9.29.2006
being a dog in dubai...there is hope...
the following article was found @ 7days.ae:
Dubai’s bored mutts to get a proper job
People may complain that there is not enough to do in Dubai. But what if you are a dog? For much of the year it is too hot for fur, but even when it is cool, the leisure opportunities are abysmal.
No wonder a big slice of the city’s sizeable pooch population is turning bad, says Martina Boor. “I think there is a lack of activity. That’s where 90 per cent of behavioural problems start. Dogs are not physically or mentally exercised properly,” she says.
However, Boor is set on doing something about this. As a first step, the 29-year-old Slovakian marketing exec has already recruited a motley collection of breeds for regular Friday afternoon sport sessions. This, though, is a mere scratch on her high-reaching aspirations for emirates mutts.
“We are at the very beginning but I am currently trying to set up canine therapy in Dubai. Animal-assisted activities and therapy is very big in the United States, Canada and Europe. I’m looking for people who would want to join me or had an experience of this,” she says.
Among the examples of canine care-givers already at work in Dubai she gives the example of a friend’s assistance dog. This dog, which flew with its owner from New York in its own seat, has been trained to spot when its owner is about to suffer a seizure.
“The dog keeps eye-contact with him constantly. It can detect a hormonal change in his skin and sweat. It signals him six hours before a seizure so he can take his medicine,” she says.
As well as seeking out easy-going dogs for weekly encounters with the disabled and unwell, she is also planning a resource for dog owners to provide information and try to organise facilities such as a “doggie beach”.
Her mission on behalf of Dubai’s dogs develops naturally from an outdoorsy background in what was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Her childhood she says was “very horse related”.
To the assertion that it sounds a bit of an aristocratic background she gives an evasive “sort of”. “My grandmother was a countess and my grandfather once lost two castles in a game of cards,” she admits.
That sounds pretty cool, I suggest. “Not really. Everyone was very upset,” she says.
Anyway, in finding ways to keep her own three dogs occupied, she has uncovered a vast and wildly diverse population of frustrated animals and owners.
“I talk to people who import dogs and the Ministry of Agriculture. There are thousands of dogs here. You can find every kind of breed and people are dying to do something, to have some information and get involved. There are such limited opportunities,” she says.
So far, her biggest bite at the canine activity deficit has been bringing the sport of lure coursing to Dubai. This involves dragging an imitation hare or plastic bag along the ground for dogs to chase after.“I bought a machine from the States. It took me six months to figure out how to work it. I had to educate myself. I now know all about solenoids, brushes and motors,” she says.
In theory, coursing is a sport for the Lamborghinis of the canine world like greyhounds or whippets. In Dubai, the dearth of alternative recreation gives Dubai Coursing’s Friday meetups a far more diverse constituency.
“People are so excited about any activity. They come to coursing with Jack Russells and British Bulldogs. Any dog can run,” she says.
As Dubai settles at gas mark 7 for the summer, she hopes to keep her club’s diverse community intact with evening walks. “I want to keep the dog together for a social thing (social for the dogs that is). The socialising is very important. Aggressive dogs become well-behaved. Shy dogs become sociable,” she says.
“Besides, if I don’t walk them, my dogs will eat me,” she says.
For more information: www.dubaicoursing.com
dubaicoursing
dubaicoursing [Email address: dubaicoursing #AT# yahoo.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
Article printed from 7DAYS: http://www.7days.ae
URL to article: http://www.7days.ae/2006/05/10/dubais-bored-mutts-to-get-a-proper-job.html
Dubai’s bored mutts to get a proper job
People may complain that there is not enough to do in Dubai. But what if you are a dog? For much of the year it is too hot for fur, but even when it is cool, the leisure opportunities are abysmal.
No wonder a big slice of the city’s sizeable pooch population is turning bad, says Martina Boor. “I think there is a lack of activity. That’s where 90 per cent of behavioural problems start. Dogs are not physically or mentally exercised properly,” she says.
However, Boor is set on doing something about this. As a first step, the 29-year-old Slovakian marketing exec has already recruited a motley collection of breeds for regular Friday afternoon sport sessions. This, though, is a mere scratch on her high-reaching aspirations for emirates mutts.
“We are at the very beginning but I am currently trying to set up canine therapy in Dubai. Animal-assisted activities and therapy is very big in the United States, Canada and Europe. I’m looking for people who would want to join me or had an experience of this,” she says.
Among the examples of canine care-givers already at work in Dubai she gives the example of a friend’s assistance dog. This dog, which flew with its owner from New York in its own seat, has been trained to spot when its owner is about to suffer a seizure.
“The dog keeps eye-contact with him constantly. It can detect a hormonal change in his skin and sweat. It signals him six hours before a seizure so he can take his medicine,” she says.
As well as seeking out easy-going dogs for weekly encounters with the disabled and unwell, she is also planning a resource for dog owners to provide information and try to organise facilities such as a “doggie beach”.
Her mission on behalf of Dubai’s dogs develops naturally from an outdoorsy background in what was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Her childhood she says was “very horse related”.
To the assertion that it sounds a bit of an aristocratic background she gives an evasive “sort of”. “My grandmother was a countess and my grandfather once lost two castles in a game of cards,” she admits.
That sounds pretty cool, I suggest. “Not really. Everyone was very upset,” she says.
Anyway, in finding ways to keep her own three dogs occupied, she has uncovered a vast and wildly diverse population of frustrated animals and owners.
“I talk to people who import dogs and the Ministry of Agriculture. There are thousands of dogs here. You can find every kind of breed and people are dying to do something, to have some information and get involved. There are such limited opportunities,” she says.
So far, her biggest bite at the canine activity deficit has been bringing the sport of lure coursing to Dubai. This involves dragging an imitation hare or plastic bag along the ground for dogs to chase after.“I bought a machine from the States. It took me six months to figure out how to work it. I had to educate myself. I now know all about solenoids, brushes and motors,” she says.
In theory, coursing is a sport for the Lamborghinis of the canine world like greyhounds or whippets. In Dubai, the dearth of alternative recreation gives Dubai Coursing’s Friday meetups a far more diverse constituency.
“People are so excited about any activity. They come to coursing with Jack Russells and British Bulldogs. Any dog can run,” she says.
As Dubai settles at gas mark 7 for the summer, she hopes to keep her club’s diverse community intact with evening walks. “I want to keep the dog together for a social thing (social for the dogs that is). The socialising is very important. Aggressive dogs become well-behaved. Shy dogs become sociable,” she says.
“Besides, if I don’t walk them, my dogs will eat me,” she says.
For more information: www.dubaicoursing.com
dubaicoursing
dubaicoursing [Email address: dubaicoursing #AT# yahoo.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
Article printed from 7DAYS: http://www.7days.ae
URL to article: http://www.7days.ae/2006/05/10/dubais-bored-mutts-to-get-a-proper-job.html
Comments:
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hey mirabella....its quite by coincidence i've come across your blog. Your a very pretty girl!!
let me introduce myself, my name is Radhika Nair and i live in Bombay, India.
I am going to be getting married moving with my now fiance to Sharjah by the end of next year.
I practice animal-assisted therapy in Bombay. I am clinical psychologist and i have done a certificate course in AAT from the University of North Texas (1 year home study).
I work with children with special needs and adults who have mental illneses along with my therapy dogs. My website is www.animalangelsfoundation.com to read more abut our work.
i read in your blog that you know someone, Ms.Martina Boor, who wants to do similar work in Dubai and i was hoping you could get me in touch with her. I would love to continue doing AAT in Dubai.
Looking forward to a 'paw'sitive response from you!!!
my email address is
radhikanair82@gmail.com
Radhika
let me introduce myself, my name is Radhika Nair and i live in Bombay, India.
I am going to be getting married moving with my now fiance to Sharjah by the end of next year.
I practice animal-assisted therapy in Bombay. I am clinical psychologist and i have done a certificate course in AAT from the University of North Texas (1 year home study).
I work with children with special needs and adults who have mental illneses along with my therapy dogs. My website is www.animalangelsfoundation.com to read more abut our work.
i read in your blog that you know someone, Ms.Martina Boor, who wants to do similar work in Dubai and i was hoping you could get me in touch with her. I would love to continue doing AAT in Dubai.
Looking forward to a 'paw'sitive response from you!!!
my email address is
radhikanair82@gmail.com
Radhika
This is great analysis on the dogs and very clever thinking about dogs behavior. Let me know that why are you pointing out to Dubai Dogs what thee live different generation of the Dogs...?
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