Canine Influenza in Washington State

 Canine Influenza may have made it to Washington State the Seattle Times reports below:

Potential Canine Influenza in King County WA

Mary Oliver's Dog Songs

If any dog lover has not yet discovered the poet Mary Oliver's collection called Dog Songs, it is time to read this wonderful creation. Here is one of my favorite poems from Dog Songs:

LUKE

I had a dog
   who loved flowers.
      Briskly she went
         though the fields,

yet paused
   for the honeysuckle
      or the rose,
          her dark head

and her wet nose
   touching
      the face
         of every one

with its petals
   of silk,
      with its fragrance
         rising

into the air
   where the bees,
      their bodies heavy with pollen,

hovered -
   and easily
      she adored
         every blossom,

not in the serious,
   careful way
      that we choose
         this blossom or that blossom -

the way we praise or don't praise -
   the way we love or don't love  -
         but the way

we long to be -
   that happy
      in the heaven of earth -
         that wild, that loving.

Why Do Yoga with Your Dog?

Why Should Pet Owners Practice Yoga (Doga) with their dogs? 

First of all, it’s fun!  There is nothing better than sharing calm, gentle moments with your dog, it reinforces the pack bond and encourages us to be present in the moment guided by our dogs, who live there all the time.

The physical poses (asanas) practiced in a Doga class are beneficial to the human - flexibility, balance, emotional stability are increased through breath awareness, yoga postures and deep relaxation.  Doga instructor Kari Harendorf  links yoga to reductions in stress hormones, like cortisol, and blood pressure. “People always ask me, ‘Do dogs need yoga?’ she said. “I say, No, you need yoga. But your dog needs your attention, and bonding with your pet is good for your health.’ 

A little know statistic released in 2009 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that, on average, an estimated 86,629 Americans receive emergency room treatment each year for fall-related injuries associated with a pet dog or cat.  Emergency room doctors said fall-related injuries can also occur outside the home, specifically while owners are walking their dogs. 

Idaho-based veterinarian Marty Becker said that he, too, has seen the ravages of pet-related fall in his practice. While most of his patients are dogs and cats who have sustained fractures from being tripped over or stepped upon, they are often accompanied by owners who are nursing their own injuries from the encounter.

So, What better way to improve balance and awareness of our environment than a regular yoga practice? 

Doga combines massage and meditation with gentle stretching for dogs and their human partners. Dogs are not manipulated into poses, they are encouraged to join in with their own method of interaction and benefit from the relaxing massage techniques.  Humans do traditional yoga poses – yes, including “downward facing dog” – while staying in contact physically with their pets. 

Were it not for their pets, many people would never take daily walks in the park. By extension, it’s easy to see how taking your dog to Doga may be a surefire way to make certain you do yoga yourself.

Doga enthusiasts argue that the practice emphasizes yoga's focus on union between beings, helps establish a pack mentality, strengthens the bond between owner and pet.  Doga can also provide a great source of entertainment for class participants.

By the end of a Doga class, canine participants may be passed out on their mats next to their relaxed human, in a position their instructor calls the “upward facing belly pose.

In a recent class at Cobber’s Pet Pantry in Enunclaw, WA, Doga Instructor, Maryellen Elcock,  noted  “there are not many places you can walk into a room and see nine humans on their backs in final relaxation pose with nine dogs at their side in the same state of mind, it is magic. Only in moments of complete relaxation that we can heal at all levels so I consider this a healing practice for dogs and their human companions.”

Doga Classes in Enumclaw - Cobber's Pet Pantry

Join us for a relaxing Doga class -  it is a time to bond with your dog, take a deep breath and feel connected to your canine.  Find us at Cobber's Pet Pantry in Enumclaw at 11AM on Sundays.

Best of Western Washinton 2012

Creekside Critter Care is nominated in two categories for the 2012 Best of Western Washington Competition !

Find us on the Best of Western Washington Creekside Critter Care Dog Daycare, Walking and Petsitting

Thank you for your votes and support!

Puppy Up! Auburn,WA - Oct 7th 2012 Event Information

2MillionDogs.org Partners for new hope in cancer research.
Puppy Up! Auburn,WA - Event Information

Creekside Critter Care will have a booth at Roenger Park Auburn, WA Puppy Up! Walk on October 7, 2012 we look forward to seeing you there in support of dogs with cancer.

2012 Puppy Up! Walks

It began with a promise to raise awareness of canine cancer one mile, one city, and one person at time. Luke Robinson with his two dogs walked 2000 miles from Austin to Boston to fulfill the promise he made to his dog Malcolm who died from this horrible disease. Visit www.2dogs2000miles.org for more information about their walk.
2 Million Dogs was formed on the belief that if 2 dogs can walk 2000 miles to bring awareness to cancer surely 2 million dogs can walk 2 miles. Our mission benefits the study of canine cancer and comparative oncology.
Sign up now for a 2 Million Dogs Puppy Up! Walk in your area… there will never be a better time like this to Puppy Up! against cancer.
A cancer-free world starts with one dog, each mile at a time.

I'm now certifed in Pet CPR and First Aid

I'm now certifed in Pet CPR and First Aid

Thank you Debi for this blog post and testimonial for the Pet First Aid and CPR class!

Maryellen Elcock Pet Tech Instructor #1381