Pet Friendly Places in Fort McMurray- PAWS Across Canada Tour

From the desk of ME!  Toby!  (photo credit Team Toby   www.theoriginalteamtoby.com)

Photo Credit: Team Toby

when dad pulled into Fort McMurray, we stopped at the tourist centre to see what was dog friendly

The Visitor Centre is at the Oil Sans Discovery Centre.  I couldn't go in as it is a "no pets allowed" but mom and dad talked to the guide to learn where I could go in the community.  There are pet friendly hotels, and lots of walking trails and a dog park. 

Also there are some stores that are pet friendly, like the Bone and Biscuit, we stopped by for some treats....

Met a new friend from the Fort McMurray SPCA

Dad took me to the Birchwood Trails....

 The trails are pet friendly, with dogs on leash.  A few more garbage cans along the way would help with people not leaving their dog poop bags through the forest section.  There were lots of garbage cans along the top of the trails.... PAWsome.

Big thanks to our PAWs Across Canada Tour partners..... thank you for helping us make a difference!

Hope you'll like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby and post your pics of your fave pet friendly adventures and places to go with your dogs.

To find out about my books, or to purchase your own copy, please visit Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Charmaine-Hammond/e/B0045K1EK6

Check out my supPAW fun vids on my very own You Tube Channel, TeamTobyTV http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamTobyTv

PAWS Across Canada- Toby visits Boys & Girls Club Fort McMurray

Well, here I am.... another blog by a Dog!
Toby here... and here's the latest from our PAWS Across Canada Tour.

Photo Credit: Team Toby (C. Hammond)

We are on a mission to build a kinder Canada one paw one person at a time! Our first stop on the trip was Fort McMurray! Mom and dad actually lived there for about 15 years, mom started her business there.  There were lots of friends to see and events to participate in.

Photo Credit TheOriginalTeamToby.com and Team Toby

The children were so excited to meet me that they made me a great gift!

 

The children also drew pictures about what kindness means to them, here are a few.  The kids totally get it!  

 

Great ideas about kindness to pets and treating pets as family members!

They were so excited to give mom all the pictures to take with us. 

Here are a few ideas that they said about kindness and how to be change makers in the world:

1. Say nice things to people
2. Play nice and fair
3. Take care of your pets
4. Give pets water, food and play with them
5. Help people, and help your family
6. Ask people to play if they are lonely!

We appreciate the support our event hosts, and our partners who have joined us in making a PAWsitive difference:

 
 
Remember to follow us on social media to get the live as it happens updates on our tour, and of course to stay in touch!

 
 https://twitter.com/TeamToby2

  https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

And our radio show:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2014/05/13/dog-friendly-communities-what-we-are-seeing-on-paws-across-canada

Do Dog’s Go To Heaven?

Toby the dog here....welcome to my PAWsitive Dog Blog.

Mom interviewed Jean Holmes, author, on PAWsitive Radio.  Jean was surrounded by animals as a child. Her father was a veterinarian and her mom raised Pedigree Doxens. They also had cows, ducks, chickens geese and a pet crow. Jean’s mom started asking Ministers if dogs go to heaven. She got a variety of different answers, which inspired Jean to research and explore this question further.

 Turning to the bible Jean starting researching and writing, which turned into her book, Do Dogs Go To Heaven, which is now in its second edition.  

 Jean also shared some of the wonderful lessons us dogs teach you humans. Lessons like:
- Healthy boundaries
- Unconditional love and acceptance
- Forgiveness
- Patience

You can check out Jean's book by clicking on the book cover above.
And, you can listen to her and mom talking on PAWsitive Radio at:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamtoby/2013/11/06/do-dogs-go-to-heaven

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeamToby2

 Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charmainehammond

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalTeamToby

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/teamtoby1

             

Lessons On Life...and Love...Taught by a Dog!Toby

Toby, our dog and one of my best teachers in life.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jo-anne-white/2012/12/19/charmaine-hammond-lesson-of-love-and-life-from-a-dog

Lessons of life and love from a dog was the topic of my conversation on Dr. Joanne White's radio show, you can listen on the link above.

Isn't it amazing the lessons us humans can learn from a dog? 

Our dog Toby taught me many things, but most profound were the lessons about patience, persistence, trust, unconditional acceptance and the power of the animal human bond.

Watching Toby with patients at the hospital he volunteered I was constantly amazed at how he shared these lessons with other people. Interestingly enough, I discovered that his teaching went far beyond the lessons he shared with me. Patients reported that they learned about kindness, friendship, respect, communication, self control, listening and confidence from this dog.

Animals make such wonderful contributions to the world simply by how they show up.  This week, take notice of the lessons you learn from your pet.

Walk this Way... treadmills for dogs!

Toby on the Treadmill at K9 Awareness Centre 

Kaytie Stack was our guest on PAWsitive Radio

Treadmills for dogs are a great way to:

a) reduce anxiety
b) increase focus
c)  help with socialization
d) shed a few extra unwanted pounds
e) help prepare dogs for agility or other competitions

and... they are fun!

K9 Awareness Centre Treadmills. www.k9awareness.ca

Kaytie has been training dogs since she was a teenager under the tutelage of her mother, an experienced dog trainer and show judge.  Kaytie opened K9 Awareness Centre in 2009.  She has helped hundreds of dogs in her dog daycare and training centre. Her dog treadmills are a popular activity for dogs, so much that she has now designed Spot On K9 Treadmills.

You can listen to Kaytie's great tips and explanation of the dog treadmills here:   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chammond/2013/06/05/guest-kaytie-stack

Be a Buddy Not a Bully

New Book Coming out June 1, 2013

Toby the Pet Therapy Dog Says Be a Buddy NOT a Bully is the second book in the Toby the Pet Therapy Dog children's series. The book will be released June 1, 2013.

When Toby the dog steps into the path of another dog who bullies him, and shreds his beloved stuffed teddy-bear toy, we see the hurt feelings it creates.  This book teaches children about the importance of kindness, respect, acceptance, and being considerate of others, including pets.

I am looking forward to talking about the book, and bully prevention tips on the air on Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST (8 am MDT).  To tune in, please follow this link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/grandmassecrets/2013/05/29/the-business-of-writing

To learn more about the book, please visit:




The book also has classroom discussion questions at the end of the book, as well as activities for children. 

The Canine Insight

Love Dogs? 

 Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly understood how to communicate more effectively with your dog. If you better understood behavior and training techniques. What difference would it make to both your lives if you learned more about how to keep your dog healthier and happier? 

Learn all this and so much more! 

I was delighted to be invited to be a guest on the Canine Insight tele class with Bernie Browne and a team of incredible experts including:

•  Anna Bettina from Happy Healthy Pup
•  Barbara Brunner, Author of Dog-ma, the zen of slobber 
•  Dr Ian Dunbar, Vet, Behaviourist and Puppy Training Guru
•  Judy Fridono trainer and guardian of Ricochet the SURFice dog
•  Amy Burkert of Gopetfriendly.com
•  Linda Tellington-Jones, Founder of the Tellington TTouch Method
•  Sheryl Matthys, the Dog Expert
•  Debbie Jacobs from Fearfuldogs.com
•  Alecia Evans is America’s Animal Heeler
•  Val Heart talks about saving on vet bills

 I'll be sharing stories about how animals have impacted my life, and in Toby's case, became a teacher for me...teaching lessons of life, love and purpose.  My interview is May 21, 2013.

Join us for some Pawmazing doggy insights and find out what 21 Leading Canine Experts have to give you for Free! Register here: http://thecanineinsight.com/CharmaineHammond

Team Toby- PAWsitively improving lives by teaching kindness, acceptance and respect!