As an added bonus to participating in the My Dog Can Do That! events, the American Kennel Club will offer participants a discounted registration in its AKC Canine Partners℠ program.  The program is for ALL dogs, including mixed-breeds, and allows them to list with AKC and compete in many events, including agility.  With the AKC Canine Partners listing, you also receive other perks including a lifetime enrollment in AKC CAR Pet Recovery Service and a complimentary 60-Day Trial AKC Pet Healthcare Plan. For more information on the AKC Canine Partners program, visit http://www.akc.org/mixedbreeds/ or check out the flier below.  Stay updated with Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows news and information by following us on Facebook and Twitter @Reliantdogshows or signing up for our e-newsletter.

AKC Canine Partners Information

The doghouse challenge is a great team-building project and can be great advertising. Typical participants include girl scouts troops, 4-H members, corporations, designers, homebuilders and volunteers. CAP will auction off this year’s donated doghouses at the 8^th Annual “Best Little Doghouse in Texas” Designer Doghouse Competition held at the Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows, July 18-22, 2012. These one-of-a-kind doghouses are sold through silent auction, which benefits homeless animals. These doghouse creations typically sell for $100 to $500 or more!

At the dog shows, attendees will get an inside look at the doghouses to then vote and/or bid on their favorite ones! CAP awards prizes and trophies in different categories and include People’s Choice, Kid’s Choice and Dixie’s Choice, awarded by a committee of CAP staff and volunteers in honor of the first CAP Ambassador Dog. The Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows provides a great venue for CAP to publicize its mission. At its booth, CAP provides activities and projects for kids as well as information on its sheltered animals, many that are purebred dogs seeking a second chance to find forever homes.

“The dog show is a good place for people to come and see all the magnificent types of dogs and how they can enrich our lives as companion animals,” says Trisha Royal, Community Outreach Director for CAP. “We are happy to be part of such a grand event and adding to the dog show experience.”

If you would like to be a part of this unique program that benefits animals seeking loving and forever homes, click here or visit the CAP events page at http://www.cap4pets.org/news-events.

About CAP

Citizens for Animal Protection is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides shelter, adoption, foster care, rescue and other valuable services to animals in need in the Houston area. CAP also provides humane education and community outreach programs to encourage love and respect for all animals.

The crate drive will benefit all area senior evacuees, including those that are clients of Interfaith Ministries’ animal Meals on Wheels program.

In the fall of 2006, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act. The PETS Act ensures that state and local emergency preparedness plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency. In order to board a state certified evacuation bus with his or her owners, each animal must have a crate, leash, and be up to date on all of his/her vaccinations. In addition, disaster shelters for pets require that each pet have an individual crate. If you would like to help our senior friends and their pets prepare for disaster, please donate a new or used crate.

CRATE DRIVE DROP-OFF LOCATION: Houston SPCA Booth at the Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina proved that animal issues during a disaster are people issues. By working together, we can save lives!

Special Pals is a small non-profit, which has been around for more than 30 years.  We offer a wide range of services for our furry friends, such as pet adoption, boarding, low-cost spay and neuter, and a wellness clinic.

Special Pals is an adoption center providing pound rescues with medical care and shelter without the threat of euthanasia. We also help unwanted animals find safe, loving homes. We show our commitment to reducing the pet population for future generations by providing discounted spay and neuter services, as well as low-cost vaccination clinics.  Boarding is also available at a competitive rate; the proceeds from these services go toward our animals still waiting to find a loving home.

For more information, visit www.specialpalsshelter.org or come by to see us – we’re open seven days a week. Special Pals may be small, but with our adoptions, boarding and clinic services, we do our part to make a big impact in the Houston and Katy areas. We are saving one life at a time and encouraging responsible pet ownership.

Click here to view the Synbiotics Corporation website.

The 34^th Annual Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows, held July 20 to 24 in Houston’s Reliant Center, now invites all dogs to come and participate in the sport of Rally and Agility. According to Houston Pet Talk, these events will offer help from professional trainers along with the opportunity for all Show attendees to experience the condensed Rally and Agility courses that will be set aside for the public to try. These courses will be open on Saturday, July 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. and Sunday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the north side of Hall B.

Both the Agility and Rally demonstrations are open at no charge to all attendees who bring their dogs at no charge. Registration with the American Kennel Club or Canine Partners Program is not required to participate, but representatives will be on-site to register dogs. All other events require registration prior to the event, so this is a great way for dogs to gain experience in these competitions in a no-pressure environment.

For more information about the Pro Plan Performance Team, please call 1-888-688-PETS or send an email to  purinafarms@purina.nestle.com.

• Always ask before petting any dog. Whether the dog is competing or not, the owner or handler (person showing a dog) put a lot of time, energy and work into grooming the dog for the shows. Never go up and start petting a dog; always ask permission.
• Wait until handlers have completely finished showing before asking questions. Before an event, the handler or owner is focused on making sure his dog is prepared and groomed to compete before entering the ring. If the competitor wins a class, oftentimes he may have to go back in the ring to compete again. Waiting until after breed judging has closed is polite and will give the person more time to answer your questions.
• Turn off your cell phones, or put them on vibrate or silent mode. Loud ringtones and songs can be distracting, not only to any animal that can hear it, but also to a dog’s handler or owner who is extremely focused on doing well in the event in which he is competing.
• Stay away from ring entrances. During competitions, there is a steady flow of people and dogs in and out of the event ring, so be careful not to block any entrance to the ring or the flow of traffic in the aisle while waiting to ask a question, or watching the event.
• For your comfort, we also suggest you wear comfortable, low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes.

Glossary of Dog Show Terms

• Angulation — angles created by bones meeting at their given joints
• Baiting — the use of a treat to get the dog’s attention and have it look alert
• Bitch — term for a female dog
• Class — one of six categories in which dogs may be entered:
  • Puppy — dog aged six to 12 months
  • 12 to 18 Months — dog aged 12 to 18 months
  • Novice — has never won first place in any other class, or has won fewer than three ribbons in novice
  • Bred by Exhibitor — the exhibitor is also the dog’s breeder
  • American Bred — shows for dogs born in America with parents mated in the U.S.
• Open — any dog breed may compete
• Dog — term for male dogs
• Exhibitor — anyone involved in bringing a dog to a show and entering it to compete in an AKC event
• Soundness — refers to a dog’s mental and physical well-being
• Stacking — the process of posing the dog’s legs and body to create a pleasing profile during conformation judging

Functional Footwear to Protect Your Dog's Feet

Ever taken your dog out for a morning stroll around the block and spotted the neighbor’s dog prancing around sporting doggy footwear? If you have, you may have thought to yourself, “Well that’s just silly. Why would a dog need shoes … they’ve got paws!” Well before you judge your neighbor and give them the title of Neighborhood Diva, you might want to take a look at all the potential benefits dog shoes could bring to your own four-legged friend’s paws.

Many dog owners may be under the false impression that doggy footwear should be reserved for Paris Hilton’s “accessory dog,” Tinkerbell. However, they are often surprised to find out not only are these cute, little accessories fashionable, but they are also functional.

Doggy shoes can be a real blessing to your dog’s paws during Houston’s hot summer months when the burning pavement can hurt their feet. They can also be useful for long evening walks, as well as those strenuous jogs through Memorial Park. If you and your dog take on any of these activities on a regular basis, it might be a good idea to think about investing in some shoes for Rover.

You would be surprised at how sensitive your own pooch’s paws might be. Pay close attention to its paws and keep an eye out for any swelling, redness, blisters, burns or cuts. You can inspect the paws by gently squeezing the pads, then each paw individually. If any wincing or yelping occurs, this may be a sign of injury.

Doggy shoes and boots come in all sorts of fashionable styles. You can order them online or you can find them at your local, pet-supply store or doggy boutique. You can even bring your dog along for the trip to try on a few pairs to find the right fit.

Now your dog may have a little trouble walking in his new booties at first. If any spills shall occur, you might want to consider starting off with just the rear paws until it gets the hang of it.

Your beloved dog’s welfare and comfort always comes first, so the next time you plan on buying it a gift, consider some footwear to make sure your dog is the most stylish one walking down the street.

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Items seen above:

1. Juicy Polka Dot Bow Dress

2. Juicy Charm-Dot Parka Vest

3. Daisy Dog Collar

4. Juicy French Terry Ruffle Vest

5. Juicy Couture Leather & Velvet Dog Collar

6. Juicy Couture Diamonte Collar

7. Juicy Couture Set of Dog Bowls

8. Juicy Couture Dog Bed & Lounger

9. Male Dog Blue-Striped Sweater

10. Male Dog Dark Tan Trench Coat

11. Juicy Black, Gray and Gold Dog Collar with Pearls

12. Juicy Velour Dress