Search

Dogs were one of several domestic animals kept by precolonial southern African herders, but their economic and social relevance for these communities has been little explored. This paper reviews the evidence for the dog's introduction into southern Africa and assesses the relative strengths of various lines of evidence (osteology; ancient DNA; animal tracks; faunal taphonomy) to identify those instances where the presence of dogs can most convincingly be established on probable herder sites. How herders used dogs is discussed next, along with the more limited ethnographic and historical evidence for their social and symbolic associations. It seems likely that the principal function of dogs for precolonial herders was as an alarm and deterrent against predators that might attempt to seize their livestock. The possibility that dogs dispersed into southern Africa as part of a package with sheep and cattle therefore merits further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How event competitors handle social, emotional, and environmental conditions can have a significant impact on the outcome of their competitive experiences. This article is part of a larger exploration about the role of serious dog sport in shaping life choices, overcoming challenges, and learning about one's self. It was conducted with participants at NADAC's 10th International Championships held at Castle Rock, Colorado in 2004. As I was both a competitor in this event as well as an investigator, I have chosen to use a modified ethnographic approach. Results demonstrated the power of adaptation and coping to achieve goals as well as the role that emotions play in perceptions of accomplishments. Competitors faced challenging environmental conditions, very long hours, and unfamiliar programmatic situations. Yet, the majority of the competitors found ways to make the experience one in which they found satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Information on training, competition, and management of agility dogs is sparse. To decrease this knowledge gap, Finnish owners and handlers of competition-level agility dogs completed an online questionnaire to describe the agility routines of their dog during one injury-free year. Additional information on competition routines was retrieved from the national competition results database. Typically, competition-level agility dogs trained agility once or twice a week and competed two runs a month. The median total weekly training time was 18 min. Usual speed over the competition course was 4.3 m/s. Artificial turf, with or without filling, and dirt surfaces are used most often. Dogs are warmed up before and cooled down after agility performance. Most dogs visit a massage therapist, physiotherapist, osteopath or other professionals of musculoskeletal care at least every three months. Many dogs undergo conditioning exercises, although often less often than every two weeks. Additionally, agility dogs are walked for a total of 1.5 h a day. Dogs competing at the highest levels competed more but trained less than dogs at lower levels. This is the first investigation of agility-related routines in competing agility dogs. Knowledge regarding training, competition, and management routines of agility dogs is lacking. Through a retrospective online questionnaire, Finnish owners and handlers of 745 competition-level agility dogs provided information on training routines and management of these dogs during one year free of agility-related injuries. Competition routines were collected from the national competition results database. Most dogs trained agility 1–2 times a week, with a median active training time of 18 min a week. Dogs competed in a median of 2.1 runs per month at a speed of 4.3 m/s. Common field surfaces were different types of artificial turfs and dirt surface. Warm-up and cool-down were established routines, and 62% of dogs received regular musculoskeletal care. Moreover, 77% of dogs underwent conditioning exercises, but their frequency was often low. Additionally, dogs were walked for a median of 1.5 h daily. Pearson's chi-squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to evaluate the association between a dog's competition level and training and competition variables. A dog's competition level was associated with competition (p < 0.001) and training frequency (p < 0.001); dogs at higher levels compete more but train less than dogs at lower levels. This study provides information on training, competition, and management routines of competing agility dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the towns of Tijuana and Rosarito Beach in northern Baja California, Mexico taken from a chapter of the book "Frommer's Mexico 2008" is presented. Tijuana has a growing number of sports and cultural attractions while Rosarito Beach remains a tranquil resort town. Outdoor activities in Tijuana include bullfighting and dog racing. On the other hand, Rosarito Beach is the film location of the film "Titanic."

In this essay, we discuss dog fighting as a blood sport with a history embedded in the status-driven display of masculinity, power and violence. Based on published reports and interviews with those living and working in dog fighting neighborhoods, we show that the contemporary cultural knowledge of dog fighting is a discourse with multiple meanings: for those who pit dogs against each other, for the worried public, for those who are charged with law enforcement, and for the dogs themselves. We conclude with an argument that the discourse of dog fighting might best be approached from the perspective of green criminology with a focus on those who are most abused by the crime: the fighting dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We employed ACB to characterize Gastric Emptying Time (GET — T1/2) and Gastric Activity Contraction (GAC) in dogs after erythromycin administration. An erythromycin dose of 50 mg was infused, after 24 h of fasting. Without erythromycin administration, ACB recorded GET of 157.5±13.6 min (mean±SD) and GAC of 4.4±0.5 cpm (cycles per minute). After erythromycin administration was measured a GET of 84.2±19.7 min. GAC was measured before, during and after erythromycin administration and results were, respectively, 4.4±0.5, 4.9±0.6 and 4.2±0.3 cpm. Erythromycin produced efficient prokinetic action in gastric emptying and increased gastric motility in dogs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sociologists have been slow to turn their attention to 'blood sports' involving animals or activities where animals suffer neglect and abuse. Although there seems to be a heightened sense of public contempt in many countries toward the outwardly cruel treatment of animals such as dogs, and toward the place of animals in 'sport' per se, the ways in which racing greyhounds may be enmeshed in wider formations of sports-related abuse and violence continues to be ignored. In this article, data gathered on greyhound abuse in the North American racing figuration are examined in the process of understanding the social chains of interdependence necessary to perpetuate 'tolerable' deviance against the dogs. Using central tenets of figurational sociology, patterns of neglect and abuse are discussed and conceptual typologies of the main 'players' in the greyhound figuration are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION:: Racing Alaskan sled dogs develop exercise-induced airway inflammation, similar to that reported for elite human athletes participating in cold-weather sports. These human athletes also have airway hyperresponsiveness, but airway function in sled dogs has not been measured.PURPOSE:: To compare respiratory mechanical properties in trained, rested Alaskan sled dogs with typical laboratory hounds, and to determine whether subsequent training alters respiratory mechanical properties.METHODS:: Nineteen healthy adult Alaskan sled dogs were compared with five healthy adult mixed-breed laboratory hounds. All dogs were rested for at least 4 months before examination. Respiratory mechanical properties were measured while the dogs were anesthetized and ventilated with a piston ventilator. The mean respiratory resistance and compliance measurements for 20 consecutive breaths were used as baseline values immediately before measurement of respiratory reactivity. Respiratory reactivity was the mean of 20 consecutive breaths immediately after the administration of aerosol histamine, expressed as the percentage change in prehistamine measurements. After the initial examinations, the sled dogs were divided into exercised and controls. Exercised dogs were trained for competitive endurance racing. Both groups were examined after 2 and 4 months of training.RESULTS:: Alaskan sled dogs had greater respiratory compliance reactivity to histamine (77.47 ± 8.58% baseline) compared with laboratory dogs (87.60 ± 9.22% baseline). There was no effect of training on respiratory mechanical properties detected in racing sled dogs.CONCLUSIONS:: Racing Alaskan sled dogs have airway dysfunction similar to “ski asthma” that persists despite having 4 months of rest. These findings suggest that repeated exercise in cold conditions can lead to airway disease that does not readily resolve with cessation of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the social sciences, work, family and religion – but not leisure – are commonly thought to shape the meanings people give their lives. But increasingly leisure research reports that under modernism, leisure practice and cultural consumption are at least as essential. What happens when leisure and 'real world' institutions pose different, even conflicting expectations? We focus on 'serious leisure' as elaborated through Tomlinson's 'culture of commitment'. Our case study is people who participate in serious leisure involving dogs. The data comes from 61 interviews plus field notes based on our own involvement in dog sports. We ask how as an alternative world often perceived by self and others as marginal, this passionate avocation interfaces with the 'real world' of work, family, religion, and other social institutions. We find that dog sports indeed represent a 'culture of commitment'. For hobbyists, involvement shapes such life realms as how time is used, how money is spent, how kin are defined, and how profit is viewed. Sometimes it generates strong behavioural expectations for participants, expectations that clash with those of the 'real world'. Examples include gender identity and religious and work obligations. When these clashes occur, respondents neither simply succumb to nor resist either set of demands. Rather, they negotiate between the two, reproducing and reshaping each simultaneously. Meanwhile, they also deal with the intrinsic tensions that a serious leisure pursuit brings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on badger baiting sport as described in the sonnets of John Clare in England. Context of animal baiting sport; Existence of glorifying, rage and humiliating emotions in the sport; Comparison with ancient Roman and Greek combats; Cruelty as the reason for the appeal of baiting on spectators.

This article examines the world of dogfighting. Our technique was to let the responses speak for themselves, thus presenting the world of dogfighting in full vivid detail and then to offer both summarization and interpretation. Our purpose was to capture the essence of dogfighting from those who have experienced it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on an increase in popularity of the field of canine sports and rehabilitation medicine and mentions the recognition of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Topics discussed include canine sports such as agility organized by the American Kennel Club, athletic injuries of dogs, and the views of Chris Zink, of Zink Integrative Sports Medicine, on participating in canine sports.