Natural Dog Training DVD Giveaway Contest
Natural Dog Training is a style of training that emphasizes working with your dog’s energy to train him or her to achieve various objectives. The fundamentals are discussed in a 2-DVD set called Natural Dog Training: The Fundamentals by Neil Sattin of NaturalDogBlog.com. The set sells for $65, but we’re giving it away FREE to one lucky person!
If you’re interested, please leave a comment on this entry below before 6pm on Saturday, February 6, 2010. One winner will be randomly selected on that date. Be sure to use a valid email address so we can contact you! We won’t use your email address for any reason other than to contact you if you’re a winner.
Edit, 2/8: Congrats to Cheryl, the winner!
News from Acton
Maynard’s next-door neighboring town, Acton, is blessed with lots of conservation lands and a voice-control law (rather than a leash law), not to mention a long-running unfenced, unofficial (and possibly endangered) dog park at the Great Hill conservation and recreation area.
Nevertheless, there are ongoing issues in Acton. The below is a guest post from a MayDOG member who lives in Acton related to the potential development of the Morrison Farm property (see this PDF file for information about the property). MayDOG takes no official position on this issue, but we’re posting the information here to keep the community informed.
Plan to attend an informational meeting in Acton Town Hall, Room 204, at 4pm Wednesday, Feb 3rd. An out of town nonprofit group will present their proposal to farm (i.e., plow up) the remaining open meadows at Morrison Farm, the best off-leash dog walking location in Acton. Off-leash dogs were banned from NARA park in north Acton several years ago, and the town is troubled by heavy dog use at Great Hill playing fields and may ban off-leash dogs there in the future. Many people count on exercising and training their active dogs in Morrison’s meadows, off Concord Road, a secluded but easily accessible 10 acre site by Nashoba Brook. But the town refuses to acknowledge this use and accommodate it. Please attend this important meeting and let the town know it is undemocratic to serve only one interest at Morrison Farm (community garden plots are already located there, why a farm, too?). Morrison Farm belongs to ALL the people. It is unfair of the town to demand license fees from all dog owners while eliminating the best safe places to exercise their dogs.
Maynard Holiday Parade
MayDOG will be participating in the 2009 Maynard Holiday Parade! We had a group last year - but this year is going to be bigger and better! The parade starts at 2pm on Sunday, Dec. 6 - the route can be see on this map. Come out and wave to us!
Picking a Pup - Free Workshop
The Maynard Dog Owners Group, Inc. (MayDOG) and Tumeria Langlois, ABCDT, a certified dog trainer and owner of Sirius Dawg Training, are joining together to offer a FREE workshop on “Picking a Pup” on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 1pm the Maynard Public Library.
“We are thrilled about this opportunity to provide people who are thinking about getting a puppy or new dog with the information they need to pick the right dog for their family,” says Lisa Lines, MayDOG’s president. “This workshop is the second this year in our series of free educational workshops about responsible dog ownership.”
At this interactive workshop, attendees will learn about such important topics as: Are you ready for a new dog or puppy? When and where should you get your puppy or dog? Purebred, mixed breed, or All-American mutt? Which breeds are best for which lifestyles? How can you gain insight into a puppy’s or dog’s personality in just a few minutes? In addition, MayDOG and Sirius Dawg Training will be giving away coupons, handouts, and free samples of dog food. The Maynard Public Library is located at 77 Main Street, Maynard. Plenty of free parking is available on site.
“It’s important to involve the whole family in the process of getting a new puppy or dog,” says Tumeria Langlois, owner of Sirius Dawg Training. “This workshop will provide you with the information you’ll need to confidently assess if you’re ready for a dog, and if so, how to find the right dog for your lifestyle.”
This workshop is free, but registration is recommended. Call 978-310-3364 (978-3310-DOG) and leave your name, phone number, and the number of attendees — or register online at www.maydog.org.
Download the flyer for this event here.
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Founded in 2008, the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. MayDOG’s mission is to promote responsible dog ownership and help build community through safe, legal off-leash recreation in Maynard, MA and the surrounding areas. MayDOG is working to create a fenced dog park in Maynard. Other activities include holding social events, sponsoring a walking group, developing and distributing educational materials about responsible pet care, conducting workshops on training and dog behavior, promoting pet emergency preparedness and first aid programs, and encouraging dog-friendly businesses. For more information, please visit www.maydog.org.
Tumeria Langlois, ABCDT, is the owner of Sirius Dawg Training in Maynard, MA, which offers professional, individual pet dog training and other services, including dog walking and Reiki. Ms. Langlois is an experienced trainer of both humans and animals and received her dog training certification from Animal Behavior College. For more information, please visit www.siriusdawg.com.
A Howlin’ Good Time
MayDOG is thrilled to be participating in Pet Source’s Monster Bark event again this year. Last year’s costume contest and monster parade was lots of fun! The HOWL-a-ween event will be held at Pet Source, October 31, noon to 2pm at the Stow Shopping Center. The entry fee is $10. Half the pot goes to the winner of the costume contest, and the other half will be divided between three non-profit groups: Angell Memorial, Greyhound Friends and MayDOG.
If you’re stumped for costume ideas for your favorite critter, here are some pictures to get your creative juices flowing!
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- Mr. Fluffy (courtesy of nhanusek)
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- Court Jester Duck (courtesy tifotter)
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- Chicken Cat (courtesy caryn74)
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- Superferret! (courtesy Stacy Lynn Baum)
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- Pirate Family (courtesy The Rochester Canine Playgroup)
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- Ladybug (courtesy Sister72)
See also: The Huffington Post
Annual Meeting
MayDOG held its annual meeting on September 17, 2009. We reviewed the events of the past year, affirmed the slate of officers and board members, and discussed goals for the coming year. You can see the presentation from the meeting here.
Free Spaying Available
The Tufts Veterinary School is now offering a FREE SPAY program through a clinic for third-year vet students, who are supervised by an attending veterinarian.
This program is for female dogs only. Dogs must be between 3 months and 7 years of age, and must weigh between 10 and 60 pounds. The clinic cannot accept short-snouted dogs like pugs and boxers. Dogs must be in good health and have current rabies and distemper shots. The spay clinic includes a heartworm test, which is also free.
To book an appointment or learn more, please email Sue Carbone or call her at 508-887-4326.
MayDOG Donates Pet Oxygen Masks to Maynard Fire Department
L to R: Lisa Lines, Keira, Chief Stephen Kulik, Mollie, Troy, Captain Pat Sullivan
Thanks to a donation from a member of the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG), pet owners in Maynard can breathe a little easier — and their pets can, too.
MayDOG president Lisa Lines and member Veronica Zolina presented a set of pet-sized oxygen masks to Chief Stephen Kulik of the Maynard Fire Department today. Although the Department already had one set of pet masks on its ambulance, this additional set will ensure that the engine company is also equipped to help dogs, cats, and other pets pulled from a burning building.
“We are always happy and grateful for any and all additional donations, as you never know when you will need them,” said Chief Kulik, who accepted the donation. The set contains three masks of different sizes, which can fit animals from a Saint Bernard down to a kitten.
L to R: Lisa Lines, Chief Stephen Kulik, Mollie, Troy, Captain Pat Sullivan
Zolina and her husband own two greyhounds and a cat. She decided to donate the masks on behalf of MayDOG because of that group’s efforts to promote Maynard as a dog-friendly community. She said, “I want to be sure that all of Maynard’s pets, including my own, can receive lifesaving treatment in a fire if they need it. It was reassuring to learn that the Department is prepared to aid animals as well as people, because so many Maynard residents are pet owners too.”
“More than 40,000 pets across the country perished in fires in 2006, with the majority dying from smoke inhalation,” said Lines. “We hope that giving these masks to the Maynard Fire Department will raise awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness for rescue agencies and pet owners alike,” she said.
Maynard Dog Owners Group Recognizes Dog-Friendly Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MayDOG Media Contact:
Lisa Lines
978-331-0364 (978-3310-dog)
lisa
MAYNARD—The Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) today announced the winners of their first annual Dog-Friendly Business Award. There was a three-way tie between Aubuchon Hardware, at 33 Main Street, Erikson’s Ice Cream, at 12 Great Road, and the Maynard Barber Shop, at 75 Main Street, all in Maynard. Six other nominees were also recognized, including LOOK Optical, Ray & Sons Cycle & Ski, and Middlesex Savings Bank in Maynard, and Sweet Bites Café, Sawyer Automotive, and Ace Hardware in Acton.
“We want to promote our local businesses, and we believe that one of the easiest things they can do to gain attention and goodwill is by being friendly to our furry family members,” said Lisa Lines, president of the group. She then described the reasons for each business being nominated. All of the nominees were recognized for their dog-friendly business practices, such as providing a water bowl, giving out dog treats, and allowing customers’ dogs inside. In the case of Erikson’s, their free doggie ice cream draws dog owners from around the area. Bob at the Maynard Barber Shop is known for giving out dog biscuits and having a water bowl for dogs. And Aubuchon Hardware sees up to 40 dog visitors a week, whose owners bring them in for belly rubs and cookies.
“Ask any dog owner: they love to take their dogs with them when they are out and about,” said Alex Landsman, the MayDOG member who announced the winners. “Here in Maynard, many people come downtown on foot with their dogs. On these hot summer days, dog owners really appreciate a business that allows dogs inside or puts a water bowl out in front and provides a place for the dog to be safely secured while the owner is inside.”
MayDOG members who spoke at the event offered several reasons for businesses to be friendly to Fido. “In this economy, anything a business can do to set itself apart from the competition is a good thing, and while dogs themselves don’t shop much, their owners do,” said Landsman. “Dog owners are very loyal to businesses that cater to their needs and the needs of their dogs.”
“If a business is known for being dog friendly, dog owners would rather go there than a competing business simply because they’re able to bring their dogs along,” added Lines.
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Founded in 2008, the Maynard Dog Owners Group (MayDOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. MayDOG’s mission is to promote responsible dog ownership and help build community through safe, legal off-leash recreation in Maynard, MA and the surrounding areas. MayDOG is working to create a fenced dog park in Maynard. Other activities include holding social events, sponsoring a walking group, organizing an annual “fun-raiser”, developing and distributing educational materials about responsible pet care, conducting workshops on training and dog behavior, promoting pet emergency preparedness and first aid programs, participating in town-wide clean-ups, promoting dog-friendly improvements to the town, and encouraging dog-friendly businesses. For more information, please visit www.maydog.org.
Photo credits: All photos taken by Mark Genest for MayDOG.
Pictured: Representatives from Aubuchon, Erikson’s Ice Cream, and the Maynard Barber Shop receiving their award certificates from Lisa Lines of MayDOG.
Article in the Boston Globe
Coming fast on the heels of the editorial in the Monday issue of the Globe comes today’s feature article on MayDOG. Check it out here.
For the most part, I am pleased with how the article turned out. Hopefully it will lead to a good turnout at our August 1 Kids & K-9s workshop and generate lots of interest in our group.
