Welcome

Welcome to 'Four Legs BetterThan Two'

'Four Legs' is a community arts project based on the experiences of dog walking.

Everyone is invited to participate.


This project is about how dogs shape our lives. Based on the stories, memories, joys and benefits of dog walking 'Four Legs' looks at how our dogs influence the ways in which we experience and interact with the world.

'Four Legs' also reflects on the nature of the informal community we become part of as dog owners and how this community produces a sense of belonging that enhances our lives.

All dog owners are invited to participate in the project. There are many possible levels of participation from a simple comment on the discussion boards at popular dog parks to shared walks.

Contributions to this blog site are most welcome. These could be in the form of photographs, short stories or video of your favourite walks. As the project develops this site will gather dog stories from all over Dunedin, to create a network of 'who's who' in the most popular dog areas.

Out of the project will come several different events. The most important entitled 'Four Legs Better Than Two' is the heart of the project. The experiences of dog walking will be gathered in the most inventive ways. Including the use of 'dog cam', shared walks and audio recordings this will be a light hearted and undemanding process. From these records will come the stories of dog walking and the community that we become part of through their influence. To participate in this stage please email me at sean.curham@otago.ac.nz.

The final event will be an informal showing of these stories and records - with plenty of food and drink - to which everyone is invited.

The other projects that from part of 'Four Legs Better Than Two' include an installation at the University called 'Big Dog', a sound work called 'Growly Dog', ongoing discussions on the dog park boards, 'Commune' a project with the post graduate students of the dance programme at the University of Otago , 'Good dog, bad man' a white board cartoon that is contributed to by passers by and a very light hearted project called 'Dog Park Karaoke'.

'Dog Park Karaoke' - is being created in response to the informal nature of the dog community. This event gathers its material through a process of chance encounters reflecting the informal, mobile nature of dog community interactions. We never know who we will meet. Will it be the 'regulars' out walking their dogs or will their be unknown 'newbies' on our patch? There are a number of different recording devices 'floating around' in the dog community - being handed on from person to person. These include postcards, a dog phone, and a camera. By recording your dogs information via these devices you will become part of the project building a profile of your dog.

'Dog Park Karaoke' will then be 'performed' in local parks where owners will trigger this information and a giant image of their dog. Of course more food and drink is required.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Friday 17 - Big Day Out

Start the day with Darlene, Lynn Namo and Sadie. Darlene and Lynn are very generous collaborators on the project and great company. Namo a guide dog gets the morning off - well sort of as Sadie takes the opportunity to fully exploit Namos freedom for some serious games. (Evisceration, hamstringing, garroting - everyones favourites) Both love it - Tippy is the 3rd wheel. We make it to the top of Fraser's Gully - and from there apparently it is possible to go on - over the hill and down to Mosgiel. But we don't. Great walk.


Jubilee - quick stop - no sign of Tumai or Bailey

Wakari . Meet Tina and Syd(Dogga) - he loves to run so we plan a video of his exploits. The park is full of kids and dogs. Brilliant.


This is a day of new places, people and dogs. Tomahawk. Meet Dee Margaret and Jill with Maisie,Boston and Digby - Jesse and Julian visit. The Tomahawkers are an inspiration - great caretakers for the local area - picking up rubbish - always being around must make the area safe and friendly for others. I think that the presence of dog walkers is an efficient neighbourhood watch.

Happy dogs - Digby quickly sorts us all out, puts me on ball duty. Jill is on stray ball retrieval. Margaret gets to supervise - Dee has got the mic and gives the call.

Tippy is unsure -another group to adjust too - her herding tactics don't go down too well.

Chardonnay is required for the next adjournment.

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