dog walks

Rubber Collars?

Janet Slissman · Jul 1, 2023 ·

Recently, I took one of my labrador retrievers swimming at McLaren Park. After about a week of daily swimming, the dog seemed to get some kind of bacteria infection on it’s neck. Little did I know that when the dog lays on it’s wet collar on the way home, this caused a stinky problem. I found a collar on the internet made by Dublin Dog Company that seems to combat this problem. The collars are created from a special blend of synthetic polymers that won’t absorb moisture, retain dirt, or harbor bacteria. If your dog loves to swim, check out the “No Stink” collar from Dublin Dog Company. You can even find them on Amazon!

Red Tides at Fort Funston

Janet Slissman · Apr 1, 2022 ·

Have you seen the Red Tides at Fort Funston?

If you have been out to Fort Funston, you might have been lucky enough to see an unusual red color in the water. Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon more correctly known as an algal bloom. These algae are plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface.

Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortality among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, and marine mammals. This is probably why there were dead crabs on the beach a couple of days before the red tide showed it’s face to us.

At this point, it is unknown if the red tide is toxic to dogs and humans, but some surfers have stated that they have been sick after being out in this water. The red color will disappear once the conditions change.

Horses on Fort Funston Beach

Janet Slissman · Apr 26, 2013 ·

Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker

Have you ever run into horseback riders at Fort Funston?

Well if not, you probably will someday soon. Fort Funston is a popular destination for equestrians of all skill levels.

Don’t know how your dog will react to a horse? I suggest that you keep your eyes open and if a horse approaches, put your dog on leash, until you know their behavior. Most dogs will have a natural curiosity around horses and may run up to sniff or bark, which may startle the horse and cause the rider to fall, or at the very least, the rider may become angry with you and make it an unpleasant encounter.

Until you know how your dog will react to a horse,it is important to make that first encounter a cautious one. If you find that you dog seems to be overly interested in the new beast on the beach, then I recommend that you do some conditioning. I have had very good luck with dogs that are reactive to horses on the trail, if I take them on a private walk to a stable, on leash of course, and coax them near the horses with cookies and lots of baby talk (yes this is a technical dog training term). After a few times, the dogs will feel more secure and will relax around horses. And if you should see horses on the beach, you should call your dog over to you, for a treat. If you have conditioned the dog well enough, they should not react to the horses passing, but rather come over to you and sit facing you, when you call out “cookie” and then request that they “sit” quietly while the horses pass.

What Causes Orange Substance on Trees in SF?

Janet Slissman · Mar 24, 2013 ·

Nope! This is not paint or fire retardant!
The orange-rust color is an algae which has been observable at Sutro Height Park near Land’s End over the last several years, but park officials and foresters are not concerned that it poses a health safety risk.

The rust-dark orange algae,Trentepohlia aurea v. polycarpa, can now be found along the seawall from The Cliff House all the way down the sea wall of Ocean Beach.

This algae thrives on ocean salt spray and forms dense colonies on Monterey Cypress trees along the Pacific coast.

dog walks

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