Dog Report

Researchers fully decoded the dog genome about four years ago, and we have still only scratched the surface of what this means for the advancement for scientific knowledge.  Most recently, researchers have identified a particular gene as being the cause for compulsive behavior in dogs.

It must be stated up front that a lot of dogs who exhibit compulsive behavior come from challenging backgrounds.  Puppy mill dogs and dogs which have been abused often display strange compulsive behaviors.  The same can be said for dogs which are confined without enough exercise.  Dogs are meant to get exercise, and if you keep a dog cooped up day after day without regular walks and outdoor play sessions, they can slowly be driven insane.
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Xula the Xolo: photographed in Mexico City.This odd looking, yet noble fellow is a Mexican Xoloitzcuintli (sho-lo its kwint-lee), a dog. These dogs are native to Mexico and are mostly hairless and have skin like a pig or elephant. This dog is medium sized and is not in any way like Mexico’s other famous hairless dog, the Chihuahua. Historically the Xolo predates European explorers and its bones have been found in archeological sites dating back at least 3,500 years. Read more

MentalFloss, via BoingBoing has done a very very nifty thing in honor of Veteran's Day; they've compiled videos of soldiers being welcomed home by their dogs. It's both happy-making and profoundly moving. Go look at the MentalFloss page.

Wouldn’t it be nice if every story we heard about regarding dogs included something warm and fuzzy enough to be used as a child’s bedtime story? The adoption of a lost pup, the rescue of an owner from drowing/ fire/ stroke/ whatever from his faithful canine friend—these are stories we all like to hear, and why not? They make the endless supply of darkness we see every day a little more brighter.

Plus, we like to make baby faces at dogs and scratch their ears.

Unfortunately, most of the news we hear about dogs these days has to do with violence—abandonment, dogs left to die of heat stroke, neglect, abuse… And then, of course, there’s dog fighting, which you would think be over and done with by now. Read more

Halloween is fun for everyone, especially if you have a pet! It is the one day a year you get to dress up your little one and get lots of laughs without getting accused of being a wannabe Beverly Hills debutante. Dressing up your dog for Halloween means creating a handmade costume yourself or purchasing one at a store or online. Make sure you avoid masks and dangly beads or other objects to avoid choking or restriction of breathing, otherwise, the sky is the limit!

The force is strong with you, young Skywalker! Read more

It’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month—do you know where your best friend is?

My daughter’s birthday is in October and she’s been absolutely begging for a puppy. Now, we’ve told her we can’t get one right now—we just don’t have the room, with our two cats and our aunt’s old dog—but someday when we’ve got a larger place and she’s a bit bigger we’ll go for it. (We actually did try a puppy when she was two, which was  bit of a disaster!)

That said, if you’re a dog person who’s shopping for a new canine companion, why not do so at your local shelter this month? You’re sure to get a pup that’s been altered, so you won’t have to worry about more paws than you can care for. You’ll also be getting a dog that’s been taken care of, had its shots, and has a bit of background information to help you make your choice. Read more

Man’s best friend is usually a pretty friendly animal. He likes to pant and lick—sometimes to the chagrin of his master, and definitely his master’s cat-people friends—and wag his tail. He likes to chase cars (but like the Joker says, wouldn’t know what to do with one if he caught it), balls, sticks and bunnies. He likes his ears ruffled, his tummy scratched, and to sleep at the foot of your bed. All in all, dogs are pretty loyal companions that love to the end, as their stereotype has always suggested.

But some dogs just aren’t. Whether they’ve been rescued from a bad home, used in the “ring” as fighting objects, were taunted or teased as a puppy, or they were exposed to Cujo on network television (with even scarier commercials about getting worm medicines mailed to your home), some dogs really are man’s worst enemy. Read more

I’ve been a Hillary Swank fan for years, ever since she broke my heart and made me sob uncontrollably in Boys Don’t Cry. Ever since then, she’s been bold—in films like Million Dollar Baby—and adorable—such as her role in P.S. I Love You. It turns out that Swank isn’t only a talented actress; she’s also an animal lover.

The two-time Academy Award winner is now working with Iams to help homeless pets get into new, loving homes. The Iams Home 4 the Holidays Campaign has helped millions of pets get adopted within the last decade, and they’re hoping that with Swank as this year’s ambassador, they’ll be able to help even more animals. Read more

Dinner?In my family, we have a running joke about eating our pets if we ever get that poor. I know it wouldn’t really be funny if we were that poor—we’d likely have to give them up to someone who could care for them, and poverty certainly isn’t funny, but we’re a little warped that way. Anyway, the point is that we would never eat our beloved pets and anyone who knows us knows we’re joking.

That said, I ran across this news story and was simply astounded by what I read. A family in New Zealand had grown tired of their canine companion—a Staffordshire terrier—and apparently barbecued and ate it.

Um, wow. Read more

Today is the day to take that big hunk ‘o fur you call Spike, Fido, Mercutio or Fif and hug him (or her), tell him how much you love him, and be grateful for the loving companion you’ve got in your life. That’s right, I’m talking about National Dog Day!

To celebrate your pooch today, here are some ideas. Feel free to post your own or to share how you celebrated National Dog Day! Read more