WAG

From the desk of Bay Woof Editor Mindy Toomay

May is a marvelous month, just ask your mutt. The weather (in most Bay Area micro-climates) gets warmer, meaning dog park meet-ups with others of his kind are more frequent and more fun. In order for A to follow B, however, said mutt's human companion and exalted master of the activity schedule - namely, you! - must enjoy the experience as much as he does. If that isn't the case, this issue might just change both of your lives for the better.

For starters, local trainer Marthina McClay's Good Dog! column explains how to successfully manage introductions between two unacquainted dogs. Putting her advice into practice can save you a whole lot of aggravation - in fact, it just might save your relationship with your dog.

Next, a comic cautionary tale from Cathy Turney about her recalcitrant poodle, Bubbles, for whom the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Program posed problem after problem. No dog really needs a CGC certificate to be considered "good," but it might be wise to encourage a bit more cooperation from your own canine companion than Cathy gets from Bubb.

Need more convincing that training your dog is worthwhile? Read "Why Obedience Matters". It's an excerpt from Julie A. Bjelland's new book, Imagine Life with a Well-Trained Dog. Yes, just imagine - then get thee to obedience school!

If your canine behavior quotient is already pretty high and you work as a trainer, walker, or daycare provider, you'll get a lot out of Veronica Boutelle's pointers for dog pros. She runs a canine-business consulting operation called dogTEC and knows what separates success from failure. Her four essential recommendations can help your business get bigger, better, and more profitable.

We offer you information about two dog maladies this month. The first is a common one: tick bites. Peggy Greenfield's "Tick Talk" is essential reading for everyone who walks dogs in the Bay Area's beautiful open spaces. The second - epilepsy - is rarer, though some sources estimate it occurs in as many as 5% of all dogs, with the incidence running higher in certain breeds. It's a good idea to know the facts so you can handle a seizure should one occur, and that's the point of this month's Ask Dr. Dog column.

Finally, we bring you news from the world of cars. Automotive journalist Arv Voss reviews the Honda Element's dog-friendly package. Pooches have become important indeed when major car manufacturers cater to their owners with convenience and safety accessories previously unheard of.

Of course, the usual suspects - Ian Dunbar and Herb Canine - are all present and accounted for. Peruse and enjoy.

Next month, we celebrate the joys of dog adoption and teach your pup rattlesnake etiquette. Meanwhile, get out there with your furry friends and smell the May flowers - it's what makes all that April rain worthwhile.

Friendly wags,

~ Mindy Toomay, Editor