Love

There is nothing worse than heart ache.  The overwhelming feeling of loss and loneliness.  Calm moments of distraction, only to be swamped again by a tidal wave of grief when a small reminder, of a love now gone, takes you by surprise.  How do we cope?  How do we find the strength to go on?

When a piece of you is missing, and the pain is still so raw you can think of nothing else, there is little that can comfort you.  What gets you though each day, is the knowledge that things will get better; not today, and probably not tomorrow, but one day soon you will be able to look back at the life you had, and appreciate it once more for all the moments of happiness it brought you.

For more dog training info: OFF TRACK's Offical Home Page, or call 604 307 8144.

How well do you know your bylaw?

Earlier this week I was contacted by the CBC, to comment on the recent fine a local woman had received, after leaving her dog tied up outside a store while she went inside.  The reason this story made headlines, is that it seems to have taken the Vancouver dog community by complete surprise!

Left outside a downtown bar for over 5hr, while her owner drank and played Trivia. Sept 2011.

Local bylaw states that if a dog is on the street or other public place, it must be on leash, and under the "immediate charge and control" of the handler.  A number of dog being tied-up outside stores are under socialized, and bark, lunge or snap at other dogs and passersby if felt threatened.  Even if your dog is well behaved when left alone, dog-napping is on the increase, with many small breeds being stolen in Vancouver and sold for cash!

If you're popping out on errands and can't take your dog in-store with you, do the best thing - leave them at home.

Think you're up to speed with the local bylaw?

Pop Quiz:  Animal Control By-Law No. 9150

1.  At what age must you register a new puppy?
          a)  The breeder/rescue group is responsible for it.
          b)  3 months old
          c)  6 months old
          d)  It's not a requirement, unless I want to use him/her for breeding.

2.  When out on public streets, what is the maximum length your leash is allowed to be?
          a)  4ft
          b)  6ft
          c)  8ft
          d)  I don't have to use one.

3.  How many dogs are you allowed to keep at any one time?
          a)  3 dogs, no weight restrictions
          b)  2 dogs, over 150lbs
          c)  4 dogs, under 25lbs
          d)  Whatever my building manager allows.

4.  When a female dog is in heat, what precautions should you take when at an off-leash park?
          a)  Keep her on leash, and warn all the other owners,
          b)  Have her wear a pair of "puppy panties" - it will act as a chastity belt!
          c)  Avoid off-leash parks, keep her on leash at all times.
          d)  She has to be confine during her heat, only quick pee breaks.

5.  It is an offense to tether a dog to a fixed object if it is wearing a choke collar.
          a)  True
          b)  False

                                                                    Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D, 5-A

For more information on local bylaw, please visit City of Vancouver Animal Control.

For more dog training info: OFF TRACK's Offical Home Page, or call 604 307 8144.

A quick intro . . .

I grew up in Cornwall, in the UK, surrounded by animals.  After school I would case after the wild ponies on Bodmin Moor, in the vain effort of catching one, and when that failed I would torment the tadpoles in the fish pond.  I could be found outside, rain or shine, building forts and going on adventures - always accompanied by my dog, cat or various chickens!

Growing up, I wanted to be a wolf biologist, and in 2001 I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Degree in Zoology.  I spent the next 8 years involved in various wildlife projects around the world, taking me to some amazing places, including Mongolia, Churchill MA, and New Zealand.  In 2008 I was fortunate enough to take part in the Raincoast Conservation Foundation's annual Wolf Project, where, based aboard the SV Achiever,  I've covered a large area of the BC coastline searching for wolf scat, and hair samples.

In 2009 I made the choice to retire from field work and go back to school to become a dog trainer - I haven't looked back.  Last year I founded OFF TRACK Dog Training, where I specialize in puppy training, basic obedience, and behavioual problem solving.

Both myself and my partner, Ivan, are greyhound enthusiasts, and will hopefully be adopting our first retired racing greyhound in the summer - it's been a long time in the coming, but will be well worth the wait.

~ Saffrina Welch

For more dog training info: OFF TRACK's Offical Home Page, or call 604 307 8144.