Recently in Olympics Category

Spring is coming, a time of new beginnings.

So how about joining a dog obedience class with your pooch?

These classes are invaluable in providing a good bonding experience between dog and owner -- but also for getting some of those basic skills down. The groups are usually small enough that personal help is always available from the instructors; they're held at local parks so you can get out in the sunshine.

Need more reasons? They're really a lot of fun.

The Lomita Obedience Training Club offers classes for dogs and owners at all levels, from beginning obedience to advanced workshops. If you want to have some fun -- and your dog has had beginning obedience and knows the fundamentals -- how about learning how to get your dog to do some tricks to music?

Most classes meet on Tuesday nights, with a couple offerings on Wednesday mornings, beginning this week (March 8 and 9). The class sessions last for six to seven weeks and cost $70 through the Lomita city recreation and parks department.

Click here for the class schedule. Signups (cash or check only)  are in the office at Lomita Park, 24428 Eshelman Ave., Lomita, which also is where the classes meet. If you can't sign up this time, new sessions will begin in May again.

There are descriptions of all the classes on the website also.

Questions? Call 310-530-4814.

 

OK, is everyone geared up for the Olympics??

Opening ceremonies are Friday and while it's true there are no pets competing in the games, a Web site called Petside stretches a bit to provide us with every possible pet-related angle there might be.

From "Meet the Olympians and their Pets" to "Asian Cat Breeds" and "Asian Dog Breeds," the site offers all kinds of features and videos.

My favorite is their side-by-side comparisons of Olympic sports & dog sports.

Take the personalized routines found in the gymnastics floor exercises (right). Now compare that to "Canine Musical Freestyle" where dogs perform to music with their handlers: 

                                                       

Other comparisons are made between agility and equestrian jumping, "Disc Dog" and the Olympic discus throw, doggie dock diving and the long jump, and flyball and hurdling,