Posts tagged "NationalGeographic"

'Dog Whisperer' Meets 'The Biggest Loser'

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Nov 6th 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets, Pet Training

On Friday's episode of "Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic channel, Cesar Millan helps "Biggest Loser" fitness and life coach Jillian Michaels with her 14-month-old greyhound mix, Seven, who has a naughty little habit of nipping at Jillian's horse.

"We're going to get on the horse while [Seven] attacks the horse from the ground," Michaels laughs, as Millan clambers atop her 2000-pound horse with a dog leash in his hand. "That's fine. I'm up for a trip to the hospital."

Will Millan succeed in teaching Michaels how to control Seven? Watch Millan work his "magic" in the preview below.

Also on the show, Millan works with a German shorthaired pointer who's an escape artist, and a Yorkshire terrier who attacks brooms and car windshield wipers.

The "Dog Whisperer" airs Friday at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel.

'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan and His Pit Bull, Daddy

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Oct 23rd 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

MPH-Emery/Sumner Joint Venture

Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan is usually calm, assertive and in control. So what made him gasp, reel backwards and raise his hands to his face? The surprise unveiling of a huge portrait of Daddy, MIllan's beloved pit bull, that a grateful client painted to thank the Dog Whisperer.

For more than 10 years, Daddy has been Millan's right-hand dog. Viewers of Millan's television show, "Dog Whisperer," know that Daddy is the ultimate balanced dog. "I have never had a dog like Daddy," Millan writes in the inaugural issue of his magazine, "Cesar's Way." "I've been astounded by his intuition, consoled by his affection, and awed by his silent empathy."

It's no secret that the gentle pit bull is getting old. "Daddy's doing great, but he's 15 now," Millan told Paw Nation in an interview earlier this month. "So you can see the age crawling in. It's the body -- especially his back legs -- so he gets acupuncture twice a week; he swims every day; walks every day; and eats great meals for his digestion."

Still, Daddy can't work with Millan like he used to. "I leave it up to him [whether he wants to work]," Millan said. "Some mornings, he wakes up and he wants to go. And the funny part is, those mornings, I really need him. Daddy always helps me. It's a partnership."

In tonight's episode of "Dog Whisperer" (airing on the National Geographic Channel at 9 p.m.), Millan helps a Pekingese who's afraid of food and water, a Chihuahua who likes to bite people, and a pair of chow mixes who pick fights with each other.

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National Geographic's 'Unlikely Animal Friends' Explores Inter-Species Bonds

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Sep 26th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Birds, Cats, Exotic Pets, Pets News

Suriya the orangutan with his BFF, Roscoe, a hound. Photo: National Geographic

There's an orangutan whose best friend is a hound dog; a cat whose playmate is a crow; an elephant whose constant companion is a Chow-mix dog; a baby hippo who pursues a friendship with a 130 year-old tortoise; a lioness who bonds with baby antelope; and the story of Christian, a lion cub purchased at Harrod's Department Store in 1969, who remembers his first owners a year after returning to the wild.

You may have seen them on Youtube, but now in "Unlikely Animal Friends," the National Geographic channel explores these six unusual animal bonds in depth with extensive footage, interviews with the animals' owners and commentary by experts.

Perplexing as the unlikely friendships are, they illustrate the "ability of animals to feel complex emotions," says one expert on the show. Love and compassion, it seems, are not solely the domain of humans: witness other inter-species videos such as the fawn who bathes a cat and the dog who befriends a duck.

The one-hour program, "Unlikely Animal Friends," premieres this Saturday, September 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic channel.

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'Rescue Ink Unleashed' Debuts on National Geographic

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Sep 25th 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Birds, Cats, Exotic Pets, Reptiles, Fish

The members of Rescue Ink. Photo: National Geographic channel

There are animal rescue groups, and then there is Rescue Ink: a group of men from disparate backgrounds who share a love of elaborate tattoos, loud motorcycles and animals. They have big muscles, but even bigger hearts; their mission is to rescue as many abused and neglected animals as possible.

The men bonded in 2007 over a local Long Island, New York story about a pit bull named Maximus who was tied to a tree, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Maximus died, but Rescue Ink was born.

"We want [animal abusers] to know that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated anymore," one of the group's leaders, Joseph "Joe" Panzarella, tells Paw Nation, his dark eyes intense. (That's Joe in the photo, above, foreground, left side.)

In addition to Joe, there's Anthony "Big Ant" Rossano, Angel Nieves, Johnny O, George "G" Perry, Eric Olsen, and Nicholas Richard "Batso" Maccharoli Sr., who, at 76, is the most senior of the group. Batso and Angel are retired, but the rest have days jobs -- working in the mortgage industry, landscaping, security, or customizing cars and motorcycles. Still, they carry out their rescue missions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, investigating animal cruelty calls they get from all over the New York metropolitan area.

Mary Felto, who works in Rescue Ink's home office, tells Paw Nation that she fields up to 150 - 200 calls and emails per day.

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Brutus the Bear - One Man's Best Friend

by Kristyn Pomranz (Subscribe to Kristyn Pomranz's posts): Apr 29th 2009 4:45PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Pets News

Talk about bearing witness!

An 800 pound grizzly bear named Brutus served as best man in naturalist Casey Anderson's 2008 wedding to actress Missi Pyle. But this was not a stunt for pun's sake; Anderson calls Brutus his best friend, even telling Good Morning America, "He gives me unconditional love."

Expedition Grizzly, a new documentary airing on National Geographic on Sunday, May 3^rd at 9pm EST, captures Anderson living among the bears of Yellowstone National Park, charting their lives and man's impact on their environment.

Anderson first befriended the bear in 2002 when young Brutus' wildlife park became overpopulated. Before the cub had to face a lose-lose fate of captivity or death, Anderson adopted him and opened a sanctuary so Brutus could "act like a real bear."

Of course, "real bears" don't usually eat at kitchen tables and swim in lap pools. But according to Anderson, they do experience human-level emotions, sometimes even shedding tears. Anderson's relationship with his furry surrogate son spawned his mission to dispel false "man eater" stereotypes about Grizzlies.

Brutus the Bear: One Mans Best Friend

Best man Brutus gives the bride and groom good luck kisses.

Grizzly Creek Films

Brutus joins the Anderson family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Grizzly Creek Films

Casey hand feeds Brutus some berries.

Rick Smith, Grizzly Creek Films

Beneath those sharp teeth, Brutus is gentle as a teddy bear.

Rick Smith, Grizzly Creek Films

Casey enjoys a dip with his furry friend.

Grizzly Creek Films

Don't be intimidated by Brutus' stature; he's a gentle giant.

Rick Smith, Grizzly Creek Films

Q: Where does a Grizzly bear swim? A: Anywhere he wants!

Grizzly Creek Films

Bear hug!

Grizzly Creek Films

...and a bear kiss!

Rick Smith, Grizzly Creek Films

Casey Anderson totes a teenage Brutus.

Grizzly Creek Films

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs