Dawggie Go Pak

February 6, 2012 at 11:23 pm

I don’t know how many times I’ve taken the dog out for a walk, only to discover about two blocks away that I forgot the pickup bags. So I search my jacket pockets, my pants pockets (when I have any), and my clothes. (Oh, come on, I’m not the only one who tucks my mobile phone into my bra and hooks my keys into my waistband.)

The answer is the Dawggie Go Pak, a surprisingly compact organizer for your keys, phone, MP3 player and earbuds, debit card, license, money, pickup bags, treats, and even business cards (because you never know). There’s a place for everything, from the carabiner and key ring to the  front pocket with a grommeted hole, just perfect for dispensing baggies. In this streamlined 7? x  4.5? package are no less than four compartments, sized for a variety for accoutrements that will take you around the block or out for the day. Velcro closures keep everything secure enough that you can dangle the pouch from the handle of your leash without worry that your important items will fall out.

What a great idea! Now you can bring the essentials along instead of leaving them in the car. No more bulging pockets or unwieldy fanny packs while running. Now you can bring your phone, knowing that if you or your dog gets hurt, you can call for help. Bills go in flat or folded. Credit/debit cards are perfectly secure. Pickup bags are easily dispensed with one-handed ease. You can even put the loaded pickup bag into the Pak – or snap the carabiner around it – if you don’t want to hold it all the way home, and you’re hands-free again.

Fabric wipes clean and comes in seven fashion colors with complementary ribbon accent. Made in USA, too. What’s not to love? Available for $14.95 plush tax and shipping at www.DawggieGoPak.com.

Entry filed under: Dog Product Reviews. Tags: accessories, accessory, bag, carrier, dog walk, leash, pickup bags, pouch, wristlet.

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Why Four Paws and a Wet Nose Equal a Soldier’s Best Friend

January 14, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Guest post by Maya Szydlowski

Dogs of all breeds have been used in combat since the beginning of ancient times. Several breeds, in fact, originated due to the needs of war including some of our favorite gentile giants like the Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. Whether they were toted around for companionship or used on the frontlines, there is no denying how important canines have been to soldiers for centuries.

Although hundreds of dogs remain on patrol and watch in and around several U.S. military bases, in recent decades, the relationship between the dog and the soldier has evolved. While dogs — in particular German and Dutch Shepards and Belgian Malinois, many originating from the Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program — are still used for bomb sniffing and search and rescue endeavors in combat zones, they are hardly used as messengers and combat weapons like they once were. The Military Working Dog Program still trains hundreds of dogs for military protection and detection of bombs and other harmful substances, with an estimated 2,300 dogs that are currently on duty throughout the world. However, now in conjunction with their wartime service, dogs are also being used to help soldiers recover from the wounds of war – both physically and mentally.

The VA regularly provides service dogs to veterans suffering from loss of vision and those confined to a wheelchair, and new research has proven that canine counterparts are also a great way for soldiers to recover from PTSD – a crippling mental and emotional condition caused by the hardships of war. The dogs, sometimes former soldiers themselves, are able to provide the unconditional support needed to soldiers suffering from PTSD, with many reporting that their dog just seems to “know” when they need extra care or are having a flashback or bad dream.

Dogs that face combat, much like their human counterparts, are often viewed as war heroes – working equally as hard with incredible endurance and determination for months at a time. However, just like a human soldier, many returning war dogs face psychological hardships such as PTSD. But PTSD doesn’t mean the end of the road for service canines. Military dogs have proven to be highly resilient, providing insight into human soldier PTSD, and many make full recoveries and are able to return to service. For those that don’t fully recover, many take residence with veterans or other like counterparts whom understand their condition. There is no doubt that dog’s won’t continue to play an integral part in soldier life. Whether standing watch, sniffing out harmful substances, or offering a warm lick when needed, the dog has earned the title of “war hero,” and should be heralded as such.

Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s top dedicated VA lender.

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The Dog Days of Daytime are at ABC

February 10, 2012 at 4:44 pm

The dog days are not over, especially if the hosts of ABC’s “The View,” “The Chew” and “The Revolution” have anything to say about it. On FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, it’s “Doggie Day in Daytime” on ABC, as Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd of “The View,” Chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon and Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz of “The Chew” and Ty Pennington, Tim Gunn, Harley Pasternak, Dr. Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry of “The Revolution” celebrate man’s best friend.Joy Behar from “The View”

It’s BARK!: “‘The View’s’ 4th Annual Mutt Show presented by Pedigree” (11:00-12:00 p.m., ET), featuring David Frei of the Westminster Kennel Club judging the “Best Mutt in Show” of five viewers’ mutts and another five adoptable mutts from the North Shore Animal League. One winner is awarded a grand prize trophy and another, the Pedigree Dogs Rule Award.

On “The Chew” (1:00-2:00 p.m., ET) the hosts cook up some fun and easy recipes while celebrating their “All in the Family” show. Special appearances by Michael Symon’s dog, Ozzie, and the Oz family pooch, Rosie, who test out some of the newest and coolest dog toys.

On “The Revolution,” (2:00-3:00 p.m., ET), Dr. Ashton, joined by her two dogs, leads a segment on dog health and conducts a Q&A with the studio audience, many of whom are seated with their dogs. Gunn unveils the do’s and don’ts of dressing up your dog, and Pennington has the perfect household guide to fixing “dog disasters,” including scratched furniture and torn carpets. Animal activist, model and actress Beth Stern joins the co-hosts to talk about the North Shore Animal League and the importance of adopting pets.

Check your local listings for details.

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3 Beautiful Stray Dogs from Afghanistan in Different Stages of Rescue

Life as a stray dog anywhere is difficult, but in Afghanistan it’s particularly cruel. Strays there are often victims of not just neglect, but terrible cruelty. Hunger is only one enemy. Stoning, maiming, and shooting are some of the other horrors these dogs routinely face.

But thanks to several incredible rescue groups around the U.S., some lucky strays who bonded with soldiers there are being rescued from their nightmarish lives and brought here. Most will eventually be reunited with their soldiers and become their forever dogs.

Today we bring you a look at three strays from Afghanistan in different stages of rescue.

* * *

The dog above is named Willie, and he is still in Afghanistan. His story is best told by a soldier who knows him. This is from the Facebook page of the excellent rescue organization, Puppy Rescue Mission.

“The locals here some how got ahold of him when he was still young, and took him. They didn’t treat him well, and even cut his ears off. The poor guy came running back to base looking for help ears bleeding. The entry control point called up on the radio saying that Willie had returned to base and was bleeding pretty bad. Me and the medics wrapped him up and nursed him back to health. I think he eats better then most of us, since we all tend to give him food when ever we eat. He mostly sleeps with me, however the whole base loves him, and he tends to sleep around with who ever calls his name first haha. To be continued …”

If you check in at Puppy Rescue Mission, you will soon see a page devoted to bringing Willie home. (The thought of this sweet dog running in a panic with the searing pain of his ears having been chopped off and coming to the American military base tears at the heart, doesn’t it?)

As I am writing this in the wee hours of Friday, Smokes is en route to the United States, with five hours to go before landing. Smokes will make his life in Massachusetts with his soldier, Evan Parker. Donors to the Puppy Rescue Mission (people like you and me) helped make this miracle change in this dog’s life come about.

Trigger, rescued by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, enjoyed some affection when he arrived at JFK Airport yesterday.

“Breathe that air. That’s war-free air.”

These were some of the first words heard by a 70-pound former stray dog from Afghanistan when he landed on U.S. soil yesterday. Trigger may not have understood their meaning, but he probably figured out that he’d ended his long journey from Kabul in a very different place from where he started — one with lots of belly rubs and affection and calm people and no ammo or mortar blasts.

About seven months ago, Trigger was found by soldiers on patrol and quickly bonded with the unit. “He’d come no matter where you were on the base when you called,” said the soldier who helped rescue him and will soon become his official owner. (He needs to remain anonymous to keep the dog and his family safe.)

“You come home at the end of a horrendous day and you’re greeted by a big, loving face,” said someone close to the soldiers. “When you’re away from everything that is familiar to you, it meant a lot.”

A second dog also became part of the unit, but when she was found dead, the soldiers vowed to get Trigger back to the U.S. safely. Thanks to the efforts of the group Guardians for Rescue from Port Jefferson, NY, Trigger is now a U.S. “citizen.” He’ll learn some basic housetraining and obedience skills in New York before heading to Washington state to meet his soldier rescuer, who is based there.He is greatly looking forward to seeing his faithful friend again, and says it will be a little “surreal.”

Sources: Newsday, Puppy Rescue Mission

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Dogster’s Style Picks of the Week: Dreaming in Denim

I’m someone who loves to dress up, but day after day I find that there is nothing I sport more often than denim. In fact, a lot of my “dressed up” looks actually include denim. Don’t you just love how it’s perfectly acceptable to wear jeans just about anywhere?

Lately, I’m also realizing how denim is also a durable and ideal material for my dog. From chew toys to beds to wearable accessories, denim is a dog owner’s best friend and a material that will stand the test of time … and teeth!

1. Denim Dog Leash — Dark denim always looks sharp. This adjustable leash will look stylish on your walks.

2. Upcycled Denim Pebble Squeak Toy — Your dog will have a difficult time getting to the squeaker through these eco-friendly toys made from recycled jeans.

3. Doggone Smart Doggy Denim Jacket — This is no ordinary denim jacket! It’s finished in NanoSphere, which keeps it clean and resistant to bacteria. Click through to find out more!

4. Blue Jean Jacket Dog Vest Harness — The vintage denim look of this vest harness is too cool and incredibly now.

5. Blue Denim Zigzag Dog Collar — I adore the zigzag nature of the denim on this collar. The frayed edge is also a great touch.

6. Urban Denim Dog Bed — This bed is a perfect example of how denim can look elegant. The bright orange edges and P.L.A.Y. mascot makes this a cool bed for any modern home.

7. Rivet and Thread Workshirt — I happen to own this shirt, and I can’t believe how well it goes with everything!

8. Moto Vintage Denim Jacket — If you don’t already own a denim jacket, get one! It’s a staple that never goes out of style.

9. Michael Kors Damita Wedge in Indigo Denim — These wedges are as comfy as they are cute. The zipper detail gives this pair a little edge.

10. Foley + Corina Linen and Jersey Mini Skirt — This denim-look linen skirt is perfect for a night out on the town and can be paired with just about anything for several amazing looks.

Follow Dogster’s Picks of the Week on Pinterest!

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Five Tips for Clicker Training in a Multi-Dog Home

While clicker training is a powerful and effective training method, it offers unique challenges for those who have several dogs. I have two dogs myself, and many of my clients have multiple dogs. Today, I’m sharing a few recommendations on how to clicker train in your home or business with any number of dogs.

+ Train separately first:

It’s always best for your dog to learn a new behavior or skill in an environment where there are as few distractions as possible. Ideally, you should choose a fairly quiet room or area in your home — no television, music, cats, children, or other dogs — so that you can give your dog your full attention and he can reciprocate by giving all of his attention to you.

+ Condition unique markers for each dog:

Start by doing this separately. Dogs can learn to respond to any marker or signal that is “charged” in the same manner as a clicker. The click itself can be ambiguous if you start training multiple dogs in a single session, often leaving each dog wondering, “Was that click for me?”

My Chow mix gets very jealous when I am training my Saint Bernard. If she is outside and she hears a click, she runs up the back stairs, hurling herself at the door and howling madly. Because of this, I like having a visual signal charged for each dog — a finger point in each dog’s direction allows me to train Cuba in silence without inciting the wrath of Her Royal Chowness.

Make sure that if you use a visual marker like a finger point that it does not resemble any existing body cues. If pointing at your dog’s butt is your usual cue to sit, you might want to choose a closed fist or intentional, deliberate blink as your new marker.

I also like to condition a group marker (for this, your clicker will work just fine) that means, “Everyone did the right thing, everyone gets a goodie!”

+ When your dogs are individually reliable, begin working them in small groups:

One of my clients lives with six dogs. Each needed to be trained individually; then they were trained in small and changing groups of two or three dogs before all six dogs were eventually worked together.

If you are training multiple dogs to the same level of performance, have races!

Try asking all the working dogs to sit and reward only the fastest dogs, creating a bit of a competitive edge. (Note: When I am training Mokie and Cuba together, she is much, much faster than he is, so this tends not to be very fair!)

+ During individual training, crate or tether the dogs that are not currently being worked, or have them settle on a mat or practice a “down-stay.”

Waiting is often much harder than working for many dogs. In these situations, I always like to give the non-working dogs a higher value reinforcement than the dog that is working (waiting may get paid with boiled liver treats, while working may get paid with kibble).

When you are training with positive reinforcement, working with your dog obtains its own reinforcement value. Train patience, waiting, and politeness like a behavior to avoid frustration and frequent interruptions.

For more tips on working with multiple dogs in a household, you may enjoy the following resources:

How to Be the Leader of Your Pack: And Have Your Dog Love You for It by Patricia McConnell, PhD.

How Many Dogs?! Using Positive Reinforcement to Manage a Multi-Dog Household by Debbie McMullen

Photo courtesy of the Hounds of Bassetville

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A Fun First: Music Arranged for Dogs Makes Billboard Classical Chart!

Roll over, Beethoven! An album arranged for dogs — yes, dogs — has won a coveted spot on the Billboard Classical Music Chart. It’s the first time this has happened, and Dogster has the news before any other news outlet! (I’ll tell you why in a moment.)

Through a Dog’s Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, performed by Dogster favorite Lisa Spector, ranks at #19 on the chart this week. The album is the first in a series of solo piano recordings clinically demonstrated to calm the canine nervous system. The music has been selected and rearranged to help dogs suffering from anxiety issues.

Judging by big sales, it looks like there are a lot of doggies who need calming these days. In fact, when we ran our interview with Lisa a couple of years ago, Dogsters were abuzz over this music.

OK, so here’s why we have this news a little bit before pretty much anyone else. By coincidence, I just wrote a story for a publication called San Francisco Classical Voice about how music can calm dogs. It came out yesterday afternoon, so I’ve been in touch with Lisa a great deal before its publication date, and I was “right there” when she got the news.

I think you’ll really like the article. I can’t “reprint” more than a couple of paragraphs here, so come see the full article at San Francisco Classical Voice to learn about not only the Through a Dog’s Ear music, but about music and its power to help dogs chill. I’d love it if you could leave a comment there with your experiences or thoughts, because they could use the voices of some dog lovers.

Little Red

Here’s how the article starts:

Little Red, a pit bull with a tender soul, spent the majority of her first five years chained to a car axle that was planted in the ground at Michael Vick’s notorious Bad Newz kennels. Her only respite from the elements was when she had puppies, or when someone needed a bait dog to test the violent propensities of other pit bulls.

She is scarred inside and out. Her teeth were filed down so she could not have defended herself if she tried. When she was rescued in the 2007 raid on the Smithville, Virginia, dogfighting ring, and placed with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, she was so fearful that she wanted only to hide — from people, dogs, the world.

Click here for the rest.

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Uggie Is Top Dog at Golden Collar Awards — The Dog World’s Version of the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys

Uggie looking downright heavenly on the "red" carpet at last night's Golden Collar Awards (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

The inaugural Golden Collar Awards, held last night in Los Angeles, paid homage to Tinseltown’s four-legged set, with six talented dogs trotting away with dazzling trophies and lots of stories to tell their pooch pals about the A-list human celebs they shook paws with on the red carpet.

Uggie, the talented and adorable 10-year-old Jack Russell co-star of The Artist, was the paws-down winner for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film. He is retiring from the film business soon after the upcoming Oscars, so this was his penultimate swansong.

“He is a great family member as well as a great performer, and he will be enjoying a lot more couch time now,” Uggie’s owner-trainer, Omar Von Muller, told me after the ceremony, with Uggie trembling lightly in his arms. (Uggie has a mystery neurological syndrome vets haven’t yet been able to diagnose.) “He has helped pave the way for other dogs and trainers to get the recognition they deserve for their hard work in the future.”

Uggie is expected to take his final bow-wow at the Oscars, where he will reportedly open the show beside host Billy Crystal. I don’t normally glue myself to the Oscars, but I’ll definitely be watching this year’s from the start.

The evening's stand-ins for Blackie, of "Hugo" fame, did not mind sharing the spotlight with each other or the more physically diminutive Uggie, who won in their category. (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

Acceptance speeches at the Golden Canine Awards were blissfully short, with no sentimental gushing. The award-winning dogs didn’t go on and on about their gratitude to their mothers, directors, and spouses, and their people had just a few well-chosen words for the audience, who braved an ice-cold banquet hall for the awards portion of the event.

The dogs who didn’t win anything didn’t seem to care. There was no dismay, no dashing of self-worth, no back-stabbing. When Wendy Malick from Hot in Cleveland announced Uggie as the winner of the night’s big award (pronouncing his name “You-gie” — oops), the two Dobies who were the evening’s stand-ins for Blackie, of Hugo fame, slept right through it. They only roused when they heard the name “Blackie” in the nominee list, but they went right back to sleep a few feet away from me when Blackie didn’t win. I am pretty sure I even heard one of them snoring.

What all the dogs — winners and otherwise (there are no losers in the dog world) really wanted was to know what goodies were inside the Natural Balance swag bags that seemed to smell insanely appealing to them. It was not uncommon at the end of the ceremony to witness a famous dog’s head buried in a blue bag, snortling around the sample packets of treats and kibbles. This is not something we generally see human celebs do at the end of the Oscars or Emmys. They wait until they’re in the car on the way home.

It was a quirky event, with its share of little gaffes (eg, no envelope for the very first winner, announced by actress Pauley Perrette, who handled the problem with aplomb), but that’s part of what made it a refreshing break from a typical Hollywood awards ceremony.

Even veterans of awards events were smitten by the Golden Collars.

Elizabeth Snead, one of last night's judges and a 15-year veteran of Hollywood awards shows, says the Golden Canines were the most fun. She atteneded the event with Posy, one of her six little Malteses. (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

“This is more fun than I’ve had the whole time I’ve been covering the Oscars and Golden Globes,” said Elizabeth Snead, contributing editor at The Hollywood Reporter, who helped judge the Golden Collars. “Dogs make the awards season much more human.”

She’s right. There’s something about dogs that humanizes so many situations — even war. With a dog at your side, barriers break down, and people can see everything from a different perspective — a kinder, less judgmental one with admiration for the silent loyalty and love dogs bring with them. It’s hard to explain, but I think my regular readers know exactly what I’m talking about.

Uggie, who brought a strong dose of humanity to The Artist and to the evening’s festivities, was more than happy to share the spotlight with his “brother,” Dash, who will be taking over the family’s acting legacy. Uggie was often content to be in his handler’s arms while Dash did way-cute tricks on the red carpet. Move over, Barrymores!

There were plenty of other winners as well last night.

• The Best Dog in a Foreign Film category was won by Koko from the Australian film Red Dog, which is definitely on my list of must-see dog films. In Australia, Koko is just as famous as Uggie. A tongue-in-cheek video by Koko’s people said Koko wasn’t at the Golden Collars because the people of Australia refuse to let the dog leave the country.

• The Best Dog in a Television Series category went to the uber cute French bulldog Brigitte from the ever-popular TV series, Modern Family.

Shorty Rossi and Hercules, of Pit Boss fame. Shorty was happy Hercules won an award, because he's all about bringing awareness to pit bulls being great dogs. (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

• There was a tie in the Best Dog in a Reality Television Series category, with Hercules from Pit Boss and Giggy from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills sharing the award. After the ceremony, Pit Boss star Shorty Rossi told me he hoped that his loveable, mellow pit bull’s win would help the public see pit bulls as “the fantastic dogs they are.” A side note: Hercules has the world’s softest fur on his forehead, and it’s hard to stop petting it, especially when he looks at you with those soulful eyes.

• For Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD Film category, the two nominees from Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, which was the predicted winner, probably split up the votes for that DVD, which gave the win to Rody, the cuddly yellow Lab pup Rody, from Marley & Me: The Puppy Years.

I have a feeling that with the recognition brought to canine thespians by this show and by Uggie himself, we’ll be seeing more dogs in future productions. I have a feeling I’m going to have plenty of excuses to go to the movies in upcoming years. (“Honey, it’s for work! We have to go see (fill in the blank future movie title starring dog) tonight.”)

Dogster will shortly be featuring a fun photo post of the evening’s festivities, with images by our photographer-for-the-evening, Nanette Gonzales. Keep your eyes peeled for more celebrity canines.

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10 Things That Look Like Malachy the Pekingese, Westminster’s Best in Show 2012

Every other Friday, Dogster’s social media gal, Anna Zeman, rounds up the best of the dogcentric Web (outside the awesomeness found right here on Dogster). In case you missed them, check out her first and second columns. — Your Friendly Neighborhood Dogster Editors

++++

I flipped out when the news broke that this year’s Westminster Best in Show winner was a Pekingese! This is one of my favorite breeds because it is both floofy and smooshy, two of my favorite attributes in small animals.

I’m glad that Pekes are getting the love and admiration they deserve because they’re usually so underappreciated. But seriously, doesn’t Malachy kinda look like…

1. A feather duster

2. Chewbacca from Star Wars

3. A storm cloud

4. A steel wool pad

5. Don King

6. Fizzgig from The Dark Crystal

7. A car in a carwash

8. A cotton ball used to remove mascara

9. Lady Gaga in this dress

10. This man’s slippers

Anna Zeman is a Social Media Monkey Scientist Strategist at SAY Media (Dogster and Catster’s pawrent company). She is pro-smooshed-faces, pro-kawaii, and anti-animal testing.

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Thanks in Big Part to Dogsters’ Support, Tugg Will Star in His Video Series!

Dogster power! That’s what was behind 20 percent of the donations in a Kickstarter project to help Tugg star in a wonderful Internet video series. Without the support of Dogsters, Tugg would probably not be able to bring his story of hope and “woofing it forward” to the world.

You can read all about Tugg and the project in our interview with Blake Ovard, who, with wife Kim, took in Tugg when he was pretty  much given up as a goner because of terrible neglect/abuse.

Ovard is thrilled, and so grateful to Dogster readers. I asked him to let us know how the victory for Tugg’s video series funding unfolded in those last days, and if he contributed anything. Here he is:

We are so happy to be part of the Dogster family! Dogster really came through for the project! One of the neat things we can see on the control panel for the project, in addition to the amounts pledged, how many backers there are, and some cool graphs and charts, is where each backer found the project from. Dogster folks — the ones coming directly to the kickstarter project page from Dogster — made up nearly 20% of the dollars donated! That’s about $1,500! And, out of the 161 backers, 40 of them came directly from Dogster!

It came close to the wire, but we believe in Tugg’s message, so we knew we would get there! We actually came in slightly over the goal — 104% — at $8,329. Which is good because, our goal was the bare minimum we knew we would need for the whole process of creating the web series. I think we crossed over the goal line with slightly more than 24 hours to go.

Because Kickstarter is set up through Amazon payments, which processes all pledges as credit card purchases, by law, we were not able to pledge to the project. Just like if you have a shop, you aren’t allowed to buy something from yourself with your own credit card. We knew that from the beginning, so we did take that into account when we set up the project — that’s why the goal on Kickstarter was $8,000. Our actual budget is $10,000, but we decided that if we could get to $8,000, we would cover the additional expense ourselves. So, the whole time the Kickstarter project was running we were setting back part of each paycheck in anticipation for making it!

I think what helped at the end — and by end, I mean the last couple of days — is people started telling all of their friends about the project and encouraging them to get involved.

We received a lot of encouraging e-mails telling us how much everyone wuffed the idea of the web series, how much they want to be part of it, and how excited they were to know that there will be a web series with a positive message that everyone can enjoy. Plus Tugg and Dogster have some of the best fans in the world, and many of them e-mailed in the last 48 hours saying not to worry, it would happen!

It’s almost surreal for us at this point in time, since we just made our goal. While it is really exciting, it also a little intimidating … here we are with Tugg, who we do pupdates for every day, but now we have the honor of getting to share him on an even bigger scale, with more of the world. That means other creative people get to come on board with the project too.

So, soon we’ll have a whole set of people while we are filming, and a whole studio of animators animating, for a dog who is, well, our dog! Sure we’ve done little videos, but this is an almost overwhelming undertaking — but one we’ll be doing with huge smiles on our faces the whole time!

We should begin filming in the first and middle part of March, and hope to wrap by the beginning to mid-April. That leaves us about a month of postproduction. As for animation, it will start as soon as I send all the character sketches and the animation scripts to the animation studio. That should be in the next two weeks. We hope to have the first episode air by the end of May or first week in June. And the season will run for 15 weeks, maybe 16 if we decide to throw in a “blooper” episode.

Tugg is superexcited about the project — which is good, since he’s a superhero! He walked around all day clacking the clacker and yelling, “Roll ‘em!” and, “Cut!” Then he would sit in his director’s chair and act  like he was on the set of Ellen, talking to her about the series and his motivations for a particular scene.

Thank you, Dogster, for helping make this a reality!

View the original article here

Photos: Celebrity Pups and People Hit the Red Carpet for Last Night’s Golden Collar Awards

Last night, Dogster News Editor Maria Goodavage and photographer Nanette Gonzales attended the first ever Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles. Maria’s already got a great post up with the highlights, but we thought Nanette’s fabulous event photos deserved a post of their own.

Uggie of The Artist fame and his brother, Dash, made their way down the not-quite-red carpet.

Uggie, Dash, and family.

Fans of Blackie the Doberman were out in full force.

Giggy and Lisa Vanderpump of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame were in attendance.

Fourteen-week-old Golden Retriever B. Dawg represented the Air Buddies movie alongside director Robert Vince.

Golden Collar trophy designer Simon Tavassoli with his creation.

Rowdy from Marley and Me, The Puppy Years won Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD film.

Dobies waiting for some grub.

Elizabeth Snead, one of last night’s judges and a 15-year veteran of Hollywood awards shows, and Posy.

More Uggie!

Actress Laura Nativo and Preston Cassanova from CBS’ Greatest American Dog.

Uggie claiming his trophy for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film.

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Update: Anchor’s Mouth Stitched Shut After Dog Bit Face on Live TV + Fate of Dog

Anchor Kyle Dyer (from her Facebook page)

A week ago we brought you the story of the heroic rescue of a dog who had fallen into an icy reservoir . It had all the makings of the kind of feel-good post we love to give you, from the brave firefighter to the dog who would recover.

The story turned bad, though, when the dog who was rescued bit the face of TV anchor Kyle Dyer the next morning when she hosted him on the news. She put her face close to the dog to give him a kiss, and he didn’t like it. The result: He was taken to animal control for observation and/or quarantine (he was not up-to-date on shots) and she was rushed to the hospital. That’s where we left the story.

We just got word of a couple of updates. The dog has been released to his owner, and will not face serious consequences. His owner will face charges of having his dog off-leash (the lake incident) and allowing the dog to bite (the TV incident).

For what it’s worth, I don’t think he “allowed” the dog to bite. The dog was seemingly under control until the woman put her face next to his to kiss him and the owner immediately pulled the dog off when he realized what had happened. It will be interesting to see how that charge fares in court.

Sadly, Dyer is going through a very hard recovery. She needed four hours of surgery, with 70 stitches to her mouth and nose. Her mouth is stitched shut so the skin graft can take and to get blood circulating in the area again.

She wrote on her Facebook page that she looks forward to going back to work, and that she’s grateful for the caring messages from her fans.

“I can’t say thank you enough for all of your notes and prayers of encouragement and love,” Dyer wrote. “They give me great strength, which along with my faith, will see me through a successful recovery! Love, Kyle”

I wish her a speedy recovery and hope she is back at work as soon as she wants to be. It must be awful going through this.

I wonder: Are you surprised that the dog did not come close to being euthanized? In some places it would have been given a lethal injection very quickly. Do you think the law realized that this is just what happens when you get right up in the face of some dogs? I’m surprised there don’t seem to be any sanctions at all, like demanding the dog be muzzled in public.

How about you? Are you relieved for the dog? Would you trust him if you came up to him, or do you know better than to just get that friendly that fast?

Source: MSNBC

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GMO's and how they may affect your dog's life

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Woman Sues Petco for Cutting off Dog’s Ear, Gluing It Back On

A groomer allegedly snipped off part of Dodo's ear and glued it back on.

Quiz time! You take your dog to the groomer. Which do you expect her to come back with?

A) Shorter hair/fur.
B) A shorter tail.
C) A shorter ear.

Unfortunately, the answer for at least a couple of customers of the Petco store in Kaneohe, Hawaii, has been any combination of the above.

When Gladys Kapuwai picked up her Pomeranian-Maltese mix, Dodo, from the store after a routine grooming session, everything seemed normal. But two days later, she says she noticed the dog’s ear was dry and felt odd. She took Dodo to the vet, who discovered that the dog’s ear had been chopped off, and glued back on.

“I couldn’t believe what they did. I started crying, because this is my baby,” said Kapuwai. She says the vet told her that if Kapuwai had known about the problem and been able to take Dodo in quickly, her ear may have been salvaged.

I guess the groomer thought this little “oops” would go unnoticed. But Kapuwai not only noticed, she found an attorney to help her sue Petco. And get this: The attorney, David Green, owns a dog who returned home after a visit to this groomer with bleeding nails and the tip of his tail cut off.

Sometimes nails get cut too deeply and the quick bleeds like mad, so that’s not that horrendous by itself, I suppose. But the tail thing? Um, that’s just not okay.

For Green’s complaint, Petco offered a free grooming. “I guess they wanted to take off other body parts.” Green joked. He is suing on behalf of his wife and Kapuwai.

Kapuwai hopes the suit will make Petco realize how important it is to have good groomers, and to train them better. It’s too late for Dodo to get her ear back, but the suit may prevent other owners from walking out and leaving bits of body parts in dog fur on the floor.

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Is a Saint Bernard Right for You?

Whitewater Saints

Are you considering buying a Saint Bernard? I think you’re choosing a wonderful breed!

Before you decide, ask yourself some questions. Can you resist buying the first cute puppy you see, on impulse? Are you prepared to make a commitment to a dog for the next 8-10 years or longer, even if you have life changes such as moving, new babies, divorce, or kids going off to college? Full responsibility for a dog is not a job for children; it requires a responsible adult, at least supervising, and should be carefully considered.

The commitment is not a small one; training a Saint Bernard to be a pleasant companion requires considerable time and patience. Saints don’t become well-behaved all by themselves! They require substantial attention and exercise throughout their lives; they are active and social animals and needs to be a part of his “human family”. Left to his own devices in the backyard, lonely, bored, uneducated in simple canine good manners and unused to being handled he will eventually be discarded as “unsuitable for the children”.

Saint Bernards SHED and DROOL! There is no such thing as a “DRY MOUTH” Saint Bernard. While some may drool less than others, all produce saliva in varying amounts. There are both shorthaired (smoothcoat) and longhaired (roughcoat) Saints. Both coat types are of equal value. And twice a year, usually in spring and autumn, they lose most of their coat to help them adjust to the changing seasons. Saint Bernards do require frequent brushing. Puppy chewing and digging can be destructive.

Do you have an appropriate environment for a puppy and are you willing to live with puppy mistakes? The Saint Bernard by nature does not require acres and acres to roam. They are not as active or nervous as some breeds and are content to remain close to home for the most part. Consequently an average fenced yard is adequate as long as there is some place for regular exercise and daily short walks are recommended.

Because of their size the Saint Bernard MUST be trained and this must be done early in life. Fortunately, Saint Bernards are eager to please and will begin responding to commands as soon as they understand what you want of them. Training a Saint Bernard can be a great joy. But a happy relaxed relationship with your Saint does not happen automatically. You must teach him a few simple rules of behavior so that he respects you and develops into a well mannered, obedient family member who is a pleasure to both you and your neighbors. Puppy pre-schools and obedience classes are excellent for the first time dog owner to learn how to get the dog to respond to his wishes.

Are you willing to spend the money it takes to provide appropriate care, including quality food and supplies, annual vaccines, heartworm testing and preventative, and spaying or neutering? Are you willing to wait for the right puppy from the responsible breeder of your choice? Remember, finding the best puppy for you is well worth the wait.

Buy a well-bred dog from a responsible breeder. Responsible breeders take care to produce healthy Saint Bernards with good temperaments. Don’t bargain-hunt and don’t buy a puppy from a pet store; often those puppies come from poor breeding, may have been kept in poor conditions with inadequate socialization, and are sometimes more expensive than puppies purchased from a responsible breeder. Responsible breeders do all they can to avoid producing serious problems, including aggressive or shy temperaments, hereditary health defects such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Remember that “AKC papers” are not an indication of quality in the dog. They only mean that the dog’s parents were AKC registered. Never buy a Saint Bernard sight unseen or over the internet – NEVER!!

Is a puppy really the right dog for me?

My Boys came to me at 19 months.

If you don’t have the time or facilities for socializing, house training, and obedience training a puppy, it’s possible that an older dog would be a better choice. Mature Saint Bernards usually adapt very well to new homes and can form very deep bonds. You can investigate Saint Bernard rescue or find a responsible breeder who may have an older dog to place in a new home.

How do I know a breeder is responsible?

Lanbern Saint Bernards

Look for a breeder who:

Is knowledgeable about the breed. Most responsible breeders continually test the results of their breeding programs by participating in conformation shows, obedience trials, rally trials, or weight pulling.Is knowledgeable about raising puppies. Even puppies with the best hereditary temperaments can exhibit behavioral problems if they are not socialized sufficiently or if they are removed from their dam and littermates before seven weeks of age. Socialization done by the breeder should include ensuring that each pup receives frequent human attention, is handled frequently, and is exposed to a wide variety of noises and experiences.Takes steps to keep the puppies as healthy as possible. Before puppies go to their new homes, they should have been wormed or checked for worms, and should have received their first shots.Takes steps to prevent occurrence of hereditary defects in the puppies. Both parents should have hip clearances from at least one of the following registries: OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), PennHip, Wind-Morgan, or a foreign joint registry. Many breeders are checking parents for elbow defects as well as hips. Be sure to ask about health clearances; responsible breeders will be happy to tell you about them and will honestly discuss problems that might occur in the parents’ lines. Avoid breeders that tell you their dogs don’t need health clearances because they’ve never had a problem, or those who tell you that their ”vet said the dog was ok.” Remember that clearances on the parents don’t guarantee that the puppies will be free of problems, but your chances of buying a healthy puppy are greatly improved if the parents have been cleared.

Health problems that are common among Saint Bernards are Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, Entropian, Ectropian, Bone Cancer and Epilepsy.

 Hip Dysplasia 

Hip Dysplasia is by definition an ill-fitting hip. This can be caused by having shallow sockets, abnormal heads and necks of the femur and from excessively loose ligaments. Hip Dysplasia is a polygenetic inherited condition that is affected by environmental influences such as weight, diet and exercise, which can interact to cause rapid wear and tear of the hip joint leading to arthritic change.

Hip Dysplasia is a definite problem in Saint Bernards that needs to be assessed and taken into account before heavily working, exercising or breeding with an animal. Hip Dysplasia is a complex genetic and environmental problem but should be kept in its proper perspective relative to the breed as a whole. It is one genetic problem, not the only one.

Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow disease is the preferred term to be used when talking about elbow problems in growing dogs. Unfortunately “elbow dysplasia” was the name given to the condition of ununited anconeal process and this term is closely linked in this way in the minds of most veterinarians and some dog breeders.

Elbow disease is a general term to denote joint problems in growing dogs and it includes ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and osteochondrosis of the medial condyle of the humerus (OCD). These are the three most important conditions although there are a number of uncommon conditions included in the term.

Ectropian

Ectropian (the opposite of entropian) occurs when the lower eyelids roll away from the eyeball. Ectropian is common in breeds with loose facial skin. As the eyeball is insufficiently protected it is open to infection. Surgery is available to correct this problem.

Entropian

Entropian (the opposite of ectropian) is a condition in which the eyelids turn inwards causing the dog’s eyelashes to rub against the cornea. This eventually causes ulcers to form and is extremely painful for the dog and if not treated can lead to blindness. There is surgery available to correct this problem but as some breeds are more prone to it than others it is best not to breed individual dogs that develop this condition.

Does not breed bitches every time they come in season. This is extremely hard on the bitch and may indicate that profit is the breeder’s primary motive.Chooses breedings carefully. Ask why the particular sire was chosen. The answer should be thoughtful and knowledgeable. Answers such as “because he lived close to me” or “because he’s such a cute dog” generally don’t indicate a breeding that is being done to produce puppies that are better than their parents (the goal of every responsible breeder). One indication of a quality breeding is if the majority of dogs in the first few generations are titled (CH, OTCH, FC, CD, JH, WC and so on, before or after the dogs’ names). If the titles only appear generations back or if there are only a few in the entire pedigree, they don’t mean much.Lets you meet the parents of the puppies. Bitches may be sent long-distance to stud dogs, but the breeder should be able to show you photographs of the sire and answer questions about him.Evaluates puppy temperaments and helps you choose the puppy that is best suited to your lifestyle. A very active puppy won’t do well in a sedate environment, and a quiet puppy may be overwhelmed in an active household with noisy children. Remember that most breedings are done so the breeder can choose a puppy to carry on his or her own lines, so you may have to wait until this choice is made when the pups are 6-7 weeks old. After that, the breeder can help you decide which pup would be most suitable for you. The breeder has spent extensive time with the litter and knows the puppies best, so their advice is important.Will be willing to take the dog back at any time if you cannot keep it.  Responsible breeders do NOT want their puppies to end up in an animal shelter or in a less-than-ideal home.Is someone you feel comfortable with. You may not be an expert on Saint Bernards, but you do know about people. Use your intuition. The breeder should be available for the life of the dog to answer questions, so this could be a long-term relationship. If you don’t trust the person, don’t buy a dog from them.Will provide appropriate documentation with the puppy, including registration papers, pedigree, and a health record.Is concerned about your future plans for the puppy, particularly whether you’re thinking of breeding the dog. Many responsible breeders sell pet-quality animals with mandatory spay/neuter contracts and/or Limited Registration (meaning that offspring of the dog cannot be registered). This is a good indication that the breeder cares enough about the breed to ensure that only the very best representatives are bred. Some breeders may be willing to change the Limited Registration to a Full Registration if you present the dog to them after maturity, having had all its health clearances. Then, if the breeder thinks the dog is of good quality and temperament, they may change the registration and help you with the selection of a good stud dog. Only the dog’s breeder can make this change.

How do I find a responsible breeder?

First, educate yourself. Read books on the breed. Attend dog shows or obedience trials, and talk to the Saint Bernard exhibitors. Be willing to spend some time on the phone, talking to breeders, and looking for referrals. Most responsible breeders will have a list of puppy buyers before they do a breeding, and usually don’t have to advertise in the newspaper. Please remember that the great majority of Saint Bernard breeders are hobby breeders. They are not “in business,” breeding is not their profession, and very few of them make money on their dogs. It’s a labor of love for the breed. Please give them the courtesy you’d give to your own friends and neighbors.  You may not find a breeder that satisfies all these criteria, but these guidelines should be helpful in finding the best puppy for you and your situation.

How “kid and family friendly” is the Saint Bernard?

Fairview Saint Bernards

Puppies must be taught not to use their mouth on humans – even in play. They must be taught to tolerate having their ears, mouth, feet and tail handled and to allow food to be taken from their mouth. All these experiences will help ensure that the puppy is tolerant of any children who perform these actions. Teaching the puppy to sit before being patted will ensure that the dog does not jump for attention and knock children down. Although many dogs will tolerate almost any behavior from children they should not be expected to do so. Children who are not taught that it is very wrong to hit, kick, pinch or torment their own dog may one day meet a dog who is not so tolerant.  Children should be seated before picking up a puppy, as a squirming puppy will usually be dropped.

A “safe” area should be provided where the puppy can go for rest and children should be told that they must not disturb him. Over-tired children and dogs both get cranky!

It is part of good parenting to supervise all activities of babies and small children and their time with the family dog should be no exception until parents are confident that both the child and dog are of an age where they can understand how to play gently and reliably together.There are a few basic rules parents should instill in their children. Children should be taught not to run up to strange dogs but to ask the owner’s permission to pat the dog. They should be taught not to hug strange dogs or to reach over the dog’s head to pat it on top of the head. If a dog is uneasy or tired of playing with children and tries to get away from them they must not follow it.

Dog owners should observe the following guidelines with visiting children. Dogs who are not used to children may be uneasy with their movements and sounds. If a dog is uneasy with visiting children he is better secured in a favorite area where the children cannot go to him. Don’t try to force your dog to allow a child to pat or play with it.

Suggested Reading; The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete and How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Rutherford and Neil.

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Police: SC Woman Puts Small Dog in Garbage — Twice

Oreo could probably use a good bath after what s/he has been through. (Photo is a loved "model" and not Oreo; from the Flickr photostream of angela n.)

Earlier this week, a sanitation worker found a Shih Tzu in the garbage can of a South Carolina woman while collecting trash. The worker took the dog to the house, where Nancy Smythe, 58, said the dog was hers.

Fortunately the trash collector didn’t laugh it off as a cute little mishap, but instead called in animal control officers. When they got there, guess where the little Shih was? Yup. They fished the dog out of the garbage once again, brought the dog to Greenville Co. Animal Control, and made sure Smythe didn’t have a third try; she was arrested and charged with “ill treatment of animals.”

The dog, who is black and white, has been named Oreo at the shelter, and will soon be up for adoption.

What is it with some people?! What was Smythe thinking? So glad the garbage worker was observant. The automated trucks used by so many trash collection companies can preclude any inspection of garbage. We tip our Dogster hat to the trash collector, who did just the right thing at the right time.

Source: Associated Press

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