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Episode 104 - Dog Tricks for Dummies and Flyball

104_DogCast_Radio.mp3

Released Sat April 10, 2010
Length: 0:54:22
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Dog Tricks & Agility For Dummies

Sarah Hodgson is the author of Dog Tricks & Agility For Dummies. As well as being a prolific author, Sarah is a columnist, media personality and inventor. In this informative
and humorous interview she talks about the approach behind the book and how simple, natural canine behaviours can be taught on command and developed.

With Sarah's help you can learn how to teach your dog a variety of tricks, and gain insight into how to give your dog the confidence and focus to carry out these behaviours in unfamiliar locations in front of an audience.

She also has advice on turning a trick into an impressive perrformance. Sarah also has great advice if you are starting agility; did you know that there's something much harder to control than your dog involved in that particular dog sport? Sarah has the answers.

Above all, Sarah Hodgson wants to help you communicate effectively with your dog, and you can find out more about her at her website, When Dogs Talk, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Flyball

Flyball is a fast and furious dog sport, involving teams of four dogs racing over four jumps to collect tennis balls. The DogCast Radio team went along to a training session with the Carry Ons flyball team and found out exactly what flyball entails, what sort of dogs it suits, and how it can give some dogs the outlet they need.

We talk to team captain Katie Burns and various team members, including Kate Nicholas of Kate and Gin fame. Find out why you don't have to have a Border Collie, how slower dogs can compete in flyball too, and all about the health and welfare benefits flyball can offer your dog.

Flyball can also help socialise your dog, and offer you a social life too.

Listen to all this and more in our guide to flyball, which you can find out more about at the Carry Ons website, or the British Flyball Association website.

News

In the DogCast Radio News you can hear how dogs can convey different meanings in their growls, how a lurcher involved in a car accident had her body rebuilt, how Kelly Osbourne sustained an injury breaking up a dog fight, and how one dog became a diamond in the rough.

Search for Toto

Currently in the UK the television show Over the rainbow is searching for a Dorothy to star in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of the Wizard of Oz, and they are also looking for a dog to play Toto. In the film Toto is a Cairn Terrier, but the auditions were open to any breed of dog as long as they were happy, healthy and had bags of personality. That sounded right up Buddy’s street so we went along. Hear how Buddy coped with the audition process. You can find out more at the BBC's Over The Rainbow website.

Sharing

280 - pet bereavement leave and the dog sniffing for an escaped capybara

Erika Sinner shares why pet bereavement leave is so important - on a business and a personal level. Rachel Rodgers talks about her and her dog Rico helping to sniff out missing capybara, Cinnamon.

189 - The Dog Healers and War Dogs Remembered

In this episode you can hear Mark Winik talk about his debut novel, The Dog Healers, and listen to Julia Robertson explain why she founded the charity War Dogs remembered. Plus there's the DogCast Radio News, and what Mischief the German Spitz puppy has been up to.

188 - Service Dogs UK and Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home

In this episode you can hear about Service Dogs UK, a fantastic charity which trains assistance dogs to support veterans of any service - military personnel, police, firefighters, paramedics and the coastguard - who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to their job. Also, listen to Dr Jody A Dean, a clinical psychologist talk about how her book, Roxie the Doxie finds her Forever Home, is helping children understand and talk about adoption and other family issues. Plus the DogCast Radio News and some thoughts on the alpha dog myth.

187 - Muffins Halo and Chorley Fun Dog Show

In this episode you can hear about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs, and what motivates people to enter their dog in a fun dog show. In the DogCast Radio News, listen to stories about the latest dog related research. Plus there's a new member of the DogCast Radio team!

186 - Maxwell Muir on wolves

In this episode you can hear trainer, behaviourist, writer, broadcaster and wolf expert Maxwell Muir talk about what wolves mean to him personally, their plight in a modern world, and his hopes for their future. Plus we have the DogCast Radio News.