7 May 2024 | East Gippsland News Weekend Walking with our dogs When we train our dogs to walk with us it is usually on the left. Why? Historically dogs went to war in 600BC when swords, spears, javelins, bows and arrows were used, these generally were held in the right hand, dogs would have been in a bad position on the right. Gundogs are on the left so ejecting shells and cartridges don’t hit them. Guide dogs generally work on the left to leave the right hand free. When footpaths were rare, people walked facing traffic and the dog was away from the road. Nowadays it’s not so important which side we walk dogs on (left is required for competitions involving heeling skills). There are two types of walking, one is casual, a loose lead with the dog having a bit of a wander and sniff, a relaxed pleasurable experience. The other is the heel position, with the dog giving full focus and precise positioning, great for walking through crowds or keeping the dog focussed. How do we differentiate so the dog understands – our body posture, movement and hand position all help indicate to the dog what we expect. For a loose lead walk our body and gait is relaxed and hands can be down, for heeling our hand position should be precise and constant (precision from dog and owner), movements may be more rigid. Social walking should be the priority for all dog owners. The dog should be able to walk on a lead before it goes for a walk, taking the dog out before it knows the rules and allowing it to pull becomes a learned behaviour which is more difficult to stop. Visit Bairnsdale and District Dog Obedience Club inc for more information. Bairnsdale VIEW Club is hosting a May Market on Saturday May 18, 8.30am to 2pm, at the Lucknow Hall. The Smith Family is a children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage, to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power To make reservations PH: 5152 4030 59 Main Street, Bairnsdale EN23686 of education. VIEW is a national women’s organisation and support network, bringing together women to enjoy social activities, develop skills, and make connections – all while supporting Australian children, with a belief that education is one of the most powerful agents for change. VIEW is also the largest community sponsor of students on The Smith Family’s ‘Learning for Life’ Program. With more than 14,000 members in 280 communities, VIEW Clubs support the educational outcome of more than 1730 students nationally. Bairnsdale VIEW Club currently sponsors 19 students on the program and are proud to provide better futures for young Australians. There will be an abundance of delights on offer. Delicious cakes and slices, hand crafted goods, plants, pre loved household goods and more. Enjoy a tasty sausage sizzle or warming coffee from the coffee van. Children will be entertained at the craft activity table. Bairnsdale VIEW Club members look forward to welcoming you to the market, to support this wonderful fundraiser. VIEW Club market Bairnsdale VIEW Club is hosting a May Market at Lucknow Hall on Saturday, May 18, from 8.30am to 2pm with funds raised to support the club’s 19 sponsor children.
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