Jenn Guerriero, ‘Ask the Dog Trainer’ columnist at the Old Town Alexandria Patch does a great job detailing the many dangers of retractable leashes in her recent column:
http://oldtownalexandria.patch.com/articles/theres-one-kind-of-leash-im-not-flexible-about
Based on customer feedback, we have made a number of improvements to our 2010 product line!
- New Colors Available (including lime, tangerine, fuschia, and grey)
- 2 Webbing Widths Available (5/8″ width for dogs under 50-lbs, 1″ width for dogs over 50-lbs)
- Super-strong hardware – best in class hardware upgraded for your pup’s safety!
- Increased leash length to 6-ft (adjustable from 4-6 ft)
We have decided to eliminate the XtraLeashes from our line. You can still achieve the 2 and 3 dog attachment by using a standard coupler. These couplers simply attach to the snap hook at the end of the leash.
Lastly, we are very proud to announce that these new ReadyLeashes are made in Massachusetts! Our factory is located in beautiful Ipswitch, MA, a stone’s throw away from our headquarters in downtown Boston. Building locally enables us to ensure quality, support our local economy, and cut down on greenhouse gases. We are thrilled about this switch, and we hope that our customers appreciate it as well.
As always, we appreciate our customer’s feedback. Please let us know what you think of the changes.
Allston, Mass- I wake up, put clothes on, gather my things, and hop on the bicycle for an enjoyable ride to work.
I’m 24 years old and live roughly a half-hour southwest of downtown Boston. The route I take is along Storrow Drive- a popular jogging/biking route amongst Bostonians that offers pleasant views of the Boston/Cambridge cityscape, green-spaces, and various outdoor recreational activities.
My bike, (a single-speed cruiser I built for enjoyment rather than velocity) was gliding along at a fairly average speed, when I decided to appreciate the surrounding scenery. Normally I try and refrain from rubbernecking, but today I became engaged with the architecture over in Cambridge, causing me to gaze-off for a few seconds. What I didn’t know or see at the time was the fact that I was rapidly approaching a Dog-Borne Mine Field.
All of a sudden, while shifting my head back to the straightforward position, I was able to catch a glimpse of an immediate obstacle, a.k.a dog poop, forcing me to jerk my handlebars to the right so that I wouldn’t run over the monsterous fudge-dragon.
Miss!
I thought I was safe; I was wrong. Many more roadside bombs lay ahead, sending my smooth ride into a frantic zig-zag motion. Although I only had to use my basic-maneuvers for 25 yards, it still seemed as though time stood still.
Two-thirds of the way through the mine-strip, I noticed a tire-track right through the middle of a chocolate hotdog. I thought to myself, “that could have been me!” Arriving to work with an ugly residue on your back will most likely ruin any day.
This brings me to the question, what’s worse: riding through dog poop or stepping in it? I’d like to know the percentage of people that have stepped in dog poop. My guess is 80/90% of people have accidently stepped where they shouldn’t have at least once in their life.
I entered the safe zone with bulging eyes and sigh of relief. Surviving my second ride to work was not on my list of “things to do”, but it is something riders should consider before stepping into dog-instigated warzones.
I want to finish up by stating that there’s a need for respect and proper dog-waste-disposal throughout the city, and the easiest and most efficient way to go about this would be for dog-owners to obtain a RascoDog ReadyLeash!
The slick user-friendly dog leash is equipt with a built-in biodegradable bag-dispenser, so that if your dog feels the need to drop military-grade piles of poop in the middle of highly trafficked areas- everything will be safe and sound.
How to tell people “Clean up the poop!”
One of our more popular blog topics has been the importance of picking up dog poop (Clean It Up!). Not picking up after dogs is unacceptable. It is lazy and disrespectful of responsible dog owners who always clean up.
Every dog owner has his or her own system and way of dealing with this problem. Calling local law enforcement is of course an option, but should probably be the last one. Instead try using a dog poop sign.
Here are some creative (and entertaining) signs that people use
Some people do find the signs offensive (the Tao of Poop) but that shows signs get people’s attention and can be effective reminders. Besides, what is more offensive, the sign or the poop on the ground?
Whether you choose to use a no dog poop sign or not, please act responsibly and remember to scoop the poop!
Rascodog is offering 50% off all products and asking you to clean up in honor of your dog!
Next Wednesday, August 26 is National Dog Day. Pet lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige started National Dog Day to recognize the constant and unconditional love we receive daily from our best friends.
“Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage…National Dog Day wishes to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure – and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and ”abuse-free life”. -Colleen Paige
It is a day to recognize the powerful impact dogs have on our lives, to raise awareness about dog-related issues such as euthanasia, breed-specific legislation and responsible dog ownership.
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate with your own pooch:
- Stop by your local dog-friendly bakery and buy him some homemade treats! Head over to one of our favorite stores on the South-side of Boston.
- Spend some extra time on your walk and allow your dog to get in a few extra sniffs here and there (and don’t embarrass your dog by not cleaning up after him).
- Take your dog to the local dog park and let him off-leash.
- Have a neighborhood ‘dog party’. Collect items from your friends and neighbors and donate them to a local shelter.
- Curl up with your best friend and watch your favorite doggie movie! DogTipper.com has a great list of dog movies to check out!
- Organize a neighborhood clean up and bring along your ReadyBags! Show your dogs you appreciate them by keeping their environment clean and smelling fresh.
- If you don’t have a dog that’s okay. You can volunteer your time at a local animal shelter. There are thousands of shelter dogs looking for a little exercise and human affection.
In honor of the dogs, we are offering 50% off ALL Rascodog products on National Dog Day! That’s right, half off!! Simply order as you would through our website, and you will receive the discount at checkout.
Happy National Dog Day!!
Photo Courtesy of Michael “Mike” L. Baird, bairdphotos.com flickr.bairdphotos.com
For city residents with dogs, finding a way to keep their dog and please their neighbor can be difficult.
Landlords don’t like the carpet stains, odor, scratches on doors, walls and windows and the possibility of incidents between tenants.
Neighbors hate the excessive barking, messes on the sidewalks and the possibility of being cornered by an unleashed escapee.
It’s tough living in the city and being a dog owner. It’s even tougher for the dog. 
Last Friday, Radio Boston dedicated their show to the topic of dogs and the city. Experts and listeners debated about whether dogs should be living in the city, if there was available space and what dictates responsible owner-dog behavior.
You can listen to the full show here: http://www.radioboston.org/shows/2009/08/08/is-boston-going-to-the-dogs/
There were a couple of key points discussed during the hour that bear repeating.
- Owning a dog and living in the city does not become an issue until a dog starts causing trouble.
- Different stimuli exist between cities, suburbs and rural areas. Give a dog time to adjust to the noise, traffic and people.
- Some non-dog owners complain about the taxes they incur to pay for public dog-parks and off-leash hours.
- Statistics show a reduction in crime rates in areas where dogs are allowed and allotted time for off-leash activity. Human traffic of any kind decreases the risk that crime will occur, and many people consider their dog a form of security.
These are great things to consider when discussing if city life is conducive to a dog owner, but none of it matters if dog owners don’t act responsibly.
Cleaning up after dogs and keeping dogs on a leash, two things we know a lot about at Rascodog, are two of the biggest reasons why non-dog owners don’t like dogs! If people didn’t have to worry about stepping in poop when they walked down the sidewalk, they would probably be a lot more receptive to the idea of their neighbor the dog lover.
Dogs that bark frequently can also create tension between neighbors. The best way to deal with this problem is to make sure the dog has plenty of exercise. Remember that a tired dog is a happy dog. If a dog is properly trained and exercised regularly the chances of the dog causing trouble lessens. If you really want a dog but know you don’t have the time for intense exercise, consider adopting a senior dog. Their temperament is calmer than that of a puppy and their exercise needs considerably less rigorous.
Just because you don’t own a dog doesn’t mean you should be exempt from providing space for those who do have dogs as pets. Another way of looking at this is paying taxes for public schooling. Many dog owners have dogs instead of kids, but their taxes go towards funding public school programs. There should be give and take on both sides.
Now it’s poll time: [polldaddy poll="1868084"]
Check out these great blogs for resources and stories on how to choose an appropriate dog for apartment life (and things that might happens if you do…)
What Are Good Dog Breeds For People Who Live in Apartments?
Just a friendly reminder to Scoop the Poop!
The musical stylings of Perry Como meets Dog Poop PSA.
Unpredictable dog behavior and off-leash dogs can lead to dangerous situations
Recently I have been engaged in quite a few discussions about off-leash versus leashed dogs.
Most leash laws use language similar to “under control by leash”. The term leash is never actually defined, however, so there is some wiggle room in terms of what an individual might use. A quick search through the dictionary gives you a few different options.
- A restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
- A leash or a lead or lead line is a rope or similar material attached to the neck or head of an animal for restraint or control
- A leash or lead is a length of rope, leather, chain or other flexible material ostensibly for restraint or control.
According to these definitions, I could restrain my dog using an old necktie and as long as she was “ under control” my dog is considered leashed. By this logic anyone walking his or her dog on a string or rope of some sort automatically has control because the dog is in fact on a leash.
As dog owners we spend time and energy to teach our dogs basic obedience commands. Sit. Stay. Lie down. Heel. Come. Sometimes, if your dog is stubborn or has behavioral issues, a professional trainer has to be consulted. It is both for our safety and the dog’s safety that these commands are necessary. Despite all this there are some alarming statistics out there regarding dog bites.
- Dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. population — more than 4.7 million people annually
- Dog bites send nearly 368,000 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (1,008 per day)
- An American has a one in 50 chance of being bitten by a dog each year.
- The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim’s family or a friend. (CDC)
Even trained police dogs are involved in off-duty attacks despite their high level of obedience training. Just last week the Boston Globe reported that a woman walking her Chihuahua was attacked by a police dog.
If a skilled and trained police officer doesn’t have complete control over his dog, what makes people think their own dog would never misbehave? I get extremely frustrated when I encounter dog owners who say their dog is obviously trained better than mine because they’ve never had an incident while their dog was off-leash.
To ALL dog owners (because it is easy to forget sometimes) I’d like to echo a statement I recently read on a blog from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Dogs are unpredictable
Please do not assume yours is the world’s best trained dog. In fact go ahead and throw out ALL those assumptions. Stick to the facts. Dogs are animals. Like humans they have basic genetic instincts that at some point will rise to the surface. You can’t train out the instinct to chase a rodent (even if its just fake fur hanging around someone’s neck). At best, you can take steps to control the behavior, but you’ll never eliminate it altogether.