Dog Yoga, Doggie Yoga or Doga at the Dog Run

Rudy here.  Today’s topic is Dog Yoga.  Ever heard of it?
I have an open mind. I really do have an open mind.  This is my posture for accepting a new concept that has been brought to me. However, I am a bit skeptical.  Here it is—Doggie Yoga or Dog Yoga or the newest, DOGA.  Is it for me or them?

Well, as usual, I feel a little research is required.  I am a proper dog, a big German Shepherd Dog.  Should I tell my friends at the dog run?  Should I experience what life has to offer and just go for it or be trapped by the traditional training dogma?  The answer is YES GO FOR IT.  So I went to class last year.

Here is what I found out.  Dog Yoga or DOGA is an enlightenment exercise meant to create a stronger bond between human and dog.  The benefits of Dog Yoga is really about partner Yoga that allows for our humans to get our focus for an extended period of time.  This special DOGA time is usually 45 minutes.  I stretched, made new friends, and felt totally relaxed.

Here is the point:  Doga also creates a spiritual bond between dogs and their humans.  This bond is important too.  When they get to know us as a part of the family, with emotional needs, then we can truly experience what Dog Yoga has to offer: Bonding of the mind, body, and spirit with your human. 

K9-Karma is a transference of that emotional and environmental calmness and peace.  This can take place in the DOGA class and can be in the home, the dog run, and through our exploration of the world.

When I interact with humans through DOGA, through movement, you form a better bond for both humans and dogs.  In the dog run, I have seen dogs naturally stretch.  Exercising, stretching and chewing on bones or grass has a very calming effect.

The stretching and motion coupled with meditation and concentration keeps us in harmony.  It is a state of Zen for Dogs and their human partner and forms a stong Karma.  One question—who is the Yoga or Doga master?  I guess it really doesn’t matter, but I think it is for all of us.  Because my new friends know interacting with a big buddy is important in the city.

Further research has lead me to understand that there are around twelve exercises that DOGA focuses on: Center Breathing for Dogs through exercise, Doga downward facing dog for dogs and their humans, Meditation techniques for dogs and humans, Doga tree pose and salutation to the Sun, and a few more.   Group sits are learned by all my friends. 

OK, I can’t wait to try it AGAIN.  The classes are in my home town of Chicago at the Lakeshore Athletic Club at the end of February, March and April.   I think I will go with my girl friend,  she is a nice chocolate brown standard poodle named Schulzie after Charles Schulz.  More on her later.  Here is the web link to the class pdf. 

http://www.lsac.com/docs/flyers/1325%20Doggy%20Yoga%20Flyer.pdf

What do you think?  Have you ever gone to DOG YOGA class or can’t your Mr sit in lotus position or folded leaf? Let me know your comments, OK?

Rudy from the Dog Run

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Dog Run Memories Baltazar the Great Dane

Hello.  Its Rudy from the Dog Run again!

Finding out about dogs from the past and present is one of my
favorite things to do.  What I have learned from these histories and
memories–is that it doesn’t matter where the dogs go or where they are
or where they have been.  The dogs I learn about at the dog run are always
in someone’s memory.

Today, I learned about a very special dog.  I found a very old photograph from
the turn of the 20th century.  There is a little girl and a very big dog in the picture.
I had to learn more.  I found the photo in a very old treasure chest made out of cedar wood.

There were pictures and books and beautiful linens in the chest.  Would there be a clue?
I took the picture and I left it on the table near the dog run.  I figured that someone would
find it and start talking about it.  I was right.  What great information.  I learned about
a beautiful story that answered many questions.

Who is the little girl?  Who is the big dog?  The little girl seems self-assured and shows no fear of
the world or the big dog that towers over her.

They talked.  I learned the story.

The little girl’s name was Josephine.  This was a popular name near the turn of the
century. She looked pretty in her dress with mutton sleeves.  Her hair was cut shoulder length because
she liked to have freedom from all the fussiness of the victorian era.

The dog’s name was Baltazar.  When I look at him I realize that he has a very keen expression on his
face with clear eyes.  He sits proudly next to the girl.  He is a regal king of a dog.  He is
a Great Dane!  What a big dog!  What a little girl.

I went to Google.  Yes, the dog run has access to laptops and Google.  I found many listings for Baltazar.  What did this name mean?  Why would he be named Baltazar.

My research showed that Baltazar was one of the three kings of the orient that so many have learned about through reading Christmas stories. 

The actual name Baltazar means “protection”.

Later, after I was fed, I sat by the dining room table.  My tummy was full.  I was dreaming of a big steak.  Then they told a story.

Little Josephine went out for her daily walk to the butcher shop.  Baltazar walked along side of  her.  She never needed a leash for Baltazar.  He heeled by her side all the way.  That day, she went in for a package of sausages.  She left Baltazar by the door and he waited.  On the way home she came across another dog, a mean looking hound.  The hound sniffed out the sausages, and then made eye contact with Josephine and Baltazar.  Baltazar looked him straight in the eye.  The hound then became  squimish and turned away.  Baltazar, the King Protector, had saved Josephine and the sausages. When they got home, Baltazar was rewarded by getting his own plate of sausage, mashed potatoes and apple sauce!

Josephine was so proud of Baltazar and she knew that she would never be scared of anyone hurting her again.

I am so happy to learn about Baltazar and Josephine. The dogs in the dog run loved me telling them about this story and sharing the picture I found.  I hope that they can tell stories about what they find in old cedar chests too.

Can you snoop around and find some stories to send me?

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Missing Boot Found in Snow Bank!

Missing Boot Found in Snow Bank!

This is an update to my story titles “Walking in Boots in my Dog Run! Muttluk Dog Booties? Cool.”   In the story I wrote: “These Boots were made for Walk’in and that’s just what I’ll do’ tra la la– in them.  Well, I did until I was wearing the Red Boots, and I lost my precious dog boot. It came off in the snow along the road as I was looking for a place to empty my bladder.  All of a sudden a city snowplow turned the corner and buried it under a huge splash of snow. No matter, I winked at him and he understood that we would look for it when the snow melts.  How do you like that?”

Well, my little snow truck trick did not work.  The temperature went up and he went back to look for it.  He found my missing boot in the snow pile next to the road.  He never likes to waste anything. 

It was frozen in solid like a lead filled snowshoe, and my Mr. had to chip it out with a pick.  He chipped and chipped and finally it came out as you can see below.  It was frozen solid with ice all around.  It was crumpled up and would not move open.  There was no way to put that one on me!  

Well, so much for trying to get rid of it. 

He took it home, thawed it out and then washed them, all of them!  My next plan is to wear out the toes on these Red Boots by dragging my feet on the street. I have a long gate so no one will notice.  I have already made it through the black layer and the red is showing from underneath.  So, there is not much more to go before I get to wear my yellow Muttluks all the time!

The Muttluk Boots will last a long time.  They have leather toes that are thick and strong.  I know these will last.  They cost him more, but they are worth it.  Who wants to break in new boots each week, I don’t.  He found the Muttluk on the manufacture’s web site http://www.muttluks.com/our_products/muttluks.php.   They have a sizing chart he print out so he could size my feet up to their available sizes.  Next, he went shopping and found a web site that had them in stock for me.  KV Vet Supply had them and other cool stuff.  Here is the KV Vet Supply web site:
http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/search_results.asp?mscssid=0B98D92D6785431C9BB115C77325BDB3&Gift=false&GiftID=. 

Like love my yellow Muttluks!  They keep the rock salt off my feet and from between my pads and toes.   I don’t like the salt, it make me sick.  The other day we walked on the street and when we returned he took off my training collar and let me Run and Run in the Dog Run. I loved it.  We have had so much snow becasue I have cabin fever.

What do you think of the yellow/black color combination and the reflective Velcro straps that holds them on around my ankles?  Don’t I look hip in my Muttluks?  Please let me know your comments, OK?

Oh, by the way, my Muttluks are not yellow because I stepped in yellow snow.  I would never do that.  Why, because he has sung the lyrics of the song on the Frank Zappa Apostrophe (’) album to me.   Have you heard the song, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” by Frank Zappa?  Frankie details some very wise advice in musical form regarding yellow snow.   It is a classic.  I like it.   Check it out at the YouTube link below.  It is the full music track from Side One of Frank Zappa aprostrophe (’) starting with the song I like the best followed by on through to Cosmic Debris.  Check the animated (I like animals) video on YouTube too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws5Xeu3BEQk

Did you like the song?

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German Shepherds Voted Third most Popular in the USA

Rudy here at the Dog Run. I have been waiting for this announcement. Forget the Oscars. GSD’s win Third Place.

Third Place as Most Popular Dog?! Where is Rin Tin Tin when you need him!!!

Old Disney Movie – That a Girl Kelly

“That a Girl Kelly”

Snoop’in Rudy

I can’t help snooping!

Rudy Here. I know, I am not supposed to be a snoop, but I found this story in his printer.  He wrote it about his first dog as he was reflecting on ME!  Here it is.  

Kelly was our very first dog.  My brother and I were in grade school, and named her after a dog that was the main character in a Disney Show or Movie called “That a Girl Kelly”.  The dog in the movie was a German Shepherd like Rudy.   Our Kelly girl’s mother was a silver poodle and we do not know who or what kind of dog was her father.  Many people thought her father was a wire hair Dachshund.  But in reality, I don’t remember ever seeing a wirehair Dachshund in our small town. 

She was black with silver in her breed and eye brows.  As she aged she got more silver all over.  She loved to chase rabbits.  She was small enough to go into the culver drain under the driveway to flush them out.  We were always worried she would get stuck, but she never did. 

When we went to Mayfield’s hill to sled ride in the winter, she would come along with us.  She loved being outside.  She would run around while we slid down the hill, walked back up pulling our sleds only to repeat our trip.  Kelly would follow and then run off to sniff out a rabbit.  I never wanted to come in.  We were out so long one time that Kelly’s pads started to bleed.  She was alright; she had simply been out to long on the ice. 

Her mother, Pamper, live a few houses from our.  Kelly girl would go there often to visit her.  Later, we moved to the other side of town. We had to keep Kelly tied up because she would wonder off.  When ever she got loose, we knew where to look because Kelly would always go back to the house where she was born to look for and visit with her mother.  I thought she had a homing device in her and I guess she really did.  Kelly could always find her mother from either of the two different houses we lived in on opposite sides of town.

Kelly was our Snoopy.  We loved Peanuts and Charles Schulz.  Now there is a free online Peanuts comic link http://comics.com/peanuts and a museum link http://schulzmuseum.org 

Our Grandpa built Kelly a dog house that she stayed in year round.  She liked to sit on top of it like Snoopy.  She had her water and food bowls outside like Snoopy too.  We put straw in the dog house for her bedding.  When I got cold outside we put even more straw in the house so she could stay warm.  She loved the extra straw; and would go inside and walk around and around in circles to make a nest.  She slept nose to tail in a ball and kept quit warm.  When we first got the dog house, I climbed inside with her.  She loved it.  My parents did not know were I was and looked inside the dog house and there we were.

We walked her all the time every day.  As she got older Kelly liked to rest in a lawn chair.  Also, she loved to ride in the cars and swim in farm ponds.

Kelly loved to dig and got dirty.  She hated to take baths which we gave her during warm weather.

I had an old Brownie Camera from my mom.  I learned to take pictures on it and Kelly was my main subject. Here is my favorite picture that I cut and glued onto a cross section of Christmas tree branch I thought made a good picture frame.  This is the oldest picture of Kelly we have from when joined our family as a 6 month old puppy.

I find it ironic that we named Kelly after a German Shepherd and now have a German Shepherd Dog named Rudy!
Rudy from the Dog Blog, thats the story he wrote.  Did you like it? Send me your comments, OK? 

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Hey! Dogs can make Snow Angels too!

Rudy here.  Did I ever mention to you that I LOVE the snow?  It is my favorite time of year.  When that white stuff falls, I get really excited and can’t wait for them to open the door so I can go play in it. My favorite is making snow angels.  Here is how to do it for those of you that live in sunny warm climate and just don’t know.

1. Lay down on your stomach and neck

2. Point your chin straight out

3. Move it from side to side to leave the angels Halo in the Snow

4. As an option, roll on your back and wiggle all around to make a wider base for the snow angel.

It is that simple.  I get cooled of and I don’t itch as much.  Some time I just put my chin and neck down in the

snow with my butt in the air.  I push with my hind feet and legs, letting my front leg point towards my hind toes. 

This is great fun too.  Try it, you will like it.  When he shovels, I always try to catch the snow from his shovel.  There is a lot of it so proceed with caution and make sure you don’t get hit in the head because you get too excited via prey mode.  

The best time to make a snow cone is right after the snow has fallen.  You can do a lot with different flavorings.  However, I avoid the black and brown snow because it is full that Rock Salt they put on the roads.  Yuck!  It makes me sick and show be avoided at all costs.  If you did not see it, I wrote a story about it. the scoop on Boots see the story: “These BOOTs are made for Walk’in” here on my dogrunblog.com

Also, take some advice, ‘don’t you eat that yellow snow’.  I heard that on a Frank Zappa album.  It tastes bad, smells of another dogs and is to be left alone.   Making yellow snow is a good thing for me.  I just do it about every chance I get.  Learn to just do as they say and “Leave It! and don’t eat it!”

Got any tips on playing in the snow?  Send them to me and your comments, OK?

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I am a Country Dog Training the People with Friend Penny

Rudy Goes Country with Penny

Rudy here.  Today I went to the country home of my girl friend Penny.  She is lucky.  Her Mr. and Ms. have a country home on 80 acres.  It is near a creek for splashes in the summer and farm fields for running in the winter.  All year round there is a forested meadow for fun and romping.

It was so much fun I did not want to go home. He was upset with me when I would not come to him or get into the car.

Maybe it was because of the fresh country air. 

Or maybe it was because I was not on a leash and had no fences. 
Freedom!   I have been a prisoner for 18 months.

Or maybe I just loved the place because I could chase my Jolly Ball (Red Ball) and Chuck It Balls for a long time without anyone else bothering me. 

Or maybe I got in touch with my inner feelings?  Or with my genetic programming as a German Shepherd Dog:  fields of grass, the trees, hey – where are the sheep?

I loved it and hope my Mr. and Ms. buy me one too.

Some of you may ask, “What do you do when you don’t want to go home?”  That is a simple question for me to answer.  Just go back to the same spot you like and sit down.

When they call you, chomp on your Chuck It Ball!  Ignore them, practice Un – Obedience!  That is the art of you winning vs them winning. I keep out of reach.  I trot away with he approaches, when he runs towards me than I run away, but not too far, just out of reach.  It makes them crazy.

But he got to me when he got in the car, shut the door, started the engine and put it in reverse.  I got really concerned because I did not want to be left in a place I had never been to before.  Where would I get food and water? 

What did I do?  I walked behind our car as he backed up.  Now I am not sure that was a good idea because he could have run over me.  I won’t do that again.

He shut off the car and got out walking towards me.  Out of habit, I went the other way.  He turned his back on me, I hate that.  Not playing is one thing, but IGNORING me is totally a different thing.  I demand Attention!

He walked out of sight behind a parked camper.  I walked around the other way.  I looked around the corner and he was not there.  I looked around the next corner and he was not there.  I looked around one more corner and there he was.  Before I could move he threw me a treat, and then another and another.  I am a sucker for Merrick’s Lamb Training Treats.  So I ate one, then another, and another.  By the time I got to his hand, I surrendered and took the treat from his hand as he clip a leash on me.  That’s OK.  I got treats and he got me.  I did not want to be left behind and he wouldn’t do it anyway. 

Merrick Lamb Training Treats are a must for training in either in the city or the country.  Now I am at home with the Ms. and Cat Brothers.  I think they missed me during these last 2 day.  The hissing is a dull roar.  The Ms. is super happy now.  All I can say is that Penny taught me that the country is great, but there is no place like home at my own dog run.

Please make comments to this and let me know how you get them to do what you want them to do and their reactions.  OK?

Copyright 2008, DogRunBlog.com  All rights reserved. This material may not be publishes, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  Please send a link to your friends so they can visit this internet site.