Dogs

Watch this grainy video closely and you’ll see what appears to be a dog pushing a man in a wheelchair through flood waters in what we guess is Russia. No information is included with the video, posted on YouTube Sunday, so we can’t conclude whether the dog is being heroic, or just trying to keep [...]

Stop by the Blogville Chronicle and catch up on our latest Meet & Greet.  We have some great guests.

Puppy potty pads – good or bad? When to use them? I am not a fan of puppy pads or fake grass for dogs. At all. This post is about some potential problems with puppy pads and some possible alternatives. I realize tons of dog owners do use puppy pads already. The final part of this post includes examples of why people use them, regardless of what I think. We can’t all be the same, for crying out loud. Problems with puppy potty pads and why puppy pads are a bad idea 1. Puppy pads create housebreaking problems. Puppy pads can create a few problems. The goal of potty training a puppy is to get the puppy to go potty outside. Some people make the mistake of using puppy potty pads temporarily, as part of the “potty training.” Their goal is to transition the puppy from going potty indoors on the pads to going potty outside. This is similar to putting down newspapers for the puppy to pee on. While this can work, it creates an unnecessary step and potential confusion for the puppy. Why not just train the puppy to go potty outside right from the start? 2. Dogs don’t always pee right on the pads. One of the problems with puppy potty pads is that sometimes the puppies miss the pads. Sometimes they go potty next to the pad. Sometimes some of the pee makes it onto the pad and some doesn’t. Some puppies eventually start lifting their legs, and therefore missing the pad. Some puppies eventually do the “squat and walk” while they pee as a form of marking (mostly females). Some dogs will walk as they poop (right, Ace?). Some dogs will kick their back legs after eliminating. Some dogs will begin to pee on rugs, pillows towels or anything that resembles the pee pad. If your dog doesn’t do these things, then you’re in luck! 3. You have to train the dog to use the pee pads. Some dog owners think their dogs will automatically know how to use the potty pads or dog grass pads. This is not true. You have to train the puppy to go potty on the pad, just as you would train the puppy to go potty outside. 4. Potty pads encourage the dog owner to be gone for too long. I know how tempting it would be to stay out later or to work longer if I knew I didn’t have to come home to let my dog out. Ace stays home for a maximum of about six hours during the day (usually just 1 or 2, he’s spoiled). With the pee pads, I’m sure some owners stay away for 10+ hours when they wouldn’t have to. While I think people who work long hours can still provide good homes for dogs, I think the pee pads make it too easy to stay away. Do you agree? 5. Dog pee pads make it too easy to skip walking the dog. While certain products or services are very convenient, they do tend to make us lazy. As an example, sometimes I use a Gentle Leader collar to walk my dog. This makes walking him much easier, which makes me less likely to work on his loose-leash walking skills. I can “check out” a bit, which is nice. Does this make me lazy at times? You bet it does! So, while I can see how these potty pads are convenient, I do know that most people are going to be less likely to get out and walk their dogs if they regularly use these products. Not every dog owner, but quite a few. That’s human nature. What are some alternatives to puppy potty pads? Using a kennel to potty train your dog Keeping your dog on a regular feeding and walking schedule Coming home during your lunchbreak to let you dog out Hiring a dog walker (a professional or a trusted friend) Taking the dog to daycare Installing a doggy door to the yard Installing an indoor/outdoor kennel to the garage When to use puppy pee pads or fake grass pee pads I do not recommend puppy potty pads, but some dog owners insist on using them. Here are some examples of when you might consider puppy potty pads. 1. When potty training a puppy in a multi-level apartment. If you have an eight-week-old puppy and you live on the 12th floor of an apartment, I

Eight months after she was stabbed seven times with a steak knife, Chloe the Shih Tzu lives in a new and happy home with a veterinarian who works at the animal hospital where she was treated for her injuries. “…She certainly hasn’t let it get her down,” said Abby Dunlap, of Vienna, Va., who took [...]

Gather 'round: Online voting has commenced for the 25th Annual World's Ugliest Dog contest! Of course, "online voting" doesn't mean jack. The ugliest dog will be crowned this Friday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, by a panel of esteemed judges and not by votes on the website. Share this image Ellie Mae: pretty ugly function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Nevertheless, online voting -- which you can consider the "popular" vote, if you want -- has become a very big deal in years past, so much so that the contest directors suspect foul play. A message on the website reads thusly: "It seems the online voting gallery does mean a great deal to its participants, and at times hacking and illegal voting have occurred. We are monitoring this daily and delete suspicious votes." Scandal! Share this image Icky: As ugly as he wants to be. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) In any case, you're encouraged to check out all the dogs and vote for your favorite. As for the judges, they'll critique in four main categories: first impressions, unique features, personality, and audience reaction. The winner gets a trophy, $1,500, and a catered dinner in the luxurious Loft Suite at the Sheraton Sonoma County, Petaluma. Share this image Squiggy has an effortless ugly. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Event producer Vicki DeArmon says that 50 percent of this year's 25 competitors are first-time participants. “We have Poodles, terriers, tons of Pugs, for some reason, and some Chinese Crested,” DeArmon told the Press Democrat. “There's a big mix. Generally, the winner seems to be a new dog, so it may be one of those ugly mutts.” Share this image Sputnick grew into his ugly, making it his own. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) It won't be last year's champ, Mugly, a Chinese Crested from Peterborough, England. He's not defending his crown. But whoever wins will have a schedule as full as any Miss America winner. Nearly so. Maybe not "as full as" but in the ballpark for sure, except probably without the Maybelline contract. Or any of the promotional money, really. OK, it's not a fair comparison. Share this image Growing up, Monkey never thought he was ugly. He knows it now. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) DeArmon is still playing up the life-chang

Salt Lake City police arrested a woman Saturday after she allegedly sprayed Raid down her dog’s throat. Kimberley Michelle Davis told police she killed the dog with insecticide so her ex-husband wouldn’t take it. According to Fox News in Salt Lake City, Davis was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals, a third-degree felony. Police [...]

Vontae is named after Vonta Leach, the former Baltimore Ravens player. Vontae the pug is spunky, sassy and playful and has a lot of love to share with everyone he meets! Vontae's favorite pastimes include sneezing, snorting, snoring, and pouncing on sticks and leaves. Click for more pictures and comments...

From Monday Mom and I are tidying up some of the stray pikhs we've had to share but hadn't yet - she khame home a week or so ago whilst it was raining and saw where the bunnies go when it is raining - under the lilahk bush! Last weekend - June 8th to be exakht - we khame bakhk from our walk - and saw Butterskhotch sitting on the front walk - so Mom took that as a subtle hint fur more water and food - when she went out, she saw a bird dart away from one of the bushes - so Mom looked more khlosely and noticed the nest Robin puppies!!! Part of my hunki Mal Pal Summi's stuff His own Bobkhat - obviously misspelled ;-) On the furst night of Khamp Khyra, Mom saw Tulie Toad was bakhk! Then Mom went bakhk out fur some more shots - I think this is the STINK EYE look! More rrrrrrabbit - I think we have 87 of 'em in the neighborhood!Still robin pups Monday chilling after our muggy jungle walkNap time was drawing near fur me AND fur Mom!Happy Tuesday EvFURRYone!Hugz&Khysses,Khyra

Chihuahuas are overwhelming many shelters in California. Having owned four Chihuahuas, including my childhood BFF, Mickey, and being around many more of them, I think often people judge the dogs because of bad owners who indulge them and then abandon them. Chihuahuas make totally delightful pets. They are intelligent, sensitive, loyal, and eager to please. Anyone who isn't willing to teach a dog basic obedience should nurture a pet rock. They are low maintenance. They don’t eat much. They have a longer life expectancy than most breeds Bloat and hip dysplasia are almost non-existent in Chihuahuas. They have been bred to be companion animals for thousands of years. They seldom dig or run off to go hunting. They have low prey drive but it is not unusual for a Chihuahua to kill a mouse like a trained assassin. All dogs need exercise; a walk and a rousing game of tag or fetch is enough for most. When playing, Chihuahuas have two speeds: high and off. They make the best watchdogs; with those ears they hear anything suspicious in their zip code. They have the cutest welcome home happy dance and will even perform it if you are just coming out of the shower. They do well in agility and obedience training. Chihuahuas can be trained to work as drug and search and rescue dogs where their size is an advantage. They will happily watch chick flicks or NFL games with you as long as you do it together. They’re only small on the outside. This is Velveeta Velveeta and her sister were found in an abandoned car in San Francisco. Her sister has been adopted, but Velveeta is still looking for a forever home. She is everything a dog should be. She loves people, but is not overly needy. She gets along with dogs and cats, she is potty trained, walks on a leash and does a great happy dance. More on Velveeta Thanks to Lisa Brown of Dogs N Paws for starting this blog hop to help shelter animals.

We Funny Farmer Felines were recently asked to pick out a treat.  Did we get to pick?  Nooooo!  Jan intercepted OUR email and told Chewy.com we'd like to review the Salmon Formula.  Now, whether we would have disagreed on which flavor we'd prefer to taste test has nothing to do with the fact we kitties should have been able to take a vote on which flavor we'd like.  We could have arrived at a