Welcome to Bay Woof, June 2022

Work It Out!

We humans don’t often celebrate work as a concept. For us, work is usually considered a chore, a trade for the resources we need to live our lives and support our families. 

But dogs who work seem much happier on the job. They work for love, for pleasure, for treats, and for praise (hey, if that’s what we worked for we might feel the same way). 

In this month’s Working Dog issue, Bay Woof looks at a few of the dog jobs that make tails wag, and we answer some of your burning questions about working dogs along the way. 

How early can pups start training for their love gigs? Take a look behind the scenes in A Service Dog’s Journey From Puppyhood to Placement, shared by Paws for Purple Hearts, a nonprofit providing service dogs to U.S. veterans. 

Want to learn more about behaviors, breeds, training, and how you can apply these lessons at home? Read the piece by trainer Sandy Rogers, Working Dogs and Performance Dogs: What These High Achievers Can Teach Us. 

Do you know how to approach a new dog you meet on the street? Ren Volpe tells you how to do it safely (it’s not a hand in the face) and why you should never approach a working dog while they’re on duty. 

What do working sled dogs and your Fluffy have in common, aside from their ability to pull you down the road? Find out in Cyd True’s roundabout history lesson on Northern breeds, including where the term “mush” comes from. 

What’s the legal difference between a service dog and an emotional support animal? Dr. Kate Kuzminski, medical director for Guide Dogs for the Blind, spells it out for you in Ask Dr. Dog. 

Elsewhere in the issue, Kelly Gorman Dunbar tells you How to Channel Your Dog's Behaviors So They Don't Drive You Nuts (if only we could do the same with our relatives!). The East Bay SPCA shares a tale of a rescued Malinois puppy now on his way to join a prestigious search-and-rescue team. Nose for News brings you A Furry Little War Hero, Nala Naps Around, World’s Tallest Dog, and more. And Dr. Ken Gorczyca offers a personal take on the history of Gay Pride and the gay veterinarians who helped make change happen.

There’s lots more to explore if you just keep scrolling. So whether you’ve got a hard-working service dog or a designated sofa loafer, we hope you enjoy this month’s Bay Woof. 

Thanks for joining us for our Working Dog love fest!

M Rocket
Publisher

On the cover: Lofty is a service dog in training with Paws for Purple Hearts. photo: PFPH

Columns from the June Pack