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Must Love Dogs!

Singles with Dogs & Networking Fundraiser

January 29th from 1 – 3 pm at the CCC Feedat 35 Oakland Street in north Manchester

Don’t miss this networking opportunity to meet other dog lovers. The event will include Donna Veraldi, Pet Astrologer, fun snapshot photos of your dog(s) plus games and prizes. You can win great stuff donated by other dog friendly businesses, including dinner & a movie for tow, speed dating tickets with the Date Doctor and more.

Dogs are welcome, but not required. What is required is a desire to help MDOG meet its fundraising goals for 2011.Tickets are $12 before January 28th and $15 at the door. There is also a $2 discount for MDOG members. To purchase tickets ahead, please

Call: (860) 647-0119

Email: .

Based on your response to the first Taste of Manchester, which was a sold out event in the pouring rain, MDOG is preparing the 2nd Taste of Manchester. So far we have the following restaurants signed on to participate and anticipate many more:

  • Antonio’s (formerly Bob & Maries)
  • El Mariachi Loco
  • Great Harvest Bread
  • The Hungry Tiger
  • The Main Pub
  • Rocco’s Pizza and Grill

Stay Tuned for more Details!

This event is sponsored by:

Downtown Manchester, SilkCity Print Shoppe and SBM Charitable Foundation

Message from the President:

Moving closer to the DogPark –

Deadline December 2011.

MDOG has recently received a large donation from an anonymous individual who believes in our goals and wants to help with the expense of building the dog park.This anonymous gift, along with the generosity of all of our other donors in the past two years is making the dog park close to a reality, but we are not quite there and we still need your help. Without you, we would not be this close and so we want to thank you all. With your continued support, we should be able to begin construction on the dog park in late spring or early summer. We are still in need of volunteers for the following:

  • Park committee
  • Event committee – chair & members
  • Fundraising committee
  • Volunteer coordinator
  • Bookkeeper
  • Treasurer
  • Event day volunteers (year round)
  • Taste of Manchester volunteers

If you can help in any way, please contact us at . A volunteer’s time is worth just as much as any monetary donation.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Alysia Duke

President, Manchester Dog Owners Group, Inc.

MDOGis a non-profit organization. We have received non-profit status from the I.R.S. designating us as a 501(c) (3) public charity. Please check out our website for ways to contribute and get a tax deduction!

Hikes with MDOG!

MDOG hikers are invited to join our Please take a few moments to register and learn about upcoming hikes. Our Meetup group site allows members to RSVP, correspond with other members and get directions to the next hike. All information on hikes will be available only at Meetup.com so simply click the Meetup website and create a new account on the Meetup homepage:

Did you know…….

The first dog tax or licensing law dates to Schweinfurt, Germany in 1598.

Yes, you have another opportunity to help MDOG and put smiles on your family’s faces. Between February 7th and February 29th, the MDOG Fundraising Committee will be selling the best cookie bucket mixes in the world. To name just a few: Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Shortcake, Oatmeal Raisin, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Triple Chocolate Chunk and many more. If you would like to help us sell these mixes or would like to purchase some buckets, please contact Eva Holmes at .

MDOGpublished a recipe book aptly called Belly Rubbin' Recipes - Good Food for People and Pets as part of our fundraising activities for 2011. It is chock full of people and dog recipes collected from our wonderful members. You will be thrilled with this addition to your recipe book collection or perhaps as a Valentine gift for someone who loves to cook. This is a fundraiser for MDOG so please consider buying more than one. If you are interested, please contact Shirley at 860-432-3733.

Did you know…….

Contrary to popular belief, the Poodle did not originate in France. It was originally a German

breed used for hunting, water retrieving and even herding

MDOG Volunteer VIPs

In every issue, we ask you to volunteer and help us meet our goals. And you have been great attending our events and being a member, but there are so many volunteer opportunities. Just ask our Volunteer VIP who do nothing more than tirelessly give up there time and energy to help MDOG.

Eileen BroganJennifer Dorl

Randi JaenHelen Lawrence

Brenda MoquinMarcia Reiley

Chris Rusack

Wouldn’t you like to be an

MDOG Volunteer VIP ?

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Second in a series of educational articles
Winter Care for Canines
General Concerns
Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind:
  • Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.
  • Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.
  • Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and be seriously injured.
  • Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.
  • Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.
  • Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.
  • Don't leave your dog alone in a car. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold.

Health Tips
Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season. Remember the following health concerns:
  • Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.
  • Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.
  • Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.
  • Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long.
  • Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.
  • Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.
  • Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian.
For more information, please check out and

PLAY AND EXERCISE IN DOGS

Adapted from BVH Training Manual,
by Alice Anderson, PhD, CPDT-KA*
Why are play and exercise important?
Play with owners and with other dogs, not only provides the dog with some of its exercise requirements, but also helps to meet social needs. Insufficient exercise can contribute to problem behaviors including destructiveness (chewing and digging), investigative behavior (garbage raiding), hyperactivity, unruliness, excitability, attention-getting behaviors, and even some forms of barking. It is especially important to ensure that a dog’s need for exercise has been met prior to leaving the dog alone at home and prior to lengthy crating or confinement sessions.
What are good ways to play with and exercise my dog?
Taking your dog for a walk is a good way to accomplish exercise and can be enjoyable and healthy for you as well. From an early age, you should acclimate your puppy to a collar and leash. A flat nylon or leather collar is fine. (Keep puppies away from stray dogs and neighborhood parks until all vaccinations are finished.) Practice your walking skills in your own yard first. Put your puppy on a leash and with your voice, or perhaps a food or toy reward as a prompt, encourage it to follow you. Reward the good behavior with praise. Keep initial walks short to encourage compliance.
Playing with your pet is an enjoyable activity for both of you. Not only does the puppy get exercise, but positive interactions take place. Training sessions are also an excellent way to gain owner leadership and control, while providing interaction between you and your pet.
How much exercise and play is appropriate?
Selecting an appropriate amount and type of play and exercise will depend on the type of dog. Puppies and even adult dogs from breeds that have been bred for their stamina or to do “work” often have higher exercise requirements. For purebred dogs, consider their traditional work when deciding the type and amount of play to provide. For example, the retrieving breeds do best with lengthy games of fetch or “Frisbee”, while the sledding breeds might prefer pulling carts, or running or jogging with an active owner.
The length and type of play and exercise for your dog will depend on its behavioral requirements and health limitations. While some dogs may still be ready for more after a five mile jog and a game of fetch, others may be tired and satisfied after a short walk around the block.

How can I keep my dog occupied when I am away?
When you are out, or you are busy at home with other activities and responsibilities, it would be ideal for your dog to be relaxed and sleeping, but this will not always be the case. Exploring the environment, stealing food items, raiding garbage cans, chewing or digging, are just a few of the ways that dogs will find to keep themselves occupied. When you are confident that you have provided your dog with sufficient play and interactive exercise, and you must leave your dog alone, provide sufficient toys and distractions to keep your dog occupied and confine your pet to a safe, dog-proofed area. Some dogs do best when housed with another dog for play and companionship. Others prefer objects to chew, areas to dig, self feeding toys, or even a video to keep themselves occupied and “busy” while you are unavailable.
What type of play should be avoided?
Try to avoid games that pit your strength against your puppies. Tug-of-war games seem to be an enjoyable diversion for many puppies and they do help to direct chewing and biting toward an acceptable play object, rather than an owner’s hands or clothing. On the other hand, some puppies get very excited, overly stimulated and become far too aggressive during tug-of-war games. A general rule of thumb for tug-of-war (or any other game for that matter) is to avoid it, unless you are the one to initiate the game, and can stop it as soon as the need arises. Teaching the dog to “drop” on command can help to ensure that you remain in control of object play sessions such as fetch and tug -of -war. A variety of types of interactive toys are also available for throwing, retrieving, playing kickball etc.
Although games like chase are good exercise, they can often result in wild exuberant play that gets out of control. Again, a good rule of thumb is to only play these games, if you are the one to initiate the game, and are capable of stopping the game immediately should it get out of control. Many dogs can be taught to play “hide and seek” without becoming too excited. Other dogs like to “search” for their toys and bring them to you.
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Ms. Anderson is the Director – Dept. of Behavior & Training, and the Animal Behaviorist, at Bolton Veterinary Hospital (BVH). She is also a Companion Animal Behavior Consultant; American Kennel Club Authorized Canine Good Citizen Evaluator; Professional Member - Association of Pet Dog Trainers; Member - International Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors; Evaluator (and Member) - Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
*CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed): International certification requiring continuing education and recertification, and monitored by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers.

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We hope you will leap at the chance to meet great people, help your community and join the fun as aVOLUNTEER FOR MDOG!

Don’t let the name fool you; you don’t have to own a dog or live in Manchester to be a volunteer for MDOG. We need passionate people who can help with all aspects of running

our organization. We are always looking for volunteers for our many upcoming events. For more information on volunteering and positions available, please go to our website at or you may send an email to: .

Business owners, please consider becoming a Friend of the Canine Community by contacting us at

You will receive benefits such as:

reduced fees for vendor/exhibitor booths at our events

reduced entrance fees at MDOG activities for their employees

invitation to MDOG only events

opportunity to reach the community by:

  • stuffing our goody bags
  • being listed on our website
  • and more.

PLUS, the contribution our Friends make to MDOG, benefits the entire community by helping us to spread the word about responsible dog ownership and the benefits of canine recreation. A list of our current Friends of the Canine Community can be found at:

Did you know…….

Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions.

Most of them depend on the movement of their ears.

MDOG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President - Alysia Duke Vice President - Jim Haslett

Secretary - Noelle Karnolt Treasurer - Open Position

Member At Large - Shirley GronholmMember At Large - Joan Grzyb Member At Large - Eva Holmes

Committees, Coordinators, & Contacts

By Laws & Policy - Shirley Gronholm

Education - Dennis Reinholt

Event - open position - Currently presided by Alysia Duke

Fundraising - Eva Holmes

Newsletter - Eileen Brogan

Park - Jim Haslett

Taste of Manchester - Chris Rusack

Volunteers - open position

- Jennifer Dorl

Manchester Dog Owners Group, Inc. is run by 100% volunteers. Please allow 24-48 hrs for a response when contacting any member. Thank you.

MDOG in the News!

In November, MDOG held a public presentation to update members and residents about the status of the dog park. You can read all about it in the December 30th Reminder News at:

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