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Ask Angus Archives
DECEMBER 2005
Is it true that wool doesn’t stink like polypro?
— Rhonda Harris, st. Petersburg, Florida
Yep. The folks at my hometown wool shop, Montana Wool (877-WOOLENS [966-5367]; www.montanawoolenshop.com) claim that the reason behind this fact is in the fibers. It turns out that the very reason you wear polypro—its wick- and breath-ability—is also the reason why it stinks when you sweat. Polypro is porous, allowing it to get clogged with odor molecules. Wool’s natural oil lanolin, which makes it soft, is slick so odor molecules can’t stick. The Montana State University-Bozeman Wool Lab (406-994-6270), which does in-depth research on wool and blended wool fabric, agrees. But if you ask me, I prefer my coat of dog fur—even if it smells—over anything from a sheep.
How can I train my newly rescued and adopted mixed-breed (mutt) puppy to be a dock-jumping dog? Also, can you please let all your readers out there know how great it is to rescue a dog from a rescue organization or shelter like PAWS Atlanta?
— Rodge Baker, Atlanta, Georgia
There’s certainly nothing better than saving a mutt from lockup. But now, your orphan has a home and, apparently, a future jumping off stuff. The key to dock-jumping is encouragement. The truth is that you can’t teach your dog to be an athlete. So don’t be disappointed if he never takes to the water. Start by playing with your pup in the shallows. Under no circumstance should you ever throw him in the water to “show” him how it’s done. Once he’s acclimated, take his favorite toy and play a little fetch. When the game is mid-stride, try dropping it just off the bank or dock so that a baby jump is necessary. Getting in the water can also take the edge off that first jump. If your dog loves you, his toy and water, you ought not have any worries. As the dog matures, consider enrolling him in a training course. Sport Mutt, Inc. (www.sportmutt.com) specializes in such training and offers three levels of ability, as well as videos and other educational materials. And understand that you, too, must be trained if you are going to compete.
NOVEMBER, 2005
Fishing is not a sport. Why does your magazine pretend that it is?
— Adam Spielvogel, Los Angelas, California
>>View Angus' Response
SEPTEMBER, 2005
What’s your favorite Frisbee?
—Bethany Heagle, Mission Hills, California
First, there is only one Frisbee: the disc trademarked by the toy company Wham-O. Also the manufacturer of such classic objects as the SuperBall, hula hoop, Instant Fish (just add water!), hacky sack and Slingshot, Wham-O bought the flying disc in 1957 from independent inventor Fred Morrison, who had been selling it as the Pluto Platter for two years. Morrison’s disc name choice didn’t fly (so to speak), and Wham-O changed it to Frisbee in 1958. But bored Yale students really were the ones who invented the sport when they began flinging pie pans at each other from the Frisbie Pie Company in the 1940s. Ever since, hippies and dogs everywhere have found purpose in their life. My favorite disc? Hard plastic is rough on a dog’s teeth, so I prefer softies like Ruff Wear’s Hover Craft (www.ruffwear.com).
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