You know those times when you just have to pick up one or two things from the drug store, but it's Saturday, and you just can't be bothered to put on pants? Or maybe you just did a big grocery shopping only to return home to discover that you forgot one item, and it's not like you're going to go all the way back to the store for that one thing.
That's when having a dog like this around would come in real handy. Trained to shop on behalf of his owners, the dog can only carry a bag containing a few small items at a time, but it's enough to eliminate some of those annoying errands that you're too lazy to do yourself.
Our dogs have so much more potential that we usually give them credit for. Start being creative about how you train yours, and you may never have to leave your home again.
Obviously the news this week has been dominated by one story: the demise of Osama bin Laden. While the grisly details of that affair may not be something you'd typically read about under the Paw Nation masthead, it is worth mentioning that this, like many U.S. military actions before it, involves four-legged, furry heroics.
That's right; the Navy SEAL team that brought down Osama bin Laden counted a single canine unit among its ranks, according to the Huffington Post. The exact identity of the dog, like its Navy SEAL counterparts, remains a mystery. Reportedly the animal was a Belgian Malinois, although reports indicate it may have been a German shepherd.
The dog's role in the raid on bin Laden's compound is unclear, although the use of dogs in the military is nothing new.Belgian Malinois are well-regarded for their intelligence, agility, loyalty, and particularly the sensory abilities that allow them to detect weapons and enemy forces at great distances. It also has been reported that, in addition to their natural gifts, Navy SEAL dogs are given "titanium fangs capable of ripping through enemy protective armor." Yikes.
We're always hearing about how curiosity gets the cat in hot water, but here's an example of a puppy sticking his nose -- and then the rest of his head -- somewhere it definitely doesn't belong.
Rebel, an 8-month-old German shepherd, got his head stuck in an 18-inch hole in a concrete wall. Fortunately for the snoopy puppy, the animal control officers who rescued him believe he was stuck only a few minutes before a neighbor heard him whining and authorities arrived on the scene. Still, it took 20 to 25 minutes of gentle pushing and pulling to free the frightened dog.
Which dog breeds are the most intelligent? And just what makes them so smart?
We took the list of the top ten brainiest breeds and asked dog guru Billy Rafferty, author of "Happy Dog: Caring for Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit" to give his perspective. "While most smart dogs have certain traits in common -- loyalty, vigilance, perceptiveness, a caring nature -- "there are many different kinds of intelligence," says Rafferty. "Canine intelligence is more nuanced than people think."
In the photo gallery below, Rafferty explains the pros and cons of owning these clever (but sometimes high maintenance) canines. And to learn more about how the original list was created, check out "The Intelligence of Dogs" by neuropsychologist Stanley Coren, PhD,. Coren based his findings on evaluations of breeds made by over 200 dog obedience judges in the U.S. and Canada.
#10 Australian Cattle Dog
The name says it all. This breed literally lives to herd. Pros: Protective of its owner and its owner's property. Even when it comes to its own toys, the Australian cattle dog likes things handled in an orderly fashion. (Many will put them in a pile when they're finished playing!) Cons: With herding in its genes, nipping at the ankles -- of humans, including children -- might be how this breed thinks it's helping to keep things in line.
Duncan Smith, Getty Images
Smartest Dog Breeds
#10 Australian Cattle Dog
The name says it all -- this breed literally lives to herd. Pros: Protective of its owners and its owner's property. Even when it comes to his own toys, the Australian Cattle Dog likes things handled in an orderly fashion. (Many will put them in a pile when they're finished playing!) Cons: With herding in their genes, nipping at the ankles -- of humans, including children -- is a common occurrence as they try to keep things in line.
#9 Rottweiler
Plagued by a bad rep, the Rottweiler moreoften uses its courage, intelligence and fierce loyalty for good rather than bad. Pros: Raised right, they are great with children. (Rafferty's three-year-old great-niece and her family's Rottweiler sleep in the same bed!) Cons: Unfortunately, Rottweilers are often mistrained. Make sure you know a Rottweiler's history before adopting one.
#8 Papillon
Named after the French term for "butterfly" -- check out those ears! Pros: Its big, open ears catch sound with utmost efficiency, allowing this dog to process and react to its environment more quickly. Cons: None, really. Those folks who may be turned off by typical toy dogs should note that the Papillon's got the bravura, athleticism and stamina of a dog ten times its size.
#7 Labrador Retriever
America's top dog, literally. It's a member of more U.S. households than any other breed. Pros: Loving, obedient, patient, focused, kid-friendly. As if that's not enough, Labradors have been known to "self train" by observing the behaviors of its owners or fellow pets. Cons: Doesn't come with a built-in guarding instinct (although that's a pro when it comes to exposing the dog to public settings).
#6 Shetland Sheepdog
Like the Australian Cattle Dog, they're herders by nature and, with the right owner, big-time lovebugs by nurture. Pros: Small and agile enough to do duty as a garden guarder. (Squirrels and rabbits, beware!) Cons: Sometimes wary of strangers, including children.
#5 Doberman Pinscher
Providing companionship to esteemed gentleman since 1801. Pros: Known for their fearlessness and stamina, Dobermans are everything you can want in a guard dog -- including a gentle regard for their owners. Cons: Much like the Rottweiler, this breed's temperament depends on its upbringing.
#4 Golden Retriever
A companion who lives to hunt, catch and fetch. Pros: Inherent patience makes this breed easy to train -- and it's been said the Golden Retriever can learn more than 200 commands! Cons: Besides the long coat, not much.
#3 German Shepherd
A brainiac and a workaholic like none other. Pros: When it comes to command training, gets it right the first time; a very fast learner. Can be trained to do most anything. So much so, some German Shepherds go on parachute jumps for the military. Cons: Needs to be kept occupied, or its unhappiness will show.
#2 Poodle
Nothing standard about the standard Poodle. It's smart as a whip and loves people. Pros: Perfect for active, quirky types: Loves the water, loves learning out-of-the-ordinary tricks and commands. (That's what makes them such great circus performers.) Cons: Notorious for causing destruction when bored. Hates to be left alone. Can be too sensitive for owners who like playing rough.
#1 Border Collie
Winner of the teacher's pet award for its exhaustive smarts, drive and devotion. Pros: A shoo-in for any sort of dog-sport competition. Loves nothing more than working side by side with its owner. Cons: Not a city dog! Can be a true terror if left unoccupied. Might get frustrated with small children who don't "fall in line."
Learn more about your favorite breeds at Meet the Breeds in New York City on October 16–17. Paw Nation is the official blog for the event, so be sure to check back here for more news and stories.
Emma Williams, Manchester Evening News Syndication
These two dogs are more than just best friends, they share a rare bond.
Ellie, a young cavalier King Charles spaniel in England, is almost completely blind. While her owner and a local animal organization are working to raise money for a vision-restoring operation, a German shepherd named Leo has taken matters into his own paws, and is protecting and guiding her.
"Ellie has cataracts on both eyes and is only aware of shadows," explains Jean Spencer, manager of Rochdale's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in an interview with the Manchester Evening News. "But Leo, who's an absolutely massive dog, has become her eyes. It's touching to watch them together. She follows him around and snuggles up to him."
Ellie was part of a litter of five puppies rescued from harsh conditions by the RSPCA, says Julie Lander, an RSPCA volunteer and Leo and Ellie's owner. "As well as having cataracts, Ellie's eye muscles haven't developed as they should have as she'd been kept in the dark. The puppies had no light or heating. I felt so sorry for her when she arrived, and knew she'd need a special home. But I also knew she would be all right with Leo, as he just loves little dogs and they took to one another straight away," Lander tells the Manchester Evening News.
Just like in an episode of "Lassie," this hero dog led police to the scene of a fire and helped save his family.
Buddy, a German shepherd, was with his owner, Ben Heinrichs, when his family's workshop caught fire. Once he and Buddy were safely outside, Heinrichs turned to the dog and said, "We need to get help." He didn't expect Buddy to actually do anything about it, of course. However, help is exactly what the shy dog brought -- in the form of an Alaska State Trooper, reports the Anchorage Daily News. The dog's heroic act was caught on the trooper's dashboard camera.
Buddy had gone off into the woods, and Heinrich assumed the pooch was hiding. In fact, Buddy had run out to the road, where he caught the attention of Alaska State Trooper Terrence Shanigan, who had been alerted by concerned neighbors when they saw a fireball erupting in the distance. Shanigan was having difficulty finding the fire due to the winding country roads. That's when Buddy suddenly appeared. On a hunch, Shanigan followed the dog and arrived on the scene just in time. He was able to talk the fire department through the difficult directions, and they put out the flames just before the fire spread to the family's home.
Buddy is being presented with an award from the Alaska State Troopers today, including a silver plated, engraved dog bowl, reports "Today" via the Associated Press. We're willing to bet he's getting more than a few extra cuddles and dog biscuits.
After covering the story about Greta, the German shepherd puppy who was quarantined after accidentally biting her owner, Jane Curley, we heard from Curley and learned a bit more about the situation.
First, Curley was quick to point out that they don't blame animal control for the situation. "At this point, animal control is OK with her going home; it's the health department that won't allow it," she told Paw Nation. She and her family suspect that the health department "misinterpreted the state law and is unwilling to admit their mistake."
A quote off the Centers for Disease Control Web site makes the idea behind the law clear: "If the cat (or dog or ferret) appeared healthy at the time you were bitten, it can be confined by its owner for 10 days and observed. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed. No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog, cat or ferret held in quarantine for 10 days." Curley finds it "frightening" that the law has been so badly misinterpreted.
Curley is pleased (well, as pleased as one can be) with the facility where Greta is currently housed, saying, "The vet practice has been really amazing. She is in the ICU so she sees some activity and I am sure people talk to her." That doesn't mean Curley's not anxious to get her pooch back, though: "They say she has not messed the crate. I think that's a good sign. We are hoping for the best, but concerned."
Dr. Keith Niesenbaum of Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital in Garden City Park, N.Y., shares that concern. "Puppies are in the midst of their early socialization at 11 weeks of age and this could result in a setback in Greta's development. It would not surprise me to see some delays in development such as bonding with the owners and house training," he told Paw Nation, adding that he would "be surprised if North Carolina state law actually requires an asymptomatic puppy with no history of rabies exposure to be placed in isolation."
"Fortunately, the confinement period is short, and puppies tend to be resilient," Niesenbaum went on to say. "With some environmental stimulation such as music or a TV playing along with normal day/night light cycles, while in the hospital, there will hopefully be no long lasting effects from this quarantine."
Anyone who's ever fed a puppy by hand knows it comes with risks. Jane Curley knew this when she offered her 11-week-old German Shepherd puppy, Greta, a bit of bacon. Not surprisingly, the puppy overshot and ended up biting Curley's finger -- an injury that required three stitches, reports FOX Charlotte.
Curley also wasn't surprised to see animal control show up at her door after her hospital visit, but when the officer said he'd have to take the puppy with him, Curley told FOX Charlotte, "[O]ur jaws dropped to the floor and we just panicked."
Greta is currently being quarantined for 10 days under state law 130A-196, which states that any dog without a rabies vaccine who bites must be quarantined, but here's the kicker -- Greta isn't old enough for the vaccine, reports FOX Charlotte.
Now, here's the part that really, uh, bites -- FOX Charlotte reports that the same statute says "after reviewing the circumstances of the particular case, the local health director may allow the owner to confine the animal on the owner's property." Curley is concerned about the effect this quarantine could have on the young pup's temperament and wonders why that option isn't being offered, since Greta's is obviously the type of case that the provision was designed for.
While, as FOX Charlotte reports, the Mecklenburg County Health Department and CMPD Animal Care & Control are at odds over whether this case was handled properly or not, little Greta remains quarantined at the vet's office, and her owner is barking mad. But, perhaps some good will come from this controversy and the law will be revisited.
Personality: German shepherds are highly intelligent, highly active, eager to learn and loyal to their owners, while also being approachable around strangers. However, all these traits can take a turn for the worse, resulting in wary, aggressive or destructive behavior if the German shepherd is not well trained. As a working dog, they needs lots of activity and stimulation, both physical and mental, to keep them happy.
Grooming: Nicknamed "German Shedder," the German shepherd sports a double coat that should be brushed a few times a week to keep the downy undercoat from matting (which can lead to skin problems) and to promote healthy shedding of the coarse tophairs. A shedding rake is the best tool for the job. Note that while the topcoat sheds throughout the year, the undercoat sheds, or "blows," twice yearly. Beyond that, German shepherds only requires an occasional bath.
Common Health Issues: Due to the dog's large size, hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis and bloat are common later in life. The breed is also genetically predisposed to Von Willebrand disease, a disorder that leads to improper blood coagulating, and especially degenerative myelopathy, a progressive disease of the spinal cord that can cause difficulties in walking, getting up and even going to the bathroom.
On Nov. 9, a police dog bit a man who was trying to defend his home from a would-be burglar. Tim Crossan, of Eugene, Ore. had just broken his hand on the face of the intruder when police, responding to a call, flooded into his home and ordered their K9 unit to attack Mr. Crossan. In the confusion, the burglar escaped and Mr. Crossan was bitten twice. The police have yet to apologize for this incident, although they described it as "unfortunate." At least they went on to say that Crossan, who had protected his wife and children, was "heroic."
Dogs have been used officially to help police officers since the late 1850s in Germany, when they were first employed purely as a deterrent, used only for their teeth and growls. However, the informal use of dogs in law enforcement goes back to the Middle Ages and most likely even before that. These days, dogs help officers primarily with their sense of smell, which is so powerful that they can detect scents one-hundred-millionth fainter than the boundaries of human perception. They can easily find drugs, bombs, criminals, and corpses, even when criminals have taken extra measures to mask odors. So although the police can often make mistakes, police dogs do not. They remain an integral part of public safety.
What animal lover hasn't daydreamed about ditching their desk job and applying for a job at the zoo? Or at a doggy daycare? Or tracking gorillas in Africa? We sure have, but since most of us may never actually get to work with the animals we love, we thought we'd introduce you to a few people who do.
What kind of personal experience did you have with Australian Shepherds before you got involved with the ASCA?
I didn't have any. We first got involved with the local club right when we first bought our puppies in 1977. We got the puppies from someone who was active in the local affiliate, and soon we started going to meetings.
How many Australian Shepherds do you currently have? Four. The youngest is about six months old and the oldest is about 10. Two of the dogs I have today are basically confirmation dogs. I have a little working bitch out of a breeder in California, and the puppy is from this bitch that I bred.
What is the mission of the ASCA?
The ASCA exists to promote the Australian Shepherd and to provide programs in which they can be showcased. We also have committees that deal with health-related projects: Research into cancers that tend to occur in the breed, eye defects, and things like that.
Is being president a full-time job?
It certainly can feel like one, but it's a part-time, volunteer position.
Now that the Gosselins are divorcing, it seems Kate wants nothing to do with the dogs, reports RadarOnline.com. "Jon blames Kate for having to give up the dogs," RadarOnline quotes a source as saying. Jon -- who splits his time between the family home in Pennsylvania and an apartment in New York City -- blames Kate because she refuses to care for the dogs and their eight children when he is not at the house, reports RadarOnline.com.
It seems the dogs may one day come back to the Gosselins -- at least according to Kate. "They'll come back I'm sure at some point. But for now, I just needed a break."
According to RadarOnline.com, despite his inability to care for the dogs full-time, Jon still wants to breed one of them. Um, does someone have a reproduction addiction?
Apparently, Jon has yet to decide which dog he will spay or neuter -- Shoka, the male who "has the beautiful German line in his coat" or Nala, the female, who has "the darker American coat," reports RadarOnline.com. We think eight's enough for Jon, do you?
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
