Pet-Palooza pictures

Doggie Paddle pictures

Pet-Palooza and Doggie Paddle

What a great day! 

We had hundreds of dogs turn out for the inaugural Pet-Palooza and Doggie Paddle at Dankwardt Park and the newly opened Burlington Regional Dog Park.

Maddie and I had a busy day, so I will just post some pictures now. When I’m more awake and creative, I’ll write more about the day and I will post more pictures when I get them from other photographers who were wandering around the event.

The dog park committee and the Des Moines County Humane Society want to thank everyone who participated — the area businesses who set up booths, all of our sponsors who ran the contests, the City of Burlington for approving the land for the park and for their support, Councilman Matt Murray for speaking at the leash cutting, Phil Collier and the parks department for getting the park ready and volunteering the pool for the doggie paddle, Fr. Bruce for doing a blesssing of the dogs, the volunteers who helped out anywhere they were needed, Linda Ahrold for running the concession stand, and of course to all the dogs and their owners who came out to make the event a big success. (Whew, what a list! If I forgot someone, I sincerely apologize. I’m not quite as dead as my passed out dog, but I’m close.)

Four days away

The new Burlington Regional Dog Park

The countdown to the opening of the Burlington Regional Dog Park is almost over. The leash cutting ceremony will kick off Sunday’s Pet-Palooza and Doggie Paddle at noon.

The park is now ready to go. 

The Burlington parks department put up the park sign, rules sign and waste disposal system. There is a brochure holder just inside the entry gate where people can pick up park brochures — which include the park rules — membership forms, and other park information. The dog park committee would like to thank Phil Collier and his department for getting things in tip-top shape for the opening.

The waste disposal system. We plan on adding more as we raise the funds.

The committee is very excited about Pet-Palooza and Doggie Paddle. We have a lot of contests and events and vendors lined up to make this a fun day for dogs and their owners. Personally, I want to make time to see the pet first aid demonstration by the Des Moines County Red Cross, and get our picture taken with Maddie by Wendi Riggens. I don’t know if Maddie will jump into the pool for the Doggie Paddle, but I know she will love getting a popsicle and doggie pizza from the concession stand.

And of course, I cannot wait for the leash to be cut and the dogs to use the park. That is what we have all been working so hard to see happen.

The park rules posted next to the double-gated entry.

Dog park rules: an explanation

The Burlington Regional Dog Park committee has recently been asked about some of the dog park rules. Here is each rule and an explanations of why each was adopted for the Burlington Regional Dog Park.

1. All owners must clean up after their dogs. — This is pretty self explanatory. There will be waste disposal systems located throughout the park to help keep the park clean. If you see other owners who do not pick up after their dogs, please politely remind them they need to pick up after their dogs and if the park is not kept clean, it will be closed by the city. If you see waste another owner has failed to pick up, please be a responsible park user and clean up. If everyone pitches in, we will have a clean, waste-free park.

2. Dogs under 4 months of age and female dogs in heat are prohibited. — We have already had questions about bringing a 10-week old puppy to the park for its grand opening on Sunday.  There are several reasons for this rule. First, a puppy does not receive all of its vaccinations until it is 16 weeks old. At that time, the puppy receives its rabies vaccination as well. Before the puppy receives its full set of vaccinations, it is susceptible to disease. In addition, proof of rabies vaccination is required before a dog can get a dog park tag. I recently took my dog to an Iowa City dog park and we saw an 8-week old puppy. The poor thing was terrified the entire time it was there. While the Iowa City park does not have an age rule, it does require rabies vaccinations.

3. Dogs must be under the control of their handler and in view of their handler at all times. — This is for the safety of all dogs and owners using the park. The dog park is not a place to put your dog and have it run around without supervision.

4. Aggressive dogs are not permitted in the park. Dogs must be removed at the first sign of aggression. — Again, this is for the safety of both people and dogs. If a dog is not removed, the Burlington Police Department should be called.

5. Owners must have a leash for each dog while in the park. — This is a safety issue so a dog can be removed if there is a problem.

6. Dogs must be on leash when entering and exiting the off-leash area. — The double-gated entry is for removing the leash when entering, and putting the leash back on when exiting the park.  Dogs are not allowed off leash outside the park. Burlington has a law requiring dogs to be on leash in public areas.

7. Each adult handler may not have more than two dogs at a time. — Sometimes it is hard enough controlling one dog, much less multiple dogs at one time.

8. Children under 12 years must be supervised by an adult. — Many children do not have the control over dogs that adults have. Younger children are also more at the dogs’ level and some dogs do not react well around children. Many dog parks also have height restrictions.

9. No food allowed except small training treats. — The park is not a place in which to feed your dog meals.

10. For your dog’s safety, do not use prong, choke or training collars. — Dogs can be severely injured or killed by these collars when playing. Many dogs and owners use these collars, but they are not a good idea in a dog park situation. This is a common rule for all dog parks.

11. All dogs must be legally licensed and vaccinated, and shall wear a visible dog license. — A safety and liability issue.

12. Violators are subject to removal from the park and suspension of park privileges.

13. Users of the park do so at their own risk. Neither the city of Burlington nor the Burlington Regional Dog Park are responsible for injury or damage caused by any dog in the off-leash area.

Dog park tags available!

Tags for the Burlington Regional Dog Park are now available at several locations as the Aug. 30 park opening nears.

Permits are $10 for a year, although tags purchased the remainder of 2009 will be good through 2010. Tags can be purchased at Burlington City Hall, Summer Street Animal Clinic, Allgood Animal Hospital, and Horse and Hound Country Store. Membership forms will also be available at the park once it opens.

Anyone wishing to purchase a tag must provide proof of rabies vaccination and sign a release of liability form. They will receive a copy of the Burlington Regional Dog Park rules with their tag. Dogs using the park must wear a valid dog park tag.

This is also a good time to make sure, if you are a Burlington resident, to license your dog with the city. City tags are $5 and are available at City Hall. Proof of rabies vaccination is required for a city license as well.

Burlington dogs without a valid city license are subject to a fine.

Maddie-tough toys

Maddie loves playing with her Ultimate Bone

The bone has seen better days, but it's still intact after two months!

We have finally found a toy that lasts more than hours or days.

Rob and I bought an Ultimate Bone when we were in Chicago in late June, just another so-called ‘tough’ toy for her to rip apart in a few hours. We never imagined it would still be in one piece in August.

She and cousin Abby have ripped the seams so they are frayed, and there is finally a small hole near one of the three squeakers, but Maddie has not yet noticed that and ripped the squeaker out. Although the squeaker is in another pouch, so maybe it will take her awhile to extract that.

Maddie and I are back in Chicago so I bought more of the toys – another Ultimate Bone, an Ultimate Ring and an Ultimate Tug of War. Maybe now I can stop wasting money on toys that last mere minutes and she can beat up on the Ultimate toys for months at a time.

What a year

A year ago yesterday Maddie entered our lives, a small ball of black and white that sat itself on my feet, saying ‘Take me home. I’m your dog.’

Even after all this time, I still find myself looking at her and thinking, ‘Wow, I have  a dog.’

We have been through the housebreaking, which was surprising easy. The waking up every few hours to take her outside, which fortunately did not last too long. Then we moved through the biting stage, which we FINALLY conquered after lots of trial and error and frustration. We have cleaned up stuff that has come out of both ends. I have put my hand in a dog’s mouth (never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would do that) to withdraw contraband.

We have taught her tricks, some of which she has conveniently forgotten. She has decided she can bark at anything and everything (like right now, at who knows what outside in the dark), and refuses to listen when we try to teach her a ‘quiet’ command. I have put on layers and layers of clothing to walk her in frigid weather, and melted in the heat to exercise her. I have bought and read, and still have on the shelf to read, book after book after dogs. I found myself involved with the Burlington dog park, a project that so far has had more frustrations and aggravations than rewards.

Then there is cuddly Maddie, the one who nestles against me in bed and curls up on my lap on the couch. The Maddie who overflows with excitement and joy when we come home, bringing us gifts of pajamas and shoes, pants and T-shirts. The one who bounds with joy when she gets to play off leash, and then plops down at my feet, panting, wanting to be petted. The Maddie whose kisses I love. The one who just laid down on my foot as I sit and write this.

She has taught me a lot about myself. I was not a dog person, I was actually always a little afraid of them. I cannot imagine that person now. I have learned I do not quite have the patience I once thought I did – who can have patience when a dog is barking at the top of its lungs in a car and will not stop because the motorcycle has to stay right next to your car? I have discovered I want to save every dog who needs a home, and work to make Burlington more dog friendly in spite of everyone.

Happy anniversary Maddie. Thank you for choosing me.

Canine intelligence

A recent study reported dogs are smarter than once thought. The most intelligent canines are as smart as 2-2 1/2-year-old children. They also know how to deceive humans as well as other dogs.

We know that from first-hand experience. Maddie is quite crafty and can get away with things if we’re not paying attention all the time. She also has a good memory. She knows all her toys — Rob once told her to get her frisbee, she ran all over the house and couldn’t find it, then Rob heard her whining. She was standing on her hind legs at the porch window, looking at the frisbee outside. When we play hide-and-seek, she now knows all of my previous hiding places.

Here’s a link to the article:

http://www.physorg.com/news168967215.html

The top 10 most intelligent breeds are: border collie, poodle, German shepherd, golden retriever, Doberman pinscher, Shetland sheepdog, labrador retriever, papillon, rottweiler and Australian cattle dog.

We are really in trouble with Maddie. She is Nos. 7 and 10!

Pet-Palooza and Doggie Paddle