There are few things that are more likely to evoke "awwws" than puppies. The combination of cute puppies, with a cute kid, is fatal. In this instance, we have William Lavinger, a 10 year old with 14 Golden Retriever puppies who seem intent on smothing him with devotion.

Charlie Negranus: in a couch castle.I love my dogs. I have two Rat Terriers. Charlie and Maple. Maple is the headstrong alpha female, Charlie likes to be on the couch, sleeping. This is my rant.

Charlie has allergies and his paws, in time with spring, are turning into red itch-bombs. That is now his favorite activity: chewing on his paws. He is so bad that when we tell him not to do it, he slinks off to another room to carry on unnoticed. I feel bad for him, and last year we tried medicine, creams, powders and behavior techniques. The bottom line is, the dog's feet itch like crazy and nothing helps. As bad as I feel for him, the constant licking and juicy sucking noises always coming from his location are almost unbearable.

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Just want to let people know about my experience with Heaven's Gate Kennel (Owner Leslie Ayo).  I bought a puppy from Ms. Ayo and on the way home from purchasing the puppy I had to take it to the vet.  She was diagnosed with an UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION.  The next day we had to take her back to the vet and she was diagnosed with PNEUMONIA.  The puppy had to stay at the vet for several days.  Did the breeder pay the bill?  NO!  NOT A DIME!  The health of the puppy was guaranteed on the contract which has been taken off of Ms. Ayo's website.  Recently, my puppy was diagnosed with EPILEPSY.  As of this past Friday she was diagnosed with HIP DYSPLASIA.  She is passing on some "good" genes!!!!  Please investigate before you buy. 

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started in Anchorage on March 6th, and the lead contenders are homing in on Nome.  This famous 1,000 mile sled dog race is as controversial as it is historic, and opinions and tempers run hot on both sides of the debate.

Although most people picture a Siberian husky or a Malamute when they think of sled dog racing, the dog which is bred and used by mushers is a landrace breed.  "Landrace" breeds arise naturally, out of the needs of their breeders.  You could call it a kind of "purpose-built mutt."  

The landrace used in mushing is called a "husky," although it is smaller and trimmer than most husky breeds.  It comes in a variety of coat and eye colors, and is bred for speed, endurance, and "easy keeping," meaning that it can go far on a minimum amount of food.


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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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