Inspirational Video

Posted by: Audrey Post date: May 18th, 2010

Just a video today, I enjoyed this, hope you do too.

My New Pooch to 5k Site

Posted by: Audrey Post date: April 26th, 2010

So, in my free time, har har de har, my hubby and I decided to work on a project together. I had an idea, which usually makes him groan with anguish (some of my ideas are pretty wild!), but he liked this one. It’s taken a lot of work to build the site, and a few dollars to fix the bits I couldn’t do, but it’s as done as I can get it right now. When I’m a millionaire, I may make some changes, but that won’t be in the next week or two!

Yep, you can click on the image to check out the site.

The Pooch to 5k program for dogs is based on the wildly popular Couch to 5k running program. We’ve stretched it out a little – our dogs handled Couch to 5k just fine, but there are a couple of steps in that program that are a little challenging. Because dogs can’t tell us how they feel, we felt it would be easier to make the steps a little more incremental. Hence, it’s a 12 week program instead of a 9 week program.

Not everyone can find someone to run with, so we have a forum to find some cyber-dog-running buddies. You may remember when I did Couch to 5k, I did it with my friend Roseanne who lived half an hour away. We never ran together, but gosh did we get on the phone to each other and whinge when we got back from a run! Actually, that period of my life may pre-date this blog. Anyhoo, if people can find others to chat to about where they are at, then it may motivate them. Also, dog folk just love chatting to other dog folk!

We want dogs (and their owners) to become healthier and leaner. I’m so tired of going to work and telling people their dog is overweight. Every…single….time!  The programs and the forum are all free, so grab them, send your friends the link, tell them I’ll haunt them if they don’t do something about their fat dogs!

Hubby and I have some pretty huge ideas for this site. It’s going to be good fun. I don’t think it will ever make me a fortune but that’s okay. as long as it can pay for its own bandwidth I’m happy.

I’d love some feedback. What do you like? What do you hate? Be gentle with me! 

Vaccinating Dogs and Running With Dogs

Posted by: Audrey Post date: March 29th, 2010

As you know, I’ve been working excessive hours of late, but I’m excited to report that tomorrow night is my last Tuesday night at work. After that, I have three weeks off, and then go back to working every second Friday night and Saturday. I feel like a huge weight is just about to be lifted off my shoulders!

One thing that hasn’t come up as much at work as I expected is the new vaccination guidelines for dogs. The Australian Veterinary Association is now recommending vaccinations every 3 years, instead of every 1 year. It was all over the news and in the newspapers a few months ago, but very few people have commented on it.

We all know that prevention is better than cure when it comes to dog health, and vaccination is a vital part of that. However, there is always the chance of a vaccination reaction, which is not a good thing. I personally vaccinate my dogs yearly if they’re going into the kennels, but with these new guidelines, boarding kennels should accept three yearly vaccinations with yearly kennel cough boosters. I don’t routinely vaccinate for Leptospirosis or coronavirus; lepto isn’t common around here, and corona isn’t a serious problem unless a pup is already sick with parvo. No point in giving a vaccination that a dog doesn’t need.

It’s a bit different with puppies. They still need a course of vaccinations, and I usually give them one annual booster, then they’re on the same schedule as adult dogs.

Maybe there will be more awareness as time goes on, but right now, we’re still doing as many vaccinations as we ever were, and still seeing very few reactions.

I have in fact been running more lately, now that our four homeschooling mums team has successfully entered Trailwalker in Sydney in August. We’re doing some hill climbing and some long walks, and the other three girls have started doing the couch to 5k.  Yesterday hubby and I took Guinness and Sinner out to Glasshouse for 15km along the trails. A nice run, followed by latte and eggs benedict. I could get very used to this!

I’ve been playing at building blogs lately, and am so tempted to give this one a bit of a facelift. It’s looking very same-y. What do you think? I could backup, change it, and if I don’t like it, just change it back. Might see what other themes are out there…