August 01, 2008
Hello and happy August!
Due to receiving more than one lovely entry for the Dog of the Month contest, we've decided to change it to the Monthly Dog Show. We simply cannot choose between the stories and great photos we've received and feel each dog needs a chance to shine.
If you've created a dog story page (see Share Your Dog Story) and your dog hasn't yet been featured on our home page, keep your eye on it!
What's New and In The Works?
Dog Collars and Dog Leashes are now separate buttons on the NavBar. The revised Dog Collars page can be viewed at How To Make Dog Collars
New stuff includes:
- Dog Leashes and Leads
- Braided Dog Leash Instructions
- Dog Bike Leash (Note that we've changed the name of our bicycle loop attachment from "Bloopee" to "B-Loop")
These instructions will cost $2.75 and $2.95, respectively. Your cost of materials should be low since all that's required is yarn and hardware.
The Hawaiian shirt is still waiting in the wings, as is the bandana page.
It's Free
Our July winner of the instructions for the matching collar-and-leash set was Katie from the U.S.. Turns out Katie has a website about Maltese dogs (www.MalteseManiac.com) and owns two of these little darlings.
Congratulations and happy braiding, Katie!
Not sure what kind of glue to use when? Here's a free guide:
Guide To Adhesion
Making things yourself may be fun, but some of the words used on do-it-yourself sites can be confusing or unfamiliar.
Here's a FREE DO IT YOURSELF GLOSSARY OF TERMS to clear things up.
Kids Stuff: For Kids of All Ages
SIMPLE BRAIDED OR PLAITED DOG LEASH
Want to make a leash for your dog? If you know how to braid (or plait) using three strands, then you can make a leash like this.
If you haven't learned how to braid yet, see below. It's really pretty easy to learn. Once you know how to do it, go to Braided Dog Leash Instructions to make the leash.
Getting ready to practice braiding:
- Cut three strands of cord or yarn about as long as from your knee to the ground
- Tie them together in a knot at the top
- Tape the knot to a kitchen counter, table or chair (make sure the tape won't mess up the surface!)
- Spread out the strands so you have one on the right, one in the middle and one on the left
It's a simple sequence of Right Over Middle, Left Over Middle, which you keep repeating. Here's our favorite way to do it:
- Take the right side strand and put it over the middle strand
- Hold the two left strands with your left hand, the other with your right
- Push the far left strand over the middle strand with your left forefinger then grab it with your right hand
- Now push the far right strand over the middle strand with your right forefinger and grab hold of it with your left hand
- Keep holding onto the single strand with the fingers of the opposite hand to keep tension on the braid
Reader's Write
Do you have a question you want answered or some comments you want to pass along? Just Ask Us or Contact Us
We usually respond within two days so if you don't receive an answer, it may mean we either didn't get a valid e-mail address to respond to (this has happened several times), or your spam blocker blocked the email. Set your emails to receive from */make-and-build-dog-stuff.com.
Here's some fan mail:
From Casey in New York: I just wanted to say, this is a WONDERFUL site. I am a positive reinforcement/clicker trainer and live in a fairly economically depressed area. I am always searching for ways that can save my clients money while making their dogs happier, and your wonderful tips are a great resource.
And this from Mike in Essex, U.K.: I like your website very much. We are definitely a doggy family, or should I say a family of dogs.. sorry if I sound confused lol, but seriously we have a king charles cavalier called Amber and an Alsation called Gucci.
Here is our reply:
We really can't get enough of those kinds of kudos - please keep them coming!
Remember, we'd love to hear from the rest of you, anywhere in the wide world - if you have a question, we'll try to find the answer somehow...
Jo, Stan and Comet
Reviews
Time for some dog books:
If you've ever had a crazy dog and want something to chuckle over, Marley & Me by john grogan is hilarious (and since it's set in Florida, you'll get a better idea of what Comet's experiencing). Geared towards adults.
Interested in cooking for your dog? Here's a gem we just found at the local library: Throw Me A Bone by Sally Sampson and Cooper Gillespie.
Contains 50 recipes with simple, nutritious ingredients, hints for spicing them up so humans can eat them too, and lots of photos with either profound or humorous quotes.
Tips & Tricks
Tip 1:
Use a darning needle with a large eye and blunt end to weave loose ends of yarn into a braided/woven piece. You can glide between strands of yarn instead of splitting the threads
Tip 2:
Try to match the weave and the color
Tip 3:
After you trim protruding ends, use a tiny dab of clear glue to hold each in place
Word Play
A person that comes from another country is a foreigner
Does that mean his or her dog is a fureigner?
People call human ancestors their forebears
We reckon that makes our dogs' ancestors their furbears!
Well, hope August means you're out having fun with your dog(s) whether you're baking in the hot temperatures of the northern hemisphere or freezing in the southern hemisphere winter climate!
Till next month - keep those tails wagging!
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