Can Your Dog Become a Canine Good Citizen?

Being a Canine Good Citizen is fun. You and your dog might enjoy it, too!

I like it best when I get to do tricks. I can jump over a stick. I can jump through a hoop. I can climb a ladder. I can yodel a song.

Sometimes when I visit a nursing home, some of the people are afraid of me when they first see me. I am a very big dog.

I have learned to sit politely in front of people. If they move a little closer to me, then I put my head in their lap. As soon as I do, they aren't afraid of me any more. They begin to pet me. I love to be petted!

That's really what being a therapy dog is all about... love. A Canine Good Citizen loves people. Most people also love dogs. Whether they are young or old... whether they are sick or hurting... petting a dog can make them feel better.

Would you and your dog like to join in spreading love around? Your town may already have a therapy dog organization. They need handlers and their dogs to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and special need facilities. Therapy dogs can also help children learn to read (see http://www.tailsofjoy.org/readpdfs/qualitiesreadteams.pdf).

If you would like to learn more about therapy dogs, check out these great books from your local library:
Therapy Dogs by Linda Tagliaferro
Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House by Barbara Gail Techel
The Adventures of Sheila the Therapy Dog by Debbie Fedorovich

If you would like to train your dog to become a Canine Good Citizen, check out these books from your library:
The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One by Jack Volhard
Citizen Canine by The American Kennel Club

I'm a Canine Good Citizen!

I did it! I passed my Canine Good Citizen test today. Here's a picture of me in my graduation cap.

The test was fun. I think that Mom was more nervous than me.

The teacher who gave me the test was very nice. She brushed my coat. She tickled my toes. She petted my head.

She asked Mom to walk around with me at her side. I sat. I came when Mom called. I laid down and stayed until she said that I could come to her.

The teacher banged a pot to see if I was afraid. She had Mom and me walk around a group of people. The teacher's husband took me away from Mom for three minutes. He was also very nice.

The hardest part of the test was when the teacher brought out her dog. His name is Eagle. The teacher walked Eagle by us. I wanted to touch noses with him but I just sat next to Mom. She was very happy with me and gave me LOTS of hugs and pets.

Now I am a Canine Good Citizen. I can go anywhere in the US and work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and all sorts of places. Mom ordered a jacket for me. I'll show it to you when it arrives.

It has been a VERY good day!

To learn how your dog can become a Canine Good Citizen, click here:
http://images.akc.org/pdf/cgc/GK9GC1.pdf

Wish Me Luck on My Test!

Saturday is a big day for me. I will take my Canine Good Citizen exam. I must pass every part of the test. Mom and I have been practicing so that I will be ready.

It is a hard test for a Golden Retriever. I must sit next to Mom when a stranger and another dog come to greet us. I cannot say hello to the stranger or the dog unless Mom tells me that it is okay. That is VERY hard for a friendly Golden!

All of the other parts of the test will be easy for me. I must sit, stay, and come when Mom tells me to. The teacher will brush my fur to make sure that I like it. (And I do!) She will pick up my feet and look in my mouth to make sure that I don't bite.

The teacher will use a wheel chair or make a loud noise to see if I am afraid. Mom will leave me with the teacher for a few minutes to see if I am calm.

I took a test like this several years ago for Critters for Christ. I took the test so that I could go into nursing homes and visit sick people. Critters for Christ is a Texas organization. I am taking the Canine Good Citizen test because it is a national organization.

I will tell you tomorrow if I pass my test. Wish me luck!

Jupiter Lost a Stripe!

Jupiter has lost a stripe! One of the bands along Jupiter's equator has disappeared. It is known as the South Equatorial Belt (SEB).

The belt began to fade last year. Now it is completely gone.

The stripe has faded before but it normally doesn't disappear. Scientists think that the stripe is hiding under some clouds. Jupiter is a very stormy planet.

Sometimes Jupiter's stripe comes back quickly. Maybe you will be the first to see it! Remember that you can take a photo of Jupiter. Just visit our Thursday, November 5, 2009, "Beautiful Moon" post to learn how.

To learn more about Jupiter, go to
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/62211main_Jupiter.Lithograph.pdf

To learn more about Jupiter's lost stripe, go to
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/20may_loststripe/

Photo courtesy NASA.

Touchdown, Atlantis!

Space shuttle Atlantis made a perfect landing today. Unless the White House gives the okay, Atlantis will never fly again.

Atlantis may retire, but the remarkable story of the shuttle missions will continue. The next shuttle launch is scheduled for September. The final shuttle mission will launch in November.

Once these missions are completed, the space shuttles will find homes in museums. They will proudly rest along with legendary space craft like the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo command capsules.

As the shuttles retire, more and more people are watching the final missions. I hope that we send the shuttles out with a great celebration!

Would you like to build a great space shuttle model? Click here: http://www.aiaa.org/kidsplace/kidsplacepdfs/Space_Shuttle_Glider.pdf

Photo courtesy NASA.

Our Coastal Waters

Our coastal wetlands, where the land meets the sea, are very important. They are home to lots of wildlife. They protect our shores. They clean the environment. They provide food for our tables.

There are many different types of coastal wetlands. They include the barrier islands along the Gulf of Mexico, like Padre Island in Texas and Grand Isle in Louisiana. These long, narrow islands protect the coast from storms that wash away the shoreline.

Our coastal wetlands also include tidal flats, bays, marshes, and bayous. The water in these wetlands can be salty, a mix of salt and fresh, or fresh water. Normally they also have lots of plant life growing in them.

The Gulf of Mexico coast is filled with wildlife. Our coastal wetlands are home to millions of birds. Between 60-90% of all U.S. commercial fishers are located along the coastal wetlands.

Marine wildlife love the shallow bays and marshlands along the Gulf. They go to the wetlands to have their babies or to lay their eggs.

Oysters and clams grow in the wetlands. They filter out tons of pollutants from the Gulf waters.

Here are some great activity books to learn more about the Gulf of Mexico's coastal waters and wildlife:

To learn about Texas wetlands, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_k0700_0908.pdf

To learn about Louisiana's coast, go to http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/education/labook.pdf

To learn about Alabama's coast, go to http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/education/mbbook.pdf

To learn about Florida's coast, go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/actbook.pdf

Have fun!!!

Oil Spill Update

Mom and Dad have been traveling and just came home. During their trip, they flew over the Gulf of Mexico. Mom told me that she saw the horrible oil spill.

She said that it looked like a dark cloud moving over the ocean. She said that it was very close to the barrier islands off Louisiana. It is so sad. So many animals, birds, and fish will be hurt by the oil.

The oil spill began on April 18. Crews have still not been able to stop the oil from gushing out of the well.

Almost 20% of the Gulf of Mexico is closed to fishing now. Scientists are afraid that the oil will make fish and shellfish sick. It can also make people who eat the seafood sick. Many of our fishermen friends are out of work. The waters that are closed to fishing are the areas where most fish are caught in the Gulf.

Since the oil spill began at least 154 sea turtles, 23 birds, and 12 dolphins have died. Workers in Louisiana report that the oil is washing into pelican nests. Pelicans are endangered birds.

IF YOU FIND AN OILED OR INJURED ANIMAL,
PLEASE CALL (866) 557-1401.
PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF ANIMALS, THE DATE AND TIME THEY WERE SEEN, THEIR LOCATION, AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANIMAL'S BEHAVIOR.

If you would like to volunteer to help injured animals, please check with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana at http://www.crcl.org/ To help injured birds, visit Save our Seabirds at http://www.saveourseabirds.org/

If you would like to learn more about oil spills, please visit http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/School-Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA/Become-an-Eco-School/Special-Report/~/media/PDFs/Eco-schools/OilSpillActivity-Easy.ashx

For information about how oil affects wildlife, visit these sites:
http://alaska.fws.gov/media/unalaska/Oil%20Spill%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf AND
http://www.epa.gov/OEM/docs/oil/edu/oilspill_book/chap5.pdf

This May 24, 2010, photo of the oil spill is courtesy NASA. For more images, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/oilspill/oil_spill_gallery.html