We are back!

I hope your Memorial Day Weekend was superb, the Fort Fido crew was happy to have a well-deserved extra day off ;). Again, a big thank you goes out to all who have served!

We have a new stock of Antler Chews in, three sizes to choose from now. A new shipment of Bully Sticks should be in shortly.

The dogs were rip-roarin' today, that is usually the case after a long holiday break hehehe. The pack managed to disperse it's energy nicely though and things are finally winding down. It was a good day back for everyone.

Basic Obedience and Leadership Class starts tonight at 7:15 PM, the class is full, don't be late! Be on the lookout for future group training class and seminar dates.

I'll leave you with some articles and a taste of today's action.

For working dogs, retirement can be a challenge

Man: Dog protected wife during tornado

New environments for older pets





Take it easy,

-Grant

Showbiz or bust?

Small dog owners-- do you think your pup has what it takes to be a star? Studio East is holding open auditions on Saturday, June 11th for two dogs to be cast as Toto in the upcoming Summer Teen Musical production of The Wizard of Oz. There is a registration fee of $20 for the audition, which goes to help support the Seattle Humane Society.

The requirements are that the dog be:
• Under 18 pounds
• Able to follow hand signals (not voice) by the handler offstage or actor on stage to sit, stay, come, run across stage
• Willing to be carried in a basket
• Not be frightened or distracted by live music, audience responses and clapping, or actors moving on stage
• Available to perform in four performances and in rehearsals for five nights (July 25-29) prior to Opening Night

Follow the link in the first paragraph to get more information about how to audition.

---

In other news-- a dog in China has served as a surrogate mother to two rare "Liger" (Lion-Tiger hybrid) pups.

We often remark that we can see a puppy growing "right before our eyes," but this is a much more literal example! This puppy's owner took pictures of his pup Dunder from 8 weeks old to one year old, and put together this neat time-lapse video.

Doesn't it feel like they grow up so fast? If you are interested in seeing more, search for "dog time lapse" on YouTube. There are a lot of similar videos to check out.

I know that we've posted a few of these, but here's another nice story about military canine units.

Well, that's all for now! We'll see you back here on Tuesday--Fort Fido is closed on Monday the 30th for Memorial Day. Enjoy the long weekend, it just might be a sunny one!

Hope

Happy Memorial Day Clips

The Big Roll had a lot of Jake and Pepper love in it today, here the two are "Neck Fighting".



Mimi and Sofee (long time Fort Fido Friends) chose to tear it up together as usual hehe!



The Little Roll consisted of high-energy young dogs that love to run and chase.



Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, thank you to all that have served!

-Grant

some funnies today

Click to Enlarge

Hahaha, pretty good ones eh?

Hope emailed us this link last night, what a story! Two others I found today:

The new science of understanding dog behavior - Very interesting stuff here!

Kennel Club Launches Dog Dating Site - I have officially seen it all ;) !

Cheers,

-Grant

Shots and News

Another good one of old Hankster and Briggs popped up today...



New Dachshund Dude Gherie and QT Penny had a great time together today in the Little Roll.




Help For The Sound-Sensitive Dog

X-Ray Video Shows Dogs Drink Like Cats, Just Sloppier

Write The Best Caption & Win Two Dog Training DVDs (I've seen that picture before lol)

Take care,

-Grant

Tuesday Clipage

Our first clip is of a nice "Boxing Match" lol. Shown here are Jack and Jasmine, two fine Medium Roll contenders duking it out. All in good fun of course!



In the second clip, long time Fido Friend, Cody, makes our play of the day. He catches this orange Chuckit Ball mid-air like a Major League Outfielder! It is right in the beginning so look closely, it's fast and you could miss it! ;)



Last but certainly not least is our third clip, from the Little Roll. It's a good one of Mr. Buddah and Little Buddy mixing it up in the Liquid-Rubber-Arena hahaha.



Take it easy,

-Grant

Malamute Madness :)

Boy o boy, this mornings assessments were so adorable... They were like a couple of lighthearted, lumbering, baby bear cubs. Let's just say that David and Nancy (Dad and Mom) had their hands full!


Meet Jonsey and Libby, they are eleven week old, twenty + pound, Alaskan Malamute litter mates. Jonsey is a male and Libby is a female. The duo came in to The Fort and did very well for their first visit, meeting the pack with curiosity and wonder. Once again our Medium Play Area came in handy! These two were way too big to be put upstairs yet weren't mature enough for the Big Roll. Fantastic job pups!

Have a great day,

-Grant

An interesting collection of articles

A stray puppy who adopted a Marine Unit in Afghanistan has made her way to the States, thanks to the help of "her" Unit and the fundraising efforts of hundreds of kids.

A lost puppy was found more than a week after its mother and siblings had been rescued from a storm drain.

In Seattle, a man's quick thinking probably saved his dog's life.

In Kirkland, a very determined Teacup Poodle decided to protect his family by chasing a bear up a tree.

This one isn't as much of a "feel-good" story as the others, but it is pretty astounding. A man was caught trying to smuggle 15 puppies into Singapore underneath the seats of his car.

Well, that's all for today! Have a great weekend, and I'll see you all again next week.

-Hope

P.S.- If you're interested in supporting a local humane society, and enjoy funny "mockumentaries," the film "Worst in Show" is going to be screened tomorrow at 4pm in Seattle (check the details here). Ticket proceeds go to benefit the Seattle Humane Society. The movie is about the yearly contest to take home the coveted title of "World's Ugliest Dog."

Three Areas Three Clips

This first one from the Big Roll really had me cracking up, it's of Buddy and Maximus. They are having the best bout of "Neck Fighting" (a type of play) I have ever seen. Wild and crazy guys these two.



This one from the Medium Roll is early in the AM. Miss Lucy and her gal pal Sofie, both long time members of The Fort, know how to have a fun time for sure.



Upstairs in the Little Roll, Young bucks Buddy and Charlie continue their hard wrestle-style play. I think Charlie has the "Upper Paw" right now but he'd better watch out... Buddy is growing like a weed, the tables may turn on Charles.



Enjoy your weekend,

-Grant
P.S. No plans? Then come to Port Townsend for the 76th Annual, Rhododendron Festival/Parade. It promises to be a fun time, the band and I will be doing our thing there! :)

Pampered Pets Plus Tacoma

Lorian Collins owns and operates Pampered Pets Plus in Tacoma. She specializes in "conscious" services for pets and their people. We here at The Fort highly recommend Lorian for any of your pet sitting needs. Several of our customers have been truly satisfied with her services. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback on Pampered Pets Plus and have established a nice relationship with Lorian over the last year or so, she even helped us with our last open house in March. If you are interested in any of her services, visit her website or give her a call (253-278-4168). Tell Lorian that Fort Fido sent ya!

Take care, enjoy that weather, woo!

-Grant
P.S. Lorian also makes some awesome "Pet Frames" for photos of your furry friends. We carry her Fridge Frames (Magnetized) and her Classic Style Frames. They are fun, look great and are a steal at $15.99. ;)

T-Shirts Are In!

(This picture shows the backs of the shirts, the front is a bit different.)

Hey, the snazzy Fort Fido T-Shirts just came in this morning! Several customers have already picked some up and they look outstanding. The price is $12.99 (for any size or color). We have sizes S - XXL, in colors Blue, Grey and Pink. Get 'em while their hot lol, show off your fort pride! ;)

Take it easy,

-Grant

Videos ! ! ! !

Clips from today:

Crazy fun in the Big Roll. Bella, Stella and Abby have a gnarly play session. Checkout Aliisa's smooth moves towards the end, man, she's an agile Airedale!



From the Medium Roll, Barkley and Diego have a good wrestling match. The same goes for Jasmine and Niko, what fun! Our last clip is of Bella the doodle and new Fort Fido Friend Emily having a go.







Cheers,

-Grant

Persistent Pup!

Another funny video emailed to me from Rainer's family... This poor persistent pup lol, that statue just won't listen! I sure hope they threw the stick for him a lot after that one.



Brush my dog's teeth - Do I really have to?

Water safety tips for pooches and owners

Limit on numbers of man's best friend in Shanghai

Tips on camping with your dog

Hope your week starts off great!

-Grant
P.S. Looks like we may get a shot at some nice weather later in the week, cross your fingers! ;)

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

Next week is National Dog Bite Prevention week, and in anticipation the USPS has released a list of the 25 cities with the highest frequency of dog bites sustained by mail carriers. Sadly, both Seattle and Tacoma made the list- at numbers 10 and 21 respectively. Medical expenses related to dog bites cost the USPS an estimated $1.2 million dollars every year!

The American Veterinary Medical Association teaches this handy acronym for safely petting a dog: WAIT. The W stands for (you guessed it) "wait." When you first see a dog you want to be introduced to, wait and observe for a minute. Does it look friendly? Is the owner in a rush? Do you think the dog would like to meet you? A stands for "ask." Always ask the owner's permission before you pet their dog. They know a lot more about him or her than you do! Maybe their dog is wary of baseball caps, or large coats (which are both fairly common anxieties). The I stands for "invite." Curl up your hand into a fist, and hold it by your side or a little out toward the dog. Let it come to you, and move at its own pace. Once the dog has sniffed you, you can "Touch." When you are petting a new dog, try to make yourself small--kneel or crouch down in front of the dog, and pet with your eyes averted from the dog's face. Looking into a dog's eyes can be seen as a challenge, and especially on leash and around the owner. Never bend or loom over a dog, in dog-language this is a threatening posture.

These are handy rules to remember, and to teach your kids. Having the right etiquette when approaching a dog can make all the difference. When you are the owner whose dog is being pet, make certain that you are aware of your dog and any possible "petters" at all times. You are much more in tune with your pet than others, and can notice little things that let you know he or she is nervous. Flattened ears, bristling hair, and a tucked tail are all signs that your dog may be too nervous to be approached. Never be embarrassed for asking somebody to not pet your dog--you are helping them and your dog to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

You've heard us say it a lot, but it always bears repeating: dogs can act very different on leash. They can experience what animal behaviorists call "leash reactivity," which just means that they are in a higher state of arousal that can make their behavior unpredictable. Two dogs that are best friends in the play areas can come out opposite doors in the lobby and flip the switch to seeming like they could never get along! This is why it is best to not let dogs meet on leash--a highly aroused dog can slip into fearful or aggressive behavior at the drop of a hat. They are experiencing a "fight-or-flight" response, but the leash is limiting their options, which leads them to become more aroused. You can see how this cycle is very frustrating for our four-legged-friends!

If you take nothing else away, remember to be always be aware. Paying attention and accurately judging situations could really reduce the number of dog bites in the U.S. Maybe if we can spread the news, we can get Tacoma off of the USPS's list!


-Hope

P.S.--Here's a peek of today's action!

A Quick Recap

Unfortunately, we have experienced some difficulty with Blogger this week. It went down for maintenance last night, and gave us a big surprise this morning when we saw nothing since Monday had remained posted! So here is a synopsis of what has gone down at the Fort the past couple days

Wednesday, we caught some clips of the action in all the different play areas!
In the Big Roll, Blue and McGee were caught by the "pup-arazzi" neckfighting playfully.


In the Medium Roll we spotted Hunter playing with Louie. You can also see Niko playing with a black dog who is hard to recognize against the dark floors as Annie.


Ball-time upstairs was as exciting as ever, with all the little guys joining in for a romp.



Thursday morning we welcomed Gherie in for his assessment. He is a one year old, fourteen pound, Honey/Dapple colored, Miniature Longhaired Dachshund (Say that ten times fast!).

Gherie's original name (from the breeder) was Bagheera, named after the panther in the Jungle Book (a collection of stories written by Rudyard Kipling. Many of us our more familair with the Disney Film ;). Bagheera's owners then shortened it to Gherie, how cool! He wasted no time upstairs in the Little roll. The more dogs that came into the play area, the happier Gherie became. He played up a storm and made friends fast. Way to go today Gherie, you are welcome back anytime.

Today, we had another dog come in for an assessment-- a Brittany Spaniel named Penny. Brittanies are bred primarily for bird hunting, and her owner let us know that she has all of those instincts. She loves to chase things, whether they be rabbits, birds, bicyclists, joggers, or even cars! We also hear that she can be quite the escape-artist- we'll have to look out!

We'll be seeing both of the "newbies" back next week.

Here's hoping that this blog sticks!

-Hope

Reels from the Rolls

Little Roll (The Gang's All Here)


Medium Roll (Some of our more mature fellas tearing it up, Hunter & Louie)


Big Roll (Miss Blue and Mr. McGee in love)


Cheers, stay dry lol,

-Grant

T-Shirts!

Hey guess what?

We are going to get some cool looking Fort Fido T-Shirts in soon! Here is a sneak peak of the design. Don't worry they won't be printed funky looking like that lol, that is my re-sized image mess, you get the idea.


We will have three colors (Blue, Grey, Pink), all sizes and they will be a good price ;). Many of you have asked for them in the past, I am happy that we are finally getting some. I'll let you know more as soon as they come in.

Take it easy,

-Grant
P.S. Harbor Graphics INC. is printing our shirts. They have been great to work with!

Some funny stuff

To start the week off right. Thank you to Joyce and Coin, Rainier's folks, for the links.

Some more about "Dogs of War". There are some amazing photos and interesting reading. Follow this link.

How about "Cats of War"... Didn't know they had that did you? Check it out here. ;)

This is pretty funny, the Ultimate Dog Tease, poor guy, brutal! :)



Happy Monday to you all!

-Grant

Canine Heroes

Yesterday, the CNN website had a large feature on "dogs of war"--military canine units. This page includes a couple video clips honoring the brave canine soldiers who have been working with the military overseas. There is also a clip about service dogs helping veterans to transition back to civilian life. It really is miraculous all the good that the unconditional love of a dog can do.

Here's a good update on one of Michael Vick's dogs. It's not much of an article, a few sentences really, but it's nice to know that the innocent victims are able to make new, happy lives for themselves.

To round things out, here's a clip from the roll today. Little Buddah was tearing it up with larger dogs Emily and Gemma. He loves to play rough!


Hope

P.S.- Don't forget to pick up the May/June copy of Pet Connection, available for free in the Fort Fido lobby! This issue features retired K-9 officer Jetson, Mccaw Mountain, and highlights the dangers that pesticides pose to pets. It also has a calendar of dog-related events for May, June, and July. Don't miss out on all the fun!

Stunning Scout!

Scout is a handsome one-year-old Yellow Lab who came in for his assessment this morning. He played well with the other dogs, and was a big feature on the clips of the day! Here is the best one, where he plays with Golden Retriever Buddy and a Yellow Lab named Maximus. You can also spot Stella the Boxer running to get in on the action.



We'll see you again tomorrow!

-Hope

More Fun Diego Pics & Lola Pistola Clip

Good ones as always. Diego sunbathing on the rocks and Diego ready to defend his pad from a deer haha! Awesome!

In other news... Long time Fort Fido Friend Lola becomes a whirling dervish when playing with Gibson lol. She doesn't always play super hard but when she does, look out! The best picture I have ever taken is of Lola, I think it was in 2007. It is used in our website's/blog's banner at the top of the page (she has on the pink bandanna), she is sooo pretty isn't she?



Take Care,

-Grant

Elated Emily!

We welcomed a happy-go-lucky new pup to The Fort this morning. Say hello to Emily. She is a ten month old, forty-seven pound, Black, Labrador Retriever.

Emily passed her assessment with flying colors! She came in eager to play and had a very sweet disposition. With a spirited temperament, Emily frolicked in the Medium Roll. She took on all the dogs but especially liked Niko and Chance. Emily played hard, was very social and communicated well with the others in the pack. We are happy to have her and plan on seeing her again soon. Nice job!

Take it easy,

-Grant

All Three Rolls

It was a pooch-party in here today as always :) check it out!

Big Roll = Po and Gideon Battle amongst others.



Medium Roll = Jasmine and Phoebe really get along.



Little Roll = A bit of the daily Ball-Time antics.



Cheers,

-Grant

a few funnies

One of our wonderful customers brought in some great dog funnies from the New Yorker. I scanned them today, here they are.

(Click to enlarge)

King 5 News is having a "Spring Fever Pet Photo Contest". I thought some of y'all might be interested. Check out the details here. I'm a bit late but you still have time. Voting hasn't started yet.

Have a great day!

-Grant