This Week In Dog News

The biggest news of the week is continued speculation about what type of dog the Obama’s will bring with them to the White House, despite their having pledged earlier this summer that they would adopt a dog from a shelter in LA county. Even the lists are abuzz with debate on what best represents the dog community. Information relating to Obama’s daughters being allergic to dogs continues to go under the radar to most of those making suggestions. Here are just some of the related news stories of the week:

After announcing they planned to buy a dog as a reward for their daughters being such good sports about the grueling campaign, animal rights and animal welfare groups started campaigns of their own — for the Obamas to adopt a shelter dog and not buy a dog from a breeder. PETA’s president sent them a letter. Best Friends Animal Society launched a petition drive on the Web site www.obamafamilydog.com that collected 50,000 signatures in just two weeks. The Humane Society of the United States made an appeal. The American Kennel Club, the registry for purebred dogs, supported the first couple-elect’s initial decision to buy a dog from a breeder. More than 42,000 Americans voted in AKC’s poll to determine the right breed of dog. The winner: the poodle, chosen from five hypoallergenic breeds so as not to irritate Malia and Sasha’s allergies. Then the news broke on “Entertainment Tonight” a little over a month ago: Michelle Obama announced the family would, indeed, adopt a rescue dog. >>Obamas will adopt, rather than buy, a dog (11.5.08)

Details of Pennsylvania Avenue’s newest tail-wagger have not been disclosed. But in a May appearance with her husband on “Good Morning America,” soon-to-be first lady Michelle Obama said the family would not add a new dog for another year. “What we know about raising a dog is that you have to be pretty stable,” she said. And by spring 2009, “we’ll be settled, one way or another.” Introducing a new dog during a period of upheaval — whether the holiday rush or a presidential inauguration — is a recipe for trouble, agreed Alan Christiansen of Dog Gone Good Dog Training in Coram…Michelle Obama also indicated that the dog would come from a shelter, not a breeder or pet store. But that egalitarian impulse might not jibe with the family’s need for a young dog that will not aggravate allergies: Most shelter puppies are mixes that are not hypoallergenic, and most purebred rescue dogs of any breed — including those with low-dander coats — are adults. “It’s not likely that you’re going to find any purebred puppy younger than 4 months old in an animal shelter, and even those are few and far between,” said Pamela Green, director of the Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton. >>Obama family dog first on the list (11.5.08)

Barack Obama made history last night when he was elected as the first African American U.S. president, but he may have also made history in yet another way when he said, “I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House.” That brief puppy mention may represent the first time that an animal has been referenced in a presidential victory speech. If not, use of the word “puppy” would certainly seem to be a rarity. >>First U.S. Presidential Victory Speech to Mention an Animal? (11.5.08)

Unlike previous White House dogs, America’s next First Pooch may come from more humble beginnings. The Obamas appear to being leaning toward a rescue dog in what could be the 44th president’s first major appointment. President-elect Barack Obama announced Tuesday that he would fulfill a campaign promise to buy his daughters a puppy. “Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine,” Obama said in his Election Night address. “You have earned the puppy that is coming with us.” >>Chicago rescue groups urge Obamas to get shelter dog (11.6.08)

Now it seems everyone has an opinion on what kind of pooch the Obamas should get and where they should get it from. It’s a big decision. Many White House dogs — most presidents have had at least one — become celebrities in their own rights. >>Picking the Obamas’ White House Pooch (11.6.08)

President-elect Barack Obama hasn’t even gone to the pound to get his long-promised puppy for daughters Sasha and Malia, but when it arrives, there will be a present awaiting the fur ball. Milk-Bone tells us that it will provide a lifetime supply of the doggie treat to the new first family. Why? Well, says the firm celebrating its 100th anniversary, “to welcome the first pup to the White House.” >>Obama Dog Gets Milk-Bones for Life (11.6.08)

AIREDALE ALERT: Counting Obama, the country has had 44 Presidents, and only two of them — Chester A. Arthur and Franklin Pierce — left no record of having pets. Like Obama himself, the family pooch will have some big shoes to fill. Previous White House pets have set the bar pretty high. >>White House pets: Hippo, gator and ‘Satan’ (11.7.08)

So what should the First Family have in mind when looking for a pooch? Cesar Millan, the star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer, has some advice for the Obamas. First, don’t expect the canine to be impressed by the commander-in-chief just because of his resume. “The dog won’t know he’s Barack Obama and won the presidency,” says Millan. “Dogs don’t know if they live in Beverly Hills or the White House. They don’t know what you do for a living.” >>The Dog Whisperer Gives Advice on Obama’s Puppy (11.7.08)

Obama told reporters Friday that his mention on election night of getting a puppy for Sasha and Malia had “generated more interest on his Web site than any other topic.” He said, “We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic so it has to be hypoallergenic.” Obama also said there were a number of breeds that were hypoallergenic, but that the family’s preference is to adopt a dog from a shelter. Obama added: “But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household.” >>Obama: Getting a dog isn’t easy (11.7.08)

As for the rest of this week’s dog news:

Thousands of pet owners face having to pay more to treat their sick animals after vet prescription fees were reintroduced yesterday. It means a bill of around £15 on top of the average £30 consultation fee for 120,000 owners who opt to buy drugs from cheaper online pharmacies rather than their vet. There are fears the higher cost will leave some owners unable to afford treatment. For the past three years those who wish to buy medicines from pharmacies have been able to obtain a prescription from their vet at no cost due to a Government ban on fees. >>Pet owners hit by return of £15 charge on prescriptions (11.1.08)

A file of up-to-date information on your cat or dog may come in handy during an emergency. Here is a list of things you might put in the folder, which you should stash in an easy-to-grab spot. You might want to keep copies of some of these items in your safe deposit box as well. >>Create an emergency folder for your pet (11.1.08)

This being the time of year when hunters are pursuing various games species in Pennsylvania’s woods, it is important to keep tabs on a dog when grouse hunting. Traditionally, hunters attach a bell to their dog’s collar to know its location in the woods. This tried-and-true method has worked for decades, but it has one drawback — when the dog points, the bell stops making noise, so the hunter must locate the dog by trying to hone in on its approximate location the last time the bell was heard. Now, new technology brings grouse hunters the tone beepers, which can be added onto the dog’s training collar and run with a transmitter. Tri-Tronics, which is at the forefront of electronic training aids for dogs, has what many consider the best overall product on the market for hunting use in the Sport G3 Training Collar, which has a built-in beeper. >>Electronic dog collars ring in new era for hunting, training (11.2.08)

The types of vaccines that your pet might need will vary with their lifestyle and environment. There are lots of vaccines and it can be confusing when presented with so many options. The best advice is to hook up with a veterinarian you trust and go with their recommendation. If this doesn’t work for your pocketbook, there are low-cost vaccination clinics, which offer a plethora of vaccines, but you will need to know what your pet needs. The “core” vaccines are vaccines that every pet should have. The following are recommendations published by the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis, the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association. Non-core vaccines are optional and should be considered in light of the exposure risk of the animal. >>Pet Paulse: What shots should my pet have? (11.3.08)

Massachusetts voters today embraced a ballot question to end greyhound racing in the state, rejecting track owners’ arguments that the ban would cost jobs at a time of economic hardship in favor of protecting dogs from harm. The contentious ballot question passed amid emotional ad campaigns by both sides. Proponents used images of sad-eyed greyhounds that they say are caged inhumanely and raced to injury while opponents put the spotlight on the track employees who would be put out of work if the ballot question passed. >>Mass. voters approve dog racing ban (11.4.08)

His name is Hubble. And you don’t need a telescope to see that he is not exactly a handsome hound. The eight-year-old terrier-type cross has part of his nose and mouth missing as a result of an injury he suffered in his youth. A fortnight ago the dog was rescued by big hearted animal rescue workers after he was discovered tied up in a wood after his owners abandoned him because of his ugly looks. >>Britain’s ugliest dog Hubble searches for new life after being abandoned (11.4.08)

AIREDALE ALERT: Roo is one well-read-to dog. As part of a program called Read to the Paw, students at Irisburg Elementary School take turns reading aloud to Roo, a brown-and-black 4-year-old Airedale terrier. Roo is a good sport. On Friday, she was decked out in a “gingerbread cookie” Halloween costume that included a chocolate brown bonnet/mini-cape and similarly colored garments around her ankles. Eight-year-old Kelsey Ely, dressed up herself in a red top with sequins and furlike accents and red pants with sequins, petted Roo frequently as she read to the dog a book about a donkey that always wanted to be a lion. >>Roo helps students with reading (11.4.08)

A duck is a duck, unless he thinks he’s a dog. A Tulsa magazine recently had an article about a duck named Aflac. He has been raised in a veterinary clinic and really doesn’t know he’s a duck. The duck wags his tail, and pants like a dog. Ken Capron is a veterinarian specializing in animal dentistry. He does root canals, reconstructions and crowns just like a human dentist. But, Aflac is a duck and they don’t have teeth. >>Walks Like A Duck Pants Like A Dog (11.5.08)

Has your pet started changing its personality? I ask this because I was asked the same question last week when I took my cat in for his annual physical and shots. “Yes,” I answered. “He hasn’t had a seizure for months and is acting like a healthy cat now; chasing a ball, running up and down stairs, loving and starting to purr.” “And he has lost some weight with all that exercise,” added the technician. In the case of your pet dog, usually the answer to this question is a flat “no,” and if it is “yes,” it is meant in a negative way, like growling, hiding or refusing to eat. If the answer is “yes,” the veterinarian needs to check for physical disorders such as worms, a thyroid condition, a spinal disc problem, poisoning, constipation, diarrhea, anal gland infection, colitis, pancreatitis, urinary ailments, allergic reactions, as well as other conditions that might affect behavior. >>K9 Corner: Pet’s personality changes may signal health problem (11.5.08)

I don’t recall any of the three Airedale Terriers I had while I was growing up displaying the “food-related aggression” from which new government advice says we must protect our dogs. What is food-related aggression, anyway? Is it that feeling you get when you’ve got your heart set on the ribeye only to be told that the gentleman on your left has just ordered the last one? Or the frustration encountered when you’ve gone to the trouble of pulling your boots and raincoat on over your pyjamas and stepped out into the night, only to find the corner shop has run out of Minstrels? >>Sophie Morris: Lessons in life that only a pet can give us (11.6.08)

Dry pet food contaminated with salmonella sickened at least 79 people over three years, U.S. health officials said Thursday while warning that pet food may be an under-recognized source of infections in humans, especially young children. “This outbreak is the first documented outbreak to associate human salmonella infections with contaminated dry dog food and to trace human illness to a contaminated pet food plant,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said in its weekly report on illnesses and deaths. No one is known to have died of the rare strain, called Salmonella enterica serotype Schwarzengrund. The illnesses occurred between Jan. 1, 2006, and Oct. 31, 2008. >>Pet food sickened dozens of people in U.S. (11.7.08) >>CDC: Contaminated Pet Food Sickens 79 >>Dry Pet Food Sickens Humans >>Pet food making people sick >>Pet food sickened dozens of people in U.S. >>More Salmonella cases linked to dry pet food

This Week In Dog News (Saturday, November 1, 2008 - Friday, November 7, 2008)

Lucky Charm

Subject: Nimue (Italian Greyhound)
Photographer: Rose Atwood
Date Taken: 11.05.08

*Submit your photos for the Photo Daily, email them to dogtalk@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Quick Tip

Adjust your dog’s collar so that you can fit just two fingers in between the collar and your pet’s neck.  More room can allow your pet to back out or slip the collar and become loose.

Olive’s Aire Cut

Olive is our of our 2008 Max x Tory litter.  Although she didn’t not make the big drive up to Woodcrest for her first Aire Cut, she wanted everyone to see how pretty she is too!

Olive Before:

Olive Before:

Olive After:

Olive After:

You look beautiful Olive!

Share Your Photos

*Submit your dog photos for the Photo Daily, email them to dogtalk@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Responsible Pet Care?

Here’s a question for you…do you, or have you ever:

• fed your dog at the table
• disturbed your dog when they are eating their own food
• taken your dog for a walk during the hottest part of the day
• used a corrective training technique instead of pure positive reinforcement
• allowed your dog to become a little under or over weight
• allowed your cat to jump up on shelves, tops of cupboards, or other high areas

Be honest, you’ve probably done all those things.  Now, do you:

• brush your dog at least once per day
• brush your dogs teeth daily
• keep your cat away from all windows and tumble dryers

Be honest, you probably don’t do any of that.

Still think that you are a responsible pet owner despite those faults?

If you answered yes, great, unfortunately England doesn’t seem to agree with you.  A new pet owner code of conduct has been created to supplement the country’s earlier Animal Welfare Act of 2006.  Now there will be no excuse for pet owners in that country to say they didn’t know, it will be their responsibility to read, cover to cover, and implement each of the recommendations set forth in the guidelines created by DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Subsections of the code stipulate just how you should go about socializing, training, and feeding your pet, including specifics on dogs, cats, and horses. You will also be responsible for ensuring your pet is exhibiting normal behavioral characteristics and be given guidelines for ensuring that. If only reading from a manual could produce such great results, just imagine.

Although these acts would not necessarily constitute a criminal act (let’s face it, can you imagine the overhead involved in enforcing such regulations?), they will be used to judge the individual pet owner’s competency to care for an animal and will be used as evidence as such in proceedings related to any pet welfare offense, thereby landing you six months in jail and a 20,000 pound fine.

…

MPs questioned whether the government should be laying down such detailed rules with Conservative agriculture spokesman Jim Paice saying: “Some of these elements are over the top. This is certainly not the sort of stuff that we expected to be in the code.”

But Environment Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday defended the guidelines which he said he said are meant to remind pet owners of the law under the Animal Welfare Act 2006…

New code for pet owners unveiled

…

The Opposition politicians criticised the “over the top” rules that “take people for fools”.

Bill Wiggin, the Tory spokesman on animal welfare, said the new codes are “absurd”.

“Defra has missed the opportunity to produce a set of sensible proposals that would protect animals from abuse and mistreatment. Here we have this ridiculous guide, which tells people not to walk their dog in the heat of the day or feed it at the table,” he added.

Feeding your pet at table may land you in jail in UK!

Perhaps the most amusing article about the new rules:

…

Sadly, the kind of mouth-breathing hominids who need to be told that they should provide their chosen companion animals with food, water, shelter, affection and stimulation to several levels above what one should reasonably lavish upon a houseplant probably don’t read anything, ever. Except perhaps Have Your Say, if they can mash the keyboard correctly with their fists to reach it.

Further instructions to the barely sentient include that one must provide “mental stimulation” for cats so as “to avoid boredom and frustration”. The doc goes on to inform that “it is your responsibility to provide opportunities for your cat to satisfy all of its behavioural needs, such as play and companionship”. We can only feebly hope there are also insistences therein such as: “Make sure your cat doesn’t sit on your neighbour’s windowsill or ponce about in their garden and make their dog mad, and similarly that your cat does not shit in their garden, because they’ve got enough of that to deal with as it is thank you.”

…

Defra drafts proper pet practice for the daft
Irresponsible idiot? Want a kitten? We can help

Stalking the Wild Tomato

Starring
Fergus and Tory

Come On, Fergus, The Game’s Afoot!

I Know It’s Around Here Somewhere!

Aha!

I’ll Get It!

Don’t Let It Escape!

Here It Is!

Yummy!

The Area Is Secure!

The Tomatoes Conquered, Our Intrepid Dales Head Off For A Well-Earned Nap!

*Thank you Deb and Bob for this great story!

Bad Hair Day

Subject: Petey (Guinea Pig)
Photographer: Allison T.
Date Taken: 9.19.08

*Submit your photos for the Photo Daily, email them to dogtalk@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Tuesday Trivia

The tallest of dogs, the Irish Wolfhound has been known by what other names in the past?

Dreama’s Win Photo & Open Letter to Santa

Dreama’s win photo from Onondaga came several weeks ago, but I have only just gotten around to posting it.

The problem is that my scanner, my trusty and lovable old Mustek, has officially kicked the bucket. It’s really no wonder since that scanner is practically an original. It has done a great job over the years and lasted longer than anyone could have hoped in spite of several neglect and abuse. How old is it? I have to connect it to one specific very old computer in order to use it because the latest operating systems do not have drivers for the old beast.

I tried purchasing a new one at one point a couple years ago, a pricey one at that, but the original purchase and the two replacements that followed all came broken which made me question the quality of modern versions. I haven’t been able to put myself through it all again since.

Unfortunately now it seems that necessity has kicked in and I will be forced to face my dreaded reality. I have been reduced to take a digital photograph of several items in order to share them with you in this very digital world, including this photo of Dreama’s win. That just will not do.

My hope is that Santa gets high speed way up there is the cold tundras of the North Pole and will read this, my plea, for a new scanner, anything that does not come broken and (with fingers crossed) might last as long as the last one. (If you’re reading this, feel free to throw in an iPod too, if the mood strikes.)

Now, for the photo, of a photo…

Congratulations Dreama!

Come out, Come out

Subject: Petey & Gertie (Guinea Pig)
Photographer: Allison T.
Date Taken: 9.29.08

*Submit your photos for the Photo Daily, email them to dogtalk@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Quote Of The Week

“Their tails are high and tongues awag-the twin banners of sled dog contentment.”

-Clara Germani

Bartleby

Pearson Stripping Knives

Last week we received a very special order. Anyone with Terriers knows that the key to proper grooming is having the right tool for the right job. For stripping, the key tool is great stripping knives.

Pearson Products makes great stripping knives. For proof just take a look at the Pearson stripping knives in the pictures below.

Old Stripping Knives Front:

Old Stripping Knives Back:

Would you guess that those knives are as old as our breeding program? Probably not, but it is the truth.

Why get new knives if those are in such great shape? We wanted to get a second set of knives for taking to shows and on the road without having to steal the tools from the kennel where we are also teaching some of our staff how to use them.

These knives are the staples of any groomer’s tack box. They are must have items. If you are just starting out or have not tried these knives, you should go ahead and order at least one to try. We bet you will be placing a follow up order for the other blade sizes shortly thereafter.

What makes these knives so great is how they feel in your hand. Not only are they shaped to fit your grip, they come in right hand and left hand varieties, and have a terrific wooden handle that feels natural as you work. I prefer these head and shoulders over any medal handled stripping knife that I have tried.

With such a great product, wouldn’t you guess that they are made by Airedale people. Disappointing by the tools available at the time they were learning the trade, Pearson Products was developed out of an obvious need for a high quality product built for the task at hand. Input from long time breeders and even professional handlers was key to the design of these knives and it shows.

I prefer the “regular stripper” style of these knives and find myself using the fine and medium blades the most out of any tool I have. For those who prefer the feel of the heavier knife, try the “reinforced stripper” or the “special stripper” for general stripping. The “finishing stripper” is particularly suited for flat work and raking out undercoat. The last style of knife available from Pearson is a “detail stripper” and I have not tried this knife from them. A detail stripper is a must have for your tool box, so if you don’t yet have one I would go ahead and try it out (and send us your review if you’d like).

Price on these knives ranges from $30 all the way up to $70 for those who like the higher end versions. All in all these are a great product and value for the money.

The Pearson Products website also offers some excellent grooming guides for various breeds.

Let Me Out

Subject: Petey & Gertie (Guinea Pig)
Photographer: Allison T.
Date Taken: 9.29.08

*Submit your photos for the Photo Daily, email them to dogtalk@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Another Major & New Champion Dreama

Dreama, Woodcrest Midsummer Nights Dream, is now CHAMPION Woodcrest Midsummer Nights Dream. Dreama won a fourth major yesterday for another 3 points and her Championship at the Back Mountain Kennel Club dog show in Bloomsburg, PA.

Thank you to handlers Adam Bernardin and Jamie Donelson-Bernardin for their expert conditioning and handling of Dreama to her Championship. Thank you to judge Mr. Frank J. Washabaugh for yesterdays win and to judges Peter Green, Roger Hartinger, and Dorothy Taylor for Dreama’s other majors. Dreama was also recognized as Reserve Winner’s Bitch during Montgomery weekend at the Devon dog show by judge Geir Flyckt-Pedersen. It is excellent to be recognized by such distinguished judges.

Dreama is a Striker daughter (BIS AM/CAN CH Penaire Star Struck at Woodcrest).

Congratulations to Dreama!

At Montgomery, Dreama on Left:

During Montgomery weekend:

An Inmate’s Best Friend

Watch CBS Videos Online

This segment was aired on the CBS Evening News last night, but the video was not yet available when I searched for it yesterday. These programs are so valuable for the handler/trainers and for the dogs. It takes just two months for these prisoners to transform unwanted, unadoptable dogs and train them to be the perfect pet. Nine Colorado prisons are using the program.

This Week In Dog News

DEAR AMY: Please tell me if I owe my new daughter-in-law an apology. Recently I celebrated a birthday. My son came to me and told me his wife was planning on getting a dog for me as a gift. During a visit with her I brought up the subject and plainly and directly told her that I did not want a dog, I would not accept a dog and would not keep a dog. I gave her some suggestions of what I would prefer, mainly a donation to a favorite charity. It isn’t that I don’t like animals. My wife and I were raised on livestock farms, and continued to farm and raise animals after our marriage. After our four children left home, we sold the livestock and are now enjoying the freedom of not having to rush home to take care of animals. My daughter-in-law gave me the dog anyway. >>Ask Amy: Unwanted gift was a real dog (10.24.08)

The owner of the Pedigree pet food company says the company has withdrawn its sponsorship of the Crufts dog show in Britain after 44 years of support. A statement from Pedigree’s parent company, Mars UK, said Pedigree would no longer offer nearly $2.4 million in funding to the annual dog show, whose future is now in doubt amidst allegations of animal mistreatment, The Times of London reported Saturday. “After careful consideration, Pedigree has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Crufts,” the company said. “The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritizing initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners such as our successful program the Pedigree Adoption Drive, and our online service for breeders, pedigreedirect.co.uk.” >>Pedigree pulls Crufts dog show support (10.25.08)

Two fishermen in the North Sea say they found a dog swimming nearly a mile out to sea and were able to reunite the pooch with its owner. Freddie, a 14-year-old cairn terrier, became disorientated in the fog while on a beach walk with his 73-year-old owner Jean Brigstock, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday. The fishermen spotted what they thought was an otter but it turned out to be Freddie. They pulled him out of the water and contacted the coast guard. >>Dog found swimming a mile out to sea (10.25.08)

A dog was hailed as a hero on Sunday after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens from a house fire, rescuers said. In a case which gives the lie to the saying about ‘fighting like cats and dogs’, the terrier cross named Leo had to be revived with oxygen and heart massage after his ordeal. Fire broke out overnight at the house in Australia’s southern city of Melbourne, where he was guarding the kittens. Fire fighters who revived Leo said he refused to leave the building and was found by them alongside the litter of kittens, despite thick smoke. “Leo wouldn’t leave the kittens and it nearly cost him his life,” fire service Commander Ken Brown told reporters. The four kittens also survived the fire and Sunday Leo, who fire fighters nicknamed ‘Smoky’, was again back at the house. >>Hero dog risks life to save kittens from fire (10.26.08)

When ‘woof’ meets ‘waaaaah,’ some adjustments need to be made, and that is definitely the case in this office. University of Illinois Extension—Fulton County’s Becky Campbell has been blessed with two new grandbabies this fall. Shown in the picture is granddaughter Betsey Weiss with family pet Kick. Bringing home a newborn means adjustments for your household, since for many couples, their pet may be their first “baby.” Strategies exist to prepare your favorite four-legged friend for the newest two-legged addition to the family. I hope this information from U of IL Adjunct Assistant Professor Linda Case will be helpful. >>Pet Meets the New Baby (10.26.08)

Choochy the poodle is a “runway runaway.” Boston’s Logan International Airport officials say Choochy escaped from her kennel as she was being unloaded after a flight from Detroit Saturday night and scampered across runways and taxiways. Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella says the poodle evaded airport personnel for more than 17 hours and delayed at least eight flights. About 15 state police, firefighters, operations personnel and even electricians chased Choochy late into the night, delaying flights for up 30 minutes. Orlandella says the poodle was frightened, tired and hungry when she was finally lured to safety with food early Sunday afternoon. The dog was treated for minor injuries at an animal hospital and returned to her family. >>Runaway poodle delays flights at Boston airport (10.27.08)

The project started innocently enough. “We’ve been tracking the most common pet names for years,” says Curtis Steinhoff, spokesperson for Veterinary Pet Insurance. The company conducts a yearly survey, and that you wouldn’t believe the number of dogs and cats they see named “Max,” “Rover,” and “Tigger.” But the real story here involved the names at the bottom of the “Most Popular Pet Name” list. In other words, the true “one of a kinds.” “Some of (the names) are very self-explanatory, and some of them, well, we’re not really sure where they came from,” Steinhoff told KOMO. He says VPI employees elected a “Top Ten” out of those unique names. On the dog list, number one is the name “Rush Limbark.” The dog’s owners say when the pooch hears the talk show hosts voice, it gets amazingly calm. Rumor has it, the dog can also sniff out Republicans. >>Forget ‘Rover.’ Topping this list of pet names is ‘Rush Limbark,’ and ‘Sir Lix-a-lot’ (10.27.08)

Navigating a college campus is no easy task for incoming freshmen. But the experience is a whole new playing field for one that is visually impaired. Katelin Archer came to Central Michigan University this fall with her guide dog, a German shepherd name Norris, and said she can testify to the daily challenges of being a college student with limited vision. The Pennsylvania freshman has learned to create a map of campus in her mind, not based on familiar sights but rather by recognizable sounds. “It’s really weird to trust a dog with your life,” Archer said. “It’s like, ‘You’re a dog, you eat things out of a bowl on the ground, and I am trusting you?’” >>Student relies on guide dog to navigate campus (10.27.08)

Question 3, commonly known as the Greyhound Protection Act, asks voters to approve a measure to make dog racing illegal. While supporters of the measure say the conditions racing dogs are subjected to are inhumane, those opposed to the measure say it will eliminate two established businesses, put thousands of people out of work and wipe out millions in state revenue collected through racing fees, commissions and taxes. Dog racing has been legal in Massachusetts for more than 70 years, and the state hosts two dog racing tracks — Wonderland in Revere, which races seasonally, and Raynham Park in Raynham, which races year-round. >>Dog racing measure up to voters (10.27.08)

Max the Maltese is headed home to Florida after the small dog vanished several months ago and finally turned up 1,200 miles away — in Chicago. Owner Richard Gonzalez of West Palm Beach, Fla., said Max went missing from his daughter’s yard in Brandon, Fla. She had brought Max to her home for a few weeks to visit with her own dogs. Gonzalez reported the disappearance as a pet theft. “Even if he ran away, he wasn’t going to get far. It’s a subdivision,” Gonzalez said. “Somebody’s going to grab him.” >>Dog to return to Florida after 1,200-mile trip (10.30.08)

Ever heard the one about the dog and the pelican? In one of the most unlikely power struggles of the animal kingdom, these extraordinary images show the moment when a one-year-old exotic bird bit off more than it could chew. Captured by Roland Adam at his exotic bird farm in Germany, they show how Petri the pelican and Katijina the Rhodesian Ridgeback played out an improbable contest for a free meal. >>The pelican that tried to eat the dog who stole his supper (10.30.08)

We all know the truth many pound puppies and cats have to face. But what’s especially saddening is that almost four million pets are euthanized every year because their pet owner can’t be found in time. It’s a risk many of you choose not to take – so you go one step closer than the collar and microchip your pet. Pet owner Paula Loftis of Beaufort, SC shares, “the microchip company did call me and say, “do you have a dog named Amy?’ I said she’s right out here in the yard — well she wasn’t right out in the yard.” It happens to the most responsible pet owners and that’s why Paula Loftis says micro chipping her dogs was a no brainer. “They could lose their collar. Then they’ve lost their rabies tags, their other identification tags and so the microchip provides me with that additional assurance that if they are picked up and taken to a shelter, they will be scanned.” >>Chipping Your Pet (10.30.08)

Once a guaranteed death sentence for pets, cancer is claiming fewer four-legged victims these days thanks to sophisticated treatments and the willingness of pet owners to pursue those treatments. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurer, will seek to raise national awareness about the disease this November with its fourth annual National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. VPI launched Pet Cancer Awareness Month in November 2005 to educate pet owners on the prevalence and management of cancer in pets and raise funds for research through the sale of Pet Cancer Awareness dog collars. >>Veterinary Pet Insurance Kicks Off Fourth Annual Pet Cancer Awareness Month (10.30.08)

Justin Fink is the lead dog on a 13-member team in training for two of Alaska’s premier sled races next February. The 15-year-old musher, his father and coach John, and his sister and handler, are the only ones guaranteed a spot on the team. The rest of the team - Alaskan Huskies from the family’s Red Barn Kennel - are in training, competing for one of the 10-starting spots on the gang line. ”Eighteen are trying out right now,” said John Fink, who will take a half dozen extras just in case of illness or injury. ”There are some dogs that we know are going to make the team, but just because you made it last year, doesn’t mean you make it this year.” >>Young sled racer in training to be the top dog (10.31.08)

Cathie Ake loved her animals. She adored her typical brood of prized Pomeranians and also doted on her decidedly less common pets, including monkeys, llamas, wallabies and her new camel. But in April 2007, when a television news crew visited her family’s Wewahitchka, Fla., ranch to film Polo the camel and their other exotic animals, Polo began kicking Ake… Exotic pets cause big headaches for law enforcement and humane society officers who routinely respond to reports of unusual animals roaming the streets or attacking other animals or humans, something experts say is inevitable when dealing with animals ill-suited to captivity. “There’s a reason why these animals are wild,” said Adam Roberts, senior vice president for Born Free USA, a nonprofit animal protection organization. “They don’t belong with people.” >>The Allure of Exotic Pets Bring Risks to Owners, Animals (10.31.08)

This Week In Dog News (Saturday, October 25, 2008 - Friday, October 31, 2008)

Best of October

2 petite princess D’Isabeau - part deux

Subject: Airedale Terrier Puppies (Striker x Isabeau 2008) bred by Johanne Lambert and Louise Lambert, KALUA & DABSQUOUI Airedales, Quebec, Canada
Date Taken: 10.10.08

Kahlan

Subject: Kahlan (2008 Striker x Isabeau - Airedale Terrier)
Photographer: Louise Lambert, Kalua Airedales, Quebec, Canada
Date Taken: 10.24.08

*Submit your dog photos for the Photo Daily, email them to photo@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Quick Tip

Keep trash in a secured container away from access by your pet.  Doing so will prevent your pet from ingesting items that are likely to cause a blockage which can be life threatening and lead to surgery.

State of the Dog, Squared

After our unfortunate hosting fiasco we thought it might be fun to look back on how Dogged Dogdom has grown since its creation earlier this year.

First, let’s start with you, our wonderful readers. Let’s skip the technical junk like what operating system and web browsers you all are using, it’s just boring, and most unfortunate that more of you aren’t using Firefox.

Most of our readers know us either through our business Woodcrest Kennel LLC, our Airedales (also Woodcrest), or personally. Of those who don’t know us most readers find Dogged Dogdom through searches about reviews and Airedale related queries.  Then there is the odd query that lands some innocent internet user on our site, like how many stars are in the sky and how do grasshoppers fly.  Great questions, but probably not going to be answered here.

So just how many loyal readers do we have? In total, we have had over 11,000 visitors to Dogged Dogdom since July when we officially moved to our own domain (prior to that we were a subdirectory on the Woodcrest Kennel LLC site). About 3,000 people view our site each month.  Those numbers do not include those reading via RSS feeds or using blog search engines to read our posts.  Woodcrest Kennel LLC get about 10,000 visitors per month.

Most of our readers are from the United States. The rest of the top ten countries in order highest to lowest are: Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Russia, Belgium, Argentina, and India.

It’s no surprise that our top days for readership shifted this past month with our Montgomery photos being a huge draw. Despite serious database connection problems which created an unfortunate 66% downtime on the site, Dogged Dogdom was viewed by 2177 readers on October 5th, 1740 readers on October 6th, and 1711 readers on October 7th. Those numbers were supplemented by an additional 1621 visitors to the Woodcrest Kennel site on October 4th, 2024 visitors to Woodcrest on October 5th, 1078 visitors to Woodcrest on October 6th, 1133 on October 7th.

A post about our own accomplishments at Montgomery quickly climbed the list to one of our most popular posts ever and our Montgomery & Sweepstakes Photos post is right up there as well. Our Ear Gluing post remains the most popular of all time.  One of our favorite posts and a continued favorite by readers is our Crufts Exclusive from Mary Morris who won the Airedale Best of Breed with Rani, Nedella The Diamond.

In total we have accumulated over 850 posts in 71 categories.  199 of those posts have something to do with Airedales.  439 are photo daily submissions from our readers.  98 are dog and pet news related posts including recall and alert notices.

So where do we go from here?  Well, we’re glad you asked.  Some of our plans for the near future include: 2009 calendars featuring our favorite Airedale photos (an adult and puppy version is in the works), holiday pet shopping and pet essentials shopping guides probably in the form of Ozzy’s favorite things (since it is always all about the “O”), and as the show season slows we will be hoping back into our conformation explained posts where we do our best to help you understand just what is going on at a dog show.  Some things we are considering are creating a dog and pet related website directory and/or a dog blog directory.  We have always considered hosting reader blogs, we would design/create/host your blog that you would be free to post anything to including photos, as well as a reader discussion forum, but there has not been much interest to this point.

We hope that everyone continues to enjoy our site as it grows and evolves.  Our hope is to get all the readers more involved through photo submissions and topic discussions in the form of comments.  We are also very interested in including contributions from others, anyone interested on writing about a topic should just email us.

Do you have suggestions for our site?  Are there topics you’d like to see discussed?  What are your favorite topics already being discussed that you’d like to see more of?  Please let us know!

We thank all of your for reading Dogged Dogdom and for sending in your photos and leaving comments.  If you appreciate what we are doing here, please hop on over to the Blogger’s Choice Awards website and VOTE FOR US!  The 2009 voting has started and right now we are runing as #5 in the Best Animal Blogger category.  Thank you to those who have already voted or voted for us last year when we were part of the Woodcrest site.

Click below to Vote. (PLEASE!)

We look forward to what the rest of this year and next year will bring for the site and thanks again for reading!

Kahlan

Subject: Kahlan (2008 Striker x Isabeau - Airedale Terrier)
Photographer: Louise Lambert, Kalua Airedales, Quebec, Canada
Date Taken: 10.24.08

*Submit your dog photos for the Photo Daily, email them to photo@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Another First Aire-Cut

Pretty boy Lincoln came back for his first grooming today. Lincoln is out of the 2008 Max x Tory litter.

Lincoln Before:

Lincoln During:

Lincoln After:

Good sit!

Cabotine

Subject: Cabotine (2008 Striker x Isabeau - Airedale Terrier)
Photographer: Louise Lambert, Kalua Airedales, Quebec, Canada
Date Taken: 10.24.08

*Submit your dog photos for the Photo Daily, email them to photo@doggeddogdom.com along with a Title, Date Taken, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Name.

Tuesday Trivia

The Chinese Crested comes in what two distinct varieties?

Cop Murders AIREDALE on Owner’s Property (Disturbing Video)

WARNING: This video shows the actual shooting.

I’m really at a loss for words over this one. The video shows an obviously extremely rural area, no other houses in sight, and a dirt road at a good distance. This could have easily been a suburban neighborhood with invisible fencing with the same result.

A Grady County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Deputy shot a dog belonging to Grady County resident Tammy Christopher and the incident is now making news as shown on a video clip posted at The Agitator blog by Radley Balko and on Youtube.

As reported by The Grady County Express Star, Christopher has filed a $25,000 claim against Grady County, The State of Oklahoma and Grady County Deputy Sean Knight for the wrongful shooting of her dog.

The claim states that Knight was on duty serving tax warrants when he pulled onto Christopher’s property to ask for directions. When he got out of his vehicle, the dog reportedly approached Knight, who pulled his service weapon and shot the dog in the head.

The claim also says Knight “grossly over reacted and did not attempt to get back in his car or utilize any less than lethal methods” and that statements provided to Brunson’s office “contain several glaring discrepancies compared to the security video of the shooting. It is clear the Grady County Sheriff’s office is attempting to justify the shooting of the dog.”

In the news clip, Christopher claims the Sheriff’s department said the dog was trying to attack the deputy. When Christopher told the Sheriff’s department that her home security video system captured the incident, the Sheriff’s department changed their story, offered her money to keep quiet, and told her not to show the video to anybody.

Cop murders dog on its owner’s property

Dog Shot by Officer

Woman sues after police shoot her dog

The YouTube Video has received well over 200 comments (warning: language).

Airedale Oddities News

In my infinite quest for Airedale related news items of interest I was alerted to a recent New York Times article. The title of the article uncovered in my search is titled, “The Mysterious Cough, Caught on Film.”

A professor of engineering at Pennsylvania State University has captured on film the seemingly invisible, a cough. The technology used to capture this image, schlieren photography, has been used to capture images of supersonic waves created by high speed aircraft. The professor has a different take on it by capturing seemingly everyday unseen phenomenon.

Other images created using this technique include a gunshot, heat surrounding a candle, a gas leak, simulated explosions, and…

an AIREDALE sniffing a flower.

So there you have it, yet another example of how the Airedale shapes our world, even scientifically.

The Airedale was part of their canine olfaction experiments which involved several dogs of various breeds some trained for detection duty. Those with an interest in Aerodynamics may find the study interesting.

Vote for Best of October

At the end of each month we pick a photo from the Photo Daily for that month’s Best Of.

You can vote by sharing a comment on the photo that you want to win. A simple “Best Of!” in the comments will do, but feel free to say whatever you want. Feel free to comment on as many photos as you choose. The photo with the most comments at the end of the month wins.

If you haven’t made a comment for your favorite photo or photos, do so now!

We will post the winning photo on the last weekday of the month.

*If you have never commented before your first comment will be held for approval. This is only to prevent spam in the comments. And don’t worry, your email is not shared on the site, it is used only to determine legitimate comments.

Mars Petcare SPECIAL KITTY Gourmet RECALL

Mars Petcare is issuing a voluntary recall of bags of Special Kitty Gourmet due to possible salmonella contamination. The product was sold at Walmart stores in 15 states in the North East region of the US.

The FDA announcement which can also currently be found on the Marspetcare.com website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — FRANKLIN, Tenn. – October 27, 2008 – Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of bags of SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella.

This product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

There have been no complaints or reports of illness resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

Recalled Pet Food
Product: SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend Dry Cat Food
Best If Used By Date: AUG 11 09
Best If Used By Date Location: Back of bag
Production Lot Code: 50 XXXX X (Found on back of bag just after “Best If Used By” date. Consumers should look for “50″ as the first two digits of the second line.)
UPC Code: UPC code numbers can be found directly underneath the bar code on the package. Please find recalled pet food UPC information below.

3.5 lb.

SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend

81131 17546

7 lb.

SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend

81131 17547

18 lb.

SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend

81131 17548

Affected Stores: Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about