Smart Dog in Pool

Hey check out this smart dog shown on the Ellen DeGeneres show! He'll do anything to ensure that he does not have to swim into the pool to get his ball. Very cool and funny. Must see video, check it out!

Harry Potter Author Rescues British Greyound Sapphire

The owner of a dog rescue center has revealed she was left spellbound when she realized a mystery woman offering to rehome one of her animals was world-renowned author JK Rowling.

Celia Fernie had no idea the woman who arrived with her family to look at her greyhounds was the multi-millionaire Harry Potter creator. The writer asked to adopt a four-year-old dog named Sapphire - and handed over a signed £1,000 check. Mrs Fernie, 61, said: "I apologized and said 'Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize who you were'."

Way to go JK Rowling! You're a pet lover for sure!

Dog Breeds

Ever wanted to know a little something more about your dog's (or maybe another dog's) breed? Well here is some info on different dog breeds, ranging from small dogs to large dogs:
SMALL BREEDS:
Chihuaha: Chihuahua dogs are perfect for doting adults but not great with kids because of fragility and a tendency to hog the spotlight. That is why they are normally used today as companions. Originally from Mexico, the Chihuahua will ride in your purse or sit on your shoulder but will not, under any circumstances, play second fiddle.
Yorkshire Terrier: The Yorkie may look precious as a porcelain sculpture but these luxuriously satin-coated little dogs can run circles around a squirrel and alert an entire neighborhood when the mail carrier arrives. Originally from England, bright, quick, intelligent and sometimes possessive, Yorkies are easy to spoil and prefer homes without small children.
Boston Terrier: What good manners! The Boston Terrier dog isn’t nicknamed the “American Gentleman” for nothing. Originally from the United States, Boston Terrier's are easy to train, agreeable, happy to play with kids and quiet in the house. Boston Terrier dogs set the standard for ideal house dogs.
Poodle: This diminutive diva of a dog has the uncanny ability to understand human nature, but not just anybody can waltz up and exchange pleasantries. The Toy Poodle dog has standards. Originally from Germany, easily trained and totally devoted to the respectfully worshipful, the Poodle dog breed needs frequent grooming and as much attention as any two-legged family member.
Shih Tzu: If you don’t want to be worshipped, don’t bring home a Shih Tzu dog. This Chinese darling with the luxurious long coat dotes on its family and demands only your total adoration, and a thorough daily combing, in return. Mellow house dogs and loving lap sitters, these portable dogs are among the most adept dog breeds at constant, cuddly companionship.
MEDIUM BREEDS:
American Pit Bull Terrier: This canine product of the American melting pot is a true success story, a bulldog-terrier cross that made its way out of the fighting pits and into the hearts of dog lovers.
Beagle: Did you say food? The nosy and scent-obsessed Beagle dog breed with the velvety ears and freckled muzzle won’t hear a thing you say if it catches a whiff of a tantalizing scent. Chewers and diggers known for baying and barking, Beagle dogs make delightful and clownish family companions but must be protected from their own curiosity with sturdy fences and firmly held leashes. They are originally from England with ancestors possibly from France or Greece.
Bulldog: The brawny, burly Bulldog breed may look tough but this snorting, snuffling, big-shouldered breed is one big hunk of love. Originally from Great Britain, bulldog breed dogs don’t tolerate too much exercise or high temperatures well, but just lounge on the couch with this brawny buddy and you’ll have a friend for life. Be prepared for snoring that can rock the house.
Cocker Spaniel: Gaze into the limpid brown pools that are the Cocker Spaniel’s eyes, and you just might lose your heart forever to this merry, loving little dog breed with the flowing, silky coat and joyful spirit. The smallest of the sporting breeds and devoted, active family members, Cocker Spaniel dogs will cavort after birds or romp with children, their long ears a-flutter, their bobbed tails a-wag. They are originally from the United States.
Siberian Husky: What dreams of the snowy tundra lurk behind those ice-blue eyes? The Siberian Husky dog breed has that look of the wild and will pull a sled, or you on the end of a leash, from here to Alaska if you let him. This wild child’s independence and high energy appeal to dog owners, but Siberian Huskies need more exercise than many people can provide and enough challenges to prevent boredom and wanderlust. Secure that fence well or risk losing this skilled escape artist.
LARGE BREEDS:
Collie: You won’t get away with much if a Collie dog has his eye on you. Possibly from Scotland, Collie's are protective, attentive and always ready to answer your call. Collie dogs may “herd” children and other pets to keep them in line by grabbing a shirt, nipping a heel or physically pushing a wayward child back toward safety. Collies need training and guidance but their natural good judgment makes them reassuring and watchful dogs.
Dalmation: Seeing spots? Don’t worry, it’s just everybody’s favorite spotted dog, the Dalmatian. This large, super-active, friendly and self-confident breed makes a great pal for active families, runners, bicyclists, horseback riders, hikers and of course, fire fighters! Originally from Croatia, Dals love to chase, run, play and run some more. Sedentary pet owners need not apply.
German Shepherd Dog: That eagle eye, dignified posture and formidable intelligence make the German Shepherd Dog among the world’s most trainable and reliable police, military, search-and-rescue and service breeds. Loyal and intuitive, German Shepherd dogs make excellent personal guardians, companions and helpmates, but they aren’t for most beginning dog owners. German Shepherd dogs want respect, and you’ll have to earn theirs.
Golden Retriever: Throw it again! Throw it again! Originally from Scotland, the Golden Retriever dog's joyful enthusiasm keeps it go-go-going all day long. Family friendly, outgoing, super energetic and passionately obedient, this feathery golden beauty with the big smile excels at sports and service work, but specializes in active and devoted companionship.
Rottweiler: The Rottweiler dog's tough-guy image can make a dog owner feel safe, but the self-confident and protective Rottweiler dog breed comes with some pretty major responsibility. Originally from Germany, when well bred, well trained and well socialized, Rottweiler dogs make loyal and friendly family dogs. In the wrong hands, Rottweiler dogs can be overly protective and inappropriately dominant.

Do you want to know more about a particular dog I didn't mention? Go here for more info.

Does Your Dog Think He Can Dance?

As a fan of "So You Think You Can Dance", I was thrilled to find out that musical freestyle, the combination of dog obedience, tricks and dance, is a competitive sport (there's also musical freestyle for horses). There are two types, musical freestyle and freestyle heeling (also known as heelwork to music), the main difference being that freestyle heeling focuses on a dog's ability to stay in variations of the heel position while the handler moves to music, whereas musical freestyle demands that the dog perform a variety of tricks and other obedience talents, and places a greater focus on the trainer's dance abilities and creativity. Check out this routine by Paws 2 Dance.

What Determines Your Dog's Size?

Have you ever wondered what makes small dogs small and what makes big dogs big? Well a group of scientists wondered how dogs could have the biggest range of size of any mammal in existence today and their findings are published in this month’s issue of Science.

To find the answer, the scientists ran DNA profiles and took measurements of a group of Portuguese Water Dogs. Why Portuguese Water Dogs? Because the breed has a distinct size range and there are small, medium and large sized Portuguese Water Dogs.

The researchers found a regulatory sequence that appears next to a gene that regulates growth in dogs. In small dogs, mutations in the regulatory sequence suppress the growth gene which causes small dogs to remain small. In large dogs, the mutations are not present and the growth gene is not restricted.

To prove their findings, the scientists expanded their subjects to other breeds of dogs and they found the same mutations of the regulatory sequence in other small breeds.

The mutation in the regulatory gene is what ensures that Chihuahuas don’t grow up to be the size of a Mastiff. Considering that all dogs descended from wolves and wolves do not have the same genetic mutation of the regulatory sequence that small dogs posses, it is very interesting to note the differences between dog breeds. At some point, after dogs became domesticated, the genetic instruction that gives small dogs their size must have been introduced. At this point, there is no concrete research that tells us when this genetic instruction was introduced. If the gene was not introduced to small dogs, the only other possibility is that small dogs are descendants of a smaller wolf.

Can Dogs Detect Cancer?

Does cancer have a smell? I wouldn't think so but apparently the most sensitive noses in the world -- those belonging to dogs -- can detect the presence of cancer with alarming accuracy, according to thatsfit.com. Dogs were 99% accurate at detecting lung cancer and 88% accurate at detecting breast cancer, regardless of attempts to mask the smell through food or cigarettes.

Apparently, tumors give out small amounts of alkanes and benzene, which have a slight odor, and once a dog is trained to pick up that smell, it has a good chance of detecting it in the future.

Is that amazing or what?

Seniors With Pets Tend to Have Better Health

About 60 percent of U.S. households have at least one dog, cat, bird or other companion animal. Veterinarian Tracy Wight reports that pets, particularly cats and dogs, help her older clients feel less lonely. They tell her it is like they have a special friend.

The data is clear that having a pet reduces blood pressure and even reduces the number of trips to see a physician. A 1999 study in the Journal of American Geriatrics demonstrates that seniors living on their own who have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those who don't. They are more active, cope better with stress and have better overall health. They also reported shorter hospital stays and less health-care costs than non-pet owners.

One other study found that the daily activities of living, such as eating and grooming, declined less for those with a dog or cat than those who had no pet. First, pets need walking, feeding, grooming, fresh water and fresh kitty litter, and they encourage lots of playing and petting. All of these activities require some action from owners. Even if it's just getting up to let a dog out a few times a day or brushing a cat, any physical activity can benefit the cardiovascular system and help keep joints limber and flexible. Consistently performing this kind of minor exercise can keep pet owners able to carry out the other normal activities of daily living.

Again, Wight reported that many of her clients tell her that taking care of a pet is a reason to get up in the morning and often a reason to get dressed and go for a walk. Second, pets also aid seniors simply by providing some physical contact, affection and companionship.

For more info go here

National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

October is generally accepted as "National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month", where pet businesses make an extra effort to encourage Americans to adopt a lonely dog instead of buying a puppy (besides, you can find puppies at shelters also).

Most dogs in shelters are happy, healthy pets who were guilty of nothing more than being unloved. Making matters worse, is that they don't have long to live, with most shelters killing dogs that don't get adopted in a matter of days.

If you've been wanting a dog, please visit your local animal shelter and give a four-legged bundle of happiness another chance at life.

For more info on finding a list of shelters in your area go here