Verde Valley Dog Obedience and Agility Club

01/09/2024

Online entry at Onofrio.com

31/07/2024

One in four Labrador retrievers carries a gene that tricks their brain into thinking they’re starving

28/05/2024

Flagstaff Kennel Club: Entries open May 31, 2024. https://www.onofrio.com/execpgm/fndindex?show=PL2024071007DB

24/05/2024

09/05/2024

New U.S. rules require all dogs coming into the U.S. to be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies

24/03/2024

How the Kong ball was invented.

The Kong toy was invented by accident more than 40 years ago when Joe Markham needed a way to prevent his German Shepherd Fritz from biting on rocks and sticks. Fritz, who Markham adopted as a shelter dog, had worn down his teeth to one-third of the size they should have been.

He was working on his vehicle and tossed an axle stop with an attached bracket on the ground. His dog got hold of it and loved it. He was playing with it joyously, much to Markham’s amusement.

He said to his friend, “What do you think of my new dog toy?”

His friend replied, “Actually, it’s not too pretty. It looks like an earplug from King Kong.”

And the Kong toy was born☝😉

03/03/2024

A valiant steed.

20/12/2023

Is anyone interested in Draft Dog training?

06/12/2023

There is still a lot that isn’t known about this condition.

*Status of current Canine Respiratory Illness *
There is ongoing research to determine the cause. Veterinarians are receiving updates as information develops.
The difficult part is we don’t know what we are dealing with. The best advice is to keep dog social contact to a minimum during this time and make sure your dog is current on vaccines.
What we do know is the illness tends to fall into 3 categories:
- Chronic mild to moderate inflammation of the trachea lasting six to eight weeks or longer, which is minimally or not responsive to antimicrobials.
- Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antimicrobials.
- Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24 to 36 hours.
If your dog is exhibiting respiratory symptoms please contact your veterinarian.
FAQ:
Is it spreading in our area?
We could cannot confirm if it is spreading as there are no confirmatory tests available at this time.
What are first symptoms? (any specific symptoms - nasal discharge, cough, raspy breathing?)
Symptoms vary based on the individual assessment. Any respiratory symptoms should be addressed with your veterinarian.

27/11/2023

We don’t deserve them.

Why I love my dog so much

21/11/2023

The mysterious respiratory illness that may have sickened thousands of dogs across the country could be caused by a new type of bacterial infection, researchers say.

27/10/2023

Upcoming trials as of 10/24/23

20/10/2023

Anita Blair was the first guide dog handler in El Paso, Texas, when she graduated from The Seeing Eye in March 1940 with Fawn, a German shepherd. The photo is a black and white photo of Anita being guided by Fawn across a bustling city street in the early 1940s.

Just a month later, Anita and Fawn were crossing a street in El Paso when a car nearly hit her. “Fawn, the fawn-colored German shepherd, with perfect timing checked her mistress’s pace, so that the car sped past without the driver being aware that the young woman could not see,” the El Paso Times reported on April 19, 1940.

Fawn was at her side when she graduated from the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy – now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP – with a bachelor’s degree in 1944. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton.

In 1946, Anita and Fawn were again in the news during a tragic fire at the 23-story Hotel LaSalle in Chicago. According to the June 6, 1946, issue of the El Paso Times, Anita was awakened by screams. “When I opened the door the smoke was so heavy I could taste it,” Anita told the newspaper. “I closed the door but did not want to get Fawn excited. Because of her I remained calm – and probably because of me she did the same.”

Fawn led Anita out the window and down the fire escape – 11 stories down – while the fire raged. Sixty-one people were killed in the fire.

In 1952, Anita became the first El Paso woman – and the first blind woman in any state – to be elected as a state representative. During her time in office, Anita fought for funding for the State School for the Deaf, teacher pay raises, and a bill that allowed women to serve on juries.

Anita returned to The Seeing Eye five more times to be matched with successor Seeing Eye dogs. Her last was Beryl, a black Labrador retriever, in 1990. Anita died in 2010 at the age of 93, and in recognition of her service as a state legislator, is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

19/10/2023

There is nothing natural about large numbers of unfamiliar dogs partaking in high-intensity activity in a dog park, and this shouldn’t be the benchmark for a social dog. If your dog is not their best in such an environment, you are not doing anything wrong. 👏👏 There is nothing wrong with your dog. 👏👏 Your dog is normal. 👏👏