Some Noteworthy Dogs in History

You might be surprised to find that there have been quite a few famous and noteworthy dogs over the years. Below is a list of some of the most memorable dogs in history. Who knows, maybe someday your own dog will make it into the pages of history, too.

DANI: the therapy dog who, along with her owner, joined the staff of Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her weekly visits warmed the patients hearts, as well as raised their confidence and comfort level. Dani has appeared on ABC News 20/20, Animals Are People, Too, Animal Planet, and the PBS Series Dogs With Jobs.

LAIKA: The first dog in space. Laika was aboard the Soviet Satellite Sputnik 2 in 1957. Unfortunately, Laika died 5-7 hours into the flight, yet her great courage and composure hurled her into the history books and the hearts of the people she left back on Earth.

LASSIE: Any of a line of popular collies in movies and in television series. The first Lassie starred in the 1942 movie 'Lassie Come Home'.

LE DIABLE: A notorious French dog that smuggled lace and other costly items across the French border under a false skin dyed various colors by its owners to baffle the customs guards.
RIN TIN TIN: A German shepherd who ranked as one of the all-time famous canine movie stars. "Rinty" was in 19 movies before his death in 1932.

RIVA and SALTY: Riva and Salty were two guide dogs who saved their owner's lives just before the World Trade Center collapsed, on September 11, 2001. Riva and Salty guided their blind owners, Mr Roselle and Mr. Hingson down the crowded, smoke filled stairs from the 71st floor and were later honored for their bravery.

SAUR or SUENING: A dog that was "king" of Norway for three years during the 11th century AD. The Norwegian king, angry that his subjects once deposed him, put Saur on the throne and demanded that he be treated regally. Three years passed where Saur routinely signed decrees with paw-prints!

SOTER: One of 50 watchdogs of ancient Greece that alone survived attack by invaders and ran to the gates of Corinth to warn the citizens.

TOBY: In 1932, the American millionairess, Ella Wendal left a record legacy of 75 million dollars in her will to her standard Poodle called Toby, making him the richest dog in the world to date.

Things Your Dog's Food Should & Shouldn't Contain

Everyone would agree that it is important for your dog to live a long, healthy, and active lifestyle. Therefore, you must consider the ingredients in his/her food, the same way you would any other member of the family. Here is a list of ingredient's that your dog's food should and shouldn't contain:

Things Your Pet Food Should Not Contain:
1. Chemical Preservatives - BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin
2. Corn - known allergen, poor source of protein, highly indigestible
3. Wheat - same as above
4. Soy - same as above
5. By-Products - indigestible beaks, feathers, feet, heads, etc. Does not have to contain meat
6. Beef Tallow - hard, indigestible fat source
7. Flour - of any kind, used as a filler
8. Pentobarbital - from tainted meat sources. Same chemical used in euthanizing animals.

Things Your Pet Food Should Contain:
1. Whole Foods - Apples, carrots, spinach, etc.
2. Live Probiotics - micro encapsulated friendly bacteria, supports intestinal health
3. Chelated Minerals - scientifically proven to be 40% better absorbed
4. Natural Preservative –vitamin E, not just “mixed tocopherols” - a source of vitamin E
5. Grape Seed Extract - very potent antioxidant source
6. Hormone and Steroid Free Meat - Your pet is eating the same food day in and day out. A little exposure every day adds up to a lot!
7. Chicken MEAL - not just chicken. Chicken MEAL is the best cut of the meat.

For more info and suggestions go here

Signs of a Dog in Distress

A dog may show signs of distress in many different ways. You want to be familiar with the most common signs of distress because they indicate your dog could have a problem that may need immediate attention. This is a general list found on chazhound.com that shows signs of distress and the possible problems they may indicate. These same signs could indicate problems other than those listed so be sure to consult your veterinarian.

* Dog choking, gagging, drooling or pawing at the mouth.
* Possible foreign item stuck in throat or mouth.

* Hot ears. Hot to the touch.
* Possible fever, but dog could have fever and not have hot ears.

* Straining but not having a bowel movement.
* Possible constipation or an obstruction of the bowels or diarrhea.

* Dog cries, crouches or tenses, trembles, heavy breathing.
* Possible poison, bloat, pain from swallowing sharp object. Intense pain usually abdominal.

* Convulsions, thrashing about on the floor, glassy-eyed, foaming, rigid.
* Possible epilepsy or poison, hypoglycemia.

* Nervous panting and pacing.
* Possible pain or discomfort of some sort. Watch carefully.

* Squatting numerous times but not urinating or just dribbling.
* Possible bladder or kidney infection.

* Scooting across floor on rear.
* Possible blocked anal glands or caked stool in hair around rectum.

* Skin inside of ears is bright pink instead of pale. Bad odor from ears or constant scratching of ears.
* Possible ear infection or ear mites.

* Pale mucus membranes, heavy breathing and extremities cold.
* Possible shock.

Top Ten Reasons Why It's Great To Be a Dog

As found on partipoodle.homestead.com

1. If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.

2. No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.

3. Personal hygiene is a blast: no one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don't even have to comb your own hair.

4. Having a wet nose is considered a sign of good health.

5. No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you're cute.

6. Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.

7. You can spend hours just smelling stuff.

8. No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.

9. It doesn't take much to make you happy. You're always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back.

10. Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.

Cat Does Dog Tricks

You might be surprised to see that even cats can do dog tricks! Here's one very smart cat doing some adorable tricks! This is a must see video, check it out!

The Do's and Don'ts of Purchasing a Dog

Whether you are thinking of adding a new furry member to your family, or you already have one and are planning on adding another, here are some do's and don'ts to follow when purchasing a dog:

Definite Doggie Do's
1. Do Your Research — No matter what the dog, it is important to research the right type of dog for your home, and the right source, whether breeder or adoption center, to get the dog. Be patient, it may take many trips to the adoption center, or visits with various breeders, to make the right match.
2. Prepare your Home — Each dog has individual needs in a home, but all dogs will need a food and water dish, and a crate. Dogs are comforted in a den-like environment. It is their personal space until the dog is ready to make the entire house their home. Also plan to bring a dog home when you will have a few quiet days, such as a weekend, to spend with your new family member.
3. Obedience Training - Training is really important to do in a class environment, so they learn socialization. Dogs adopted from the ASPCA, and many other shelters, have already had basic obedience and are offered free training courses run by the shelter.

Definite Doggie Don'ts
1. Do Not Buy Online — The Internet is a great place to begin your search for information about breeds, breeders and shelters. However, you should always meet and speak with the person you are buying a dog from, and never order a dog over the Internet.
2. Never Before Eight Weeks — Any responsible breeder or shelter will not let you take a puppy when it is too young to leave its mother. Many small dogs need to wait until 10 weeks for the puppy to be able to leave the mother.
3. Do Not Go to a Pet Store - While you may have gotten your guppies from the local pet store, and you will definitely need a pet supply store shopping spree before you bring a dog home, do not buy a dog from a pet store. Dogs at pet stores are often prone to genetic problems, because they are often bred at so-called "puppy mills" that value quantity over quality. These dogs do not come with the socialization or guarantees you get from a breeder or shelter.

Tips for Feeding Your Dog

Here are a few tips on feeding your hungry doggie:

Food Tips:
1. Normal adult dogs need about 10% of calories from protein, though vegetarian diets are fine for many dogs.
2. Dogs eat less often than cats, but consume larger meals. Adult dogs can be fed 1 to 2 times daily; puppies need 2 to 3 daily meals.
3. Overweight dogs can be helped by providing smaller portions during regular feeding schedules, giving them less tasty food and avoiding table scraps.
4. Fresh water should be available at all times, especially during exercise.

Weight Guide for Normal Weight:
1. Has a thin covering of fat on ribs.
2. Shows a distinct waistline waist, behind the ribs, from above.

Overweight Signs:
1. Ribs cannot be felt.
2. Shows fat deposits on the back or the base of the tail.
3. Does not show a waistline from above.

Underweight Signs:
1. Ribs can easily be seen.
2. Fat cannot be felt on its bones.

Hope these tips help you! :)

Extreme Pete the Skateboarding Dog

Do you love skateboarding? You'll be amazed when you see this extraordinary dog known as "Extreme Pete" do his tricks and stunts on his board. He'll having you saying bow-wow WOW in no time. This is a must see video check it out! :)

Playmates Wanted

Are you at a loss to finding playmates for your pooch? There is a website called Meetup.com where you can find others in your area with similar interests. In New York City, there are over 50 groups for dogs and their owners to meet up and play. You can find groups by neighborhoods or breeds or by general size. It's a great place to meet pooches and interesting people.

DCH Spotlight: Samantha's Party Dog Dress

I recently watched the new Tim Gunn's Guide to Style show (loved it, by the way) and one of the ten must have wardrobe basics is a fantastic cocktail dress. I think this dress is one of those fantastic, head-turning, entrance-making cocktail dresses. The green with pink accents is just divine!

The Other Dog Whisperer

According to an article I found, a dog trainer/behaviorist named Vladae Roytapel believes to know the secret to canine behavior. According to him, if you watch your dog's body language and listen to your dog you'll learn some new tricks of communication. And your body language will mean more to your dog than what you say.

Exercising With Your Dog

If you're looking for a great exercise partner, look no further than your lovable doggie. You can jog with him but here are some helpful tips:

1) Before you start running with your dog, take him to the veterinarian for a complete checkup just to be on the safe side.
2) Alternate between jogging and walking, especially if your dog isn't used to exercising.
3) Don't be too hard on your dog - keep the distance and speed short.
4) To avoid causing injuries, try to jog on grass or sand.
5) If you notice that your dog is sore or limp you may have pushed him too hard. Give him a massage to ease the tension.
6) Ask your significant other to give you a massage.

Job well done!

Just Some Random Silliness

Check out this hilarious dog video I found on YouTube. You'll be laughing your pants off by the time it's done! Don't miss it check it out! :)

My Dog is a Registered Voter

As a protest to show how easy it is for a noncitizen to register to vote, a woman in Seattle registered her dog, Duncan M. McDonald (what a great name), to vote last April. She was able to do this by putting her phone number under her dog's name (that is one way to throw off your friendly telemarketers). That in turn gave her identification to register Duncan M. McDonlad as a voter. When November rolled around, she wrote VOID across the ballot with a paw print on the signature line. Imagine receiving that absentee ballot! I'm sorry, but I would think it was cute. But this is the political system we're taking about and political systems are not cute. Period. Anyway, she wanted to get caught, to prove her point. Duncan M. McDonald is no longer a registered voter. Are you?

DCH Spotlight: Christy City Dog Coat

Now that summer is officially over, we are kind of sad...but on the other hand, we are so looking forward to doing some fall shopping. It's time to start putting away the really skimpy summery items and start easing in some light tweeds, wools, and dark colors. This Christy City Dog Coat would be one of those perfect fall jackets - it's lightweight, completely adorable and most of all, your dog will look stunning!