Connie's Blog

Happy Holidays!

With people busily planning holiday itineraries, shopping for last minute gifts and excitedly anticipating time off to spend with loved ones, goodwill and merriment abound!  On behalf of the Modern Dog team, I wish you and your families the very best of the season and safe travelling to all your holiday destinations.

Here's intern Omar Duran, dressed in "holiday style" at Modern Dog's Christmas cruise party aboard the Hornblower. 

Baby It's Cold Outside

Known for its temperate climate and nearly snowless winters, my hometown of Vancouver is busy bundling up. Instead of its usual rain, rain and more rain (think  driving, drizzle, misty, showers, light, spitting... we get so much of it, we've got an extensive vocabulary to describe it) we've instead been in the grips of a cold-snap and recently got a dump of snow with another snow storm forecasted. When we do get snow, it usually lasts for a couple days and then it's gone. Not this year. Although it makes driving more treacherous, it does look beautiful and the bigger dogs love it. Like children, they're romping, rolling and digging in it. I was on my usual morning walk with Kaya (who, btw, gets bundled up in her winter jacket to protect her old bones/joints), when I passed by a monument that our parks board has placed on the side of the pathway. It consists of a large boulder that has a short essay on the subject of rain etched into its face.  I usually pass by this familiar landmark without much of a glance, but it made me laugh to see that someone had placed a miniature snowman on top of it, sending an opposing message to that of its rainy inscription. (see photo below).  

The morning dog-walk in a winter wonderland:

Eckhart Tolle Enlightens

This past Thursday I was fortunate to be included in the studio audience for the taping of a TV segment for an upcoming series that will air in April. The speaker was none other than guru Eckhart Tolle of NY Times bestselling Power of Now fame and more recently, A New Earth fame (a few months ago he teamed up with Oprah to present A New Earth webinar series that drew such a crowd it crashed Oprah's website).

The Power of Now was a book that deeply affected my own life and was a catalyst in starting me on my own spiritual journey, so having an invitation to sit and listen to Eckhart Tolle in person was an unbelievable opportunity.

I won't tell you too much about the upcoming series right now, but I will be sure to keep you informed as the series gets closer to launch date.

And for those interested in learning more about Eckhart Tolle and his philosphy on why dogs are our Guardians of Being, click here

“The mind is the servant of consciousness” – Eckhart Tolle 

Connie Wilson and Eckhart Tolle

Dynamic Doggie Duo Raise Money for Rescue

When you go to purchase your new 2009 calendar, make it a Lulu & Lolly's Road Trip calendar as 100% of the calendar sales proceeds will be donated to rescue shelters across the country.  The inspiration for the calendar came about when Cynthia Miller rescued Lolly, a dirty, malnourished Maltese from a puppy mill. The experience changed her life and she is now committed to changing the way people talk about rescue animals, not wanting it to be perceived as a sad or gloomy experience. She's therefore teamed up newly adopted Lolly with canine sidekick Lulu depicting the two dogs on a road trip having the time of their lives. From a Texas snowboarding expedition, to sunbathing and river rafting and even a Manhattan shopping spree.  We should have so much fun! Keep your days organized and support a good cause. For more information, please visit www.luluandlolly.com.

An amazing Hero Dog

I just watched a video of an amazing dog who risked his life to pull another dog that had been hit by a car off a busy highway. Steadfast and with single-minded purpose, the dog cautiously dodges traffic to drag his friend to safety. It will bring tears to your eyes and further solidify what we as dog lovers already know, dogs are remarkable beings, teaching us by example. To watch the video, click here.  

Know what a Xoloitzcuintli is?

2,312 dogs from around the globe will soon be descending upon Long Beach, California to compete in the 8th annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. You’ll get to see rare breeds such as the Briquet Griffon Vendeen or the Xoloitzcuintli competing against the more traditional breeds for the title of World Challenge Champion and prize money of $15,000.

A total of $225,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs during the two-day event taking place December 13th and 14th. The AKC Obedience Agility Invitational and the AKC Obedience Invitational will also be held in conjunction with the event seeing nearly 3,000 dogs in total competing in all the events.

If you’re interested in attending or learning more about this event, please visit:

Purchase tickets at http://www.akc.org/invitational/2007/tickets.cfm
For a complete schedule of events visit http://www.akc.org/invitational/2008/schedule_events.cfm

Or, if you can’t make the event be sure to tune into Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 from 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT).  Highlights from the AKC Agility Invitational will air on Animal Planet on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

The name Xoloitzcuintli, pronounced show-low-etz-queent-lee, (also known as the Mexican Hairless) is derived from the name of the Aztec Indian god Xolotl and Itzcuintli, the Aztec word for dog.

Photo AKC

From Concept to Reality

It's always thrilling after much forethought and months of work to see a new issue hit the newsstands. From ideas and concepts it gradually takes shape, first in digital format and then on paper, a tangible reality as it rolls off the printer's production line. Read, re-read, then passed along to others to read, it's an incredible feeling to know you're making a positive contribution and establishing a community of people who have a common bond, that of their love for dogs. It's therefore with love, reverence and gratitude that I thank you all for being a part of our family.

The winter issue, now on newsstands, is jam-packed with articles that focus on the deep connection we share with our dogs. It's also our celebrity issue with articles on Rachael Ray (our cover girl), Jessica Alba and Jennifer Aniston. Along with award winning editorial, training/health/personal advice plus tons of great holiday gift giving ideas (check out the holiday gift guide), it's an issue you won't want to miss.

And I've got a gift for you! For $5 you can buy a gift subscription for the dog lover on your list when you purchase (or renew) a subscription for yourself.  For more info, click here.

Enjoy!

24 More Sleeps

Hurray, it’s December 1st, only 24 more sleeps before Christmas is here. I love this month!! Although it means being besieged by rain, sleet and dark dog-walks, there is so much to look forward to. Strings of coloured lights decorating trees and homes, illuminate neighbourhoods, and break the dreariness of long winter nights making it fun to get out with poochie for evening dog-walks.  Have you noticed that people always seem to be friendlier, kinder and more thoughtful at this time of year? I wish that aspect of the holiday season would last year-round.  Check out the photo below, it’s the huge maple tree  over in English Bay (on the oceanfront across from my usual dog-walking route), that gets lit up every year for the month of December.  It’s something I really look forward to, as for me, it marks the beginning of this wonderful festive season. 

I actually needed a tri-pod for this photo as I had the flash turned off and the camera set to keep the lens open as long as possible in order to catch the effect of the lights on the water. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the camera steady enough.