The long-standing traditions that are “Westminster” shine through every year at Madison Square Garden as surely as the monumental silver trophies that are presented to the evening’s Best in Show winner. Unlike the winner of any other American dog show, the victor of Tuesday night’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show instantly makes history books, news reports and the TV morning shows.

For more info on the show click here

THINKING OF GETTING ONE OF THESE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALLERGIES?

Mexican Hairless Dog

If you have allergies to dogs , and are thinking of getting either one, you may want to think again. A dog or  with no hair might appear at first glance to be a wise choice BUT, in fact, just the opposite is true. These dogs  still have the two things people are allergic to. That being the skin of the animal – which sheds dead cells, or dander and saliva, which they deposit on their skin when licking themselves.

Eric Favetta was in the doghouse.

A PetSmart employee since July 2008, Favetta was fired from his
job at the Secaucus store last month for “theft of service.”
The alleged “theft” occurred during an overnight shift Favetta
worked as a favor to his manager.

Favetta brought his dog, Gizmo, to work with him, and the dog
stayed in the store’s doggie day care facility — which at the
time was not manned by any other employee — while Favetta prepared
the store for a special showing to potential business partners.

“I have always been the type of employee to go the extra mile and
make sure that not only the store was taken care of but that the
employees were taken care of,” said Favetta, 31, of Towaco.

PetSmart seemed like a perfect fit to Favetta after his nearly
seven-year stint as a dog handler for various military units in
Afghanistan and Bahrain. He became operations manager — basically
an assistant manager — at the Wayne store.

Favetta said he was charged with helping clean up a messy store
where business was suffering.

“We began to get compliments from our customers, telling us how
great the store looked and it was a great feeling,” he said.

In April 2009, the district manager moved Favetta to the Secaucus
store — a high-traffic, high-profile store that was in disarray.

At 5 p.m. on Dec. 15, Favetta was asked to work a special
overnight shift that night to prepare the store for a viewing
by representatives for Martha Stewart’s company, which was
considering adding its product lines to PetSmart. Favetta said yes.

“I brought my dog with me because I knew if I didn’t, he would
have been home alone all day and all night until I returned home
at 6 a.m. the next day,” Favetta said.

He did the shift, and Gizmo, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, spent
the night in the empty store’s doggie day care facility. Favetta
said he’d check in on Gizmo every 15 minutes or so, and then go
back to work.

Two weeks later, Favetta was asked to meet with his store and
district managers, who requested a written account of his
overnight shift. He complied. They reviewed it and fired him
for “theft of service.”

“I was shocked,” Favetta said. “It makes me sick that because
I brought my dog to work with me when the store was closed to
do the company a favor, I was called a thief and terminated.”

never spoke for six years until the day  Boo came to school.

Mark came home and couldn’t stop talking about this dog Boo.  His parents

were delighted.

Boo the Therapy Dog and Marc Oliveri PHOTO BY CBS NEWS

You can see the full story of Boo the Therapy Dog here

(Anonymous)

The following video may make your cry.

don’t forget your furry best friend.

First and foremost you need to make sure your house is safe for your

dog at this time of year.  Make sure there are no electric cords form

Christmas tree lights that your puppy or dog can chew on,  make sure

the Christmas tree is secure so your dog can’t knock it over.

How about a gift for your little furry friend?

Here are some suggestions under $50:

KONG

DOG TORNADO

DOG BED

SWEATER FOR COLD WEATHER

HOMEMADE TREATS ( PAMPER YOUR POOCH)

I’m having a Christmas Contest for all dog lovers to send

in there cutest dog or puppy picture.  It can be any kind of

picture of your dog you own now or in the past.  Tell us the

name of the dog, date of birth, living or deceased, write a

short story about how you came to acquiring this K9 of yours.

The best submission will win the ebook ‘ Pamper Your Pooch’.

Submit your entries to toppooch[at]k9s4ever.com

Contest ends December 31, 2009.

A dog in New York has been confirmed to have the pandemic
strain of H1N1.

The pet, a 13-year-old mixed breed, seemed to have caught
the virus from his owner, Michael San Filippo, a spokesman
for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said Tuesday.

It is the first reported case of H1N1 in a dog, but other
pets, including cats and ferrets, have caught the strain
from humans, veterinarians say.

In theory, the strain could be transmitted from a pet to a
human, “but so far it’s really looking like a dead end in
pets,” San Filippo said.

The dog came in for a checkup Tuesday and is “getting back
to his old self” but has not fully recovered, said veterinarian
Julie Steffens.

It is rare for pets to spread flu viruses, and people should
not be afraid to enjoy the animals, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, 111 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been made
available in the U.S., she noted.

“Surveys are showing that initial doses of vaccine were
relatively quickly taken up and they were going to the people
they were targeted for,” Schuchat told reporters in a telephone
briefing.

The agency estimates that nearly 50 million Americans have been
infected with swine flu and 10,000 have been killed by it.
Seasonal flu results in about 36,000 deaths a year in the U.S.
and 4,000 to 8,000 a year in Canada. The death toll from swine
flu in Canada as of Dec. 12 was 367.

The World Health Organization cautioned Tuesday against making
comparisons between confirmed H1N1 deaths and seasonal flu deaths.
The comparisons can be misleading and don’t accurately measure
the impact of the pandemic, given that H1N1 affects a much younger
age group, WHO said in a briefing note.

It likely won’t be possible to accurately assess the disease and
death rates until a year or two after the H1N1 pandemic has peaked,
using methods such as those used to estimate deaths during seasonal
flu epidemics, the agency said.

Be kind to your dog this year and keep him away from the items listed below.

Fido might be disgruntled for the evening, but her stomach will thank you the next day.

1. Turkey Skin is fatty and hard to digest, and at Thanksgiving it’s especially bad because of all the butter, oils and spices rubbed into it.  Peel the skin off and cut into bite-sized pieces if you really want to share the turkey with your dog.  White meat is a better choice over dark because it is more digestible.
2. Cooked Bones Never give your dog cooked bones from any poultry. Cooked bones are often sharp and brittle and can become wedged in your pet’s intestine.  Poultry bones are hollow.

3. Buttery/Gravy Side Dishes: This is just as deadly as the turkey skin.

Since fatty foods and trimmings cause pancreatitis in dogs at worst and if you’re lucky they might vomit or get diarrhea.  If you must give your puppy of dog a Thanksgiving treat give her a little bit of turkey broth instead of gravy according to ThePoop.com

4. Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap: Get rid of them as soon as you’re done with them.

There are two dangerous risks you are taking Number One: letting your dog lick the fatty substances off the foil and wrap and Number Two: she can swallow these and this can cause an intestinal obstruction.

5. Chocolate BEWARE

When we put candy out for our guests on tables during the holiday make sure that your pet can’t reach them.

6. The Garbage Pail

Many pets will go looking for treats in the garbage pail if she can’t get a tidbit or two out of the usually-generous parents or guests.

7. The Kitchen KEEP YOUR PET OUT

If your dog is not in a safe place and she is in the kitchen expecting to grab a tasty morsel that falls on the floor she can get burned, cut by a dish that may fall on the floor and break. She could also get step on by someone in a hurry to get things ready.

8. Holiday Plants:

You’re probably thinking what do holiday plants have to do with Thanksgiving? Many a number of people are starting to get into the Christmas spirit and are already decking the halls with holly.

Keep in mind that, Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are very poisonous to your dog.

9. Decorations such as:

Glass ornaments and candles are also asking for trouble.

I can’t stress this enough, like chocolate, KEEP THEM OUT OR REACH

10. Guests Mean Well:

Educate your less pet-savvy guests and maybe send them to this list of dos and don’ts.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and keep your dog or puppy safe by heeding by this list.

Many articles have been written on how bad crate training puppies is, here are some logical reasons why you should crate train your puppy. Crates are very beneficial for house-training your puppy and a place where he can go to relax or for a period for time out without human interaction. If there are young children about your puppy might want to get away for the little hands and have some quiet “crate time”

Teach your dog to love going into his crate, NOT hate it. It is NOT a punishment den, but a fun place to go. It is very helpful when taking your dog to the vet, a place for resting after an injury or illness. It can also be beneficial for traveling in the car, or plane. When bedtime rolls around your dog should head for his create, and hit the hay, doors being open.
Crates should be a pleasant place to sleep and NOT a bad dog cell or dungeon! You can save your furniture, baseboards, and clothing from your puppy thinking that they are chew toys. Your puppy should have his own chew toys that he can play with in or out of his crate.
Have a crate to fit the size of your dog. If the crate is too large you puppy will likely urinate or defecate in the same place where he is sleeping. It should be small enough for him to rest comfortably. Crates work well if your puppy expresses signs of separation anxiety, it can be a safe haven for him when you go to work or some place where you can’t talk hi with you. Crates should be in your bedroom so your puppy knows you are close to him and he is not in some foreign place all alone. It is not a good idea to give your puppy attention when he is feeling sorry for himself because he is in his crate. If this sounds cruel to you, just remember that he has to learn that it is OK to be alone in his crate when you are gone. He MUST accept that alone time. If you reward him for his crying with ‘its OK mommy’s here this will defeat the purpose of the whole crate training.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had the patience and wisdom that this dog does?

1. Step 1

   Tell your dog to sit and then place a treat on the floor about three feet away from him. Place a can, cup or bowl over the treat and start timing for the first part of this intelligence test. Encourage your dog to get the treat. Make a note of how long it takes your dog to get the treat from under the can.

2. Step 2

   Make your dog sit down again and this time, throw a towel over her head, covering her eyes. Start timing and note how long it takes for your dog to remove the towel from her head. Give your dog a treat when she gets out.

3. Step 3

   Set up the barricade and place your dog on one side and the treat on the other for this part of the test. The slit should be small enough that the dog can’t reach through it or see the treat on the other side. Start your timer and encourage him to find the treat. Write down how long it takes for your dog to go around the barricade to get to the treat.

4. Step 4

   Grab your time sheet and find out if you have a K-9 genius. If your dog completed each test in under five seconds, give her another treat because she’s a genius. Ten seconds and Fido is a smarty, 20 and she’s about average, 30 seconds to 50 seconds means she’s a little slow. More than 50 seconds means your dog is probably the slowest in the park.

Do you have a memorable story about a dog you loved that you would like to share with the world? I’m asking for personal and inspirational dog stories of all kinds (see example video below).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Let’s honor the way a wonderful dog effected your (or someone else’s) life by including it in this book.  I believe the world is rich with great stories of how a K9 worked magic for a human being and  I fear that these stories will most likely be lost if not put into print.

Can you join me and contribute to the love of dogs with your story?

You can submit information for one of several sections in this book. Longer stories (600-1200 words, please) will be considered for features. Shorter stories, preferably no more than a paragraph in length, will be considered for our “Short Stories” section, this section tells a funny or heartwarming anecdote about your dog, or describe a challenge you had with your dog and how you overcame it. I’m also open to poems, recipes and of course, great photos.

It is not necessary that your dog came from a rescue group.  I honor purebred and mixed breed dogs as well.

Tell us about them all.

The best stories are emotional. They make the reader laugh and/or cry. They generally begin with a problem (often the dog is in a bad situation), involve some kind of rescue situation, there are some ups and downs including one main crux, and then the story is resolved and everyone lives happily ever after. This is NOT always the pattern, but most stories that are accepted for the book resemble this pattern to some extent.

Why should I submit a story?

So your dog can become a Super Star and be remembered for his/her greatness and courage.

What should my story be about?

You can tell us your dog’s sad history and happy future, something funny that he/she does, your dog’s favorite recipe, a story involving your kids and dogs, reasons why you love your dog…whatever you would like to share! The best stories are emotional and have a clear point.

How long should my story be?

There is a section in the book for VERY short stories, that are generally about a paragraph long. To be considered for a feature, your story should be between 600-1200 words.

When should I submit my story?

I am accepting stories for all breeds now. The sooner the better!

Where should I submit my story to?

Please submit your story via email to dawgbonez4me[at]k9s4ever.com

What format should I submit my story in?  Again, I would prefer that you submit your story by email, any text computer document, especially WORD format or text in an email, will work.

Should I submit a picture of my dog?

If your story gets published I would like to include a picture of your dog. However, there is no need to submit a picture until I contact you to confirm that your dog will be included in my book. If your dog is accepted, please submit a picture that has a high resolution. It will be printed in the book as a color photo that is about 4.5″W x 3″H. The best pictures do not have a busy background. I can crop and edit your photo for you if you need us to.

What if my dog is a mixed breed?

Send a story about him/her over! I’m planning to include great stories about purebreds and mixed breeds as well.

What if I’ve never written a story for publishing before? No problem! Give it a try or just provide us with an outline. As long as it is interesting and there is a clear point I’ll be happy to help you format your story.

What if my dog was found as a stray?

Whether your dog came off the streets, from a shelter or a rescue group, you saved him.  Even if you purchased her from a reputable breeder and he/she did/does something extraordinary. We want to hear your story.

If I submit a story will it definitely be published?

Submitting a story does not guarantee that it will be published.  After receiving your story we will review it and get back to you to let you know if it will be included.  Many of the stories we receive require editing and additional inquiry.  If I include your story I reserve the right to edit it for clarity and flow.

When will I know whether my story is included in a book?

We will contact you right before the book goes to print.  This can be a few months or a few years away, depending on how long it takes for people to submit their stories.  I will, however, immediately write you back to confirm receipt of your story. From there, sit tight… I won’t forget you!

When will my story be published?

I’m currently working on the book. The publishing date depends on the volume of stories we receive.

Will my story say my name or be anonymous? It’s up to you! When you submit your story you can select whether it will be published using your name or anonymously. The majority of authors prefer to use their name. I do not include any geographic information along with your name unless you included it in your story.

Will I get to read my story after it is edited?

If you would like to read your story before it is published, I will be happy to provide it to you. Once you receive an author acceptance announcement please just shoot me an email requesting your edit.

How will I be compensated for my story?

Your compensation partly  is the satisfaction of having your dog made famous in a book. I will give you a complementary copy in consideration of your story and also you can become an affiliate and sell this book and earn 75% of the retail value of $37.

Send your “Tail” as a Word document or type it into an email. It can be sent to dawgbonez4me[at]k9s4ever.com. Be sure to indicated in your email with your full name, dog’s name, email address and the rescue group you are associated with (if applicable). We will contact you for further information and photos.  PLEASE PUT YOUR DOG’S BREED IN THE SUBJECT LINE OR THE STORY MAY GET LOST!

In April 2009, Gibson was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of
canine bone cancer, which led to the amputation of his front right
leg. The surgery was performed to prevent the cancer from spreading,
and early tests showed positive results. After the surgery, Gibson
received follow up chemotherapy treatments as a precaution. Last
week, Sandy Hall, Gibson’s owner, learned that the cancer had
spread to his lungs and spine, at which point Gibson’s doctor
stated that there was no other medical treatment that would save
Gibson.
“Last week Gibson began having trouble using his back legs. X-rays
showed that the cancer had spread to his spine and his lungs. Ms.
Hall made the very difficult decision based on her concern and
love for Gibson to have him humanely euthanized. Gibson died
peacefully in the loving arms of Ms. Hall,” said Dr. Peter Walsh,
Gibson’s veterinarian.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Some ‘Gibson’ facts:

# Held the AKC Dutchman Meistersinger Pedigree, which is a
prestigious line of Great Danes dating back to the late 1800s
in Germany.
# Certified Therapy Dog
# 42.6 inches tall, measured from the ground to the top of his
shoulders; measured at 7 feet 1 inch all stretched out and
standing on his hind legs
# 180 pounds
# Born on April 26, 2002
# Passed away on August 7, 2009
# Held an entire regulation basketball in his mouth and “doggie
dribble”
# Spoke and said “I love you!”
# Gibson took the title from “Harvey,” the previous World’s Tallest
Dog who measured 41 inches
# Gibson co-authored his very own book, entitled “Gibson Speaks”
The book gives insight to the life and journey of the world’s
tallest dog

Boredom experienced dogs may have different types of behavioral patterns. For example, some dogs will be seen barking continuously and some may be engaged always in some digging activities.

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulated duck, dog, rodent etc.

These may be kept inside the crate and in particular, puppies love these items. A buster cube with multiple treats may be placed in the dog’s shelter and the animal soon understands on how to roll the buster cube to get the treats it prefers. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy use for simulating and activating your dog during play and feed time. Instead of placing the food monotonously in one place, change the place of feeding suddenly.

Such actions will be helpful for removing the boredom like activity in your dog. Activities pertaining to boredom need to be redefined well by the dog owners. This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs.

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting characters and will be seen biting chair, cloth, mats, and everything that can see. After ruling out the teething problem if it is a puppy, provide it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such variety of materials help to reduce the boredom related activities.

Meet SkidBoot the smartest dog in the world

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dogs need different diets at different ages

Dogs need different diets at different ages. Yes. This is true. For example, the puppy needs milk as the major food item while an adult dog may need beef or chicken in addition to the boiled egg and milk. So depending on the age factor, the diet schedule varies in reality for the dogs like any other species.

Puppies need greater amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates than an adult dogs. Furthermore, puppies need more frequent feeding schedules in a day, unlike an adult dog. The movement based requirements of diet are more in the case of puppies, since they are often more active than the adult dogs.

Elder dogs need restricted protein but the protein needs to be easily digestible and easily assimilated in the body. The diet schedule should have ample supply of water for them. Feeding aged dogs too much protein may finally lead to over burden to the renal structures and ultimately, the dog may end up damaging filters in the kidney.

This is true especially when the immune system of these dogs is compromised due to many factors. Similarly, the elderly dogs need less food only because the movements of the adult dogs are highly restricted and hence, they have to spend a limited of energy.

Female dogs in the pregnancy stage need not be fed a full stomach since it may cause some discomforts to the animal. However, the pregnant animal and the nursing animal need special type of food items that deliver a balanced type of nutrition with proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

The nursing animal with puppies need to be fed with enough amounts of calcium and hence, there will not be any calcium based deficiency and the bones of the puppies will be strong without any curving.

Training dogs is not a hard. You just need patience; dedication and some simple tactics and you will teach them successfully.

Here are five top tips on how to train your dogs successfully:

1. To avoid your dog getting confused and so that they can learn to recognize commands easily only one person should be responsible for training the dog initially. If too many people are trying to train the dog at the same time this can stop the training progress in its tracks.

2. You should use positive reinforcements. If the dog does something good, you should reward this behavior so that he will know that what he did was right. If the dog cannot understand or follow your commands, never push him. Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, they make mistakes. What you should understand is that they won’t easily understand your commands in just one teaching, it takes repetition to train a dog successfully. Do not scold your dog as he might develop fear which will hinder his learning and willingness to be trained. You can use treats in order to encourage your dogs, although don’t overdue it.

3. Teach commands one at a time. Try to teach him one command after the other. If he cannot absorb it, try to stay on that command only because adding additional commands will just confuse the dog. Start with the basics.

4. In executing commands, you should keep your voice cheerful so that the dog will happily follow your commands. Dogs will respond to a low and coaxing voice. If you shout out loud, he may become startled and unresponsive.

5. Train your dog in various places. If you keep your dogs in a certain place like your home, he will not be able to adjust with the environment new people. Take him to the park or through the neighborhood. This will help your dog associate with other dogs and people.

Training your dog can sometime be tough, but it will be worth it. In the end, you will be the one to benefit when your dog is trained. You don’t know he might even save your life one day and pay back everything you taught him.

Training dogs is not a hard. You just need patience; dedication and some simple tactics and you will teach them successfully.

]]> http://k9s4ever.com/training-dogs-successfully/feed/ 0 http://k9s4ever.com/dog-cookies/ http://k9s4ever.com/dog-cookies/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:00:32 +0000 admin http://k9s4ever.com/?p=411

How to Make Cookies for Dogs

1. Step 1

   Combine yeast and warm water; let stand for 5 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Stir in beef broth and molasses.

3. Step 3

   Add 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, cracked wheat, cornmeal, powdered milk, salt and garlic powder.

4. Step 4

   Mix ingredients, then place on a floured surface and knead until stiff, adding more flour if needed.

5. Step 5

   Divide dough in half, then cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

6. Step 6

   Roll out to 1/4-inch thick for small dogs or 3/8-inch thick for bigger dogs.

7. Step 7

   Cut out cookies.

8. Step 8

   Mix egg and milk to create a glaze, and brush on each cookie.

9. Step 9

   Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 300 degrees F for 35 minutes (1/4-inch-thick cookies) or 45 minutes (3/8-inch-thick cookies).

10. Step 10

    Let cookies cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

How to Clean a Dog’s Ears

Dogs need to have their ears cleaned just like humans do, but certain precautions need to be taken so that no infections follow as a result. If you want to start cleaning your dog’s ear yourself instead of taking it to a grooming expert, read on for some easy-to-follow instructions.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Cotton Swabs
• Cotton Swabs
• Pet Ear Cleaners

1. Step 1

   Use an ear wash formulated for ear cleaning. It’s important to never use undiluted peroxide on your pet’s ears as it may cause burning.

2. Step 2

   

   Soak a cotton ball thoroughly in the ear wash. Squeeze out excess ear wash.

3. Step 3

   

   Place the cotton ball in your dog’s ear and gently rub up and down.

4. Step 4

   Allow your dog to shake off excess moisture. This is important for preventing ear infections.

5. Step 5

   

   Soak the tip of a cotton swab in the ear wash and run it along the nooks and crannies of your dog’s ears.

6. Step 6

   Avoid putting the swab down your dog’s ear canal; leave this type of cleaning to the veterinary medical staff.

to find this tiny creature napping on your

couch with your dog?

This little fawn followed the beagle home,

right through the doggy door!

This happened just recently in Maryland.

The owner came home to find the visitor

had made himself right at home.

It is reported that the dog’s name is Rusty.

Apparently he is just a dumb lovable beagle

who loves to track slow but steady rabbits but

has probably never seen one.  His only enemies

in life are chipmunks.

This was a big hit on the 6 o’clock news.

 

Well I have some cool treats for your dog.

Here is what is called a JUICEICLE my dog love this.

1. Simply fill a paper cup with watered down buillion.
2. Cover with plastic wrap and poke a rawhide stick throw the plastic and into the liquid.
3. Then freeze overnight
4. Take out of freezer and remove the plastic and peel off the cup and serve it to your dog.

Another favourite my dog likes is a KONGSICLE

1. Simply cover the small hole of the Kong with Peanut Butter in order to seal it closed.
2. Insert the Kong into a cup with the small hole at the bottom
3. Fill with watered down broth and place it in the freezer.
4. Take it out of freezer when frozen and give it to your dog.

If you are too busy and haven’t time for the above why not try giving your dog some frozen carrots to munch on or put some ice cubes into their water dishes. They will love to try and catch the ice cubes.