Friday, December 18, 2015

Call me Ambassador Dubs

UPDATE: November 2016 - the study is now closed. Results will be available in early 2017. Thanks to everyone who participated!

I was invited to join the Board of Canine Ambassadors at the Center for Canine Behavior Studies. As an ambassador, my job is to help spread the word about an important study called the Animal Ownership Interaction Study. Read below to learn more about it and how you can participate.



Veterinarian behaviorists Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman (Tufts Cummings School of Veterinarian Medicine) and Dr. James A. Serpell, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine) are undertaking the largest owner-dog personality behavior study ever conducted with a view to establishing once and for all how owner personality and psychological status affects a pet dog’s behavior.

The primary purpose of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies is to investigate the behavioral factors linking dogs and their owners in order to identify specifically the factors of behavioral compatibility that most influence dog relinquishment and abandonment.

Every year millions of dogs are relinquished just in the United States alone.

Dog relinquishment is the largest contributing factor in shelter overpopulation. In turn, shelter overpopulation is the largest contributing factor in unnecessary canine euthanasia; up to 1.5 MILLION each year in the U.S.

The overarching mission of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies is to unearth behavioral linkages between adopters and dogs that preserve and reinforce that relationship, reduce relinquishment and abandonment, and work toward the eventual goal of putting the practice of canine euthanasia into the past once and for all.

Please share this information with other dog owners— especially owners of rescue dogs.

To learn more and volunteer to participate, please visit the Center for Canine Behavior Studies web site and register for free membership.

http://centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org/RegisterNow/



Friday, September 18, 2015

I love to run!

Football season is underway. Woo woo! My favorite job is running the football team out of the tunnel. People sometimes comment that they think I should run off leash - that I am well trained and I will run to my handler at the other end of the field. This is true, so why can't we cut the leash? The thing is, I am a dog with a mind of my own. What if someone left a gate open and I decided to keep running? What if I decided to run to the nearest hot dog vendor instead of my handler? What if I saw a duck and decided to chase it? What if there was a delay of game because nobody could catch me?You get the point.

Nobody has ever asked me if I WANT to run off leash. The truth is, I am perfectly happy running on leash. I LOVE to pull and running the field is the only time I get to do it. This is what I was bred to do - pull a sled across the snow. Husky Stadium is my arctic tundra. When I am running across that field pulling my handler behind me, I am SO happy. And besides, I bet nobody ever asks why Ralphie doesn't run off leash.

Don't I look happy?

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

It's National Dog Day!




For me, every day is National Dog Day. I have a great life. I have a comfy home, I eat well, get lots of exercise and play time plus I have a great job and lots of love. Today is about celebrating all dogs everywhere and especially remembering the ones who need help. Consider donating to your local dog rescue or shelter today!

Sunday, August 9, 2015

(Not) A Hot Dog

One question I'm being asked a lot lately is, "Dubs, how are you doing in the heat?" People have all sorts of suggestions for helping me keep cool such as taking me swimming or shaving all my hair off. I don't really like swimming and I would probably be even hotter if my coat was shaved (not to mention I would look pretty silly!). While it is true that I have a lot of fur (a double coat to be exact), it actually helps keep me from getting too hot because it's my insulation. I still have to be careful not to overexert myself when it's hot though, which is truly a hardship.

So don't worry about me. Of course, snow is best but sun isn't too bad! In fact, sometimes on a warm day I will purposely seek out the only sunny spot in my yard. If you'll notice, even the cat is in the shade.




Sunday, August 2, 2015

Dear Blog Followers

Dear Blog Followers:
You are a loyal bunch. You've been with me since the beginning. You've watched me grow up. You've cheered me on. However, I fear that I am letting you down. I don't post on my blog very often anymore. There are so many other options for sharing photos, which let's be honest, is what most people want from me. If you want to see photos of me, you can follow me on Facebook (DubsTheMascot), Twitter (@uwmascot) or Instagram (@uwhuskymascot).

But, my dear loyal blog followers, I know that you know, I am not just a pretty face. I have things to say. From now on, my blog will have more words than pictures. I have matured and while I cannot type, because after all I am a dog, I can use the power of my mind to get my humans to type for me. I'm very clever that way. So stay tuned. I know you will. Thank you for following me. - Dubs

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2461599-best-animal-traditions-in-sports/page/3

Thanks Bleacher Report for the great article. But, um, that's not me in the photo. Just so you know.

This is what I look like running on the football field.