Arthritis And Hip Dysplasia in Old Dogs

When it comes to caring for your old dog, Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia may be two of the most difficult diseases for dog owners to contend with. Although both diseases can affect all breeds and sizes, the larger breeds seem to have a higher risk for Hip Dysplasia.
These are very painful diseases and can be distressing for dog owners who often feel helpless. There are several prescription drugs available through your veterinarian that can help your old dog tremendously. Take note that although these drugs will help quickly, unfortunately, they are very hard on your dog's organs just as quickly. Most veterinarians do blood work every six months to monitor animals when placed on non-steroidal drugs.
Unfortunately, there are no cures for Arthritis, Osteoarthritis or Hip Dysplasia. As we all know, prevention is the best cure. Although genetics does play a role, by starting your dog on a whole diet that includes fresh meat and vegetables as early on as possible is critical for preventing and rehabilitation of these diseases.
We have seen tremendous results by feeding our own dogs a fresh diet rich in nutrients and by integrating a component that naturally Renews Synovial Fluid Around The Damaged Joints.
A high potency formula of Glucosamine can often provide much needed comfort and relief for older dogs with full blown arthritis. While the pill form might cost less, it does not have the benefits that a liquid does. Avoid pill forms found at the local supermarket or drug store, they just don't have the potency to do the job.
We did our own research and found an excellent product that we use on our own dogs, however, this glucosamine must be refridgerated for shelf life. It is economically priced at half the cost of most others and you get a larger bottle as well: Now Foods Liquid Glucosamine/Chondroitin 16oz.
If your dog is currently on prescription medications, always inform your veterinarian when adding any new treatment or medicines whether all natural or not.
Tips For Joint Pain And Stiffness In Your Old Dog
Give "Coated" Aspirin such as Ascriptin but NEVER IBUPROFEN or any products that contain Ibuprofen.
A dog bed made specifically for dogs with joint problems.
Purchase doggie stairs or a ramp and never allow him to jump and land on his front legs.
Don't put his bed directly in front of the air conditioner vent.

Animals Issues: Dog news

Please forgive me for not posting my articles everyday like I usually do but as I explained to you all ... Im having alot of trouble with my computer and this is why I have been asking for donations for a new computer so I can keep on bloggin.. My computer crashed all this week I could not post nor could I get online so I do hope you all will open your hearts and understand that Im not able to get a computer on my own I need donations to get one so I do hope you all will donatie whatever youj can... Thank you... Some kind-hearted people asked me what they can do to help animals. Below are examples of suffering animals that you can read more about. Thought I’d share with you some key animal news of the week from the People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals. Please follow the links to the original articles which will show you how you can help these animals suffering around the world :
FDA = Federal Dog AbuseIn a full-page Washington Post ad, PETA slams Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew Von Eschenbach for requiring crude and unreliable animal tests, including tests on dogs. You can help stop this cruel testing! What You Won’t See in the Upcoming Olympic CoverageThere’s a lot to celebrate about the Summer Olympics in China. But there’s an ugly side for animals living in the Olympic host country: the Chinese fur industry’s horrific abuse of animals. You can help us expose the horrible abuse of animals. Read more and take action today!
Introducing PETA Living Introducing PETA LivingWelcome to PETA Living, the new section dedicated to bringing you helpful advice for your cruelty-free lifestyle. From animal-friendly fashion tips to the latest on wildlife-friendly landscaping, PETA Living is a treasure chest of insider tips waiting to be discovered!U.S. Government Sends Tigers to a War Zone! U.S. Government Sends Tigers to a War Zone!The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a permit for a roadside zoo in North Carolina to send two tigers to the Baghdad Zoo in Iraq. It is cruel and irresponsible to put tigers in harm’s way in a country where most people don’t even have access to basic necessities. Take action today! U.S. Army Shooting Live Pigs in Trauma TrainingA brave whistleblower in the U.S. military has come forward to expose cruel medical training practices— pigs are being shot while still alive. We need your help! Check out PETA’s action alert and take action on this important issue today. PETA Names Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks of 2008Ballparks across the continent have stepped up to the plate when it comes to serving delicious vegetarian food. Find out which ones made PETA’s annual list of vegetarian-friendly ballparks for 2008, and read more about their mouthwatering menu options.
PETA to Obama: Melting Pot Deserves National MuttPETA President Ingrid Newkirk has sent a letter to Sen. Barack Obama and his family urging them to adopt a “pound pup,” or Great American Mutt, rather than buy a dog from a breeder or a pet store. Read the full letter exclusively on The PETA Files.
Action Alerts Link
Please click on the link “Action Alerts” on the right panel of this website to speak out on various critical animal issues . Defence-less animals are counting on YOUR voice. Source: Peta

Funny Pictures of dogs

While blog-hoppin I ran across these cute pictures over at Dogs In Duds ENJOY!
Be Sure to Leave Your Comments!

China bans dog from Olympic menu

Dog meat is eaten by some in several Asian countries
China has ordered dog meat to be taken off the menu at its 112 official Olympic restaurants in order to avoid offending foreign visitors.

Restaurant workers are advised to "patiently" suggest other options to diners who order dog.

Any restaurant found violating the ban would be black-listed, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Dog - known as "fragrant meat" - is eaten by some Chinese for purported medicinal properties.

The ban, issued by the Beijing Catering Trade Association, forbids all designated Olympic restaurants from offering dog and urges other food outlets to remove the meat from menus.

"If a customer orders dog meat, restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entree," said Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau told Xinhua.

Act of respect

The measure has been implemented to "respect the habits of many countries and nationalities," the Beijing News quoted the municipal food department as saying.

The BBC's James Reynolds says the ban is one of several steps taken by China to avoid foreign visitors being amused or offended by local customs.

Authorities have also told people to queue up politely, to smile and not to spit on the streets.

During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea also banned doggie dishes from menus. Officials invoked a law banning the sale of "foods deemed unsightly".

Dog meat is eaten in some other Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.

Face to Face

Wuff! Wuff! Im looking for some Dog Blogs ! I heard Dogcents is pretty good!! Wuff! Wuff! Just got to add my password -Rin-tin- tin and I'm in...

"GUS" crowned World's Ugliest Dog in the World

A three-legged, one-eyed, cancer-afflicted dog named Gus has been crowned the World's Ugliest Dog at a fair in California.
Gus, a Chinese Crested dog, beat allcomers to take the title at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Owner Jeanenne Teed, from Florida, said she would spend the $1,600 prize on treatment for Gus's skin cancer.
The competition has been running for 20 years, and is one of the fair's top attractions, organisers said.
Vicki DeArmon, marketing director of the fair, said that in the past few years, winners had been dogs that had been abandoned or neglected before being adopted by dog-lovers.

In pictures: Ugliest dog contest"They may look hard to love, but apparently they are not. I've never seen dogs better cared for," she added.
Gus was rescued from a bad home.
One of his legs was amputated as a consequence of his skin tumour.
He lost an eye to a tomcat in a fight.

Training your Dog

Training a dog can be enjoyable and rewarding. It’s not necessary to have formal training to teach a dog behavioral skills. It is necessary, however, to be consistent, firm and loving, while making it fun. When dogs know what to expect from their masters, they’re much more likely to comply. Here are a few tips to make your training experience a rewarding one for both you and your pet. First of all, it’s important to begin training as soon as you bring a dog into your home. Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, it’s important that it knows who’s in charge. As dogs are pack animals, they need to know their role in the hierarchy of the home. Once the dog can identify its master as the leader, it will be much easier to teach it necessary commands. Some dogs may always test their boundaries, but knowing they have a set role in the family gives them a measure of comfort. Secondly, make it fun for the dog. Speaking in a soothing, encouraging voice, and lavishing praise on your pet when it follows direction helps reinforce the lesson learned. If a dog thinks sitting, staying or fetching is fun, it will be more likely to perform on command. When training a dog, it can be frustrating in the beginning if the dog doesn’t follow direction. If this happens, stop the training session. Dogs can sense stressful situations, and react accordingly. Lessons should be enjoyable for a dog. Practicing positive reinforcement goes much further than teaching a dog to fear its master. If it thinks it’s playing a game, it’s more interested in participating. Next, be consistent. If you’re teaching a dog the “sit” command, and it’s rewarded whether it sits or not, it won’t learn the lesson. Follow through is critical during training. A dog must be able to identify consequences for its actions. If it carries out the command, it’s praised. If it doesn’t do what’s been asked, it isn’t. Sending mixed messages to the dog will make training that much more difficult. Use the same hand signals and/or simple verbal commands for each lesson. If you’re teaching your dog to stay off the sofa, repeating the same word, such as “off,” each time is much more effective than using different words, like “down” and “go,” interchangeably. The dog needs simple, clear, consistent direction to best understand and carry out its duties. Also, every member of the family must commit to taking part in training the dog. If one parent enforces the rules, and someone else in the home doesn’t, the dog will quickly figure out that it can get away with misbehaving, and all the work the trainer did can unravel. Dogs can get bored with lengthy training sessions. Positive gains can be seen in just a few minutes per session. Focusing on one trick for too long can cause the dog to tune out entirely, while shorter sessions spread throughout the week can be effective and enforce lessons. As your dog learns tricks, add new ones. This way, their confidence grows when they can respond to commands they’re familiar with, but they can look forward to learning something new. They enjoy pleasing their masters, and can withdraw if they sense that they’re not doing so. Formal obedience training is also an option, for owners who would like to reinforce lessons they’re teaching at home. Generally, it’s a simple matter of spending enough time with the dog, and consistently enforcing rules. Not only is it rewarding for the dog, it’s rewarding for the master as well. Not only is a well-behaved dog a joy to be around, but training a dog can create an unbreakable bond between dog and master.

Dogs Never Had it So Good

"A dog’s life is not what it used to be"

The term “a dog’s life” now constitutes an entirely different meaning then it did in the 1950’s. Dogs no longer live as dogs, but people. Since the 1950’s dogs have been humanized in relation to the health care they receive, their diet, their breed, behaviour and discipline, their mental stimulation and their place within the home.

The phenomenon of the “millennium dog” can be traced to the change in the life of dog owners throughout the decades and the development of new social norms. The money rich and time poor philosophy that is commonly related to society today can also be held responsible for the humanization of the domestic dog. Gone are the days when a dogs main purpose was to work, the millennium dog has it far better, the only work they have to do is unconditionally love, support and care about their owners. This transition in the life style of the domestic dog will be discussed throughout this report by comparing a 1950’s dog to a millennium dog. However, it’s not the dogs that have changed, but their owners and their expectations of man’s best friend.

Health Care

It is not just the field of veterinary care that has advanced dramatically since the 1950’s, it is also the attitudes of dog owners towards the health of their pets that have changed. Worms, limps, infections, fleas and diseases were all part of owning a dog. A dog in the 1950’s, particularly a working dog was likely to receive no-where near as much medical treatment as a dog today. A sick dog on a farm was most likely to receive the unfortunate fate of being destroyed and replaced, rather than causing his owner the stress of paying hefty vet bills.

Today however, as little as excess scratching or a mood change is often enough to necessitate a short but expensive trip to the local vet. Eighty-one per-cent of respondents in a recent K9 Media poll believed they have done or were willing to pay over ?1000 on their dog’s health per year. Although the introduction of pet health insurance has been of great assistance to many British pet owners, it still comes at great expense and causes much confusion and frustration. Pet insurance itself also reflects the changing attitudes of pet owners towards the health of their dogs, and the enormous amount they are willing to pay to keep this member of the family healthy.

With all the health advances and services available today, it may appear that dogs are now healthier then their 1950’s counterparts. This however may not necessarily be the case. As pet owners have become more concerned with the health of their dog, the diseases and conditions that dogs have always suffered are only being identified and treated today, such as arthritis and diabetes. These conditions would have once gone unnoticed and untreated. Arthritis for example, there are now copious treatments available.

The same may apply to the process of worming. Dogs have always had worms, but it is only now however that it is being treated. Terms such as roundworm and tapeworm are only fairly recent. Now there are hundreds of different treatments for these available, such as Drontal, the market leader here in the UK. Different treatments are also available depending on the age, size and life stage of the dog such as pregnancy. It is interesting to note that not only are these remedies available now, but dog medication is dosed and distributed the same way as human medicines.

Dog News

Don't Let Your Dog Suffer From Fleas or Ticks This Summer

Parasitology experts Bayer Animal Health is issuing a reminder message to all dog owners as the spring 'tick season' nears. During spring, blood-sucking ticks can be amongst the most common problems for the family dog. Bayer Animal Health urges pet owners to consider an anti-parasite treatment to prevent their dogs from being bitten by ticks during their daily walk.

"The recent mild winters have allowed a huge increase in tick numbers, which continues consistently throughout the year - although it is fair to say that the only time we stop seeing ticks is after a few days of frost."

"Ticks are a problem in certain areas and dogs should be checked for ticks after every walk, particularly after walking through vegetation such as rough grasses, bracken, gorse and heather areas that are particularly capable of harbouring ticks."

Not only can tick bites cause skin irritation for both dog and owner but ticks can also transmit dangerous diseases via their saliva. Lyme Disease for example can cause fever, acute lameness, joint swelling and renal failure in dogs as well as arthritis and skin problems in humans.

"We are seeing more and more cases of Canine Vector-Borne Disease (CVBD) transmitted by ticks and we have had several dogs die from tick-borne disease despite prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment."

The best protection against ticks is to treat your dog with a product which not only kills ticks but also acts as a repellent to block ticks from attaching to your dog in the first place. By using a preventative treatment, which is available from veterinary surgeons, owners can confidently protect their dogs."

It is thought that current official statistics for tick-borne diseases are underestimated of the real picture. The likely reason for this is because carriers of tick-borne diseases either do not receive treatment or remain undiagnosed.

Vet News

The Fireworks are coming so get ready to Protect your Pets

Pets face many hazards outside, and with the seasonal firework festivities fast approaching and longer nights, it’s a time for increased vigilance and awareness of the dangers pets face outside the home.

To help owners, PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, has produced two new pet care leaflets, ‘Fireworks and Pet Safety’ and ‘Pet Safety Outdoors’.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, says: “The noise of fireworks can shock a pet into running away causing it to become disorientated, lost and frightened.

“The main danger time is, of course, during the evening, so it’s a good idea to keep dogs and cats indoors, bring rabbit hutches inside and exercise dogs during the day.”

PDSA also advises getting pets’ accustomed to loud noises in advance. There are some recordings of firework sounds that owners can buy, which vets may suggest using to help pets cope with the noise. In addition, natural pheromone sprays that give off comforting scents can sometimes help.

Many pets can hear sounds that are inaudible to the human ear. So what we might think is a small sound, will seem far worse to your pet. “It’s all about making your pet feel safe and comfortable” says Elaine. “What you don’t want to do is add to their anxiety by panicking yourself.”

Find out when any big displays are taking place in your area. It’s also important to make sure pets are in a room where they feel secure and draw the curtains as soon as it is dark. It may help to put some music on, preferably something with repetitive drumbeats and make sure there are places a pet can hide, which is often a comfort for some animals.

Last of all, if you are having your own bonfire night celebrations, you should always check beneath the bonfire just before you light it to make sure there are no cats or hedgehogs hiding under it. Always clear away the hot embers afterwards and remember too, that scraps of left-over food can be harmful, as can hot spent fireworks.

Elaine concludes: “Noise, smoke, embers and sparks are all hazardous and can cause real distress to pets. PDSA’s advice is to plan ahead. Keep pets safe and keep them indoors.”

Pets also face many other dangers outside. For example, every year many pets are injured in road traffic accidents, so owners should keep cats indoors at night and keep dogs on a lead at all times when out walking to try to prevent any accidents. Getting your pet microchipped will also help should your pet become lost due to the loud bangs and bright lights.

The PDSA ‘Fireworks and Pet Safety’ and ‘Pet Safety Outdoors’ leaflets form part of a range of Responsible Pet Care leaflets from PDSA. The leaflets which include topics such as Vaccination, Identification, Dental Care and neutering, are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and PDSA charity shops nationwide.
Web news

Kids open lemonade stand to help cat get surgery

This is such a heart warming story that I had to publish it and we can all learn from it. Learn to open up your hearts to all animals who are in need of our help and love. So please open your hearts to my cause and give to Save the dogs here. Buy a Permenant link.

OGDEN, Utah - The homemade signs says it all: Buy a drink, help my cat. Aspen Granath hopes the plea will draw enough customers to her lemonade stand on a street corner to pay for expensive surgery for her cat, Patches.
The 10-year-old and her 8-year-old brother, Skylar, opened for business a few days ago and say they plan to staff the roadside stand for about four hours a day.
A spinal cord injury left the cat partially paralyzed. The children's father said a veterinarian has recommended amputation of the leg so that Patches can have a more normal life.
The cost of the surgery, medications and other care could run as much as $700.
For thirsty passers-by, the cost of helping out is just $1 for a bottle of water and 25 cents for a packet of powdered lemonade or fruit juice.
Aspen said she'll "do this as long as it takes" because Patches is one of her favorite pets . Source: Web News

This is the World Breaking Litter of doggies

There Moma holds the World's Record for having the largest litter of Puppies.
Not normally known for having litters much larger than 10, an American Bulldog from Hertfordshire has birthed an incredible litter of 20, yes that’s TWENTY puppies.
The bullie bundles belong to Kaiser, owned by Kerry New, and could find their way into the Guinness book of world records. Web News

The Best Dog Toy Ever Invented - God Was Thinking of the Dog When He Invented…

Posted By Ryan O'Meara
…the humble tennis ball.

Think about it.

This IS the best dog toy ever invented. Nothing comes close.


It’s shaped perfectly to fit in a dog’s mouth, even down to the natural curvature of the dog’s front teeth.

It bounces and rolls and can be tracked when it ends up in long grass.

It has a natural fur outer cover but can also attract the scent of other items it comes into contact with as well as the scent of the thrower’s hand.

It floats.

It fits in the pocket.

It can be thrown great distances with relative lack of effort.

It is robust and can survive the harshest treatment.

Even young puppies can pick them up.

They are cheap, cheap, cheap to buy and easy to replace.

They make a unique sound when bounced. A sound dogs find easy to recognise.

They are green so are great for hiding in grassy areas and making the dog work hard to find them.

They can be hollowed out and treats placed inside them for additional excitement.

The tennis ball is unmatched as a dog toy, training device and doggy joy bringer.

Cherish it. No need to search for the most expensive dog toys or training gear or canine entertainment centre’s when you have a dog who loves tennis balls.

Some tips:

1) Don’t let dogs play unattended with a tennis ball. You will kill the magic. That’d be like letting someone travel to work every day in a formula 1 car - eventually the novelty will go and the ball will no longer have it’s magestic qualities.

2) Don’t let dogs chew or destroy the tennis ball. The tennis ball is to be treasured. It is an orb of pure mystery and should be treated as preciously as a Fabergé egg for that is how your dog shall view it if you keep their tennis ball interest in tact.

3) Introduce puppies to the joys of the tennis ball early in life. It will pay off later.

4) Never be without one. An emergency tennis ball is, in many cases, as useful as a distress flare on a sinking ship.

The tennis ball. The best dog toy ever invented. Fact. Source: K9 Magazine

Win Cash and Domain enter Contest at DiggItLive

Win $350 in contest!
Posted by DiggItLive at May 21, 2008We’re giving away $350 in prizes! The rules of the contest are simple and easy to follow.

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Subscribe to DiggItLive dot COM via Email and verify it. The subscribe via Email form is in the header. Those who have subscribed already will also be counted.
Post a comment here that you have subscribed to DiggItLive via Email.
If possible, post about our contest on your forum/blog as well. (optional)
The winners and their prizes will be as follows:

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The winners will be selected randomly using random.org . They will send money to them via PayPal, so you must have a PayPal account to receive the prize. The domain registration and push will be done via GoDaddy.

Cancer-Sniffing Dog to Be Cloned

Black Lab Like Me May 21, 2008 -- A Japanese center which says it has trained a dog to sniff out human cancer cells is cloning the animal in South Korea, a Seoul-based biotechnology company and the dog's owner said Wednesday.

Cloned fetuses from the black labrador retriever named Marine were last month implanted into a surrogate mother dog, said Ra Jeong-Chan, president of RNL Bio.

"We are going to see the clones around the end of this month," Ra said.

Marine, who is six and half years old, lost her ability to reproduce when she had her womb removed because of disease.

She is owned by Yuji Satoh, a head trainer at St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center, located at Shirahama in Chiba prefecture.

Satoh said experts from Seoul National University, which created the world's first cloned dog in 2005, had taken some skin samples from Marine and brought them back to South Korea for the project.

"We are making clones of Marine. She is touted as having a world top cancer-sniffing ability. By making her clones, we want to promote studies into cancer-sniffing dogs," Satoh said.

"It's the world's first cloning of a cancer-sniffing dog."

He and the Korean firm, which is coordinating the project, have agreed to produce two clones and train them at Satoh's center.

Source: Web News,

Photo Caption Contest

Go over to Amel's Realm and get into the Photo caption Contest and join in on the fun .. This contest is open to all bloggers from the time this post is published. Closing date: Saturday, May 31st, 2008. The winners wil be selected on Sunday, June 1st (Finish time).

# winners wil be chosen, each of whom will get these cash prizes via Paypal only:

1st winner - USD 10
2nd winner - USD 6
3rd winner - USD 4

Rules:

1. Post about this contest in your blog and write down the wittiest and funniest caption ever for the above picture.

2. Once you've posted about this contest in your blog, you can leave a message in the comment section of this post along with the URL of your post.

3. Each blogger can enter more than one submission in different blogs as long as the captions are different.

Pet tips- Flea Problems, Bad Breath, Shedding, Worms

Here's a few quick tips for common problems. A lot of dogs develop a flea problem. try rubbing on garlic power - no more fleas. If Fido seem to have a severe itching problem try using a little apple cider vinegar on the affected spot. Diarrhea? Try a teaspoon full of carob powder mixed with his food. Worms? Garlic again. In fact, most dogs love the taste of garlic, and if you look at the label of many manufacturers pet foods you'll find it listed in ingredients! Bad Breath? Give your pouch a sprig or two of parsley mixed in his food. When you give your dog a bath, add a few tablespoons of baking soda to both the bath and rinse water to give a shiny bright coat. If you have a long-haired dog that's shedding, rub a little olive oil a couple of times a week. A cat's litter box will smell fresh if you add a box of baking soda. Fur balls pass easier if your pet has roughage. Can't get him to eat dry cat food? Try mixing a little liquid from a can of tuna fish.

The Dogs We Grew Up On - Meet Pop Culture's Most Captivating Canines

At some point in time somebody somewhere said; “Everybody loves dogs… Now how can we make money from that?”. This speculatory statement has spawned a legion of adorable, marketable and merchandisable cuddly canines who leapt, tails wagging and tongues lapping, from the popular media and through the pet flaps of our minds.



They wolfed down the meaty chunks of our monetary food bowl and rolled over to have their tummies tickled by advertising executives before settling down for a nap in the basket of our affections. Every dog, they say, has his day and some have endured for longer than others, indeed a select few have attained superstar status and become endemic in our popular culture.

However hard nosed and cynical we may be or however aware we are of advertiser’s manipulation of our affinity for the wet nosed and cuddly, nobody can deny that our childhood memories all owe a great deal of affection to these larger than life canine characters. Anyone here not giggle when an oblivious Odie stared over the precipice of a table while Garfield snuck up on him and gave him a crafty PUNT over the edge?

Anybody not tickled when Droopy stated in his laconic drawl that he was “very very happy”? I thought as much! So why not rouse your childhood affections from their slumber, put a collar and lead on them and take them for walkies down memory lane.

Name- RIN TIN TIN
Appearing in- NUMEROUS WARNER BROS. FILMS
Things we loved- The official German Shepherd of the Millennium and his decedents have entertained the world for eighty years. The original Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932) served as a Red Cross dog in World War I with his owner Duncan before going on to make 26 films for Warner Bros. His popularity is even accredited with saving the company from bankruptcy. His descendants have gone on to make numerous films and television shows and most recently Rin Tin Tin has endorsed a charity called ARFKids (A Rinty For Kids) to provide service dogs for disabled children at no cost. Quite a legacy!
Things we didn’t- The original died years before most of us were born.

Name- BRAIN
Appearing in- INSPECTOR GADGET
Things we loved- If you’re a bumbling detective with good intentions but a right arm that doubles as a giant Swiss army knife then a plucky child prodigy and her lovable highly intelligent pet dog are instrumental if you ever hope to fight any crime. Brain was a fearless and intelligent (as well as largely bipedal) canine who, along with juvenile owner Penny was often accredited with thwarting the evil schemes of Doctor Claw while Gadget engaged in half an hour of slapstick tomfoolery.
Things we didn’t- Despite impeccable loyalty and good intentions Brain would often get hurt, trampled, set on fire, caught in a bomb blast while looking after his human counterparts. Sheer barbarity!

Name- K9 (good name!)
Appearing in- DOCTOR WHO
Things we loved- Britain’s answer to R2D2, Doctor Who’s all knowing robot companion had personality, humour, a funny voice, a tartan collar, the ability to detect sonic waves and even a laser blaster on his nose. What more could any time travelling adventurer demand from a companion?
Things we didn’t- He didn’t have enough screen time and spent most of it in the Tardis “holding the fort”.

Name- ERIC
Appearing in- WOOF
Things we loved- Possibly every eight year old in Britain has read the children’s classic by Allan Ahlberg which chronicled the adventures of Eric, a young boy who wakes up one morning having inexplicably metamorphosised into a Norfolk Terrier, and his comical sidekick, best friend Roy. However many are more likely to remember the hugely popular counterpart children’s television series which serialised and expanded upon the book providing .
Things we didn’t- The creators ended up with Harry Potter syndrome i.e. puberty hit the young stars of the series who then had to be replaced. Subsequently the characters got changed and the series went rubbish!

Name- SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER
Appearing in- THE SIMPSONS
Things we loved- This slow witted but loveable greyhound has been charming audiences the world over since the late 1980s and those of you who read the Greyhound article in the last issue of K9 will know we’re all big fans. His proudest achievements include earning a degree from a prestigious canine academy, enjoying a brief stint as an attack dog for miserly billionaire Monty Burns, and fathering 25 puppies. This quintessential cartoon dog is loyal, loving, friendly and mischievous but unfortunately has yet to learn to talk… We live in hope!
Things we didn’t- During the course of the long running series the poor greyhound has had his back legs broken by the evil Mr. Burns and been abandoned for a “better model” found in trained pedigree Laddie. Still Santa’s Little Helper has maintained an air of cheerful optimism.

Name- SNOWY
Appearing in- HERGE’S ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
Things we loved- The tiny, affable, brave and possibly super-intelligent canine sidekick of nosy Belgian reporter Tintin earns a well-deserved spot in this column. He has loyally followed his master from the mountains of Tibet to the bottom of the sea and has been instrumental in the incarceration of countless smugglers, pirates, terrorists etc. The plucky white terrier is the model of loyalty and bravery and his determined scowl ensure that generation after generation has fallen in love with this remarkable animal.
Things we didn’t- Nobody really cared how many times Tintin got captured, kidnapped, beaten, tortured etc. but if any enemy of the free world laid a hand on snowy juvenile hearts the world over were broken.

Name- LASSIE
Appearing in- THE BOOK “LASSIE COMES HOME” AND NUMEROUS FRANCHISES.
Things we loved- Along with Rin Tin Tin, Lassie shares the seat reserved for the most recognised dogs in popular culture. Images of the collie bounding through a field of green grass and marigolds are firmly embedded in the minds of dog lovers of all ages the world over. Currently in his ninth generation Lassie has been an irreplaceable part of dog lover’s culture for fifty years and chances are as long as dog lovers continue to own televisions, images of Lassie will endure for further generations.
Things we didn’t- Lassie’s success spawned legions of do-gooding animal imitators which in turn led to clichés of epic proportions…. What’s that boy? Bert’s trapped down the mine shaft?

Name- GROMIT
Appearing in- WALLACE AND GROMIT
Things we loved- Product of acclaimed animator Nick Park, this ponderous and resourceful plasticine dog is best remembered riding side saddle on a motorbike adorned with a ridiculous flight cap and goggles, or peering out of the port hole of a space rocket bound for the moon. Like most of the canine compatriots we remember he represents the more intelligent, thoughtful half of the dog/ human relationship as he regularly compensates (or is the brunt of) the ineptitude of his human counterpart, cheese-loving inventor Wallace. Considering his inability to talk and lack of facial features his expressions speak volumes and his deeds vary from selfless to heroic. Achievements include landing on the moon, thwarting a diamond robbery by an evil penguin and going toe to toe with a canine version of The Terminator.
Things we didn’t- Gromit’s simple but loveable image led to his becoming a merchandising phenomenon and every schoolgirl in the United Kingdom seemed to own a bag/ handbag/ pencil case/ lunchbox bearing his likeness, which somehow detracts from his charm.

Source: K9 News

Top Ten Breeds in 2007

the American Kennel Club announced their top ten dog breeds for 2007 based on registration statistics of its members...

2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog

For the first time since 1935, the Bulldog has broken into the top 10. The organization says that this breed has recently gained appeal to a very wide range of dog lovers. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It's also one of the few dog breeds to be adopted as a mascot for some sports teams.

The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886, just two years after the organization's founding, and was most popular in 1915 when it peaked in 5th place. The breed's popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.

The AKC published statistics by cities...


The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles where is it currently ranked 2nd right after the Lab.
Web News

Snickers the Sea Dog adrift at Sea

LOS ANGELES - Snickers the Sea Dog is barely more than a pup, but he's already an old salt.

The 8-month-old pooch spent three months adrift in the Pacific with his owners and a parrot until their 48-foot sailboat ran aground in December on tiny Fanning Island, 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. Snickers and Gulliver had to be left behind as their owners hitched a ride on a cargo vessel.

Then in March, the SOS was sent out in a boating journal that the orphaned critters were to be destroyed on Fanning, one of 33 scattered coral atolls that make up the remote island nation of Kiribati.

As word spread, a bevy of people worked to rescue the cocker spaniel and the macaw, including a man who desperately wants to adopt them: retired Las Vegas resident Jack Joslin.

"I love animals," Joslin told The Associated Press on Friday. "I had two dogs up until the middle of March. Then I had to have my border collie euthanized. The day they called saying the ashes were back was when I read the story (about Snickers). It occurred to me I could do something."

On April 9, Norwegian Cruise Line workers rescued Snickers from Fanning and dropped him off on Oahu island, Hawaii, where he will remain in quarantine until he is flown to Los Angeles.

Hawaiian Airlines, moved by the dog's survival story, has given the go-ahead on flying the animal for free to the mainland, said Peter Forman, a Hawaii-based airlines historian who helped negotiate Snickers' transport.

Forman said he expects Snickers to arrive sometime in the next three days.

Snickers' original owners, Jerry and Darla Merrow, had set out from California's Moss Landing but their catamaran developed mast problems, said Gina Baurile of the Hawaiian Humane Society.

The boat drifted to the tiny atoll, where it hit a reef and the couple swam 200 yards to shore with Snickers and Gulliver.

Baurile said the pets were left in the care of islanders.

"They don't have the same concept of taking care of pets," Baurile said.

Efforts to contact the Merrows on Friday were unsuccessful. Joslin said he has been unable to contact the pair, and Baurile said she believes the Hawaiian Humane Society never tried to reach them.

"The Merrows got to the point where they had to move on with their lives," said Forman, who is friends with Robby and Lorraine Coleman, a couple with a sailboat off Fanning Island who originally talked to a boating journal about Snickers.

"The Merrows basically signed a release of ownership of the dog," Forman said.

Robby Coleman started watching out for the dog and parrot on the island, Forman said.

"Robby put out the SOS and a lot of people got involved," Forman said.

Contacted by Joslin, the Hawaiian Humane Society took the lead on Snickers rescue.

The organization worked with Norwegian Cruise Line, and a ship was sent out to Fanning Island to pick up the dog, said Norwegian Cruise Line spokeswoman Krislyn Hashimoto.

The Hawaiian Humane Society provided pet carriers, flea treatment and food, Baurile said.

The dog landed in Honolulu on Wednesday, cleared Customs and has been in quarantine since, awaiting transport to Los Angeles, Hashimoto said.

Getting the parrot off the island will be more difficult, said Joslin, who wants to adopt the animal.

There is a plan to move Gulliver to Christmas Island, near Fanning Island, and eventually to L.A., one of two U.S. ports that accept exotic birds.

"Snickers is going to live with me, I hope, for a long time," Joslin said. "And we're trying like hell to get the bird back here."

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Source: Associated Press