Coalition to UnChain Dog’s 2012 Music for Fences Benefit Concert
On October 13th, 2012, the Coalition to UnChain Dogs is throwing a Benefit Concert to raise money to promote the health and happiness of dogs that live continuously chained up outside.
The money goes towards providing these dogs with FREE fences and a FREE spay/neuter.
What an awesome way to directly influence the life of a dog!
The concert’s going to feature a couple local bands Don Dixon, Robert Kirkland, Greg Humphreys and friends, the band Lud, Brice Randall Bickford (of The Strugglers) and the band WAUMISS.
Bar Hop With Your Dog: Fullsteam Brewery to Motorco’s Garage Bar
“Motorco’s Garage Bar and Fullsteam Brewery are the perfect pet-friendly duo for a fun night out with your friends and your dog”
Lou Dawg chowing down on some Chick-n-Que at Durham's Motorco
A perfect night out for me: have a few beers, listen to some live music, and hang out with Heather and Lou (our dog).
Finding a place to have beers and listen to music isn’t too hard to find in Durham. Finding a pet friendly place that you can have beer, listen to music AND hang out with your dog is a little tougher.
Luckily, I’m about 5 minutes away from Durham’s Motorco Music Hall and Fullsteam Brewery. On the nights that Motorco has their Garage Bar open, it makes for the perfect place to sit and relax with your dog and have a cold brew.
Durham, NC Residents 2nd in the US on Spending on Their Pets!
I saw a cool article today on MSN that proves what we already know in Durham – “We love our pets!”
According to the MSN article by Mike Dang, Durham, NC residents spend an average of $38.13 per month on their pets. This is 2nd only to Scottsdale, AZ which spends an average of $47.88 per month.
Greensboro, NC ranked 9th at $33.63 per month.
You can see the top 10 and read the entire article here: Top Pet Spending Cities in America
Are Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides Bad For Your Dog?
Now that the warm season’s here, it’s time to start checking some of our yard’s “To-Do’s” off the BIG list.
Fertilizing being one of them.
I’ve often been a little wary of using chemical fertilizers in the backyard becuase I just figure it couldn’t be good for our dog Lou. Especially since she eats grass from time to time.
The other day I saw an article on MSN that really spooked me.
According to a recent study, “utilizing a chemical lawn service…is likely causing malignant cancer in many pet dogs.”
In the study, scientists also found that “dogs with malignant lymphoma were 70 percent more likely to live in a home where professionally applied lawn pesticides had been used.
Dogs with the serious malignancy were also 170 percent more likely to come from homes where owners used chemical insecticides to combat pests inside of the home.”
Pretty scary if you ask me!
A FREE Tour of Durham’s Fullsteam Brewery
If you’re looking for a great way to kill an hour on a Sunday, I highly recommend taking Fullsteam Brewery’s Facility Tour.
Sean from Fullsteam explaining the logic behind some of the ingredients in their beer
It takes about an hour, it’s fun, educational, it’s FREE and you get to sample BEER – so you can’t go wrong.
The founder of Fullsteam, Sean Wilson, did a good job of keeping things light and entertaining as he walked us through their beer brewing process and answered everyone’s questions. After you take the tour, you’ll see just how awesome this company is and get a sense of how much passion and energy they put into their beer.
My Favorite Collar For Training/Walking Dogs
A couple clients have recently asked me, ‘what type of collar I use to walk Lou’.
Until a few months ago, I’ve usually just used a traditional collar hooked to a leash. This worked for me, but definitely won’t for all dogs. 
Lou is pretty good on walks, as long as you maintain control of her. She doesn’t pull, but will sometimes get a little aggressive towards larger dogs, and that’s when she really puts ‘my control’ to the test.
But, because I know how to redirect her attention and maintain control, it’s never a problem.
Lou Dawg’s 9th Birthday!
Yep, we’re the type of people that celebrate our dog’s birthday…
This year, Lou Dawg (NC Pet Harmony’s Office Manager) turns the big ’9′, and still has the energy of a puppy!
Every Valentine’s Day, Heather and I celebrate Lou Dawg’s Birthday. I got Lou 8 years ago from a Utah animal rescue on Valentine’s Day Week, one week before Heather and I started dating. We always leave Valentine’s Day for Lou and our anniversary for the week after.
Durham’s Buckquarter Creek and Holden’s Mill Trail at the Eno River State Park
How long does it take?: About 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: 3 (1 = Easy, 5 = Very Hard)
Pet Friendly?: Small dogs and older dogs may struggle on some of the steep hills and walking on sleek boulders
Lou Dawg Rates This Hike: 3 out of 4 Paws
If you and your dog are looking for a Durham trail with steep hills, cool scenery and a light challenge – this is it!
Heather and I are constantly looking for good hikes to wear out our 9 year old pit bull, Lou Dawg. Getting her really worn out on a walk/hike usually requires a combination of 2+ hours mixed in with some running (especially up hills).
A “FREE” Costco Membership And Cheaper Frontline Plus for Your Dog and Cat?
Just the other day, as I navigated hungry crowds of people waiting in line for food samples at the North Pointe Costco in Durham, I found a display
advertising a 6 pack of Frontline Plus for dogs for only $69.99! And apparently, this is Costco’s regular price. They also had 3 packs for cats for only $34.99. Continue reading
DurhamPetDig’s “Home Fur a Pet”: Watson
Help Find Watson a Permanent Home!
Durham’s “Home Fur a Pet” Program
One of the goals of DurhamPetDig.com is to promote pet adoption from local animal rescues, and our “Home Fur a Pet” Program is one of the ways we raise awareness for that cause. Every month or so, we select one dog or cat, like Watson, and do everything we can to spread the word and get that pet adopted into a safe, loving home. Continue reading
Independent Animal Rescue’s Painted Chair Auction
On Saturday, July 30th, the Independent Animal Rescue will be hosting its 9th Annual Painted Chair and More Auction at the Motorco Music Hall (one of my favorite places to go to grab a few drinks and watch some live music). The event is a mix of charity for pets, live music, drinks, art and food trucks all into one night….which is definitely going to make it a great night. Continue reading
My Jogging “Track” inside West Point on The Eno
Think of this as a half mile jogging track that’s plopped in the middle of 1800′s Durham
Do you get bored running on treadmills or around a track?
North Durham’s West Point on the Eno is the perfect solution to runner’s boredom while mixing in some inclines into your daily jog.
Like a lot of people, I get bored on treadmills. As a member of the YMCA in Downtown Durham, I’ll jog on their indoor track from time to time if it’s too dark outside, but jogging in circles for 20 minutes can also get a little boring (the YMCA’s indoor track is 1/14 of a mile). Continue reading
North Durham’s Northgate Dog Park
Number of Play Areas: 2 (1 for small dogs, 1 for large dogs)
Registration Fee: Must be registered with Durham Parks and Recreation
Park Supplied Poop Bags: Yes
Durham’s Northgate Dog Park is nice and clean. It has 2 large fenced areas for small and large dogs, plus a paved walking trail running past Durham’s Museum of Life and Science.
Durham’s Northgate Park’s Dog Park is located across the street, north of the main park. There you’ll find 2 separate play areas that used to be baseball fields. One area is for small dogs under 30 pounds, and the other area is for dogs over 30 pounds. Continue reading
Bobbitt Hole Trail at Durham’s Eno River State Park
How long does it take?: About 45 minutes
Difficulty Level: 2 (1 =Easy, 5= Very Hard)
Pet Friendly?: Dogs of all ages and sizes
“This quick walk is perfect for you and your dog to get away from EVERYTHING when you only have an hour. And if your dog swims, let him take a dive in Bobbitt Hole!”
Wanna to get away from it all but only have an hour to do so?
You’re in luck.
Entrance to Eno River via Cole Mill Rd.
About 10 minutes north of the Cole Mill Rd. exit on I-85, you’ll find the Old Cole Mill Road Entrance to Durham’s Eno River State Park Continue reading