Best Friend NYC Blog

Social Networking and Man's Best Friend

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:13:00 GMT

Top 10 most expensive dogs in the world

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:29:00 GMT

The most popular dog breeds are not the most expensive dog breeds, but the luxury dogs rate high in the top of the list. Popular dog breeds change from year to year and from country to country; and so do the most expensive dogs in the world.

What Makes a Dog Expensive?

There are a variety of factors which make dogs expensive. Purity of breed or their rarity can make dogs extremely expensive. When they are offspring from price winning dogs the prices can skyrocket too, but the biggest factor is the C-factor. As soon as a dog is spotted or photographed in possession of a celebrity, the dog’s price will shoot beyond the moon. It has happened in the past, and it will happen in the future.

Top Ten of Expensive Dogs

1 – German Sheppard $3.000 – $24.000

2 – Cavaller King Charles Spaniel $1.000 – $14.000

3 – Samoyed $4.000 – $11.000

4 – English Bulldog $2.500 – $9.000

5 – Chow Chow $3.000 – $8.500

6 – Rottweiler $2.000 – $8.000

7 – Tibetan Mastiff $2.200 – $7.000

8 – Pharaoh Hound $2.500 – $6.500

9 – Bearded Collie $1.000 – $5.000

10 – Akita $1.500 – $4.500

An exciting list of dog breeds, and unfortunately some very popular dogs did not make it to the top ten. What happened to the Golden Retriever, Komondor, Malteser Terrier, Bichon Frise, Norfolk Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Sheppard? All popular dogs but they did not make it into the top ten of most expensive dogs 2011.

Luxury pet hotel opens in Paris

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:45:00 GMT

Heated pools, massage salons and a-la-carte menus are de rigueur at luxury hotels across the world but in one exclusive Paris establishment the difference is the guests: they have four legs, and enthusiastically wagging tails.

Actuel Dogs bills itself as France's first luxury hotel for dogs, and founders Devi and Stan Burun, a dog behavior specialist and lifelong dog-lover, also offer training programs unruly hounds and dog walks in the woods.

As well as a dip in the pool, or a massage, guests including Ulysse, a bumptious yellow Labrador sporting a smart red collar, enjoy "doggy jogging," or simply relax on cushioned couches in their luxury suites. Their tiled-floor rooms smell fresh and clean and are adorned with framed prints of dogs and equipped with televisions so dogs can watch their choice of DVDs.

Owners pay between 26 euros and 35 euros ($36-$48) to leave their lucky hounds for a full day and while the luxury touches appeal to owners, the key difference with traditional kennels is that dogs are not locked up in cages.

"People think we serve the dogs' food from silver platters but this is not pointless, extravagant luxury," Devi said, as Clifford, an English bulldog, Cocker Spaniel puppy Floyd, Golden Retriever Cleo and miniature Schnauzer Belle bounded around the hotel's games room, equipped with a treadmill for training.

The concept works partly because of its location, in the chic suburb of Vincennes, on the outskirts of Paris, and close to the woods. "People live in small apartments in Paris, they work, they don't have time to walk their dogs. We respond to those needs," Devi said. Devi and Stan also have an advantage over hoteliers who have to worry about human guests trashing rooms and stealing bathrobes -- they evaluate their canine clients before their first stay, to weed out aggressive behavior.

How could we stop loving you?

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:45:00 GMT

Little Help Around The House, Anyone?

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:05:00 GMT

The most adorable and helpful Jack Russell. It's hard to believe one can train a dog to do all these tricks. But most importantly is that he does his "chores" with love and excitement, and of course there are a few treats involved. : )

Walk Walk Fashion Baby! Lady Gaga Halloween Dog Costumes

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:05:00 GMT

We love Jesse Freidin's "Doggie GAGA" Project. Halloween is just around the corner, so check out more Lady GaGa inspired ideas for your canine companion's holiday costume!

http://jessefreidin.com/gallery/the-doggie-gaga-project

Dsquared2 And Yoox Collaborate On Dog Fashion

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:16:00 GMT

by Erin Grant
Is a regular old Petsmart collar just not cutting it for your fashion-conscious four-legged friend anymore? Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED2 have the perfect solution. The designers are launching the DSQUARED2 Dog capsule collection, a unique line of collars and leashes for the pooch in your life. Accented with gold details, chains, and studs, the leather pieces will make a serious style statement while you and your pet are walking the walk. Available exclusively at Yoox.com Pets Boutique, all proceeds from sales will go to Much Love Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization that finds loving homes for unwanted, abused or neglected animals. The collection will be available in mid-November, so be sure you get you and your pooch's paws on one!

Just Dance

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:22:00 GMT

We definitely encourage to become best friends with your pets and incorporate them in a variety of activities, but there are exceptions to every rule. And taking your dogs clubbing with you is probably not something we would recommend - regardless of how much energy they may seem to have. What's you take on this lady who brought her dogs to a tea dance during the Provincetown Pet Week?

Fashionable New Yorker and her fabulous dog

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:17:00 GMT

via Racked

Tibetan mastiffs define new luxury in China

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:31:00 GMT

via AP

China's latest must-have luxury for the ultra-rich, to go with mansions and sports cars, is a large, slobbery dog with massive amounts of hair best known for herding sheep in Tibet.nce banned by the Communist Party as bourgeois, pet ownership is booming in China, and the Tibetan mastiff is the dog of the moment for those who want to spread their wealth beyond stocks and real estate.

"I used to invest in German shepherds, but Tibetan mastiffs are what's hot right now," said Sui Huizheng, a business owner who has about 20 of the dogs and attended the 6th annual China Tibetan Mastiff Expo this past weekend.

Hundreds of the hairy dogs were on hand, and owners and handlers marched the most expensive ones down catwalks as though they were fashion models. Some carried the names of wealthy Americans like "Warren Buffett," while others were called "God" and "Prince." Among the owners was a controversial running coach who trained world track champions in the 1980s.

Their hoped-for prize: breeders willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a mate for their mastiff. Sui spent $43,000 for a large platform and a poster-plastered booth to show off his dogs. One breeding session with Sui's top mastiff King goes for $40,000.

The craze seems to defy sales patterns and common sense elsewhere, especially for a dog that is common, has thick, lion-mane-like hair, grows to 180 pounds (80 kilograms) and is known for being fierce.

"I can understand racehorses and diamonds, but I don't understand why someone would want to pay half a million dollars for a dog," said Martha Feltenstein, president of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association. "They have a relatively short life expectancy and are not especially rare, so it's quite puzzling why they are fetching such a high price in China."

In the U.S., Tibetan mastiff pups can be bought for as little as several hundred dollars, Feltenstein said.

Breeders in China say adult Tibetan mastiffs sell for tens of thousands of dollars, and can even go for more than $100,000.

One of them sold for more than half a million dollars last year to a woman in northern China who then sent 30 black Mercedes-Benz and other luxury cars to fetch the dog from the airport, according to a report in the state-run China Daily.

After splurging on real estate in Australia, American thoroughbreds and European designer fashions, China's rich see the Tibetan mastiffs as a new status symbol. China is now home to an estimated 825,000 millionaires, its most in modern history, and its luxury goods market is one of the fastest growing in the world. Among the must-haves for rich men in northeast China, the official Xinhua News Agency recently said, was a young beautiful wife, a Lamborghini and a Tibetan mastiff, "the bigger and more ferocious the better."

"You could call it a local luxury brand," said Rupert Hoogewerf, a Shanghai-based tax specialist who compiles a popular annual list of China's richest people. "Luxury brands are growing at phenomenal rates in China and owning a Tibetan mastiff is another channel for increasing your credibility and showing off your rich status."

The mastiffs, themselves, look like money, resembling a lion that is a traditional symbol of good fortune.

"We want a breed of dog that is home grown, and this guardian dog is perfect because it is also a symbol of good luck for Chinese people throughout history," said Wu Yunliang, the owner of "Warren Buffett" and nearly 20 other mastiffs. He keeps them in the northern city of Taiyuan where he owns a nursing home.

Potential profits from mastiff breeding are what drew Sui, the businessman-breeder, who said he isn't a dog lover. "I don't touch or play with them much," Sui said. He leaves the brushing and fluffing of his dogs to nearly a dozen handlers.

Passers-by were told only to admire the dogs from afar and not get near them because they're hostile to strangers — all the better for protecting flocks and herders on the isolated Tibetan plateau, where they originated.

Retired track coach Ma Junren became fascinated with the mastiffs when he was training female distance runners on the Tibetan plateau in the late 1980s. Ma claimed the high-altitude training and concoctions of turtle blood and caterpillar fungus he fed the runners helped them set world records. But some of his athletes were later caught using banned performance-boosting substances. Ma retired, denying wrongdoing.

At the expo, he exhorted breeders to raise their standards so that China can gain entry to the World Canine Organization (Federation Cynologique Internationale), an international federation of kennel clubs. The organization has so far kept China out over lax controls on vaccinations, several breeders said.

"I hope all our Tibetan mastiff lovers are honest. We don't want to see thieves, criminals or cheaters around us," Ma said.

Dog's DNA helps to convict London killer

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:28:00 GMT

via Windsor Star

LONDON - A man who set a ferocious dog on a 16-year-old boy in a London park before stabbing him to death was jailed Friday after police used DNA profiling to identify the animal.

Chrisdian Johnson, 22, was put behind bars for at least 24 years after being found guilty of the murder of rival gang member Seyi Ogunyemi and the attempted murder of his friend Hurui Hiyabu.

Johnson was convicted after forensic analysis showed blood found on him and at the scene of the attack in south London came from his dog Tyson, a Staffordshire bull terrier-bull mastiff cross.

"You used two fearsome weapons. The first was your pitbull cross dog, which I have no doubt you had trained to attack and bring down your prey," Judge Christopher Moss said. "The second was the knife with which you stabbed Seyi Ogunyemi to death."

It is thought to be the first time that police in Britain have used recently developed "dog DNA" techniques to secure the conviction of a killer.

Win 2 FREE Tickets to the Westminster Dog Show in NYC!

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:58:00 GMT

Ever wanted to come to NYC for the Annual Westminster Dog Show? Well, now here is your chance. Simply follow the link and enter the chance to win 2 free tickets for the show being held on February 15 and 16, 2010 in New York City. Good luck!

http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/win.html

Who let the dogs out? Getting backlisted by USPS.

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:40:00 GMT

For US Postal Service (USPS) carriers, dogs are not always man's best friend.

In 2008, 3,100 mail carriers around the country were bitten by dogs or received dog attack-related injuries. For each year between 2001 and 2008, there were more than 3,000 dog bite attacks on USPS workers, although annual dog bite incidents have declined significantly from the mid-1990s peak of more than 7,000 a year.

As the owner of two large dogs - one very placid and friendly, the other more skittish and… well, let's just says he's got issues – I can understand the USPS' concerns.

Our mailbox is attached to the house next to the front door, so to get to it the postie (Australian for mail carrier) has to come in through the front gate. On Saturdays and other occasions I'm at home during the week, both dogs like to greet the postie as he comes to deliver the mail – one with a wag of the tail, the other with a fearsome bark.

We try to keep the dogs in the house around the time we anticipate mail delivery, but this guesswork is not always successful. We've received a few polite requests to keep the dogs inside over the last year or so, but we always seem to forget, especially when there are squirrels to be chased out of the yard.

The first Saturday of 2010 was the final straw. We heard the fateful click of the front gate followed by Foley's manic barking. My wife raced out to grab him, but the postie had already fled the yard.

And that was it. We'd received enough warnings. We were blacklisted.

For the next week we would go outside and check the mailbox, vainly hoping for some sign that we had been forgiven – even some unwanted junk mail would have given us a glimmer of hope – but alas, we were inevitably left staring at an empty mailbox.

A week later we received the official notification: "This letter is to inform you that we are concerned that your dog may have a propensity to attack and to bite or otherwise injure your letter carrier. To provide uninterrupted mail delivery while protecting your letter carrier, we are asking for your assistance."

With that we went out and bought a new mailbox and mounted it to the front fence. No more forgetting about the dogs in the yard; no more worry for our postie.

Yesterday I opened the new mailbox for the first time. There was mail in it. It was a joyous sight.

Each year, the Postal Service participates in National Dog Bite Prevention Week to raise awareness about the need for pet owners to help prevent dog bites.

via www.bestfriendnyc.com

New Study: Is your dog the smartest?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:37:00 GMT

Not all dogs are created equal. According to an article in the new issue of Miller-McCune magazine, evidence shows that some dogs are smarter than others. But even the average dog is as smart as a 2-year-old kid, with the ability to comprehend more than 150 words, count to five and consciously deceive their loving owners.

Which breeds lead the pack in terms of their intelligence? These seven are the smartest of them all:

1. Border collies

2. Poodles

3. German shepherds

4. Golden retrievers

5. Dobermans

6. Shetland sheepdogs

7. Labrador retrievers

via www.bestfriendnyc.com

Best Friend? Yes! But a best runner mate?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:41:00 GMT

By DOUGLAS QUENQUA via New York Times

A MAN’S friend is not always his best choice of a running partner. The same can be said of man’s best friend. It’s a lesson that Michelle Powe, an English teacher in Midlothian, Tex., learned last summer when trying to run with Mookie, her 90-pound Catahoula.

“He kept trying to herd me,” she recalled. For the entire three-mile run, Mookie displayed the kind of herding behavior that is typical for the breed, throwing his weight against Ms. Powe and nipping at her legs. “By the end of it, my knees were sore from having 90 pounds constantly bumping into me,” she said. “It was fun for other people to watch, but not so much for me.”

Like many dog owners, Ms. Powe assumed that her young, healthy dog would make a natural running companion. After all, dogs love to run, they love spending time with their masters, and they rarely tire of chasing a stick before their owners tire of throwing it. But not all dogs are born to run, particularly the way humans go about it: in a straight line, with little regard for scent. And there is nothing fun about running with an untrained dog. Indeed, it can be dangerous for both you and your pet.

The first step for anyone thinking about running with a dog is researching the breed, said Alexandra Powe Allred, a Dallas-based trainer and author of a book on dog obedience. Some of it is common sense: small dogs — teacup poodles, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers — will have trouble running at high speeds or for long distances. But other problems may not be so obvious. For example, dogs with flat noses — pugs, bulldogs, some boxers — may have trouble breathing during strenuous exercise. And while some hunting or herding dogs are physically built for running — like border collies and Rhodesian Ridgebacks — they may be more interested in chasing prey than staying on the sidewalk.

Once you have determined whether your dog is built for running, it is important to teach it some commands. “Stay,” for example, is useful should you want to put down the leash long enough to tie your sneakers. But trainers say that if you teach your dog only one command before running, it should be “heel.”

Teaching your dog to heel will also prevent it from straining at its collar, resulting in neck irritation and breathing problems. And never run with your dog in a choke collar, trainers say — with luck, teaching it to heel will also stop the dog from darting off after every squirrel or stopping suddenly to smell a fragrant pile of trash.

Regardless of breed or training, all dogs display one trait that makes them appealing partners to runners who don’t like a lot of chatter: they don’t talk. But that silence also means you have to work harder to know when they are hurt.

Ms. Anderson recommends taking your dog to the veterinarian before running together to make sure it is healthy enough. She also says never run with a dog younger than a year old (2 years for larger dogs, which take longer to mature).

“The asphalt is not hot to us ’cause we’re wearing running shoes,” Ms. Anderson said, “but a dog can easily burn the pads of their feet. Take frequent water breaks, and check their pads.”

Not that the ground has to be hot for a dog to become injured: very cold conditions can damage a dog’s feet and lungs and should be avoided. Again, breed will play a role: Ms. Anderson noted that huskies can run miles in the snow with no discomfort.

Another frequent mistake that owners make is assuming their dog can always run farther and faster than they can — after all, it’s a dog. But just as you wouldn’t take human running partners on a 10-mile run their first time out, you should gradually build up your dog’s distance. Start with a run of less than two miles, then build gradually from there. Paying attention to your dog’s physical cues should help you know when enough is enough.

Ms. Prather said she continues to run with her other dogs — a pit bull and another collie — but only as far as they are willing to go. “Anytime you engage in an activity with your dog, it’s going to enhance your relationship,” she said. “It’s running with your best friend.”

Like many single women, Ms. Prather also feels safer having a dog there for protection. “I know my dogs are super sweet and would only kill you with kisses, but nobody else does,” she said. And she cherishes another benefit that all dog owners can appreciate. “A tired dog is a good dog,” Ms. Anderson said.

Pet insurance: to buy or not to buy?

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:54:00 GMT

By Jill Abramson

Like a lot of Americans, I'm obsessing about health insurance. Only in my case, the issue is whether or not to buy pet insurance for Scout.

Soon, she will be 6 months old, the age recommended for spaying, a procedure that will probably cost several hundred dollars, once tests and medications are included. A less invasive technique, done through laparoscopy, is far more expensive. And we’ve already spent quite a bit on vaccinations and routine checkups. Then there are possible future expenses, like an accident or a really severe malady, like cancer.

As with humans, pet insurance programs are complex; some are expensive, and it’s hard to tell for sure what kinds of illness and conditions will be covered. Most plans offer tiers of coverage, which grow in price depending on how expansive the coverage is, the breed of dog, where you live and other factors. For many pet owners, of course, neither veterinary care for complex health problems nor paying monthly pet insurance bills is affordable or even possible, so I know that having the choice is a luxury.

The costs I’ve checked out for Scout with two leading companies that offer pet health insurance range from monthly premiums of about $12 to $45. Ouch. Personal experience, discussions with a few trusted veterinarians and guidance from friends and fellow dog owners have tipped me in favor of buying the insurance, although I am still poring over the fine print and deciding among plans.

When he was a pup, Buddy, our dog before Scout, got into a box of chocolates (poisonous for dogs) that one of our children had carelessly left within reach. An expensive nighttime visit to the emergency clinic ensued. At midlife, Buddy also developed unbearable skin allergies, requiring tests and even biopsies, before a change in his diet brought the problem under control. What we spent on Buddy’s health issues (as well as the more serious problems we confronted with Dinah, recounted in an earlier column) probably exceeded the cost of insurance, even over his long life span. Read more...

Health benefits of pets

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:34:00 GMT

by Carla Baranauckas

When Chad, a yellow Labrador retriever, moved in with Claire Vaccaro’s family in Manhattan last spring, he already had an important role. As an autism service dog, he was joining the family to help protect Ms. Vaccaro’s 11-year-old son, Milo. Like many companion animals, whether service dogs or pets, Chad had an immediate effect — the kind of effect that is noticeable but has yet to be fully understood through scientific study. And it went beyond the tether that connects dog and boy in public.

“Within, I would say, a week, I noticed enormous changes,” Ms. Vaccaro said of Milo, whose autism impairs his ability to communicate and form social bonds. “More and more changes have happened over the months as their bond has grown. He’s much calmer. He can concentrate for much longer periods of time. It’s almost like a cloud has lifted.”

Dr. Melissa A. Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the Child Study Center at New York University, said she saw “a prominent and noticeable change” in Milo, even though the dog just sat quietly in the room. “He started to give me narratives in a way he never did,” she said, adding that most of them were about the dog.

The changes have been so profound that Ms. Vaccaro and Dr. Nishawala are starting to talk about weaning Milo from some of his medication.

Anecdotes abound on the benefits of companion animals — whether service and therapy animals or family pets — on human health. But in-depth studies have been rare. Now the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, is embarking on an effort to study whether these animals can have a tangible effect on children’s well-being.

In partnership with the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in England (part of the Mars candy and pet food company), the child health institute is seeking proposals that “focus on the interaction between humans and animals.” In particular, it is looking for studies on how these interactions affect typical development and health, and whether they have therapeutic and public-health benefits. It also invites applications for studies that “address why relationships with pets are more important to some children than to others” and that “explore the quality of child-pet relationships, noting variability of human-animal relationships within a family.”

The national institutes’ interest in this type of research goes back at least two decades. Valerie Maholmes, who directs research on child development and behavior at the children’s health institute, said that at a broad-ranging meeting in 1987 on the health benefits of pets, the N.I.H. “concluded that there needed to be much more research,” especially on child development.

People working with animals expect the research to back up their observations. At Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Southern California, for instance, dozens of volunteers regularly take their dogs to visit patients. Children being treated for serious illnesses often have the blues, anxiety or depression. Animals also become part of the therapeutic program, especially in the areas involving speech and movement.

“The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can,” said Karin Winegar, whose book “Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform” (Da Capo, 2008) chronicles human-animal interactions. “We’ve seen this from coast to coast, whether it’s disabled children at a riding center in California or a nursing home in Minnesota, where a woman with Alzheimer’s could not recognize her husband but she could recognize their beloved dog.”

Top dog summer concerns

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:51:00 GMT

Elizabeth Wasserman via Studio One Networks

The hot and sunny stretches of summer can bring with them a whole set of health concerns for your dog. From parasite-spread illnesses to paw problems caused by walking on hot surfaces, a wide range of summer hazards can plague canines. Here's how you can keep your pet safe in the summer sun.

1. Heatstroke

"If we're hot sitting outside in T-shirts and shorts, our dogs are certainly going to be hot sitting outside in a heavy fur coat," says Adam Goldfarb, director of the Pets at Risk program for the Humane Society of the United States. Be mindful of what type of dog you have and how old it is -- these factors may determine your dog's tolerance for heat. Older dogs, puppies and northern breeds with heavy coats may have a harder time withstanding heat.

What to do:

Walk or exercise your dog in the early morning or early evening, when it's cooler out.

Never leave your dog in the car. A car can heat up within several minutes to more than 100 F, causing heatstroke or even death, says Lisa Peterson, communications director of the American Kennel Club.

Don't shave your dog's coat during the summer. "A dog's coat helps insulate them from the heat in the summertime," says Peterson. Without their protective coat, dogs can also get sunburned.

2. Fleas and Ticks

Some dogs have flea allergies that make them scratch until their skin is raw -- or in extreme cases, until they bleed. Ticks are even more dangerous because they carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and Ehrlichia. Symptoms of tick-borne diseases can range from the fever and swollen joints that afflict Lyme sufferers to possible death, as in the case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever victims.

What to do:

Find out from your veterinarian what type of anti-flea and tick medication is best for your dog.
Check your dog for ticks as soon as it comes in from the outdoors, since ticks can cling to its hair. If a tick bites your dog, remove it as soon as possible. (Use a blow dryer on the cool setting to help part the hair, Peterson recommends.)
Control fleas by vacuuming regularly -- particularly the areas where your dog lies -- to remove any adult fleas or eggs.

3. Paw Problems

The pads on your dog's paws are very sensitive, so the heat on concrete, asphalt, beach sand or other surfaces can be a big problem during the summer. The pads can burn, dry and crack.

What to do:

Walk your dog on the grass, Peterson recommends. That way, your pet doesn't have to deal with the intense heat of the pavement.
Try doggie booties. Some pet stores sell booties for your dog to wear in winter, but these shoes may also help protect your dog's paws during the summer.
Apply a paw balm to your dog's paws regularly to help keep them moist and prevent cracking, which is painful and can increase the risk of infection.

4. Water Safety

Wherever your family goes during the summer, be it the beach or backyard pool, be aware of the risks these bodies of water hold for your pooch. Dogs may drink from stagnant ponds and contract intestinal ailments, such as giardia. Canines may also jump into a lake or pool and panic when they realize they don't know how to get out. What's more, pools contain chlorine, which can be harmful to your dog's health.

What to do:

If you have a pool, consider using dog-friendly pool chemicals, which are now commercially available.

Keep a life preserver on hand in case your dog jumps in. Dog life vests are also available.

Don't leave your pooch alone when there is an open body of water, as you wouldn't leave a child in a similar situation. Make sure fresh drinking water is available at all times.

5. Wildlife Contagions

Dogs can pick up diseases, such as rabies, from infected animals from the wild, including bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle and coyotes. Rabies is transmitted through saliva, usually after a bite. The virus affects an animal's central nervous system, and common symptoms are erratic movements, partial paralysis and unprovoked aggression.

What to do:

Keep your dog's vaccinations against rabies up to date. "It's likely that your city or county requires your dog to be vaccinated anyway," Peterson says.

Don't let your dog roam free and unsupervised, particularly when you are in areas where Rover is more likely to encounter wildlife.

Supervision is the key to summer dog safety. "Be mindful of where your dog is," Peterson says. "If you let them off the leash, keep them in visual contact." That way, the "dog days" might just be some of the best days of the year that you and your dog will enjoy.

Prepare your dog for the hurricane

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:57:00 GMT

by Margaret Svete

With the news of tropical storms Ana and Claudette and Hurricane Bill churning in the Atlantic, its a good time to make sure you have a hurricane plan that includes your dog. Here are some must haves for your dog's hurricane kit:

two week supply of food and water.
food and water bowls
ID tags with your telephone number
collar and leash
dog crate
medications
first aid supplies
favorite toys and treats to comfort your dog
recent photo
pick up bags to clean up after your dog
up-to-date health records

If you find you must evacuate for any type of emergency, don't leave your dog behind. It may be days before you are permitted to return to your home. If you are going to stay with friends or family, make sure your dog is welcome.

The next best option is to check into a dog-friendly hotel or motel. There are many dog-friendly hotels, including large chains such as Holiday Inns and Residence Inns. Call ahead to see if there are any breed or weight restrictions for dogs. You can find a list of dog-friendly motels at www.petswelcome.com

As a last resort there are several dog-friendly hurricane shelters. These are the least desirable options as they will be very busy and noisy, adding to your dog's stress. Also dogs are usually kept in a different area from their owners. Pet-friendly shelters do limit the number of dogs they accept so its important to check early for availability.

Research shows dogs can perform basic math

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:53:00 GMT

Ever wondered how smart your dog is? New research says he/she could be as intelligent as a 2-year-old child.

This news comes from canine researcher Stanley Coren who insists that dogs are more like humans than we think.

Dogs are very intelligent, and have the ability to learn commands over time if trained by somebody who knows what they are doing. Dogs play a huge role in society, both as pets and therapy dogs, to bomb detecting and rescue work.

Speaking at the American Psychological Association’s convention in Toronto, Coren stated that our beloved 4-legged friends may even have the ability to perform basic math.

New Research Undermines Dog Domestication Theory

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:11:00 GMT

by Nicholas Wade (The New York Times)

Few people spend their honeymoon catching and drawing blood from village dogs up and down Africa. But Ryan and Corin Boyko, two anthropologists at the University of California, Davis, chose this way to collect valuable genetic data that is casting a new light on the domestication of dogs.

The two researchers wondered if the dogs carried a recently discovered gene that downsizes dogs from wolves and is found in all small dog breeds. Dr. Bustamante said the idea could be explored by collecting street dogs. Ryan and Corin Boyko collected 223 samples of village dog blood from Egypt, Uganda and Namibia. The small gene question has not yet been assessed, but their samples, reported in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have called into question a finding on the origin of dog domestication from wolves.

The origin is thought to be East Asia, based on a 2002 survey of both village dogs and breed dogs. But most of the village dogs in that survey came from East Asia, which could have tilted the outcome. The African village dogs turn out to have much the same amount of genetic diversity as those of East Asia. This is puzzling because the origin of a species is usually also the source of greatest genetic diversity.

The Boykos and Dr. Bustamante do not think dogs were domesticated in Africa — there are no wolves in Africa now, apart from the Ethiopian wolf — but they say the origin may not be East Asia. The issue is better addressed by looking just at village dogs, they think, and by excluding European breeds, which are mostly of recent origin.

They are now collecting samples from village dogs throughout the world in hope of tracing not just the place or places where dogs were first domesticated, but also the travels that dogs then took around the world with their masters. The lack of any sharp gradient of genetic diversity between East Asian and African village dogs could mean that once domesticated, dogs spread very quickly from their point of origin. Another explanation, Dr. Boyko said, is that they originated at some point halfway between the two regions, like in the Caucasus mountains.

The solution to the origin of the dog will come from sampling wolves throughout the world as well as village dogs, Dr. Wayne said. A genome-scanning chip, similar to those developed for studying the human genome, has been developed for dogs.

Impress your friends with canine facts

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Did you know that the term "dog days" has more to do with astrology and the constellation Sirius than with our canine companions here on Earth. These and many more fun dog facts could be discovered from a new book "BowWOW! Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales and Trivia Even Your Dog Won't Know" (HCI, $14.95, 224 pages). Enjoy!

• The problem with panting: Dogs have very few sweat glands. There are some in the paw pads, so dogs do sweat from their feet and from other relatively less-furry regions of their bodies. But the primary way dogs cool off is by panting.
Panting is very rapid, shallow breathing that enhances the evaporation of water from the tongue, mouth and upper respiratory tract. Evaporation dissipates heat as water vapor. Panting can reach frequencies of 300 to 400 breaths per minute (the normal canine breathing rate is 30 to 40 breaths per minute). Yet it requires surprisingly little effort. Because of the natural elasticity of the lungs and airways, panting does not expend much energy or create additional heat.

• Drink up: The average daily water intake for a dog is about 3 ounces for every 5 pounds of body weight, so a 25-pound dog would drink about a pint of water per day under average conditions. The amount goes up if the weather is hot, the dog is exercising or both. Depending on whether a pet eats canned or dry food, up to half of a pet's daily water consumption can come from food. Dogs drink a lot of water, not only because they need it for normal bodily functioning, but also to create moist nasal mucous to help them with their keen sense of smell.

• Computing "dog years": The idea that one year of a dog's life equals seven human ones isn't accurate – but the formulas to replace that easy-to- remember computation are too complicated to ever really catch on. The first eight months of a dog's life equal 13 years in human terms – birth to puberty, in other words. At a year, a dog is a teenager, equivalent to a 16-year-old human, with a little filling out still to do. After the age of 2, when a dog is about 21 in human terms, every dog year equals approximately five human ones. But then you have to adjust for the fact that small dogs live longer than big ones.

Let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:45:00 GMT

via It's Hip, It's Here

A Brazilian company "PetSmiling" launched The Doggie Lover Doll, available for purchase now to placate your randy canine.
That’s right, a doll for dogs to practice safe sex. The majority of non-neutered dogs spend a good chunk of time looking for something to hump. They try pillows, furry creatures, people’s legs and even other animals.

To put an end to this nonsense and improve the little ones' lives, PetSmiling, headquartered in Miami and in São Paulo is bringing to the market the Doggie Lover Doll. Equipped with an easy-to-clean reservoir and a tube of water-based intimate lubricant, this doll comes in three sizes: small, medium and large, to satisfy all existing breeds.

“I had the idea to make this doll when my Maltese started to grab everybody’s legs. I did some research and couldn’t find anything like it, anywhere in the world. I decided to make it!”, reveals Marco Giroto, the owner of PetSmiling.

According to the company: "during the doll’s test period with a few canines, including the Maltese Flock (responsible for the idea), the pets showed a better quality of life based on less anxiety, less barking, and less territorial demarcation. In other words, the dogs live a better life, satisfying their repressed sexuality, in some cases for many years."

Some Bruno for your Pluto ... Movie night for dogs!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:50:00 GMT

via UPI.com

A weekly movie night event in Cincinnati had shaggier guests than usual as dogs were given a one-time free pass to the event, dog owners say. Jessica Sargent of Milford, Ohio, said her shepherd/Rhodesian ridgeback mix Tod was among the canine guests to the Procter & Gamble Movie Night on Saturday, the Cincinnati Enquirer said. Typically dogs are not welcome at the weekly outdoor events.

The Enquirer said specialty dog biscuits were up for sale at the outdoor screening thanks to the restaurant Bouchard's Anything's Pastable.

Luxury shopping event at Henri Bendel for city pooches and their owners.

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:44:00 GMT

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday July 28 Best Friend NYC natural dog grooming products will be available at Henri Bendel in New York during their special annual event “Dog Days of Summer”. Since 1895, Henri Bendel white and brown striped shopping bags have been spotted swinging from the arms of stylish young women around the world.

This exciting shopping event will begin at 10 am continue for a week through August 4, 2009 on the main Atrium level of the famed Henri Bendel flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York City.

Known as a mecca for high- fashion, Henri Bendel will turn its main level into a “doggie playground” and will present a handful of new upscale pet manufacturers. “Dogs Days of Summer” will feature a dog photo contest, complimentary treats and makeovers for Henri Bendel patrons and their canine companions.

During the event Best Friend NYC will showcase their natural dog grooming products, canine aromatherapy candles, and organic dog treats, along with few surprises unveiled at the event.

From woof to words: Japanese make your dog talk

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:19:00 GMT

Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy said Thursday that it would launch a talking version of its Bowlingual gadget that can "translate" dog barks into the human language.

The new model analyses six emotions, including joy, sadness and frustration, and speaks phrases such as "Play with me!" - an improvement on the original which just showed them on a screen.

"Dog owners can enjoy the toy at a dog run and a park," said Tomy spokeswoman Chie Yamada.

The original version of the toy, which has a handset and a microphone attached to a dog collar, won the Ig Nobel Prize in 2002. The awards, a parody of the Nobel Prizes, celebrate achievements that make people laugh and think.

The new Bowlingual Voice, priced at 19,950 yen (212 dollars), will be launched in Japan next month, Yamada said. It will be only available in Japanese at present. The original non-speaking version is also available in English and Korean.

Short legged dogs studied for DNA differences

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:08:00 GMT

via Australian

The evolutionary secret of how the dachshund got its short legs has been uncovered. Dachshunds, corgis, basset hounds and Pekingese are among the common breeds that owe their short legs to the mutation of a single gene that occurred several thousand years ago. The discovery offers insight into the way genetic mutations drive evolution and may have implications for understanding dwarfism in humans.

A team from the American National Human Genome Research Institute, in Maryland, examined DNA samples from 835 dogs from 76 breeds, including 95 animals with short legs. The scientists found that dogs from all the short-legged breeds had an extra copy of a gene that produces a growth protein called FGF4, which is known to be implicated in dwarfism in humans. The extra gene is a mutant of a type known as a retrogene, which lacks parts of the normal DNA code.

The extra retrogene leads to an overproduction of the FGF4 protein, which appears to alter the times at which bones grow in embryonic development. This, the scientists believe, causes the legs of small dogs to remain short and out of proportion to their bodies. The findings are published in the journal Science. As the same gene is shared between all the short-legged breeds of dog studied, the mutation is likely to have emerged early in the evolution of dogs.

Fossil evidence suggests dogs were first domesticated from wolves at least 14,000 years ago, and genetic evidence suggests the evolutionary split may have happened earlier than that. Eric Green, scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, said the research shows how genetic information can help us to understand the course of evolution.

Summer ear care tips for your furry companions

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:04:00 GMT

by Maureen Finn

Ear care is important year round, but with warm weather and water fun on the agenda for the next few months, it’s a good idea to check your canine pal’s ears regularly and be sure to keep up with routine ear cleaning to avoid ear infections. A good ear cleaning can save problems, and money at the vet, and should be part of your dog’s grooming routine.

Of course drop-eared dogs are at higher risk for ear problems due to the “closed” environment, with the ear flap covering the ear canal for a nice warm little breeding ground for moisture loving bacteria. And those with hairy ears (inside), like Poodles and spaniels, are at even greater risk. Keeping the inside of the ears groomed (hair trimmed on the inside of the ear flap, and plucked out of the canal) will help in keeping the ears dry and clean.

Ear cleaning is relatively straightforward, if not easy. Have a supply of cotton balls on hand, and a few paper towels, too. Squirt a small amount of the ear cleaning fluid into the ear canal and massage into the lower ear, then gently swab clean with the cotton ball as far as your finger can reach. Your pet will shake his head vigorously after a cleaning (it’s a good idea to do the cleaning outdoors), which will help to flush the dirt from the ears and expel the excess cleaning fluid from the ear canal. Swab it again with the cotton ball. If you still see a lot of dirt on the cotton ball, repeat the treatment until you feel it’s mostly clean. Once or twice a month cleaning is usually adequate for most animals, but be sure and check in the ears weekly to be sure they're normal--free of any abnormal discharge or strong odor.

After a cleaning, massage in a few drops of mullein flower infused oil into each ear canal. Mullein is a common roadside plant whose flowers have antimicrobial properties and which works especially well with the ears and skin. An oil infusion is the best way to use the flowers, and a few drops will help keep the ears protected against infection and parasites like ear mites.

Even with regular ear care, an ear infection is possible. Some dogs are prone to them due to allergies, poor diet, thyroid problems, or lifestyle (frequent swimming in ponds or slow moving water). It’s important that you get on top of this as soon as possible—ear infections left untreated can cause chronic, ongoing ear problems, including deafness, as well as increasing the possibility of an ear hematoma, where the constant headshaking causes broken blood vessels in the ear and the ear flap swells up like a little pillow due to the trauma.

Green grass is not the same as a greenie!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:38:00 GMT

by Stephanie Modkins

Think your dog needs to eat grass? Well, you're wrong. The idea that canines need to eat the green stuff we call lawns is a myth. Here are four reasons why:

1. Grass isn't medicinal.

Forget all of the rumors you've heard about how grass is so medicinal for dogs. It does not contain any magic properties that will help them digest their food better or cure an ailment. You actually hold the power to prepare them a well-balanced, digestible meal and take them to the vet when their sick.

2. Treated grass has chemicals.

If you are one of those people who is competing to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, you probably use pesticides and other chemicals to treat your grass. These things might make it green, but will harm a dog. No dog should be allowed to graze on a chemically treated lawn because it can poison them causing a myriad of awful side-effects.

3. Sick dog is still a sick dog.

Some dogs like to eat grass when they feel sick to their stomach. They vomit afterward, which is why we think it's good for them to eat grass. After all, it helped empty out a bug in their stomach. Truthfully, a sick or nauseated dog can vomit without the help of grass. So, it's not really necessary for him to eat it. Also, if you think that the grass is treating the underlying reason for your dog's nausea, it could keep you from discovering the real reason he does it. If your dog is always sick after a meal, it could be for a serious reason. Instead of believing that the grass is curing it, take him to a vet and get him checked out.

4. Grass can be an "empty" food choice.

Ever try to figure out why your dog is really eating grass. Maybe it is because the diet you feed him is lacking in nutrition or isn't filling him up. So the grass is like a green salad for us - an empty food choice that makes us feel full or satisfies an unnecessary craving. Make sure he's getting the proper balance of protein, vegetables and starch.Then, if he still continues to eat grass, it's probably just a poor habit he formed because you let him.

Artist Spotlight: Ellen Silverberg

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:47:00 GMT

by Ellen Silverberg

Several years ago, a young woman from Massachusetts contacted me regarding a portrait she wanted me to do of her two dogs who had passed away in a fire. Very few photos remained of her babies but I knew this was a job I had to do. I wanted to bring them back to her in the only way I could. While I was painting, I asked the animal’s spirits for guidance as I had very little to go on from the photos she had sent. When the portrait was finished I emailed her a photo for final approval. She didn’t call me back for three days and, in those three days, I worried that I hadn’t really captured them in the way she wanted and that she was unhappy with the painting. Them I received the following letter which she posted in my guest book:

"Ellen is AMAZING. I would like to share this story with everyone to let you know what an incredible artist AND person that Ellen is. A couple of months ago we lost our home to a fire. Due to our rural location the fire was not found until it had been going for hours. Tragically our 2 dogs, Cassidy and Sega, and 2 cats, Oreo and Matty, were lost in the fire.

Cassidy and Sega were like our children. Cassidy was a 7 year old Husky/Border Collie mix that I had rescued from the pound when she was 4 months old. Sega was a 14 year old Rottweiler that my boyfriend brought home as a puppy.

When I met my boyfriend 3 years ago Sega got arthritis. We would have to make him get up to go outside. When Sega was introduced to Cassidy he somehow found his reason to get up in the morning. Cassidy was so full of vim and vigor - it was all Sega could do to get up and chase her around. Slowly but surely Sega got up on his own every day and became more and more active. At the end of a 3 month period Sega was moving better than he had in years.

The bond the 2 of the developed was a sight to be seen. People used to laugh when we would make the statement that they were like a couple until they saw it for themselves. Sega would "grunt" and Cassidy would come running to his side. They would sit next to one another and lick each others faces over and over and over again.... to the point we would tell them to stop and get a room!! Sega always knew where Cassidy was - he never let her out of his site - his way of protecting her.

After the fire I wanted to find a way that we could have something that would remind us of all the wonderful memories we had with our 2 best friends. I thought a painting would be the best way to do this and I desperately wanted to have this done. I began searching the web for artists that specialized in portraits of animals. One of my biggest limitations was the pictures I had presented. We had lost all of our photographs in the fire and I only had one of Sega and 2 of Cassidy. The pictures were dark and I was afraid it would be difficult for an artist to see the expressions and personality that I so wanted to capture.

When I contacted Ellen, her response was phenomenal. After explaining to her the lack of photos I was able to provide she stated she could work with what she had and began immediately working on the painting. She displayed no hesitation when I let her know the time frame in which I was looking to have this done - I had little control over the timing of the fire. and period of time until his birthday.

A day later she sent me a photo of her rough sketch on the canvas. I was floored. Those were my babies and there was no doubt it was them. You could see them beginning to take form. I was so anxious to see the finished painting... it could only get better from here. The day came when I opened the package that had arrived which contained the framed painting. I literally shook with excitement as I carefully opened the box. All I can say is the painting is the MOST INCREDIBLE thing I have ever seen. I could never have imagined that someone could capture every little piece of Cassidy and Sega - especially if they never saw the dogs themselves. Right down to the little scar on Sega's nose - to the ice blue color of Cassidy's eye. You can feel the bond between them just by looking at it.... Absolutely amazing.

I could never have asked for a more precious memory of Cassidy and Sega. Every time I look at it I see the light in their eyes and I remember how special they were to us and to each other. I would like to thank Ellen with all my heart for giving this memory to us. She went out of her way for us - I truly believe she connected with both of them while she was creating this painting. There is no other way she could have captured their spirit like she did."

Since then, I have done many paintings of pets who have passed over the rainbow bridge and the reaction is always the same, “how could you know about that little scare on his nose?”; “I can’t believe you knew he had a spot on his other side. That wasn’t in the photo!”; but most of all, “thank you for bringing our baby back to us!” This is why I do the work I do and I truly believe that the spirits of deceased animals remain with us always and can be summoned up when we need them most.

With love,

Ellen