Museum of Natural History Going to the Dogs

The Museum of Natural History in Halifax is going to the dogs for three days.

The fun begins Friday, Oct. 24 -- a provincewide in-service day for public schools -- and continues until Sunday, Oct. 26 with a series of events and display featuring all kinds of dogs, both wild and domestic.

Coyotes, wolves and foxes may be canine cousins to our family dogs, but they have different social lives, diets and relationships with humans, all of which will be examined during the event.

Museum zoologist Andrew Hebda says wild dogs exist on every continent except Antarctica. "Nova Scotia is no exception. Our province is home to coyotes and foxes, and once to wolves. Dogs are pack animals with instincts to herd their group; it is traits such as these that have been fined tuned in domestic dogs, like border collies, which are bred to herd sheep."

Visitors to the museum will enjoy Dogs with Jobs, featuring a police dog from the Halifax Regional Police Service canine division, Alaskan malamute sled dogs, St. John Ambulance therapy dogs, sheep herding border collies and partner guide dogs for the visually impaired.

There will also be entertaining performances of flyball, frisbee and agility dogs. More than 100 dogs will participate in various activities over the three days.

And owners will learn a thing or two also. Dogs need and enjoy exercise and training, says Margaret Bond of the All Round K-9 Sports Club. "We show how it can be achieved in a beneficial way that is fun for both the dog and the owner. Our K-9 agility courses and our version of Canine Idol, a doggy twist on the popular Canadian Idol, demonstrates how dogs truly like to learn and play, and its entertaining too."

Booths on grooming, alternative medicine, food, and doggy daycare will also be available. Presentations will include SPCA Dogs Make Good Pets Too, The Secret Lives of Wolves, and a fabulous display of wolf photographs by local photographer Len Wagg.

"The Museum Goes to the Dogs event was offered at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History seven years ago and visitors have been asking us to do it again," says Alex Wilson, museum manager. "This time we'll make it bigger and better with a grand finale on Sunday - The Fashion Show of Breeds -- featuring some of our most poplar pooches."

Shows, talks and demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend. For specific times, call the museum information line at 902-424-6099 or visit the Web site at: http://nature.museum.gov.ns.ca .

Admission to the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St., is $3 for adults and $2 for youths aged 6 to 17 years. A family rate of $7.50 is available for one adult and children or two adults and children. Children under five are admitted free. The event is open to participating dogs only.