Well it has been a while since we sent out a newsletter, and we wanted to announce our new contest! We are holding a Family Dobes Photo contest again, to see the rules and entry  form go to http://www.familydobes.com/photo_contest.htm

Naturally it has been hot for some time now across the states and all of you know it is a bad idea to leave dogs in hot cars. What we want to focus on are some alternatives so you can still take your dog with you. I still go to several training groups each week, shows etc. So my dogs need to come along. On short visits, I leave the Truck running with the AC on and take a spare key with me so I can lock the doors. I don’t want anyone letting my dogs out or stealing a running car! Although it would take quite the fool to decide to steal a truck full of Dobermans! I also hunt for Shady spots to park, even if it means walking a long distance. Some places you go your Dog would be welcome if you ask permission ahead of time or if it is a pet friendly location. I laughed hysterically yesterday when I went to the DMV, the first thing I saw was a sign on the door that said “No Pets” I tend to notice those kinds of things J then I noticed right at the front counter a welsh corgi laying at some lady’s feet. It was not identified as a service animal, so I laughed. But many people will welcome your dog to their business if it is well mannered. The leading economists show businesses are recognizing pets as family more and more and welcoming them to draw customer loyalty. I think it is great so long as we only take dogs with good manners and don’t ruin it for everyone else. Also this year for those times I can’t leave the truck running because I will be too long and gas is $4 a gallon, I made a portable, lockable kennel this year. I mounted a 12’x8’ kennel on a trailer, it has turf grass for a bottom, a tarp across the top and two sides for shade, and a five gallon bucket of water. Obviously it means the inconvenience of taking a trailer, but it was a fun idea and works very well. I wanted to send a picture but the truth is many of you know I do ornamental welding as well, and I wasn’t happy with chainlink on my nice trailer, so I am working on some ornamental iron work complete with a cutout of our logo! Anyway, always take plenty of water, if the dog will be left in the vehicle, no matter how much you trust them, make sure the vehicle is safe for them and from them J Zenny ate my cruise control last time I left him without the rear barrier up, and I trust him as much as any dog I have met in my life. It also helps to wipe them down with wet towels in the hot summer it helps cool them off and don’t they look great with that glossy wet coat! So use some common sense, include your pets when you can, leave them when you can’t.

Also this time of year many people go camping and want to take the dogs. I think that is great so long as you don’t have a dog that likes to bark at everything and gets on other campers nerves, be polite and keep them on lead or in an exercise pen, or at your side all the time so you don’t intimidate others. Know there are risks and be prepared, such as snake bites, ticks, other wild animals that carry disease and may think your dog is dinner… RV camping is very dog friendly, tent camping can be, and so can backpacking if you are well prepared. I like having the dogs along for company, and they can warn me of dangers I am unaware of. Just this week we had a black bear attack two campers in one of our favorite canyons, and killed the one boy. The dog could at least have alerted us to the presence of the bear, and perhaps scared it away, though a dog is no match for a bear, several dogs can be and can run them off effectively.

Well we hope you all have some great summer memories with your dobes, and hope to have you join the photo contest!

http://www.familydobes.com