to being around other dogs or your dog is a new to you dog, meaning you may have just adopted him, a dog park may not be the right location for you to start socializing your dog.  If you are not sure how he will react around other dogs, try bringing him around other dogs first so you will get a better understanding of his behavior before just letting him loose in a dog run.

Kids: Kids and the dog park, really not a good match.  I have seen kids get knocked over, go flying when a dog running at full speed and didn’t see the kid and bam! You’re kid is now screaming crying and may become fearful of dogs.  Also keep in mind often dogs are not used to kids or may not be around many kids and now you have loose dogs in a park with, well, loose kids.  May not be a good combo – it’s a dog park not a playground!

Dog owners need to take precautions to be safe at our local dog parks, know your dog, clean up after you dog, know when it’s time to leave, and pay attention to them while you are there.

You can see a list of rules for a great local dog run at Blydenburgh Park here.