hereafter full dvd

salt dvd

download the easy a movie

Are you longing for the the pitter-patter of little feet? Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/miss604/

If you want a cool-looking dog to sit quietly while you pick up on potential love interests (a.k.a. the “chick magnet”), borrow a friend’s dog. If you know you won’t be able to walk a dog in the rain… you may also want to just hang out with friends’ dogs instead.

If you don’t mind picking  poo off  soggy lawns and keeping a dog-towel near the door, then you may have what it takes for dog ownership in the Great Wet North.

First, I would check with your landlord. If your lease says you can’t have a dog, it would probably be wise to respect the terms and wait till you move someplace where you can bring your new friend home without facing eviction.

Second, look at your life… what type of space do you usually choose to live? How big, how close to possible walking routes, how noisy and what type of neighbors do you generally have?

Third, what do you want from a dog… lap-warmer, Frisbee-buddy, running companion, or bad-guy deterrent? If you need a bad-guy-deterrent but don’t have much space, don’t write off becoming a dog-owner yet. I’ve met a miniature pincher who ran off a burglar. He also bit a mailman, but that’s another story.

Now, do a little research. Personally, I prefer mutts, so I research types versus breeds.

Once you’ve got an idea what type or breed of dog you’re looking for, start looking. You can start your search online, or just head out to the Vancouver Animal Control or the SPCA shelters and meet the dogs in person.

If you’re hung up on a breed, you could go to a breed rescue organization.

Even the higher fees generally charged by the purebred rescue groups are considerably less than what you’d pay for a puppy from a reputable breeder.

Personally, I wouldn’t spend hundreds of dollars on a dog from a backyard breeder or a pet store when I could spend less and feel like I’m more socially conscious than someone who would.

In Vancouver, and many other places, Petfinder is a quick way to find a dog in your area. . Many local rescue groups use Petfinder to post their dogs for adoption too.

Next Time: Committing to Puppy Love Part 2, Taking the Plunge.

For the dog-owners of Vancouver, buying a coat for their canine companion can be an ordeal. I recently broke down and started looking for some foul-weather gear for my own dog, Brin.

Brin models a fuzzy hooded parka.

Some people think the idea of putting a coat on a dog is silly, or even demeaning to the dog. If you’re worried about this, don’t ridicule your dog once you’ve dressed it up.

First, the type of coat needs to be decided. There are many different types of coats, sweaters and raincoats you could put on your dog. Why do you want to put clothes your dog? What qualities should you look for in a garment? In Vancouver, rain-resistance is a plus for my little dog.

watch the dilemma

apple film trailer inception

Brin ,wearing a sturdy raincoat.

Choosing the style of dog clothing is generally easier than figuring out your dog’s size.

Sizing can get tricky. Helen Song, owner of Wagababa, a pet-supply store near the Stadium/Chinatown Skytrain Station in Vancouver BC, says sizes can vary wildly from one company to another.

How many times have you wanted an excuse to measure your dog’s topline? I know, me too, here’s our chance.

Get a measuring tape. Get your dog.

• Measure from the collar, at the back of your dog’s head, to where the tail starts. Write that number down.
• Next, measure the girth. Put the tape around the widest part of your dog’s belly like a belt. Write that number down too.
• Last, measure around your dog’s neck, where the collar goes. Write that next to the other two numbers.
download easy a full lenght

Those three numbers are what most dog clothing companies use to determine sizes.

Many pet stores will let you bring your dog in to try on a coat before buying it, or let you return it if it doesn’t fit. Ask before you bring your dog in or take a coat home to find out what their policies are.

Brin swears he can run faster and jump higher with this Superman coat.

Song says there are a few things to look for while shopping “mobility around the armpits and neck is important, as well as [checking] stitching for durability.” She added, “for boys – underbelly clearance is something to watch for.” If a coat covers too much of the belly on a boy dog, they will likely pee all over it. Ick.

So, armed with this knowledge, Brin and I headed out, so he could try some stuff on.

Brin could care less how practical this coat is.

We’re still making up our minds. I like the dayglow yellow coat. It’s warm, waterproof and high-visibility. It is also quiet spendy, about $80. The Superman coat is also pretty nice, water resistant and locally-made.  I think Brin’s leaning toward the camouflage puffy vest, cause it looks cool. He doesn’t have thumbs or his own bus pass, so I have no idea how he plans on buying it, even if he had money.

The dog was fine, but later that evening Dr. Carlton Huitt, the vet I was shadowing, went off about the injuries he saw inflicted at dog parks. Huitt said that owners need to be better-informed about what to do if their dog is the victim of an attack

There are 33 off-leash dog parks in the city.

Vancouverites filed 209 reports of dog aggression toward other dogs and humans with Animal Services in 2009.

Sarah Hicks, manager of Vancouver Animal Services, said your first priority should be getting medical care for yourself and your dog if needed. A dog attack is “like a car accident, get as much information as you can,” she said. Any information that could help track down an aggressive dog and owner is useful. “We’ll go do the scouting,” to track them down Hicks said.

Photo: flickr user cortneymartin82

If you think your dog might be too aggressive for the dog park, don’t go. Seriously, just don’t. If you’re worried about socialization, obedience class may be a safer, saner start for you and your dog.

Luckily, the number to call to file a report on an aggressive dog and/or owner is the same one Vancouver’s residents already use for a lot of other things, 311.

Hicks said she wants dog park visitors to call her department “before an incident even happens.” Animal Services officers can go directly to the park and talk to an owner to hopefully correct the situation, if the owner is still around.

If you witness aggression at your local of-leash area without being directly involved, you can also call 311 to file a report.

In the meantime when you’re in the dog park you should watch your dog and the other dogs in the park. Hicks advises owners to leave if they feel uncomfortable letting their dog interact with other dogs in the park.

Again, dog parks aren’t for every dog or every dog owner. Brin, for example, prefers more intimate play-dates with close friends and neighbors.

Sometimes other owners tell me I’m an awful “parent” for not letting my own dog run around off-leash with their bigger, rougher dogs. But aside from avoiding possible trouble, it’s embarrassing when Brin runs behind me to get away from the pack of other dogs at the off-leash park.