The most important safety command for your dog to understand is 'come'. Especially if your dog is often allowed to run off leash (which is great for both you and your pup!), having a reliable retrieval command will at the very least save you time and frustration, and at the most, may save your dog's life.

However, the most important piece of safety equipment for the dedicated dog lover is to ensure that they are always wearing a collar with a name tag. People often remove their pup's collar at night or while indoors, which is a perfectly acceptable routine, but you should always put it back on before venturing outdoors! To do otherwise is quite simply irresponsible and unfair to both your pup, and to the person who finds (or is found by!) your pup.

On our Dog Paddling trips we have had 3 dogs join our group that were simply wandering in the forest and found us an attractive bunch. None of these dogs had collars or any type of identification on them. After searching and spending several hours, during and after trips, problem solving ways to reunite pups and their owners thru phone calls to local authorities, driving to several of the neighboring properties, signs on cars all in the unsure hope to return the pup to its home… in these cases we were thrilled to get them each back to their home. But in many cases this does not happen!

Pets give us love and companionship, but in return for their loyalty, they need your care and attention. Always have a collar with tags on your dog when he is going to be outside as well as a tattoo or microchip, this makes finding your lost puppy back to his home much easier!

FYI
95% of animals with visible ID are reunited with their humans

30% of dogs without ID that end up in shelters are claimed by their humans.

In a recent Story in the Newark Paper...

A dog stranded on a chunk of ice in the middle of the Passaic River was brought ashore Wednesday by rescuers in a rowboat who spent three hours fighting the current and dodging ice floes to reach the animal.

An animal shelter worker and a fire captain set out in the 8-foot boat after somebody reported seeing the 40-pound Rottweiler mix trapped on the ice.

When they finally reached the dog, shelter worker George Smith slipped a noose over his neck, followed by a leash, and gently tugged the reluctant animal toward the boat.

"At first, he kind of freaked out," Smith said. "But when I reached underneath him and got him up under his body and pulled him in the boat, he got real calm. He looked up at us like, `Hey, I'm safe now!'"

Smith and Kearny Fire Capt. Tom McDermott, both exhausted from rowing, steered the boat to shore about 300 feet away. Other rescuers bundled the dog up and rushed it to a shelter. The dog, which had a collar but no identification, was to be examined and treated for exposure and possible frostbite. He appeared to be 3 to 4 years old.

Nobody had claimed the dog by Wednesday afternoon…If only this dog was wearing some form of ID!

Every year far too many wonderful dogs are dumped in shelters or given away when they no longer 'fit the family'. Adopting a puppy or adult dog from a shelter or rescue can be a great way to get a dog. The hardest part of adopting a dog from a shelter is the selection… since there are so many dogs available you can be overwhelmed!
Choosing the right dog generally means finding the type of dog who matches your lifestyle and wants. A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision. When you go to visit an animal shelter, keep in mind that the shelter is a stressful place for any animal. Often a dog's true personality won't show until he's away from the other animals. So even if you walk by a kennel and the dog doesn't try to get your attention, don't count him out just yet… he may just be frightened from his recent unpleasant experiences and need a bit of time.

Some good questions to ask:

How old is the dog? Even though a puppy sometimes sounds more appealing, it is important to know that young dogs require much more training and supervision than more mature dogs. An adult dog may fit in to your lifestyle a bit easier and is almost always more manageable to handle than a new puppy for an existing family. Also think how nice it is to give a more relaxed elderly dog a home!

Is the dog shy or assertive? Although an active or energetic dog may catch your eye, a more quiet or reserved dog might be easier to live with and care for on a daily basis. Unless you are a very active person, a border collie may not be for you!

Is the dog good with children? Learning about a dogs past through a history sheet or from an adoption counselor can be helpful, but past information isn't always available. In general, a dog that is active, likes to be pet, and is not sensitive to handling and noise is a dog that will probably thrive in a household of kids.

Before heading out to purchase a new dog consider these facts:

Places like the Toronto Humane Society (THS) work hard each year to find homes for needy dogs… here are some statistics which may interest you:

In 2002, the THS admitted 1,945 dogs. Of these, 947 (49%) were adopted, 188 (10%) were euthanized, and 393 dogs were returned to their owner.

In 2001, the THS accepted 1,704 dogs of which 954 were adopted, 340 were euthanized and 316 were returned to their owner.

A quick comparison of Costs:

Included in the THS $100 adoption fee, your new pup will receive a microchip, be spayed/neutered, all initial vaccinations, and a leash.

When purchasing a new dog: Price of dog can vary ($200-$2000), microchip ($75), spayed/neutered ($220), initial vaccinations ($150), leash ($20) etc.

Dog Lovers' Spring Hiking Club
Our Spring Dog Lovers Hiking Club has been a blast in the past, and we are excited to announce that we are back with 11 exciting hikes! We have added a brand new location, Pigeon River Conservation Area, and it's a terrific addition to our other existing locations. Be sure to check it out. The hiking club runs every weekend until June 1 so come out and try one, or join the club and try them all. The more hikes you do the more you save. All hikes include breakfast snacks, warm drinks, buffet lunch and drinks, along with energy snacks for you and your pooch throughout the day.

Summer Season
We are very excited for the upcoming Paddling Season, which will begin on June 21 with a one day paws and paddle. This 1 day, introduction to paddling with your dog is the perfect way to start off your summer and introduce you both to canoeing! Check out our full schedule of canoe trips which will run every weekend until labour day, including the new custom 5-7 day trips running throughout the summer to remote locations in Algonquin Park. We hope to see you on the lake this summer with your pooch!

Fun Dog Dictionary - Understanding the Language of our pups!

LEASH: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your human where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED: Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL: is what you do when any human has food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad. Let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps!

SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your human makes you stop.

LOVE: is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.