Posts tagged "dog"

Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the Web each week!

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  Hen's Dino Egg

  A mild-mannered hen lays an eggs six times the normal size. Thankfully, she got an epidural. [via Dailymail.co.uk]

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  Fly, Dog, Fly!

  An incredibly intelligent dog jumps off a 300 foot cliff and survives unscathed, ready to go again.[via Google News]

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  Candles for Daddy

  In this video Cesar Milan speaks about the loss of the beloved and lazy Daddy, the grieving process, and plans for the future. [via People Pets]

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  Sky Mall Kitty

  You know all the exorbitantly expensive stuff in Sky Mall for pets you never buy? Someone wrote a song about it! Warning: Not Safe For Ears [via Urlesque]

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  Little Orphan Ant-y

  That's a strange looking dog. I see you've taught him to sit, shake, and eat ants with his spaghetti tongue?![via Pawesome]

Here at Paw Nation, we know that every pet has a story, and it's usually a story their owners just love to tell. So we decided to hit the streets to ask pets (and their owners) about everything from how they were adopted to what was the naughtiest thing they've ever done. It's our new weekly series, "Pet on the Street." We hope you love it. And be sure to let us know what questions you would like us to ask and what cites we should visit!

PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE.

Cold weather often generates a strange phenomenon in well-trained dogs. Shredded toilet paper appears throughout the house, garbage cans are overturned and special "presents" are left for you to discover. Though there may be other factors contributing to your dog's destructive behavior, cabin fever is often at the root of the problem.

Snowstorms and freezing temperatures may keep you from taking your dog for long walks or trips to the dog park, but there are a variety of ways you can keep your canine physically and mentally active throughout the winter.

Provide Interactive Toys
Most dogs love to eat, so why not use food as a motivation to keep their minds busy? Michelle Douglas, President of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, recommends stuffing your dog's meal in a Kong. "This way, your dog will have to work at getting the food and will burn calories in the process." The Buster Cube and the Dog Tornado are other toys that offer your dog the opportunity to work for their meal.

But the toys don't have to feature food to be fun. The IQube challenges your dog to remove squeaky balls from within a plush puzzle-like cube, and comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate both small and large pooches. Babble Balls are another fun -- and noisy -- option. The balls entice your dog by producing realistic animal noises each time he passes by, tapping into his desire to hunt. If, however, your temples are throbbing at even the thought of wild animal calls, Fetch a Bubble may be a good alternative. This clever machine blows chicken-scented bubbles into the air, sending your dog into a frenzy to catch the delicious floating flavor.

We love our dogs. They soothe us, entertain us, and their devotion and affection brings an enormous amount of joy into our lives. For all that we are appreciative.

Some of us show our appreciation by buying luxury items that range from the frivolous (designer clothes and custom-made collars) to the more practical (organic dog food and orthopedic beds). When our hectic lives mean we have to leave our precious pooches behind, we put them up at fancy dog hotels with socialization hours and individual walks. Many of us avoid that problem entirely by bringing our dogs everywhere we go -- showering them with non-stop affection.

Is all this the least we can do for the pets that bring us so much happiness? Or, at some point does this 21st century lifestyle begin to take something away from the dog's essential animal nature? And are we somehow giving other humans less than they deserve because we are showering all this attention on our pets? These are some of the questions pondered in the New York Magazine article "The Rise of Dog Identity Politics" in which the author John Homans describes some of the conflicts we – and others, including academics, psychiatrists, and dog trainers -- feel about the way many of us choose to parent our pets.

"The dog is more and more an urban species. Even in the suburbs, the dog's unleashed, unfenced, carefree outdoor life is largely at an end. The dogs are in the house, even in the bed. (The doghouse is now mostly for husbands.) There are no rules to this evolving, increasingly intimate arrangement, and it can give rise to a kind of canine identity crisis. Outside of its country context, the dog plays an ever more human role. Which can make things very confusing," says Homans.

What do you think, Paw Nation? By giving our dogs the cushiest, most comfortable lives possible, are we somehow invalidating their essential "dogness?" Do you personally feel that you have ever gone over the line in your devotion and care for your pet?

Tell us what you think by taking our poll and sharing your comments below.

With so many puppy videos and so little time, we've gone the extra mile and begun cataloging some of the finest YouTube offerings, separating each collection by breed in a feature called Puppy Party!

Today's round-up features the boisterous Brussels Griffon!

Name: Black Russian Terrier

Personality: A big-boned terrier with a fascinating history that's only starting to gain attention stateside, the black Russian terrier is a bundle of desirable qualities. The Black Russian Terrier Club of America lists calmness, confidence, courageousness, high intelligence and extreme reliabilit, as common traits -- all cloaked in what sometimes appears to be an aloof demeanor. But that's just the dog's self-assured exterior, says the BRTCA. In fact, aloofness really isn't in their make-up at all: "They want to be close to family members at all times and are very loyal companions."

Grooming: DogTime.com claims that black Russian terriers don't shed much. The recommended grooming regimen includes a weekly brushing of their double coats using three tools in tandem: an undercoat rake, a stripping comb and a slicker brush. This breed also boasts distinct facial hair, including a "beard," a "mustache" and old-man bushy eyebrows, but DogTime.com claims that these needn't be specially trimmed. Some owners take their black Russian terriers for yearly clippings to reduce the size of their long, somewhat bushy coats.

Common Health Issues: Besides the more common canine ailments (dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy), black Russian terriers are not known to suffer from any illnesses or disorders unusually common to the breed.

The Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show (Feb. 15–16) is like Oscar night for dogs... so let's meet the stars! Paw Nation spoke with some of the Westminster show dog's owners to give you a sneak peek at the adorable contestants you'll see prancing around the ring on the big day.


Dog Breed: Pyrenean Shepherd (one of three new breeds competing this year)

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. La Brise Coco Chanel

Nickname: Coco

Dog's Age: 4

Owners' Names: Valerie Davis and Ann Shepard

Hometown: South Glastonbury, Conn.

Tell us about Coco's personality.
She is very outgoing and friendly, which is not a typical of most Pyrenean shepherds.

What is her weirdest quirk?
What is funny is how she acts at the shows. Coco seems to have the attitude that the shows are purely for folks to see her. She isn't the best conformation dog, but she has a tremendous presence that seems to win over the judges.

What makes Coco special?
Coco is very intuitive with people. My other Pyrenean shepherd had a litter of puppies and when two gals came to see the pups, one was in a wheelchair with stage-four cancer. Coco had never seen anyone in a wheelchair but when I let her out of her crate she went right to the gal with cancer. She then lay her head on the woman's lap and seemed to know that the woman needed some comfort. Coco never left her side the entire visit and totally ignored the rest of us. She seemed to know she had a mission, and would probably make a super therapy dog. In my eyes, she is just a great little dog and a tremendous ambassador of the breed!

"Ooooh, there a car! Ooooh, there goes another car! OMG HERE COMES MOM AND DAD!!!"

While we can only guess what's going through our dogs' minds, we do know that they love looking out windows -- and in the process, can slowly destroy the window ledge with dirty paw prints and scratches.

Enter the Sill Shield. As its Web site notes, Sill Shield is a PVC slat similar in texture to outdoor siding, designed to protect your window sills. Fastened with stickers -- specifically 3M Dual Lock Velcro Coins, which are included -- it supposedly won't show wear and tear.

That's all fine and good, but would they be able to withstand Pippi, our highly-energetic dalmatian/German shorthaired pointer mix? I ordered one to find out.

The manufacturer offers Sill Shields in a variety of widths and depths, as well as custom trimming or notching. (All of the windows in our apartment were covered by the standard sizing.) I ordered a white one -- they also come in clear -- and placed it beneath our front window. It took only a couple of minutes to attach and blended in perfectly with our sill, which is also white. Most importantly, it easily withstood Pippi's assault. After about ten days of use it looks pretty much like it did on day one.

Is it worth it? Serious do-it-yourself types might be able to create something similar from parts at their local hardware store, saving themselves $12.95 per sill plus shipping prices that can cost up to $15 per order if you live on the west coast. But to the rest of us, the Sill Shield is a quick and effective solution to a perennial problem. The company also offers a "Door Shield," to keep dogs from scratching up doors.

Here's yet another sign that the economy has gone to the dogs: A thief in New York City held up a West Highland white terrier this week and made off with the pooch's parka.

With a snowstorm set to wallop the New York metro area, the New York Post reports 10-year-old Lexie was tied outside the Ace Supermarket in Park Slope, Brooklyn while Lexie's owner Donna McPherson ran in to quickly buy some milk. When McPherson came out from the store, she found her white Westie shivering in the cold without his wool jacket. She canvassed the neighborhood looking for clues to who could have done this, but so far no luck.

Despite their double coat, Westies are used to spending much of their time inside near their owners, making it harder for them to tolerate the cold. The American Kennel Club recommends dogs with coarse coats -- including Westies -- wear a sweater when they're out and about in the winter. With temperatures in the 30s in New York City this week, the missing sweater meant Lexie was one cold canine.

McPherson is still hoping to catch the criminal, but she's happy it was a $25 coat that went missing and not her priceless best friend. West Highland pups can be found on Puppy Find at anywhere from $200 to $875, although demand for older pups like Lexie is low.

McPherson gave two new coats to Lexie to make up for the mugging. By the looks of the forecast for the Northeast this week, he's going to need them.

We recently wrote about the ASPCA's top 10 pet poisons of 2009. Included on the list were human foods that can make pets sick, including avocados. Little did we know that one little green fruit would inspire such a flurry of comments from people who argue that their dogs love the key guacamole ingredient. So we decided to set the record straight.

According to the ASPCA, the avocado plant contains a substance called persin. "Different species of animals have different toxic reactions to avocados," said Dr. Tina Wismer, the senior director of veterinary outreach and education at the ASPCA. "Animals such as birds can develop respiratory distress, fluid build-up around the heart, and death. Horses, rabbits and goats can develop both mastitis [inflammation of the mammary glands] and cardiac problems. They also get a build-up of fluid under the skin in the face and chest."

"In dogs, cats and ferrets there are no reliable reports of poisoning," she added. "However, dogs commonly ingest the pit and it can get stuck in the digestive tract."

One other thing to keep in mind: different varieties of avocado contain different amounts of persin. So even if your pet rabbit or horse has eaten avocados without a problem in the past, the same might not be true in the future. The common Guatemalan variety seems to be the most worrisome, the ASPCA notes. And avocado leaves contain the most persin, Wismer told Paw Nation.

So what's the verdict? If you have a pet bird, horse, or rodent, absolutely keep it away from the guac. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!

Talk about a cool story. Actually, make that "frigid." A dog in Poland was rescued after apparently floating down the Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea, traveling 75 miles atop an ice floe, according to the Associated Press.

The male dog, now nicknamed "Baltic" (naturally), was adrift on the ice floe when he was spotted by a crew of ocean scientists on the ship Baltica. Researcher Natalia Drgas told the AP that rescuing the dog proved difficult. "It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," Drgas said.

Finally, the crew lowered a pontoon boat down to the icy water and pulled the shivering dog to safety.

Three days earlier, Baltic had been spotted 60 miles inland, drifting on his ice floe down the Vistula River. Firefighters in the town of Grudziadz reportedly tried to save the dog, but were unable to reach him when the river's ice sheets shifted, the AP reported.

Baltic's thick fur kept him from suffering any frostbite, and a veterinarian declared him in surprisingly good shape. He's now warm and happy in the port city of Gdynia. A number of people have come forward to claim the dog, but the Baltica crew were skeptical when the friendly pup didn't show any signs of recognizing his supposed owners. For now, the crew are hanging onto Baltic in hopes that his real owners will turn up soon.

If not, the research team is prepared to adopt the adventurous seafaring dog for good.

There are several benefits to natural pet products. Natural pet foods and treats are made from organic ingredients of human-grade quality, meaning your pet won't be eating anything you wouldn't eat. Natural grooming products are made from organic materials that are safe to use, and will keep pets from getting rashes and irritations. Natural toys, collars, and leashes are biodegradable, recyclable, and have a low impact on the environment. These five natural pet products are tested and approved by pet owners and animal experts for their high-quality ingredients, safety, and enjoyability.

Wellness Pet Food
Wellness offers lines of all-natural dog and cat foods that are made to human-grade standard. Their dog food includes dry and canned formulas that have no artificial ingredients. The Wellness dog food lines are high in protein and low calories. The cat food lines include dry and canned formulas. Wellness cat food limits the risk of urinary tract problems -- one of the biggest reason cats end up in veterinary offices.

Dr. Harvey's Herbal Protection Shampoo
Made specifically for dogs, Dr. Harvey's Herbal Protection Shampoo is sulfate-free and made from organic ingredients. The Herbal Protection Shampoo is safe to use even on dogs with sensitive skin or allergy problems because it contains no artificial coloring or fragrance. Dr. Harvey's natural pet products are cruelty-free and come in biodegradable packaging.

Dog parks are an incredible resource for dog owners and animal lovers. For city dwellers, dog parks provide a rare space where dogs can run free. Even suburban and country dogs love dog parks for the ever-so-important socialization opportunities that they provide. New dog owners, long-time dog owners, and dog owners' associations find dog parks to be an oasis in which to commune. Many even hold events at these parks, adding to their fun.

By sniffing out specifications and reviews, we've compiled a list of the top dog parks in the five largest U.S. cities.

New York, N.Y.
1. Carl Shurz Park Dog Run, on the Upper East Side, is a picturesque park with a small-dog run.
2. Fort Tryon Park Sir William's Run, in Washington Heights, sports grass areas (a rarity in most city dog runs).
3. St. Nick's Dog Run, in Harlem, features the largest run in NYC and an active community.

Los Angeles, Calif.
1. Runyon Canyon Park, in Los Angeles proper, is great for hiking too.
2. Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park, in Encino, boasts five acres of fun.
3. Dog Beach Zone, in Long Beach, is a very popular destination that even hosts interfaith blessings of animals.

She's become world famous after a newsroom security camera captured her sensing a major earthquake seconds before it struck Northern California, but Lab-mix Sophie is taking it all in stride.

"I've always known she was a smart dog," owner Jessica Richelderfer, who works as a copy editor at the Times-Record in Eureka, Calif. told Paw Nation. "I'm not entirely surprised she sensed something coming."

The quake, which measured 6.5 on the Richter scale, hit just before 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, doing an estimated $14.3 million in damage to communities along California's northern coast.

Fortunate enough to be in a dog-friendly office, Richelderfer and her fiancé Brian Wheeler (a pre-press technician at the newspaper) bring Sophie with them for most of their weekend shifts.

A security camera caught Sophie relaxing on the floor, when suddenly her attention is caught by something under her own front paws. She stares intently at the carpet, sniffs hard and then bolts from view. Second later, the earthquake strikes and the newsroom staff can be seen rushing out of the room as the walls shake and debris filters down. The camera also catches Sophie as she circles back to meet up with Richelderfer and the pair flee together to safety.

"It wasn't until I saw the video that I realized she was already well aware of what was going on," Richelderfer says.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning pet owners not to feed their dogs Merrick Beef Filet Squares after routine tests detected salmonella in the treats.

Tests conducted in December first showed evidence of salmonella in the dog treats produced by Merrick Pet Care. Follow-up inspections found problems with both the manufacture and packaging of the snacks, the FDA reports. Yesterday, the agency issued a warning recommending dog owners steer clear of the Beef Filet Squares with a package date reading "Best By 111911."

Dogs that contract salmonella infections can be sluggish and suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and fever, though some infected pets may only experience a decreased appetite. Humans are also susceptible to the illness, and could become infected if they don't wash their hands thoroughly after handling the infected treat, the FDA warns.

So far, no illnesses linked to the treats have been reported in dogs or humans. If you or your dog experience symptoms of salmonella, contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately.