Carolina Mountain Dog

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Welcome to Carolina Mountain Dog! This is a "blogazine" for dog lovers who live in or near the Carolina mountains (or wish they did). Please read the About page for more details. Be sure to check the  sections above for additional information. Subscribe to the right to get our regular alerts. Bookmark this blog with our shortcut URL: www.cmdog.com 
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Good for a Laugh

Dog Cartoon by Andertoons

Fosterpalooza 2012, Asheville, Jan. 28

Fostering an animal is a way to share your love with a dog or cat in need –- and it can be a wonderful learning experience for the entire family.

To introduce families to the joys of fostering dogs and cats, Asheville Humane Society is sponsoring  FOSTERPALOOZA 2012, a free event, on Saturday, January 28, from 1 to 3 PM at the Adoption and Education Center, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville.

At this family-friendly event, the public will learn how to share the love by fostering an animal for Asheville Humane Society. A foster mom will make a presentation and attendees can speak with foster parents of kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs. Bring the children -- they'll meet some foster animals and participate in fun activities.

Find out everything you need to know about fostering an animal. Come to FOSTERPALOOZA 2012! For more information go to: www.ashevillehumane.org.

Photo credit: Image: SOMMAI / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Winter Paws Dog Show, Blowing Rock, Jan. 29

Show off your four legged best friend or just come to see the cutest dogs in the Blowing Rock area in the Winter Paws Dog Show!

 

Part of the Blowing Rock Winterfest celebration, this special event will be held on Sunday, January 29 at 1:30 PM in the Blowing Rock Elementary School gymnasium on Morris Street, Blowing Rock, NC. Categories include Smallest, Largest, Best Smile, Most EAR-ristible Ears, Most Adorable, Best Handshake, Most Mysterious Heritage, Best Tail-Wagger, Most Glamorous, and Best Dog/Owner Look-a-like.

 

Participants can register in advance or at the door. Registration at the door begins at 12:45 PM. There is a $10 entry fee for the first two categories and $15 for three or more categories. the winner from each category goes on to compete for the title of "People's Choice" and "Grand Prize. "

 

Proceeds from the Winter Paws Dog Show go to the Watauga County Humane Society. The show is sponsored by The Pet Place of Boone and the Watauga County Humane Society.

Download the entry form here.

Blue Ridge Dog Agility Trials-Fletcher, Jan. 20-22

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host a United States Aglity Association agility trial on January 20 - 22 at the McGough Arena at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC (across from Asheville Regional Airport).

Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Over 150 purebred and mixed bred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty. Spectators, please leave your dogs comfortably at home. Judging begins at 8 AM each day. Jump height order will be high to low Friday and Sunday and low to high on Saturday.

Visit www.blueridgeagility.com/ for more information.

Doga: Yoga Your Dog Will Love

By Susan Hoffman for Exceptional Canine

In yoga, the salutation “Namaste” means “The spirit in me respects the spirit in you.” What better way to show your dog that you respect his inner and outer happiness than to include him in your yoga practice?

Doga is a new way to partner with your pet to experience the physical (and humans say spiritual too) benefits of yoga. All people and dogs can practice doga -- fit or fat, large or small, young or old. Poses can be modified for all sizes, shapes and abilities, just like in regular yoga classes.

Yoga for Dogs: A Bonding Experience
Doga combines massage and meditation with gentle stretching for dogs and their humans. Although it might seem unusual, dogs generally dig doga because, like yoga, doga emphasizes the union and connection with other beings, and there’s no being your dog would rather be connected with than you.

“People are often concerned that their dog isn’t mellow enough for doga, but I encourage them to give it a try. I’ve had many skeptics come to class and leave happy with the results,” says Brenda Bryan, author of the book Barking Buddha: Simple Soul Stretches for Yogi and Dogi, and a doga teacher near Seattle, Wash.

Finding a doga teacher or class is not always easy because the practice is still relatively new, but more and more instructors and practitioners are popping up around the country.

Doga Poses

Bryan calls her doga poses whimsical names such as Woofing Warrior, Camel Rides Dog, and Muttley Mudras.

“These poses incorporate your dog fully into your yoga practice. They’re a bit nontraditional in practice but quite traditional in theory,” says Bryan.

Ready to embark on some beginner doga poses? Try one of these:

• Super Dog: Kneel and squat, balanced on your toes. With your dog facing away from you, gently and slowly encourage him to stand on his hind legs with you supporting his weight under his front armpits. This pose stretches your dog’s abdominal muscles and front legs and strengthens the back leg joints.
• Forward Bend: Stand with both feet under your hips. Roll and bend forward, hanging from your waist, with your hands and head low. Scoop up your dog to add his weight to your bend. This increases your stretch. And while your dog is “weightless,” you can give his limbs a good stretch too.
• Wheelbarrow: Stand behind your dog and lean slightly forward. Gently pick his back legs up, supporting his hip joints with both hands, and slowly encourage him to stretch and flex his torso. This pose stretches his abdominal muscles, loosens the hips and strengthens the front leg joints.

Doga Gear
Humans should wear comfortable, stretchy clothes, just like you’d wear for any yoga practice. Dogs need no special gear, although both human and dog should practice on a mat that provides some cushioning and traction. Keep cool water on hand for both of you to stay hydrated, and take breaks as needed.

Like yoga, doga is a journey, not a destination. The joy is in the practice. It’s something you can try for both the sheer fun of it and the deepening of the bond between you and your best friend.

Susan Hoffman is a freelance journalist who writes about canine, feline and equine topics. Her feature articles regularly appear in consumer and veterinary media. Susan is a regular contributor to Exceptional Canine.