Welcome to Dogs Site

Dog that saved sex victim receives an award

2010-09-25T13:22:00.000-04:00

Rottweiler dogs often receive bad press. This is usually a result of poor skills by the dog owner. With the right care, attention and training Rottweiler can make great pets. It also now seems that they can be Heroes.

Former rescue dog Jake stopped a sex attacker in his tracks during an incident involving a woman.

Esmahil Adhami, aged 18, was assaulting a 20 year old woman when Jake came to her rescue. As Jake was on one of his constitutional walks a woman's screams were heard in the distance. Jake's owner thought it was just kids messing about but Jake knew differently. Quick as a flash Jake bounded off into the woodland area where the attack was taking place.

The assailant fled with Jake hot on his heels. Jake then stayed close to the woman keeping a vigil. Jake kept circling her in order to protect her until help arrived.

The incident took place in July 2009 near Hershall Common, Coventry. The assialant was caught and has been jailed for four years.

Jake received his award from the RSPCA. He was given a medallion and a bravery award. Suffice to say his owner is as proud as punch.

It's a dog day afternoon as city's smallest and tallest pooches take over Central Park

2010-09-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

One is the size of a bagel. The other weighs more than Eli Manning.

The tallest and tiniest dogs in the world sized each other up in Central Park Wednesday after making it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Boo Boo, a long-haired female Chihuahua, is just 4 inches tall and weighs only 2 pounds.

She went paw-to-paw with Giant George, a 43-inch-tall Great Dane who tips the scales at 245 pounds.

"I thought he might want a snack or something, but he was very gentle," Boo Boo's owner Lana Elswick said after meeting Giant George.

"Boo Boo was fascinated. She waited a few minutes and then she went over."

The tiny Kentucky canine weighed 1 ounce when she was born by Caesarean section in 2006.

"The vet said if she lived, it would be a miracle," Elswick said. "She is my miracle."

The palm-sized pet eats just a tablespoon of dog food each day, will drink only bottled water and has a sweet tooth.

Giant George, meanwhile, scarfs down 110 pounds of dog food each month - the equivalent of 30 Nathan's hot dogs a day.

"He would eat twice that if we let him," said owner David Nasser of Tucson, Ariz. "He's great, very playful with tons of energy."

George sleeps on a queen-sized mattress at the end of the Nassers' bed and took up three bulkhead seats on the plane to New York.

Nasser and his wife, Christie, have a 1-year-old daughter and don't worry about letting George get near her.

"He's a gentle giant, and that's the true thing about the Great Danes," he said.

BY CHRISTINA BOYLE

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale - Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

East Carondelet fire kills 13 dogs

2010-08-31T10:21:00.001-04:00

Thirteen dogs were killed here on Monday afternoon when a fire destroyed a small home, authorities said.

Rhonda Tutor, the owner of the home, said she raised the dogs — 12 miniature pinschers and one pit bull — because she couldn’t have children.

“I have no babies, I just want my babies,” Tutor said when she arrived at the scene.

Tutor said she was at work when a neighbor called and told her the one-story wood-frame house was on fire.

T.J. Hagedorn, the assistant chief of the Prairie Du Pont Fire Department, said the fire started just after 2 p.m.

He said it took about 30 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the flames.

Hagedorn said fire officials were trying to determine how the fire began.

The home is in the 600 block of Chartrand Road, near East Carondelet, in St. Clair County. Tutor and her husband lived at the home with the dogs, several stray cats and a turtle. The fate of other animals was uncertain.

Tutor, 43, said most of the dogs were in kennels inside the one-story home when the blaze began. Two of the dogs — Dirty, a pit bull, and Zeus, an older miniature pinscher — were loose in the house, Tutor said.

“They couldn’t escape, they were trapped,” Tutor said.

The dogs ranged in age from puppies to upwards of 12 years old.

Tutor said she was a dog breeder but gave it up because she had a hard time saying goodbye to the dogs.

BY NICHOLAS J.C. PISTOR

The doggy lifeguards that leap from helicopters to save stranded swimmers

2010-08-25T18:26:00.002-04:00

Leaping out of helicopters into freezing water these are the incredible doggie-paddling life guards: Like canine David Hassel-woofs these fearless dogs scramble to the rescue of swimmers off the coast of Italy's popular beaches

They leap from helicopters or speeding boats, bringing aid to swimmers who get into trouble off Italy's popular beaches.

Hundreds of specially trained dogs from Italy's corps of canine lifeguards are deployed each summer to help swimmers in need of rescue.

In the same way that a helpful St.Bernard might rescue an Alpine hiker in distress these 'sea dogs' are saving the lives of dozens of swimmers off Italy's crowded beaches.

Instead of a reviving cask of brandy the 'lifedogs' tow a buoy that victims can grab, or wear a distinctive red 'Baywatch' harness connected to a raft the swimmer can ride back to shore.

Unlike their human counterparts, the dogs can easily jump from moving helicopters, boats or even jetskis to reach swimmers in trouble.

It can take up to three years for the 'rescue dogs' to reach operational status, and currently 300 dogs are fully trained for duty, said Roberto Gasbarri, who coordinates the Italian School of Canine Lifeguards programme at a centre just outside Rome in the seaside resort of Civitavecchia.

'Dogs are useful in containing the physical fatigue of the lifeguard, to increase the speed at which casualties are retrieved, to increase the security of both the casualty and of the lifeguard,' Gasbarri said.

'The dog becomes a sort of "intelligent lifebuoy". It is a buoy that goes by itself to a person in need of help, and comes back to the shore also by himself, choosing the best landing point and swimming through the safest currents.'

Of the millions that flock to Italy's golden beaches every Summer some 3,000 swimmers require rescue after getting into difficulties and the lifeguard dogs are at the forefront of the rescue effort.

Each dog works as part of a team with a human handler who is also a fully-trained lifeguard.

The Civitavecchia center is one of twelve centres around the country for a school founded more than 20 years ago in the northern Italian province of Bergamo by Ferruccio Pilenga, who piloted the scheme by training his own Newfoundland.

The school can train any breed, as long as they weigh at least 66lb, but Labradors, Newfoundlands and golden retrievers are most commonly used because of their natural swimming ability.

'Being retrievers, they set out to pick up anything we tell them, be it a human being, an object, or a fish, and they bring it back to the shore,' said lifeguard Monica Luciani. 'They do not associate it with a physical activity, but it is rather a game for them.'

Best of all, in these cash-strapped times, the only reward that these ocean-going heroes require is a pat on the head.

Or perhaps a biscuit.

Using Dogs to Sniff Out Bed Bugs

2010-08-20T14:51:00.006-04:00

Just hearing the words “bed bug” can make people itch. And news reports about retail stores and movie theaters battling the tiny, blood-sucking insects have caused some New Yorkers to panic. But the bugs can be prevented -- and a four-legged weapon is gaining popularity in the battle against the six-legged pests.
"Cassie. Cassie. Come around," says David Kendrick, a former New Jersey K9 officer. Now employed by Action Pest Control, he gives the signal for Cassie, his 2-year-old black lab mix, to get ready to hunt for bed bugs. "Park it," he says.

Kendrick's clients include stores, theaters, and residential and office buildings. None of them wanted the media tagging along with Kendrick, so we went to a bench in SoHo for a demonstration. Cassie sniffed it but she didn't sit down, which would have indicated a bed bug. When she does sit down, in homes at least, Kendrick says, "We'll completely strip the bed, take the pillows off, suitcases, the covers, we'll check all around the seams of a mattresses. One of the places they hide is under the seam. If you take the seam of a mattress and flipped it up you'll find them there. You could find them in the back of a headboard." And in the box springs.

Kendrick says the bugs like warm, dark places where they can feast on people. So they're not likely to be riding subways or sitting on park benches unless they're stuck on a bag or a shoe. That's how they wind up in retail stores and movie theaters.

Kendrick's company claims to have doubled its revenues since creating a bed bug unit in 2007. The company owns three dogs that were specially trained in Florida, and a fourth is arriving this week. Kendrick uses a flashlight or magnifying glass to make sure the dogs really have found the tiny, brownish black pests.

"These dogs are so sensitive they can smell a single egg," he says. "They can smell a single bug. They can be hidden someplace where we can't actually see them. So we have to rely a lot basically on what the dog's indicating to us."

He says bed bugs are found in about 60 percent of the places he's called to inspect. It can cost hundreds of dollars an hour to bring in a dog. And if bugs are found, it can be hundreds more to exterminate them with chemicals and steam. But Kendrick says the dogs are worth it to narrow the scope of treatment.

Nobody really knows why bed bugs spread here and nationally in the 1990s. But entomologists and people in the pest control field believe they're here to stay.

"Bed bugs have been hitch-hiking on human beings ever since the beginning of history. This is what they do," says Richard Cooper. He runs a resource called BedBug Central and serves on the New York City Bed Bug Advisory board, which issued a report this summer recommending greater outreach and education. Cooper says New Yorkers shouldn't panic and throw out their upholstery. But they should take precautions, like encasing their mattresses and boxsprings. And if you bring in a pest control company, Cooper -- who runs one of his own -- says there are things to watch:

"One, are they confirming the problem? Two, the kind of preparations that they're giving you, are they situation specific, in other words, are they asking you to bag every single item that you own? A lot of pest control companies do."

And he says that shouldn't be necessary unless an apartment is completely infested. Cooper also cautions that companies should have multiple tools beyond chemicals, such as dogs, steam, vacuums and instant freezing.

He and other experts say if people had been more vigilant and had the city done more outreach years ago, the epidemic might not have spread so thoroughly. But now that it has, bed bugs -- like cockroaches -- are part of the urban landscape. And if you're still worried about movie theaters, well, Cooper says don't bring a lot of belongings because that could make it easier for any stray bugs to follow you home.

By Beth Fertig

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Paralyzed dog reaches summit of Mount Washington

2010-08-20T14:30:00.004-04:00

What's special about Lucy climbing a mountain this week? Dogs go hiking with their owners everyday. But Lucy isn't just any dog. She's got an awesome spirit. She was left to die on the roadside in Puerto Rico several years ago and was paralyzed in her hind quarters. She lived in a shelter in Puerto Rico for 2 years. Courtney Dunning, a nurse at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire, saw her on the internet and decided she wanted her. Lucy was flown to her and eventually outfitted with a special walker from Handicapped Pets. Wednesday, they reached the 6,288 foot summit. Lucy, 4, is the first physically challenged dog to make the trek. She went with Dunning by walking the auto road in Pinkham Notch, N.H., and was accompanied by four other people and Topper, Lucy's canine companion, also rescued from Puerto Rico. The 7.6 mile journey started at 5:28 a.m. and took just over six hours. It's the highest peak in the Northeast.

"She's such a go-getter," Dunning told the Union Leader. "Nothing stops her, she'll try anything. She goes up steps, she jumps off steps. She goes for walks, she goes for runs. Even at a full-out sprint, she far outdoes me."

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Why city folks treat dogs as their kids

2010-08-17T17:41:00.003-04:00

A researcher at Indiana University South Bend found that city people tend to treat animals as their children, especially if the animal is a dog.
"If you have kids, you have less time to spend with your pets. That's part of it, but not the whole story. People who think of their pets as their children often re-evaluate this thought when they have human children of their own," said David Blouin.

Blouin's study found that 93 percent of dog owners and 77 percent of cat owners took their pets to the veterinarian at least one time a year.

Some admitted that they spent significant sums of money on their pet's health, addressing routine care, such as vaccinations, as well more serious conditions such as skin allergies, Crohn's disease and diabetes.

The frequency of interactions owners had with their pets, as well as how often they took them to the veterinarian, were closely tied to how owners viewed their pets -- whether as a child, a companion, or just another, albeit, useful animal, said Blouin.

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Coyote attacks, kills pet dog in Sussex County

2010-08-17T17:21:00.001-04:00

A coyote attacked and killed a small dog early today while the dog was out for an early-morning walk with his owner in a park in Sussex County, police said.

The dog owner, a 22-year-old Sparta man who was not identified by police, was out for a walk with his dog at 8:30 a.m. when the unleashed dog ran about 100 yards ahead of the man on a hiking trail in Sparta Glen Park, police said.

The dog’s owner then heard the sound of animals fighting and ran toward the sound of the commotion to check on his 3-year-old Miniature Pinscher, which weighed approximately 20 pounds, police said.

When he arrived at the bloody scene, the man saw a large coyote standing over the dog, which suffered serious wounds to its abdomen, police said. The dog died several minutes later.

“He’s (the dog owner) is just heartbroken over the whole thing,” said Sparta police Sgt. John-Paul Beebe, adding the coyote fled when the dog owner reached the scene.

Beebe said the man, who took daily walks with his dog at the approximate 90-acre, heavily wooded park located off Glen Road on the side of Sparta Mountain, described the coyote to police following the attack.

“There’s no doubt about it,” he said.

Beebe said it was the first coyote-dog attack in Sparta that he was aware of.

“This was the first attack, but they’re out there. We have a large population of bears and coyotes,” he said.

Coyotes resemble German shepherd dogs and have various colors, including blond, red and black, according to staff members at the state Division of Fish & Game.

Eastern Coyotes, the type of coyote involved in the attack, weigh on average about 40 pounds and are found in all of the state’s 21 counties, said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. They are larger than their Western counterparts and some have been found to weigh as much as 60 pounds.

While they generally do not attack people, one or two of the renegade coyotes tried to drag off two children in separate incidents in Monmouth County in 2007, which state wildlife officials described as the first known predatory attacks by the canines.

“With coyotes, you’re dealing with a perception issue. A coyote attack on people is extremely rare,” said Hajna.

Wildlife officials have estimated there are between 3,000 and 5,000 coyotes in the state. Hajna said there are no scientific studies to determine a more accurate count.

There are both hunting and trapping seasons for coyotes in the fall and winter, he said.

Beebe, a dog owner himself, advised dog owners not to allow their animals to roam without a leash.

“We all have to be mindful of the fact that there are bears and coyotes that live in our community. Small dogs and cats can be considered prey items to these animals. So please keep your pets leashed when not on your own property,” he said.

Dog owners in Sparta face a $250 first-time fine for allowing their pets to roam without a license, said Beebe.

Sparta is heeding the advise of the Division of Fish & Wildlife and will not close the park because of the incident, he said.

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

O, when the dogs go marching in!

2010-08-17T17:04:00.002-04:00

You can imagine all your own jokes about dogs going to church, and members of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles have heard every one of them 100 times since they began regular weekly worship services with their pets nearly a year ago.

“I have to admit, even I call it the Doggie Church sometimes,” said the Rev. Tom Eggebeen, a Michigan transplant to Los Angeles three years ago.

He has seen the biggest growth in his aging and previously shrinking congregation by launching this weekly, Sunday-afternoon service at which parishioners can bring along their four-legged best friends.

“We asked a focus group of cats if we should include them and they all agreed the dogs need church more than they do,” joked Eggebeen, laughing then apologizing. “Sorry. You can imagine that I needed to develop quite a few lines like that to get people to lighten up and open up to this concept.

“Here’s the simple truth: Where there is love, there is God. For many people, especially people living alone, their dogs are their best friends, really essential companions in their lives. And we always emphasize: We’re not worshiping dogs. We’re worshiping God. But in this worship service, we welcome the whole family, including our four-legged family members.”

On Sunday afternoon, Eggebeen showed up just after 4 p.m. to arrange seating for up to 30 humans and their pets at the 5 p.m. service. He spread out chairs and fluffy white dog pads, using the chapel’s space lengthwise to face a side altar. The arrangement places him just an arm’s reach away from the long front row in this casual service. Occasionally, he pets someone’s dog himself. During the offering, ushers pass both a collection plate that the humans fill and a basket of dog treats that the canines empty.

“My dogs are my best friends,” said Ryan Gerardveal, who visited the canine service for the first time on Sunday with his friend Ryan LaRochelle to see how it all unfolds at Covenant.

Gerardveal said he was skeptical about this whole idea, so brought neither of his dogs, a Pomeranian and a pit bull. But, on Sunday, he said he was impressed to see LaRochelle take a seat in the front row and cradle his Chihuahua-terrier, Lilliana, on his lap throughout the service. The little dog seemed to enjoy the experience and Gerardveal left convinced that he should return with one of his own four-legged friends on a future Sunday.

By DAVID CRUMM AND BENJAMIN CRUMM

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Welcome to Dogs Site: Official Google Blog: Introduction to Google Ranking

2010-08-13T19:23:00.000-04:00

http://www.e-dogsite.com

Official Google Blog: Introduction to Google Ranking

2010-08-13T19:22:00.000-04:00

Official Google Blog: Introduction to Google Ranking

Dogs help improve kids reading skills

2010-08-12T18:47:00.003-04:00

These dogs really had a lot to bark about when it came to getting kids into reading.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library has been running its ongoing summer "PAWS for Reading" program. The popular program is a successful reading initiative that brings together dogs and kids in a literary fashion.

"PAWS for Reading is a program where children read aloud to therapy dogs in order to improve their reading and communication skills," said Anne Marie Shapiola, children's librarian. "Children read individually to trained therapy dogs, accompanied by their handlers, in schools, libraries, or other settings where they can feel comfortable and confident. A dog will not correct them or make them feel awkward if they stumble and the idea is to instill confidence in them as readers. Hopefully, it will get the children to go home and read to their own pets if they own any, or inspire them to just read more."

Ready to take part as good listeners for an afternoon's reading session at the library were Riley, a 2-year-old Labradoodle owned by Ilene Handal, and Maggie, a 3-year-old Newfoundland, owned by Gary Link. Also on hand were a couple of black Labrador Retrievers named Shadow, a 2-year-old owned by Frankie Andriani and another named Jozy, an 8-year-old owned by Craig and Paulette Gonzalez.

Dog owners who want their dogs to become certified as therapy animals must have their dogs pass through a series of training sessions from local certified therapy training facilities, such as Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs Inc., based in Morris Plains. There are also advanced level training courses, such as the PAWS for reading basic training.

"It's very rewarding to see my dog Riley become such an integral part of helping a child gain the confidence and desire to read more," said Handal.

The "PAWS for Reading" program is affiliated with the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program, which began in the Salt Lake City Library in November 1999.

"We have been a therapy group since 1993," said Kathy Klotz, executive director for the R.E.A.D program, a non-profit organization, based in Utah. "We bring dogs to hospitals and care centers with patients of all ages and conditions. It proved to be very beneficial and that's when we thought we should transfer those benefits to children who are struggling with reading."

According to Klotz, a pilot program was started at the Salt Lake City Library. It was held for four Saturdays in a row and became very successful. In January 2000, the program was held at a nearby elementary school to visit with the same kids that were struggling with reading week after week. Over one school year, the children's reading level actually went up from one to two grade levels.

"Kids lined up to register for appointments," added Klotz. "It became such a runaway hit that we ended as a front page article in the Wall Street Journal. The children who read to the animals get away from peer pressure and have non-judgmental listeners and that makes a world of difference."

According to recent reports, 68 percent of American school children are not reading at their level when they reach fourth grade.

"This is the age where children need to be reading to learn as opposed to learning to read and we feel this program really turns things around for them. We're glad to see how the program has spun off and is now being held in many different towns and cities all over the country."

BY TINA PAPPAS

Women share darkest secrets with their dogs

2010-08-12T17:30:00.000-04:00

Dogs may be considered man's best friend, but it is actually women who are closer to their pets and some even admit telling their dogs their darkest secrets, a survey has revealed.

The survey for dog food company Winalot showed that nearly one in five women respondents told those secrets that they wouldn't dare reveal to anyone else, Daily Express reported Thursday.

Some women share a strong bond with their pet and 14 per cent of the respondents believed their dog could read their mind.

In contrast, barely 10 per cent of men were open with their dogs. Most described their pet as a "trusted companion".

Almost a third of dog owners described their as their "most loyal partner" and half of the respondents said that their pets make them feel "more optimistic".

Woman disputes Md. sheriff's department's account of shooting of family dog

2010-08-10T13:35:00.001-04:00

A Forest Heights woman disputed the official account of the incident in which her dog was shot to death Friday by Prince George's County sheriff's deputies who had gone to her home to serve an eviction notice.

In a statement, the sheriff's department said that deputies knocked on the front and back doors of the home and made a commotion, but they received no response indicating that a dog was present.

But Donya Williams, 38, said Monday that her 21/2- year-old Rottweiler, Kato, barked whenever anyone knocked on the door or walked by outside. "I don't believe they" knocked, Williams said at a news conference outside the Prince George's courthouse in Upper Marlboro. "He would have barked."

Williams said Kato would be alive if deputies had waited for county animal control officials.

According to the sheriff's department statement, the deputies had called animal control officers to restrain the dog. They had been told by the landlord that the dog was kept in a crate in a basement, the statement said. But the officers, apparently thinking the dog was not in the home, did not wait for animal control officers.

As the deputies went through the home, the Rottweiler "charged them from an unknown location. Due to being in a confined space, with no place to retreat, the deputy discharged his firearm to protect himself and his partner from serious bodily harm," the statement said.

Asked to respond to Williams's claim that the deputies had failed to knock before entering the home, spokeswoman Sgt. Yakeisha Hines said, "That's her opinion."

Hines said that the deputies had been trained how to enter a home where a dog might be present and that she was confident they knocked before entering.

She said it would not have mattered if the deputies had waited for animal control officials, because the deputies would have entered first. Deputies search homes to make sure they are safe before allowing civilians inside, Hines said.

The deputy who shot the dog is on administrative leave with pay while the sheriff's department investigates the incident, she said.

The sheriff's department was criticized two years ago after members of its SWAT unit stormed the home of the Berwyn Heights mayor and fatally shot his two black Labradors during a botched drug raid.

Authorities said Mayor Cheye Calvo's home was raided because a package of marijuana had been delivered there. Authorities later acknowledged that the mayor and his wife had nothing to do with the delivery and were not involved in drug trafficking.

An internal investigation by the sheriff's department found no wrongdoing by the deputies who killed Calvo's dogs.

Williams, an executive assistant for a national association in the District, said she was hospitalized for post-traumatic stress for two days after the shooting. She said she had spoken with Sheriff Michael A. Jackson.

Williams said Jackson told her that he was sorry but that his deputies did what they had to.

"He's already told me he believes they did the right thing" before the investigation is complete, Williams said.

Jackson did not respond to a call seeking comment.

By Ruben Castaneda

Dog Saves Man's Life by Biting Off Toe: Jerry Douthett Has Best Hangover Ever

2010-08-05T17:39:00.002-04:00

A Michigan man says he has his dog to thank for saving his life by chewing off his infected big toe as he lay in a drunken stupor.

For months, Jerry Douthett had refused to see a doctor for the festering digit, in spite of his wife's pleas and her suspicion that he had out of control diabetes.

About two weeks ago the couple went to a bar, where Douthett told the Grand Rapids Press that he drank four or five beers.

"Jerry had had all these Margaritas, so I just let him sleep," his wife Rosee, a registered nurse, told the paper. "But then I heard these screams coming from the bedroom, and he was yelling, 'My toe's gone, my toe's gone!'"

Kiko, the family dog, had suddenly become a surgeon.

"It wasn't an aggressive attack. He pretty much just ate the infection, so he saved my life," Jerry Douthett said.

He was treated at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids where physicians said he had type 2 diabetes and was suffering from a dangerous toe infection. Surgeons amputated what was left of the digit.

"Maybe he thought it was not part of Jerry's body," Rosie told the Grand Rapids television station WOOD-TV, "that it was a dead animal laying on the bed. But he chewed off the infected part so he knew when to stop, which was great."

Jerry Douthett says Kiko, a white terrier with brown ears, is a hero. Now that he knows he is diabetic, he has given up drinking.

By Aina Hunter

The story of a loving couple and their pet dog

2010-08-02T19:00:00.001-04:00

That day Jenny was looking really delighted! Jenny is one of my close friends since my high school days. We, her friends, had gone for a lunch on that day in her house. When I raised the question her about the issue, she told me that she has merely come out of a big dilemma which she had no plan how to approach.

Robert, Jenny's husband had gifted a Coton de Tulear breed to her very recently on her birthday. But the dog seemed to like barking all the time; that can stop their hearts. They adore the pet and the breed gradually became the love of their lives, but that screaming bark every time anything moved outside their house was pushing their limits. . They did not need a completely silent dog, but they could not take that high pitched screaming also!

Then she met a lady in their neighborhood who also had a Coton who was as noisy as their dog was used to be; maybe even worse! But from the last few weeks, she had noticed that her neighbor's dog was no longer barking when Jenny or Robert walked by their home. Jenny asked the lady about the matter and she told her that she purchased the Bark Control Collar for her pet and it had changed her life- and truly it changed the life of everyone who used to walk by their home everyday.

Jenny discussed about bark collar with Robert. Firstly, he discouraged her but after a few days of no barking from the neighboring Coton; they were convinced that they should give it a try.

Then they had gone through the net to look for the best bark collar that might be suitable for their puppy. After searching through the net for bark collars, they summarized some categories of barking dog collars available in the market:

1.Petsafe bark collar,

2.Ultrasonic bark collar,

3.Innnotek bark collar,

4.Dog spray collar,

5.Small dog bark collar,

6.Multivet bark collar.

They analyzed even more deeply so that they could purchase the best no bark collar. Ultimately they settled down for Petsafe PDT00-10603 Yard-and-Park Remote Trainer because this simple to use, waterproof, adjustable, innovative shock collar can produce electrical stimulation up to a range of 400 yards and Petsafe likes to be one of the top manufacturers of pet training products. This model, they thought, would be the most capable solution for their pet's barking problem. So they purchased it online.

They were so happy seeing that the collar actually does a splendid job as they were reviewed in the net. This bark control collar has solved the pet's barking problem and their neighbors were mighty happy too! Knowing the reason of Jenny's joyousness, we also feel very glad for them and their pet.

By Linda Ray

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Killing 200,000 Dogs Doesn't Halt Rabies in Bali

2010-08-02T15:18:00.004-04:00

Officials have not been able to stop persistent outbreaks of rabies on the Indonesian Island of Bali.

Since the rabies outbreak was first announced in late 2008, there have been 78 reported deaths on the island - one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Many other deaths have likely gone unreported.

Now stocks of an anti-rabies vaccine for humans are low and could run out.

Hospitals across Bali have faced periodic shortages of free post-exposure vaccines, leaving poor residents with few options.

Government officials told the Jakarta Post that six of Bali's eight regencies - Karangasem, Tabanan, Bangli, Jembrana, Klungkung and Buleleng - had no supplies of anti-rabies vaccines. There was concern that poor patients would not be able to travel to obtain anti-rabies shots.

Animal organizations like the Australia-based Bali Street Dog Fund have vaccinated thousands of dogs in Bali, but health officials have also engaged in widespread campaigns to cull stray canines.

In a highly-criticized move, officials have killed about 200,000 dogs since the outbreak began, instead of initially conducting mass vaccinations as recommended by the World Health Organization.

According to Vets Beyond Borders, indiscriminate culling of animals is ineffective at controlling the disease.

Rabies kills some 55,000 people annually - mostly children - with nearly 60 percent of those deaths from dog bites in Asia.

Bali was once considered rabies-free.

Several countries, including the United States, have issued travel warnings advising vacationers to consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Dogs 'mimic movements of owners'

2010-07-28T18:32:00.004-04:00

Dogs "automatically imitate" the body movements of their owners, according to a study.

This automatic imitation is a crucial part of social learning in humans. But Austrian researchers report that the phenomenon - where the sight of another's body movement causes the observer to move in the same way - is evident in many other animals. They say that it reveals clues about how this type of learning evolved.

The study, which was led by Dr Friederike Range from the University of Vienna in Austria, also suggests that the way in which people interact with and play with their dogs as they are growing up shapes their ability to imitate. "It's not a spontaneous thing," said Dr Range. "The dogs needed a lot of training to learn it." She and her colleagues investigated this imitation with a series of trials using a simple door-opening test. The team built a box with a sliding door on the front that could be opened with a knob. The owners demonstrated how to open the door by using either their hand or their mouth. "When the owners used the hand, the dog had to open the door with its paw to get a reward," Dr Range said. When the owner opened the door with their mouth, the dog had to use the same technique.

Dr Range explained to BBC News: "A second group of dogs had to learn the alternative method - if the owner used their hand, they had to use their mouth, and when the owner used their mouth, they had to use the paw."

'Mirror neurons'

The study suggests that the capacity to imitate is forged as a dog learns.The dogs that had to imitate the same action as their owner learned their task far more quickly. This showed that the dogs had a predisposition to imitate their owners' hand/paw and mouth/muzzle movements. She noted that, because dogs have a very different body shapes to people, they also had to interpret what they saw.

"This type of learning has obvious evolutionary advantages for animals," Dr Range said. "They can learn about certain aspects of life without having to learn by trial and error, which always comes with some risk."

The new evidence supports a theory of learning which suggests that a system of "mirror neurons" and the capacity to imitate are forged as an animal learns and develops, rather than this system being inborn.

By Victoria Gill

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Train Your Dog like a Hollywood Star Pet

2010-07-28T18:02:00.003-04:00

When you were watching that film last night, you'll have seen a stumpy Tail Cattle Dog or an achtelhund or a tiny Siberian Husky. The question that you thought about is - 'Is my Pumi ready to be in the movies? ' Ok, your veterinarian tells you that your pooch is just the best dog they have ever seen. This dog even can tell how and when to rob for camera shots, a regular scene steeler with a personality that would have given Lassie a good run for her cash.

Ok, but you have got to think about this. If you want your dog to become the next star canine in a real Hollywood flick, your pooch can't just like cameras. Your dog will need to be well trained and know, not just the basics, but 1 or 2 great tricks for the auditions.

The majority of the scenes you see dogs doing on the big-screen look so neat because Hollywood has a way of putting the dog's tricks in the best light and making the shots work. They combine them as a collection of tricks into a final production that works for a particular scene very well.

It's the basics that are going to affect the casting director. There are lots of enterprises that offer the schooling important to teach your puppy the skills that are required by canine actors.

Almost all of what dogs do in the movies are straightforward tricks. The majority of the common or garden tricks the dogs must do on cue are bow, wave, crawl, hide your eyes, find it, play dead, speak on cue, sneeze, back up, roll over, touch the target, turn out the light and whine.

Having your dog learn all of the abilities could be the easy part of training for the movies. The hard one for lots of dogs to adapt themselves to is working with strangers all around and a large amount of diversions. Also, mostly, your dog will have to obey the set's dog coach, not you. These are some real Problems for some dogs and their owners.

If you can teach your dog all of the tricks, but also the Hollywood basics of working with strangers on TV sets without losing their cool, you might just have a dog like Sure Grip's Rattler, the american Bulldog that played the task of Chance in Homeward Bound : The Incredible Journey.

Alright, so your baby dog is willing and able to go to the movies. What do you do now? The thing that may make your dog stand out is to form a compelling portfolio for your dog. All of the latest photographs, his list of abilities and tricks, coaching and with a little luck some great videos of your dog doing some of his best tricks.

Plenty of the training colleges for TV dogs will show exactly how to get your dog into the industry. Don't forget there is a lot of ad work and commercial work for your expectant mongrel to shoot for also.

Now for the last detail. Your dog loves you a lot ( hopefully, the feeling is mutual ). If your dog does not enjoy acting and doesn't want to be a Hollywood star, your dog will tell you about it. Listen to your pal and keep things fun for her.

By Charles White

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

How to handle pets in parks continues to dog city commission

2010-07-27T18:57:00.001-04:00

Mayor Kenneth Bradley urged city commissioners Monday to finally "let a sleeping dog lie."

But just when it seemed as though the matter of dogs in city parks had been settled, commissioners agreed to revisit it again at their Aug. 9 meeting.

The issue has been tossed around for a couple of years. An ordinance voted down 3-2 Monday night would have banned dogs from Mead Garden, Kraft Azalea Garden and Dinky Dock Park.

The city's parks and recreation commission recommended the changes, which were proposed in October. Blair Culpepper, committee chairman, said the advisory committee was trying to protect the environment in the parks.

"We just felt like there were too many dog violations," Culpepper said.

But dog lover Joseph Brock, a board member and legal adviser to Friends of Fleet Peeple's Park, praised the commission's vote. And resident Rosan Calabello said she thinks environmental concerns — notably raised by Commissioner Beth Dillaha — were overblown.

"I think her argument is very wrong in cause and effect," said Calabello, who lives across the street from Mead Garden.

The decision appeared to be final, but then Commissioner Tom McMacken suggested considering an idea by city staffers. It would prohibit animals from streets next to Central Park when they are closed as part of a special park event.

The current ordinance specifies that dogs can't be on streets, rights of way or sidewalks next to Central Park that are closed to vehicular traffic during special events.

"At what point do we give this up and talk about something else?" Bradley responded.

Not immediately, it seems. Dillaha also said she remains concerned about the damage dogs could do to wildlife.

"Maybe there is a solution that is a win-win," she said.

By Susan Jacobson

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Tips on teaching your dog to swim

2010-07-26T19:30:00.010-04:00

Swimming may seem natural for dogs, and most love it, but even natural-born swimmers need to be trained. You and your dog can make the most of the summer heat with a few pool safety tips. The American Kennel Club Canine Partners Program offers the following advice for properly teaching Fido to swim and keeping him safe around the pool.

Building confidence in your dog around the pool is important. Not all breeds are natural swimmers, and even those tend to be afraid the first time they enter the water. Be sure to take it slowly in shallow water and praise your dog every step of the way.

Learning the dog paddle. If your dog begins to dog-paddle with his front legs only, lift his hind legs to help him float. He should quickly catch on and will then keep his back end up.

Don't overdo it. Swimming is great exercise for your dog, but don't let him overdo it. As with any workout, swim time should be increased in small increments. He will be using new muscles and may tire quickly.
Exiting the pool can cause your dog to panic. Dogs are not used to using the human stairs or ladder, and will need to be taught how to use them.

Spray your pup down quickly with the hose after he gets out of the pool. This will rinse off the chemicals from the pool water.

Take care of the ears. Dab Fido's ears with a dry towel or use a blow dryer to get rid of excess moisture. Most infections in dogs with floppy ears are caused by too much water and dampness.

Never leave your dog unsupervised while in the pool! They may need your help and be unable to bark to grab your attention.

By McClatchy

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Dog Awakens Sleeping Homeowner After House Catches Fire

2010-07-26T18:52:00.001-04:00

A dog is credited with waking its owner up during a house fire in Francestown early Sunday morning.

Flames broke out around 2 a.m. Sunday at the home on Poor Farm Road.

Officials said one of the homeowner's dogs woke him up by barking. When the owner went downstairs to investigate, he saw the rear room of the house on fire.

The man was able to get his two dogs and one cat out of the home safely and call 911.

Firefighters fought heavy flames shooting out three windows.

There was heavy fire and smoke damage in most of the home, firefighters said.

Officials said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

How To Choose A Name For Your Dog

2010-07-21T19:17:00.001-04:00

When you bring home a new puppy or well-deserving older dog, you need to give him a name as soon as possible. Dogs are smart and learn quickly as to who's who, and his own name gives him a special place of dignity in the home. Choosing a name for you pooch is an individual journey, but many dog owners prefer to select names that are meaningful to themselves.

When mulling over your collection of potential names, remember that a new puppy has a simplistic mind and can relate to a one or two syllable name much easier that a complicated title. You need not settle for Spot or Rover, but over indulgent names may take your dog longer to learn his identity and may very well embarrass you one day when the dog's name is called at the vet's office. Although your bulldog may look like a "Sir Nottingham of Ghent", he shall surely thank you for something a little more simple. Find a name that suits your dog's face and personality without going over the edge and he will learn quickly who he is. In addition, for rapid recognition, be sure to use his name whenever you call him and associate the name with only positive activities such as food and play time, never a scolding.

If you have multiple dogs, especially those of the same age, you may wish to rotate your usage of vowels and consents to avoid a sound so similar that the names are confusing. King and Bing may sound cute for your canine Bobsy Twins, but the animals may find it difficult to distinguish their own names. Each dog should have his own name of distinction with no room for error or confusion with another animal.

When choosing a name for your dog, you may wish to list all the possibilities drawn from your favorite things in life. Like classical music? Mozart and Chopin take the top of the list. Be creative and select a name that has meaning and emotion for you. This little dog is going to be your constant companion for years to come and he deserves a name worthy of his friendship.

By Joe Cline

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Dog hotel celebrates expansion with pet blessing

2010-07-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

Marketing data shows Americans spend billions annually on their pets and much of that is pampering beyond the basics of food and veterinary care. It's why dog kenneling alternatives like the Rose Cottage Dog Hotel in Greenwood are cropping up in communities both large and small.

Saturday the canine hotel, located on 27 acres just south of Interstate 20 on U.S. Highway 79, celebrated the opening of its new 7,500-square-foot dog pavilion with a pet blessing and ribbon-cutting.

"We had a great turnout," said owner Karen Buckley.
As host of dog owners showed up with their animals for the free blessings conducted by Buckley's husband, Gil Loe, who holds a doctorate in theology and psychology. Loe offered a prayer for pets and their owners.

"Man needed a companion other than other humans, a companion that would run, fetch, cuddle and for some even purr," Loe said.

Buckley, who hails from England, said she started the business because she is an animal lover with four dogs, an exotic bird, three horses and five cats. Her well-appointed dog hotel lodgings have names like the Exmoor Lodge, Quantocks View and The Day Lily. All rooms at Rose Cottage have tile floors with a doggy door and individual fenced-in play areas.

"I wanted to provide the extras for animals while their owners were boarding them," she said. "I wanted it to be the kind of place I would want to leave my animals."

Rose Cottage has 32-rooms, air-conditioned kennels, fenced playtime pastures, even movies in the Barkinham Palace living room. There also is a tiki bar for dogs to unwind and have a drink by the pool, filtered water, and individual hotel-like rooms with accoutrements such as couches and beds, music, indirect lighting and isolation panels. If that's not enough, Rose Cottage also has massages, a dog groomer and even a taxi service where they will pick up and drop off dogs.

"We provide all these things because to most people, their dogs are family," Buckley said.

At the free event donations also were taken for local Andy Shaw who helps stray animals with his own funds. Buckley said there will be more events that will include opportunities for animal adoption programs in Shreveport-Bossier City.

"We raised about $200," Loe said.

The event also showcased the new covered pavilion which will allow dogs to play outside in wet or hot weather.

BY JANE BOKUN

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs

Second arrest made in dog cruelty case

2010-07-17T16:36:00.001-04:00

A second Buffalo resident was arrested Friday after an investigation of animal cruelty prompted when three dogs … one of which had died … were discovered Thursday tied up and in grave condition from the summer heat, SPCA officials said.

Thadeus Garner called authorities Thursday to his home at 135 Walden Ave. to put his animals up for adoption. He was arrested the same day and has been arraigned on charges of animal cruelty.

Officers returned Friday for two puppies spotted at the residence Thursday.

Melissa Smith, who also has ownership of the animals and resides at 135 Walden, was arrested Friday and faces the same charges.

"When we arrived, those two puppies were there," said Beth Shapiro, deputy director of the SPCA serving Erie County. "So, we took them into protective custody based on what happened yesterday. Grooming wise, they smelled of urine and feces, and they were very warm."

The puppies, believed to be three to four months old, are being evaluated by veterinarians, along with two of the adult dogs retrieved Thursday.

Authorities received Garner's call at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday and three officers were on the scene an hour later.

"When we arrived, the third dog was still alive and in tremendous distress," said Barbara Carr, SPCA executive director. "My staff tried to help this dog and it died in their arms."

The temperature of the third dog exceeded 110 degrees, which is the highest possible reading on a veterinarian's thermometer, after it had been in an air-conditioned van for 30 minutes. The other two dogs' temperatures were 103.5 and 103.3 degrees; one was extremely emaciated and both were dehydrated.

All of the adult dogs were between two and three years old.

A Tonawanda last week was charged with two counts of animal cruelty after her dogs were found dead in her backyard because of the heat.

Carr said harm to animals frequently occurs when dogs are left unattended and without shelter, often tied up, in the extreme heat or cold. Mostly, she said it is because of carelessness.

"People don't understand that dogs can't sweat," she said.

Smith is to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday July 21 in Buffalo City Court.

By Jackie Smith

Dogs for Sale | Puppies for sale- Find Breeder Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Dogs