Golfing With Your Dog

If you're a golfer and are trying to find ways to spend more time with your dog, think about taking your dog golfing with you!

Right here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire we are surrounded by golf courses and some are dog friendly, which means a well-trained dog may ride along in the cart or walk the course on leash.

Mulligan is a golf course regular as his Dad is a fanatic who loves golf as much as he loves him. The challenge for Dad was how to spend quality time with Mulligan yet still put in lots of time on the links. Light bulb! Take him golfing!

The very first time Mulligan rode in a golf cart was at the Profile Course in Franconia, NH. He was a puppy and began to run after the cart as his Dad drove away. At the end of the day just before we returned the cart, I called to Mulligan and had him jump in beside me. He sat next to me on the seat while I had one arm around him for safety. Then I slowly and gradually drove the cart around the parking lot.

He was a little bit spooked to begin with, but quickly reasoned that this was almost like going for a ride in the car with all the windows down.

“How cool is this! I’m sitting in the front seat and I have all the breeze and fresh air I want without having to wait for someone to open the window for me so I can stick my head out” I bet he was saying!

He had got to loving golf cart rides so much that at a recent vacation at a pet friendly golf course condo, he'd start to run after the carts that whizzed by the condo and attempt to get in and go for a ride.

As fun as riding in the cart is, taking your dog to a small 9-hole walking course is an excellent opportunity for the two of you to get some exercise. Certainly, you need to ask if the course will permit your well- trained and well-behaved leashed dog to walk the course with you.

When walking a course, Mulligan’s dad uses a pushcart for his clubs and has trained Mulligan to walk beside him as he is pushing the cart and to stop and sit when commanded.

Mulligan is a quick learner and very soon learned the routine of having the leash attached to the bag and walking beside the pushcart, and to stop, sit and not whine or bark when his Dad left his side to go swing at the ball.

Mulligan will not poop or pee while on the course and knows when he is unattached from the bag, that he's being taken to a wooded out of bounds area to do his thing. Most of the time he just wants to take a dip in a stream or puddle!

We are extremely proud of how well Mulligan behaves when he goes golfing! He is setting a good example for all other dogs who want to go golfing with their moms and dads. He hopes that you may want to teach your dog how to be a good golfing companion making it possible for all of you to spend enjoyable quality time together.

Please make sure to check with the golf course before you bring your dog. Many high-end courses forbid dogs on the course, well trained or not.

Golfing With Your Dog

Does Your Dog Suck Rocks?

Does your dog suck rocks? Not swallow them, just suck on them. I have been trying to figure out why Mulligan does this? It is so funny to watch him. He will find a small rock, kind of flat and roll it around in his mouth, shaking his head gently from side to side, up and down all the while working up a foam of saliva that drips out from the sides of his mouth.

When I am sitting out in my garden he will lay beside me with his rock and suck away. He can do this for what seems like hours, quite happy and content. When something else gets his attention he will drop the rock and come back to it again or go find a new one and resume the process.

I have been doing some research and it seems there a several theories. One is that a dog that sucks on rocks is lacking salt and minerals in their diet. Another is that it is a personality disorder and the dog is trying to get attention.

One article I read mentions the disease called “pica” which is when dogs EAT strange things due to a variety of reasons from attention getting, boredom to underlying diseases. Mulligan doesn’t eat the rocks he just sucks the rocks.

I think perhaps he could be lacking salt and other minerals…although he eats very well and gets a good healthy kibble. But he is so active that maybe he is replenishing his lost nutrients. What I really think is that he really just likes to suck rocks. I think it is his way to relax and chill, sucking rocks is his Zen. Like relaxing in my garden is my Zen.

I would love to hear from anyone who has a rock-sucking dog. What are your thoughts about this silly dog habit?

Does Your Dog Suck Rocks?