All-Breed Weight Pull Dec. 4-5th

The IWPA Weight pull will be on Dec. 4th-5th at SouthPaws Playschool, 2324 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX. 

If you are interested in the IWPA sanctioned weight pull competition (Saturday and Sunday), weigh in will be at 10:00am. Pulling starts at 10:30.  Weigh in NOT required for novice rounds. You may enter any of the novice rounds up to the time it begins (10:30).  Please see www.iwpa.net for specific rules in the competitive rounds.  Novice teams should be treated like training rounds.

Weight pull general info:

Any dog can participate and earn a title through IWPA for weight pulling.

What's the fee? Free for spectators. $10 for novice rounds - enter when you get there. Consider novice rounds a training session and a chance to see if your dog enjoys it. I will have harnesses for you to use. Most dogs take to a harness quickly. $25 for competition rounds.

What can my dog get out of weight pulling? Physical activity, confidence building, socializing, and improving their relationship with you.

What do I need to train my dog to do before then for weight pull? The come or recall command. Your dog should have basic control.

What's the most weight a dog has ever pulled? The most I've seen is 50000 lbs.  Most dogs in healthy condition can pull 10x their body weight without any additional physical training.

When do I enter? On the day of the event. Novice can enter any time before the round begins. Professional/competition rounds must be entered and weighed in before the start of the pull.

Who can participate? Anyone and any breed. No registry or club membership required.

What should I bring? Your dog on leash and yourself. Camping chair and crate if desired. I will have harnesses available for dogs 20 lbs to 160 lbs.

My dog is small. Is there anything for us to do? Yes! Even the "little" ones can weight pull. There have been Jack Russells and Italian Greyhounds that pull with success!

Lee Mannix - Austin's Own Dog Whisperer

It is with great sorrow that I write that Austin has lost a great member of the canine community.  Lee Mannix was tragically killed in a car accident on Sunday, May 2nd.  The Statesman's report is located here.

Aside from dog training, Lee Mannix was known for his great generosity and work that he contributed to rescue groups in the central Texas area.  While I haven't taken any classes at the Lee Mannix Training Center, it isn't difficult to find someone who has taken Lee's classes.  After Hurricane Katrina, when many dogs were displaced, Lee's facility took in Ruska for training.  Let's just say that Ruska had some behavioral issues, but she was adopted to a wonderful owner. 

That owner brought Ruska to my drafting classes, and well, this photo says it all.

Ruska went from disaster dog with behavioral issues that would have landed her life behind bars or worse to a dog that was the life of the parade.  She won 3rd place with her cart in a parade in Lampasas in 2007.  Ruska is just one of many examples of Lee's ability and generosity to the Austin canine community.  Lee Mannix was also one of the early supporters of Keep Austin Dog Friendly. 

Remember him fondly by holding your puppies tight and training them well.  While Lee may no longer here, his lessons live on in the people and dogs he touched.  Training never ends, and neither will Lee's teachings. 

Thanks to all the 2009 additions to Keep Austin Dog Friendly!

2009 was a great year for Keep Austin Dog Friendly.  With a slew of fun events and 43 NEW additions to the list, Austin's dedication to keeping Austin dog friendly is growing.  Stick with us for another year of growth and fun events! Newest Addition for 2010 is La Boite!



Newest Additions for 2009:  Paggi House, Drungo Ice House, Lost Parrot Cabins, The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen, Lofty Dog, Thai Fresh, Rio Grande, Taco Deli, Taverna, Perla's, Frugal Media, Black Sheep Lodge, El Arroyo, Cuatro's, Zocalo's, North by Northwest, Cissi's Wine Bar, Crepes Mille, Mansion on Judges' Hill, Lustre Pearl Bar, Key Bar Austin, The Tiniest Bar in Texas, Max's Wine Dive, Music Cafe, Zax's Pints and Plates, Foodheads, County Line on the Lake, Salvation Pizza, Cool River, Tribe Comics and Games, Waterloo Ice House SouthPark Meadows, Summermoon Coffee, Angel's Icehouse, Viva Chocolato!, Abuelo's, Bakehouse, Walton's Fancy and Staple, The Hub, Elevation Burger, Mulberry, Waterloo Ice House Avery Ranch, True Effort Training Center, and Teuscher Chocolate of Switzerland and Coffee.

Austin's Best of party at a Best of Austin winning bar, The Gingerman

I'm still in shock that I wound up as the Austin Chronicle's Best of 2009 Most Diverse Portfolio.  With that said, @windaddict thinks it is high time that we celebrate the recognition by having beer and food made beer.  The eats menu has not been finalized, but I'm guessing that there will be cupcakes.  :o)  This party is not just a celebration, but a big thanks to those who helped get Keep Austin Dog Friendly, Austin Drive Clean, and MisoHungry where it is now.  We hope for many more fun-filled years to come.

Location: The Gingerman 301 Lavaca St Austin, TX 78701 (512) 473-8680 
When: Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2009, 5-7 pm
Why: Because we love you.
What to bring: yourself and some cash for booze, also some room for grub.

Below is @windaddict's facebook event. Feel free to RSVP, but not necessary.  It is also dog friendly.  Hope to see ya there!


Come celebrate Jennie's Best of Austin '09 Award at a Best of Austin '09 winning bar. To thank all of you for your support, Jennie will bring a selection of her beer creations for everyone to enjoy. We hope to see you there!

Read about Jennie's award:

"Most Diversified Portfolio: Jennie Chen
What would your life look like if you could focus your energy on your favorite things and then become an expert in all of them? With a résumé that reads like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, MisoHungry Makes It With Moonshine blogger and veritable modern Renaissance woman Jennie Chen might know exactly what that feels like. MisoHungry is primarily foodie-focused, touching on topics such as cooking and baking with alcohol, specifically local craft brews, as well as restaurant reviews, food event notices, and cheerleading her own favorite delicious finds. She's probably best known for throwing this year's Cupcake Smackdown, pitting local purveyors of the delightful nibblies in a copious contest of crumb. But hold on to your leash! Chen is also the force behind Keep Austin Dog Friendly, an informative website listing dog-friendly restaurants, businesses, off-leash park locations, dog events, and more. Not impressed? Chen also created the Austin Drive Clean group, open to anyone "who wants to learn how to live green and drive clean." And dig this: While Chen's not practicing fuel-efficient driving, spending time with her pooch, or flashing her local foodie-finess, she splits her time as a DNA collector for the University of North Texas Health Science Center, through which she has worked with the Texas Attorney General and state law authorities, and as a research assistant and graduate lecturer at Texas A&M. So you have a choice: Look at what Jennie Chen has accomplished as inspiration to follow your own dreams, or sink deeper into that couch, potato, and give up now. misohungrynow.blogspot.com, austindogfriendly.blogspot.com, www.austindriveclean.com "

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/BestOfAustin?Year=2009&BOACategory=Politics%20%26%20Personalities&Poll=Critics

Dog Etiquette when out and about in Austin

Now that the weather is cooling off, more people are bringing out their pooches out to enjoy the relatively cooler weather. Since when is 97 degrees cool? :o) With that said, a reminder of good dog etiquette is due. Unfortunately, over the last few weeks, I've only noticed an increased number of irresponsible dog owners. Let's Keep Austin Dog Friendly by following a few simple guidelines.

Keep your dog on-leash at all times (unless otherwise specified). I cannot stress this enough. Keeping your dog on leash will prevent entire hosts of problems, particularly at locations where the parking area is not physically separated from patrons. These places include South Austin Trailer Park, South Congress area, Sunset Valley Farmer's Market, and Draught House. Problems with off-leash dogs (even friendly ones) can result in car accidents, dog fights, or someone's lunch or dinner being eaten.

Here's just a few excuses I've heard regarding not leashing their dogs:

• The management allows it. Perhaps the management doesn't notice or maybe they don't want to upset customers. Business owners contact me about this issue regularly. Regardless, it is city ordinance. Should an incident occur, you were breaking city ordinance. That's a citation.
  

• I'll watch my dog. That's what this young woman said right before her daschund ran into a moving car headfirst. The little dog's head was crushed. Even a very large dog is difficult to see in the rear view mirror. Allowing your dog off leash not only puts your dog at risk for being hit by a vehicle, but it also put the mental pain and guilt of hitting an animal on the driver of the car. Dog watching skills also decline dramatically after drinking alcohol. Drunk human and unsupervised dog is just a recipe for disaster.
  

• My dog is friendly. My dog has never done that before. That's what dog owners say right after a dog fight or aggression incidence. Truth of the matter is that most people cannot read canine body language accurately; a dog may be giving signals that it is unhappy long before it reacts. Also, dogs are not 100% predictable. Even the most well-behaved dog can have a bad day.
  

• My dog likes other dogs. Allowing your dog to run up to other dogs is just plain rude, it is not expressing like. It can be seen as a challenge, and the dog that is run up upon may become apprehensive or confused. It is the same as if I ran up to a stranger's table at a restaurant, jumped on the table, and started throwing insults. That's poor dog behavior. While it usually turns into nothing more than sniffing, it can turn into something much worse.
  

• Nothing has happened before. Consider yourself lucky then. Prevent car accidents and dog fights from happening. If you love your dog, leash your dog.
  

Keep in mind that it is a privilege to bring our pets to these businesses. If the businesses cannot accommodate you and your dog because they are busy, please be understanding and gracious. If you and your pet is asked to leave due to behavioral issues, please do so in a gracious manner.

Only bring well-behaved, human and dog friendly pets. Please seek professional training to address those issues before taking your dog out. Aggressive dogs have been one reason businesses have changed their policies. Do NOT bring aggressive dogs out in public. See our supporters page for training recommendations. Canine Good Citizen Testing is also a good idea for all dogs.

Keep your dog under control, always on leash per city ordinance. Do not allow your dog to go wherever he pleases. Do not allow your dog to pull you around. If your dog is not under control, please seek training prior to taking your dog out. Do not allow your dog to bark incessantly. See our supporters page for training recommendations.

While you may allow your dog to eat human food, don't allow your dog to eat other people's food.

Makes sure your dog is reasonably clean. No one wants to have lunch next to a stinky dog. Nor does anyone want fleas.

Make sure your dogs are up to date on shots. Carry your rabies certificate in the car.

Please only allow your dog to only potty away from the main areas, and please clean up any accidents.

Not everyone loves dogs. Respect those people's wishes. Please do not allow your dog to approach people without their permission.

Not everyone has common sense or decency. People will yank on your dog, sit on your dog, feed your dog things they shouldn't eat, and hurt your dogs in other ways. Don't be afraid to correct those people's behavior for the sake of your dog.

Do not allow your dog to socialize or play with other dog unless it is safe. Do not allow your dogs to romp and play when it is crowded. Someone may get side swiped. Do not allow your dog to approach other dogs without the owner's permission.

Please follow these guidelines with visiting dog parks. Support City Code 337 and Bull Creek Clean up. Keep our parks clean.