Dog Scouts of America

[rottiemom53]

Tiponi is a Dog Scout and has earned her Hiking, Manners and Painting badges. She is working on Sign Langage and has learned 11 signs in addtion to her basic commands.

We are attending the 2nd annual mini-Dog Scout Camp in Ft. Worth, TX in Dec. where she should earn her Backpacking, Canine First Aid, Travel Safety and All Dog Band badges. We will begin working on Rally Obedience at camp.

We just had our 2nd pool party of the season and the dogs had a blast! We have a country club that allows us use of their pool and volley ball court, we all donate $10 each. There were about 20 dogs there from a minature Aussie to Wienamiers (sp?). We had a costume contest too.

Dog Scouts promotes responsible dog ownership and helps mold our canines into good members of society. I plan on working with Tiponi for therapy certification as well.

Tiponi and a fellow Dog Scout gave a painting demonstration at the Barks for Parks in Arlington a couple of weeks ago. She was on stage painting for the crowd. It's a cool site to see.

We have 3 Rottweilers in our troop with Tiponi being the most active. She attends several booth events with me and gets to meet lots of people, she especially loves kids!!

If you are interested go to www.dogscouts.org for more info. You can start a troop in your area. We only meet once a month. We are also putting bags together for the Meals on Wheels recipientes pets, we'll be doing that in Nov. We solicit food, treats, toys, money. We have recieved a wonderful donation of 20 lb. bags of dog food so all dogs are covered! This is our second year after being asked for a repeat performance by MOW.

Just wanted to let you all know there is another way to get involved with your Rottie and the challenges and learning opportunities are unlimited!

We still have openings for our mini-camp and have people from 3 states coming, Two of the people are wanting to start their own troopso are coming on a fact finding mission!

It's been a wonderful experience and Tipoini and I are very close and in tune with one another.

Becky

[majicka]

What a totally cool thing!! Wish they had that around here it sounds like it would be a blast.

Good girl Tiponi earning all those badges!

[rottiemom53]

The web site will tell you where the troops are located. The founder and main Dog Scout camp is in MI. I hope to make the week long camp up that way one day! Right now I spend my vacation visitng my dad in the summer in Mifflinville, PA!!

You can also visit any troop to get an idea of how things run, maybe get someone interested in your area to start a troop.

It is very cool and it's been incredible watching Tiponi go from a pup to an attentive adult Rottie (except when she plays the Diva).

I've posted a few pictures of Goliath & Tiponi in the gallery.

[jazzie23]

Becky,
You should be so proud of your self and Tiponi!!! That is so awesome and it is such a dedication to your pup, the time and the effort. That sound like so much fun and at the same time so beneficial to both of you. Congratulations on your Hiking, Manners and Painting badges!!!

[majicka]

I checked out the site, there isn't a location in our area and I'm not sure starting one up out here would be feesable. While I'd love to do it, people aren't really 'crazy' about the pets around here. It's very rural and most people use their dogs as lawn ornaments.

It really looks like a ton of fun for both dog and human. I'm in W. PA where is Mifflinville?

[rottiemom53]

Mifflinville is about an hour 1/2 northwest of Philadelpia and a neighbor to Bloomsburg (which has a college). My dad is the only one that didn't leave the NJ/PA area. We are originally from KY and moved to NJ when I was in first grade, when I was 20 I left and never looked back. Moved my body back to the South..as did my mom and sister. My brothers moved to VA.

I've also been teaching Goliath how to play music on a child's toy piano. Goliath is 7 and even plays better than Tiponi. She likes to peck at it while he runs his nose up & down the keyboard!

I'm sorry that you won't be able to have a troop up that way! You can always come visit us!

[Brutus's Mom]

I also looked into this when you first told me about it Becky, I wish there was one close for us to go!!! I was amazed when watching you teach mine a couple of the signs, that quickly!!!