News & Events
Spring/Summer and the snakes, lizards, ticks and spiders are out and about and potentially dangerous to dogs. Brown snakes, black snakes and red-belly black snakes have venom that is toxic to dogs. Most dogs get bitten on the face. If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake please take them immediately to the vet and have someone phone ahead so they know you are coming and you can make sure they have anti-venom available. The vets in the western suburbs I know for sure have snake anti-venom are: Mulgoa Vet Hospital, Animal Care Vet Hospital Blacktown, and Chelsea Vet Hospital Baulkham Hills. Your dog will need to stay in hospital for 24 hours to be monitored, but the anti-venom usally starts working very fast.
Blue tongue and bob-tail lizards are a problem for dogs because the slime on their skin can be toxic - Alfie's stroke may have even been triggered by blue tongue lizard slime (mum caught one in our backyard just days before Alfie because sick).
Brown ticks are literally blood-sucking parasites and if your dog gets a few brown ticks on them they can become anaemic and this can lead to organ failure and even death.
Paralysis ticks inject a poison that paralyses muscles and dogs need medical treatment before the poison reaches the lungs or heart.
Ticks need to be removed carefully with a tick remover, available to buy at good pet stores and some vets. Please keep tick remover in your first aid kit - they are reusable and could save your dog's life.
While spider venom is not considered deadly to dogs, their is some very nasty bacteria on a spider's fangs which can make your dog very very sick. So once again, if you suspect your dog has been bitten by a spider please seek vet treatment for your dog.
As a dog owner you are legally obliged to get some veterinary advice on any illness or injury you even suspect your pet might have. If you do not, this may be considered animal cruelty in the form of neglect and you may be prosecuted by the RSPCA or Animal Welfare League. If you are genuinely struggling financially or on a fixed low income or pension and you think your pet is ill or injured please contact your local RSPCA or Animal Welfare League whose vets may be able to assist your pet.
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I'm now tweeting!!! I hope mum isn't going to try and feed me birdseed, yuk. You can follow me (and mum) and ask us questions at @cheekypup1 If, like mum, you're not familiar with Twitter, you can find out more at www.twitter.com It's free to get an account. You might even be able to catch up with me at a dog park if you're quick enough ; )
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It's Cupcake Day for the RSPCA on Monday 15 August 2011. Sign up, bake or buy some cupcakes or pupcakes (my favourite!) and help raise funds for a very worth cause. More info at www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au
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Starting March 2011 Dorothy will be at the Crestwood Reserve Dog Park for 30 minutes after each Puppy Preschool class at the Chelsea Vet Clinic (Mondays and Saturdays). If your pup or dog has completed one of the Cheeky Pup! Dog Training courses or private training, please come along for supervised introduction to using the dog park safely. All care will be taken but Cheeky Pup! Dog Training will not be responsible for you or your dog. Please bring water for your dog as there is no fountain at Crestwood. Other locations will be visited throughout the year.
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Million Paws Walk 2011 - don't miss out on this fun annual event to raise funds for the RSPCA around Australia (especially needed in Queensland at the centre was washed away in the floods). The walk will be held at Sydney Olympic Park (and other locations around Australia) on Sunday 15 May with the walk officially starting at 10am. Adults $15, kids $7, conc $10, family $35. Come along or sponsor Teddy and the Cheeky Pups. Visit www.millionpawswalk.com.au.
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Please support the RSPCA's guardian angels program to raise much needed additional funds to cope with the influx of dogs, cats and other animals abandoned over the school holidays. You can make a donation at:
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Parramatta Council is encouraging people to take their dogs into Parramatta Mall which they are trying to establish as a dog friendly zone! So if you have a dog that is friendly to people and other dogs why not visit the Saturday morning markets at the mall, and check out the Mutt Munchies homemade dog treats stall (much loved by Teddy). If you have a pup that has had all 3 vaccination shots this is also a great place to take your pup to continue their socialisation to new people and dogs - but please don't walk them through a crowded area, stick the edges until you are sure they are comfortable, and give them lots of treats for coping with all the distractions and to reward them for staying calm. And remember to also take a supply of fresh water for your dog and poop clean up bags or risk the $275 on the spot fine for not cleaning up after your dog!
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Cupcake Day for the RSPCA is behing held on Monday 16 August this year. If you would like to bake and sell tasty treats to help raise funds for this worthy institution please visit www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au for register and for all the information you will need. They also have a 'pupcake' recipe as a free download. Fundraisers go into a draw to win prizes, and there is also a prize for the most interesting cupcake decoration.
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Bark in the Park is on Saturday 13 March 2010 at Victoria Park, cnr Parramatta & City Roads, Camperdown (next to University of Sydney). Lots of fun and free stuff from 10am to 2pm.
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RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2010 is behing held this year on Sunday 16 May at Sydney Olympic Park. If you'd like to meet with and walk with Teddy and the other Cheeky Pups please feel free to join our team, just type in "Cheeky Pups" in the team name option when you sign up at www.millionpawswalk.com.au. It costs $15 per adult and $7 per child to participate in the walk which raises much needed funds to support the RSPCA and the animals it looks after.
There are certificates for every dog that walks on the day, plus competitions (I'm dressing Teddy & Zoe up this year), give aways and information stalls as well as things to buy from stallholders and RSPCA merchandise (some of which you can also get online - their dog coats are great value at $22 each no matter what size).
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Woohoo Teddy's on Facebook as "Teddy Smith" (for that is his name!). And he's happy to have lots of doggie friends, and even some cats if they want to get in touch.
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Shopping tip for late January - www.directdeals.com.au currently have the automatic water fountain for $99 instead of $189, as well as xl and xxl black kongs for around $30 (that's half-price or less!). If you look under the 'pets' option you'll find a range of beds, crates, toys including other size kongs, accessories, and even flea/tick/heartworm options for competitive prices. And if you have a pool please invest in a 'pet pontoon' or 'skamper ramp' to ensure your dog can always get themselves out even if wet and exhausted. direct deals has the skamper ramp for $99 at the moment.
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Million Paws Walk 2010
Help raise much needed funds for the RSPCA by participating with your dog in this year's Walk. Held at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday 16 May 2010, you can sign up after 15 February 2010 by visiting www.millionpawswalk.com.au If you'd like to join the Cheeky Pups on the walk please send me an email (dorothy@cheekypup.net.au) and I will give you the details of our team which you will need to provide when you register, and where we will meet on the day so we can all walk together. Please make sure on the day that you take plenty of water for you and your dog(s) - there is water available at the finish line but if its a hot day or you have small dogs like I do they'll need a break and a drink during the walk.
Every pup that completes the walk gets a certificate. There are pet related stalls and food/drink available at the start of the walk, and competitions including best-dressed pooch. Depending on how many people join the Cheeky Pups I may even be able to supply you with a team t-shirt or something along those lines - a doggie drink bottle would be great if I can just track them down!
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On average an extra 3,000 animals are taken in by the RSPCA over the Christmas/New Year period. You can help look after these animals by becoming a Guardian Angel and making a one-off donation, and after 25 January 2010 you can visit www.rspcaguardianangel.com.au to find out which animal you helped support. Further information at www.rspcansw.org.au.
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Well done Thursday night's Kindy class who did a stellar job walking in formation on 3 December! Proof that dogs that play together can also work in close proximity to each other with the right, humane and fun training : )
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Off-leash parks with agility equipment yes they actually exist!
You can go to the following *fenced in* off-leash dog parks at any time and use the permanent agility equipment (and doggie water fountains):
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Peace Park, Trevenar Street, Ashbury
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Richard Podmore Reserve, Karne Street, Roselands
Would other local councils please take a leaf out of Canterbury Council's and recognise that providing quality dog parks has a quantifiable positive impact on the health of human constituents too! It's also more likely that people will ensure their dogs are well behaved and cared for leading to less dog attacks and few strays roaming the streets.
Please ensure you walk your dog before they visit any dog park, and always clean up your dog's mess - its still a $275 on the spot fine if you don't.
Christmas gift idea with a heart
DCH Animal Adoptions has released their 2010 calendar. Help support your local dog, cat and horse rescue shelter by doing some Christmas shopping at www.dchanimaladoptions.com.au - you can also buy $1 tickets in a raffle for a chocolate hamper!
Christmas Events for Pets
Christmas with the Animals at the Animal Welfare League - Sunday 6 December 10.30am to 2.30pm
Santa photos for you and your pet; food and refeshments; gifts for people and pets; entertainment; have your dog washed or cat pampered. Dogs must be on lead; cats in a cat carrier.
Please bring a small non-perishable donation for the pets in the shelter over the festive season. Toys like Kongs most welcome, but even pigs ears would be welcome.
Held at the following shelters: 11 Cicada Glen Road, Ingleside; and 1605 Elizabeth Drive, Kemps Creek.
Santa Paws 2009 - Saturday 28 November, 5 December, 12 December, 10am to 4pm
Raising funds for Paws 'n' Hooves Animal Rescue. Bring all of your fur and feathered kids along to have a special photo taken with Santa Claus for a minimum gold coin donation.
Held at the rear entrance of the Penrith Vet Hospital, 22 Belmore St, Penrith.
Yappy Hour is here!!!
What's Yappy Hour? Its a happy hour when dogs that have had the Cheeky Pup training experience can get together in a safe environment to meet and play (after they have had a fast 20 to 30 minute walk of course).
Starting at 11am on Sunday 25 October for small breed dogs (those under 12kgs), and at 11am on Sunday 1 November for medium and large breed dogs. Yappy Hour costs $10 per pooch and is held at the Woodstock Animal Hospital, 392 Woodstock Ave, Rooty Hill. There's parking onsite. The first time your dog comes to Yappy Hour we ask that at least one adult family member stay for the duration, but once your dog has proven to be a reasonably well behaved pup you're welcome to drop them off for the hour while you go about your day. A Yappy Hour page is currently under consruction on our website which will include a calendar so you know what days are right for your dog.
Please note if your dog has "issues" with other dogs, that is your dog plays roughly or can get aggressive when meeting new dogs or when playing, they will not be able to attend Yappy Hour. However, Dorothy is currently developing a group training program to help dogs learn to calm down and be gentle and friendly to other dogs after some intensive training and a lot of practice.
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Thanks to everyone who came by the Cheeky Pup! stand in Dawson Mall, Mount Druitt and purchased some cupcakes, pupcakes and Teddy's Tummy Treats to raise funds for the RSPCA. We raised just over $100 which will help provide food, medical care, and toys for mental stimulation for some dogs in need.
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Here's the World Dog Games ***update*** as promised: tickets go on sale to the general public on 5 August 2009 through www.ticketek.com.au. However, you can purchase pre-sale tickets if you subscribe to Purina Puppy & Kitten Club, via www.purina.com.au. Pre-sale tickets are prices as follows: General admission for 1 day $55; Kids & Concessions $20; Family of 2 adults and 2 non-adults $99; an adult ticket for 2 days is $100. Ticketek also charge a transaction fee of $4.95. Pre-sale tickets are available now, once you've subscribed to the Purina newsletter they'll send you an update with the necessary password! PS: if you join up your pup or kitten to the club you'll also receive a free sample of food, often a free gift (Teddy was sent a matching collar and lead set) and a booklet on caring for your pet.
RSPCA Cupcake Day is on Monday 17 August 2009. If you have a school or social group who would like to help bake cakes and raise funds for this great institution, there's lots of info and registration details available at www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au. Cheeky Pup will be baking and selling cupcakes outdside of the Woodstock Animal Hospital on Sunday 16 August 2009, so if you're in the area of Woodstock Ave drop in to buy some cupcakes (there will also be pupcakes available to buy for your dog too!).
Holroyd Council's PetFest this year will be on Sunday 20 September at Holroyd Gadens. Part of this year's festivities include a flyball event - so if you have a sporting dog or working dog you should take your dog along and check this incredibly fun dogsport. Other dogs can play too but if your four legged friend loves to run, fetch, catch and jump flyball is the sport you've been hoping for! More info a www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au.
Keep checking back here for more information on the World Dog Games being held in Sydney from 30 October to 1 November 2009. Watch dogs compete in agility, frisbee, flyball and dock diving - all very exciting to watch and if you don't know what dock diving is you're in for a great show! There's currently more info available on the Urban Animal magazine website: www.urbananimal.com.au
Sydney Pet Expo is also usually held in November and I'll put up info and a link to ticket purchases when available.
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