My Doggy Tails

Newfoundland Puppy in the House?

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:12:52 PST

Newfoundland Puppy

I am seriously considering purchasing a beautiful big ball of fur and fluff. I seem to have become quite smitten with the Newfoundland breed of dog!

The only problem is convincing my hubby that this would be a good addition to the family. The large size is rather daunting to any prospective dog parent. We are asking a lot of questions: Will he eat us out of house and home? Funny, this is the exact same question I keep asking about the the four children/young adults that make up our happy home.

Newfoundland dogs are instinctive rescue and life saving dogs and are also great with children. They are natural caretakers.

I welcome any comments/suggestions from anyone who has a Newfoundland dog.

My Doggy Tails is Taking a Nap Now!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cry Baby Blog) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:16:24 PDT

Thank-you for your support!

Woofstock 2012: North America's Largest Outdoor Festival for Dogs and their Owners

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:53:23 PDT

Woofstock, North America's largest outdoor festival for dogs and their two-footed companions, takes place this weekend - June 9 & 10 in Toronto, Canada. It is a free admission, non-stop party that takes place at the historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, home to the world-famous food market as well as the dog-friendly Sunday antique market. Front Street will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the events to look forward to are Purina Pro Plan Dog Stars timed agility competition, over the rainbow search for Toto, Woofstock fashion show, best costume contest and of course, stupid dog tricks!

Last year, an estimated 200,000 dog lovers and their prized pooches came to the festival to shop 'til they dropped!

Woofstock launched as a weekend outdoor summer festival in 2003 in Toronto's artsy Distillery District. They quickly outgrew their roots in this hip historic setting so they moved the festivities to the bustling St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood. It will take place all the way to Yonge St. and up and down the adjoining side streets and parks with their coffee houses, restaurants and pubs. There will be dog friendly patios.

Mydoggytails will be there taking pictures and enjoying all the event has to offer.

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Video: Dog Sits on Roof While Owner Works

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:02:14 PDT

Axel the Newfoundland-Labrador from North Walsham, Norfolk, England enjoys going to work with his owner.

Axel has some help climbing up the ladder to the roof. Once he arrives at the top he lays down and enjoys the view while everyone else around him is hard at work.

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Video: Hip Dog Loves to Groove to the Music!

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:27:22 PDT

This awesome and hip French Bulldog loves to groove to the music!

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Video: Dog Can Jump Rope Doing the Double Dutch!

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:01:57 PDT

Watch this amazing dog jump rope doing the double dutch!

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Video: George the World's Largest Dog

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:07:08 PDT

Giant George weighs in at over 245 pounds and is almost 100 pounds bigger than other Great Danes. This sweet gentle giant is in the Guinness Book of World's Records as the biggest dog. He even sleeps on a queen size mattress!

His owner, Dave Nasser, has written a book because George can't write. It will be out soon and will most likely catapult George into the spotlight. The book, appropriately titled, "Giant George: Life With the World's Biggest Dog" pretty much says it all. Is living with George like living with a real-life Clifford, the Big Red Dog? How fun is it living with a dog the size of a small horse in your home?

Check out Giant George's website here.

Have a look at this rather large dog in the video below:

video platform video management video solutions video player

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Bull Dog Puppies Abandoned in Suitcase

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:00:09 PDT

Photo credit: Yahoo

Why would someone want to lock up these sweet puppies in a suitcase and abandon them? I don't usually post these stories but I am sick and tired of cruel human beings who have no regard for animals and their well-being. As my Granny always used to say "You can judge the character of a person by the way they treat animals."

An Ohio man has been charged with animal abandonment after Humane Society authorities matched his name with a suitcase in which the six puppies had been trapped. The suitcase, allegedly belonging to Howard Davis, 53, had been left next to a garbage can in a Toledo alleyway.

The puppies were discovered after someone noticed their mother pacing around the closed suitcase.

If convicted, Davis faces a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Of course, this is just a slap on the wrist and deserves a much stiffer sentence and fine.

The three male and three female puppies will remain with their mother for the next several weeks before they are eligible for adoption.

"It's unfortunate he chose to abandon the dogs," said Humane Society's executive director John Dinon. "If he had just called us and said he couldn't care for them, we would have taken them and he wouldn't have been charged with a crime."

I know my family would be over-joyed with having a new bull dog puppy in the house! I hope each and every puppy, including the mother, go to a forever happy home.

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Video: Two Boston Terriers Showing off their Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:29:22 PDT

The Boston Terrier is a gentle breed that typically has a strong, happy-go-lucky and friendly personality.

They are generally eager to please their owner and can easily be trained given a patient owner.

Have a look at this video below of two well trained Boston Terriers having a very busy day playing together.

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Environmental Factors Can Affect the Incidence of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:36:23 PDT

Leonberger

Hip dysplasia (HD) in dogs is affected by the environment in which puppies live. In hip dysplasia the round end of the long leg bone (femur) becomes separated from the socket. The lack of a snug fit can produce arthritis and lameness. During the period from birth to three months various environmental factors appear to influence the development of this disease. Preventive measures during the puppy stage is recommended to help dogs who are disposed to the condition to help have a better quality of life.

New research conducted by Randi I. Krontveit of the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science has studied the incidence of HD in four breeds of dog in Norway and examined factors in the environment where the dogs grew up that can have an affect on the number of cases. Dogs are not born with HD, but genetically disposed puppies can develop varying degrees of HD. The degree of HD has an affect on when the dogs show symptoms and on how long they live.

Five hundred privately owned dogs participated in the study. The four breeds that took part were the Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever, the Leonberger and the Irish Wolfhound. The environment in which the dogs were born and grew up was registered by means of questionnaires filled out by the breeder and the new owner, and by examinations carried out by veterinary surgeons.

The breed that had the slowest growth rate and had the highest incidence of HD (36%) is the Newfoundland. The Irish Wolfhound had the lowest incidence of HD (10%) and had the fastest rate of growth.

Puppies usually live with their mother at the breeder's for the first eight weeks of their life. Several factors related to the living conditions at the breeder's were shown to have an influence on the incidence of HD. Puppies born in the spring or summer and at breeders who lived on a farm or small holding, had a lower risk of developing HD. After about eight weeks, the puppies began life with their new owner. The opportunity to exercise daily in parks up until the age of three months reduced the risk of HD, whereas the daily use of steps during the same period increased the risk. Overall, it would appear that daily exercise out in gently undulating terrain up until the age of three months gives a good prognosis when it comes to preventing HD.

All of the dogs in this study were monitored with questionnaires filled out by the owner until they reached 10 years of age. Dogs seriously affected by HD were put down earlier than dogs with a milder form of the disease. This was particularly the case for Newfoundlands and Leonbergers. HD did not have such a large affect on the longevity of Labrador Retrievers or Irish Wolfhounds. Serious and moderate degrees of HD increased the risk of symptoms such as limping and hip pain and these symptoms occurred earliest in Newfoundlands. The Labrador Retriever was the breed in which symptoms appeared latest in life. Varied exercise had a positive effect and dogs that exercised on a daily basis on a lead and running free in different types of terrain were free of symptoms longer than dogs that were less active.

Read more here.

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Tiny Puppy in California Could Be World's Smallest

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:04:48 PDT

A puppy named "Beyonce" could set the world's record for tiniest dog.

Animal rescuers in Northern California say the female Dachshund mix was so small at birth that she could fit into a spoon. The sweet little pup is now two weeks old and about the size of a business card.

The Grace Foundation, based in El Dorado County, says animal control picked up Beyonce's pregnant mother. She later gave birth to a litter of five puppies on March 8.

Beyonce was the last one delivered, and was born without a heartbeat. Veterinarians managed to revive her through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The foundation says she'll be ready for adoption in about two weeks.

The foundation has submitted an application to Guinness World Records for world's smallest dog.

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New Epilepsy Gene Located in Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:38:37 PDT

A new epilepsy gene in Belgian Shepherd dogs has been found. Research was conducted by Professor Hannes Lohi and his group at the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center has brought forth an understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsy. The research will also help to understand common epilepsy in humans.

The research group of Professor Hannes Lohi, working in collaboration with Danish, Swedish and American researchers, has made a major breakthrough by identifying a chromosome region associated with the most common form of epilepsy in dogs. By comparing the genome of dogs with epilepsy and healthy control dogs a gene region in chromosome 37 was discovered, which if homozygous, increases the risk of epilepsy seven-fold. In addition the research findings indicate that other, still unknown, genetic risk factors may be present in the breed.

Epilepsy genes have not previously been identified in this chromosome region. The discovery will reveal an entirely new epilepsy gene in dogs and eventually in humans. The type of epilepsy occurring in Belgian Shepherds is extremely common in other breeds. It may have an impact on the understanding of epilepsy in different dog breeds.

"There are only few genes in the identified region and I believe that the ongoing analyses will help us to discover the specific epilepsy gene," says Professor Hannes Lohi who led the research. "This would give us a better understanding of the disease mechanisms and provide us with new diagnostic tools for the disease." About two thirds of the seizures in adults are focal in nature and one third generalized. In children and teenagers the occurrence of generalized forms of epilepsy is greater (50%).

The research is published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.

Read more here.

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Photo: Golden Retriever Beach Day

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:06:16 PDT

Ahhhhh.......A beach day. My favourite place to have fun.

Submitted by AF

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Epstein Barr-Like Virus May Cause Cancer in Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:09:02 PDT

Epstein Barr Virus is best known for causing mononucleosis, or "the kissing disease," the virus has also been implicated in more serious conditions, including Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's and Burkitt's lymphoma. 90% of humans have the antibodies for EBV and little is known on how it trigger these diseases.

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine has the first evidence that an Epstein Barr-like virus can infect and may also be responsible for causing lymphomas in dogs.

It seems that dogs possess a similar biology to humans with respect to EBV infection. This could enable scientists to study dogs to help uncover the mechanisms by which EBV leads to cancer in certain people.

"There are no large-animal spontaneous models of EBV infection and virus-associated disease, and most studies investigating viral disease are performed in non-human primates, which are very expensive," said Nicola Mason, senior author of the study and an assistant professor of medicine and pathobiology at Penn Vet."Discovering that dogs can get infected with this virus like people do may provide us with a long-sought-after model for EBV-associated disease."

Dogs develop lymphomas that share some characteristics with humans. These conditions are relatively common in certain breeds. One out of every eight Golden Retrievers will develop lymphoma.

Yet, "the paradigm up until now was that EBV only infects humans," Mason said. "It is an extremely successful virus, and most people are infected. Since humans and domestic dogs have cohabited for around 15,000 years, we hypothesized that the virus may have adapted to another host. "

48 dogs of various breeds with lymphoma and 41 without the disease were tested. Samples of their blood were taken to see if the pets had antibodies against proteins specific to the EBV capsid, the protein shell of the virus.

The researchers observed that eight of the dogs with lymphoma and three of those without it had high levels of antibodies against EBV proteins, indicating that a portion of the dogs had been exposed to a virus very similar to EBV.

While the presence of antibodies confirms that a dog has been exposed to a virus, the team wanted to know whether the virus had a direct association with the tumors in dogs with lymphoma. Finding viral elements, including DNA, within lymphomas in humans is an indication that the tumor is associated with the virus, therefore Penn researchers looked to see if they could find virus in the dog tumors.

Using the polymerase chain reaction, which amplifies specific DNA sequences, the researchers analyzed lymph nodes of dogs with and without B cell lymphoma. In two dogs with lymphoma, they were able to identify a portion of DNA very similar to a sequence in EBV. They found no evidence of the same DNA in the healthy dogs.

They repeated similar tests with other stretches of EBV DNA, finding evidence of EBV-like DNA in the cancer cells of three of nine dogs with lymphoma. They also identified a virus-associated protein in the malignant lymph nodes of two of nine dogs with lymphoma.

Finally, examining cancerous B cells under an electron microscope revealed what appeared to be viral particles, similar to what what has been seen in the tumor cells of humans with EBV-linked lymphomas.

Taken together, the researchers' discoveries indicate that some dogs are naturally infected with a virus similar or identical to EBV and that, as in humans, the virus appears linked in certain cases with canine lymphomas.

That such a large percentage of humans are exposed to EBV and yet only a small fraction develop cancers indicates that there may be a genetic component to EBV-associated cancer susceptibility.

"With additional studies within certain breeds of dog," Mason said, "we hope to provide insights into genetic factors that may predispose to virus associated lymphoma. Furthermore, this spontaneous dog model may help us evaluate new treatments for EBV-related lymphomas or investigate strategies to prevent those cancers from developing in the first place."

The work with EBV was published online in the March 8 journal Virology.

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Singer Jann Arden and Dog Kicked Off Train

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:24:47 PDT

Stop the presses! VIA Rail booted Canadian singer Jann Arden and her dog off a train headed to Ottawa.

Arden is speaking out saying she wasn't aware of the policy. "People seem to think that I tried to sneak the dog on."

Arden says at least five employees saw her with the dog before boarding at Union Station in Toronto. But it wasn't until she was on the train and it started moving that an employee said she had to get off at the next stop in Oshawa.

The Canadian singer/song-writer immediately turned to Twitter and vented her frustration to some 38,000 followers

"Midi and I got booted off Via rail en route to Ottawa . . . " she tweeted. "You apparently can't have little quiet dogs in bags who are sound asleep, I might add."

She told Via to "eat my bra" and asked what it would have done "with an 86-year-old woman with a little dog in a bag? Dump her at the next station?"

She says she felt abandoned and had to hire a car to take her the rest of the way in order to make her concert on time.

"Maybe it was me just being naïve, but I fly with her all the time, we pre-book her, pay our little fee, put a little tag on her bag."

According to VIA's website, all pets – with the exception of guide dogs – must travel in a baggage car. Arden says she travels with her small dog often.

Rules are rules and they apply to everyone, including celebrities!

Arden is in Ottawa as part of her "Uncovering Canada Tour." She performed at the National Arts Centre Sunday night.

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Warning: Dogs Fall Ill As Owners, Vets and Lawmakers Blame Treats from China

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:20:46 PST

Thousands of pet owners are speaking out on the Internet and asking the government to force a recall of chicken jerky dog treats made from Chinese chicken. Concerns over the issue first arose as early as 2007. The movement has gained significant momentum in the past month, even gaining the support of Ohio's Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Dennis Kucinich after an Ohio resident contacted them after two of her dogs fell ill.

On February 7, Brown brought the issue to the Senate floor, saying he had urged the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate its investigation into these chicken jerky treats -- found under multiple brand names but all sourced from China -- that appeared to be sickening dogs across the country. Two weeks later, the senator held a press conference and issued a news release again urging the FDA to act swiftly.

On Nov. 18, 2011, the FDA cautioned consumers that chicken jerky dog treats from China may be associated with a rising number of dog illnesses. This followed earlier warnings of the same issue in September 2007 and December 2008. After a drop in 2009 and 2010, reports of dog illnesses have spiked once again. More pet owners are speaking out now than ever before.

The November 2011 FDA notice warned dog owners who purchased chicken jerky to monitor their pets for decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (including bloody), increased urination or increased water consumption. If any of those symptoms worsen or last more than 24 hours, owners should bring their dog to a vet, the notice said. Blood tests could indicate kidney failure, while urine tests might indicate Fanconi Syndrome, a disorder that results in nutrients normally absorbed into the bloodstream instead being released through urine.

A FDA spokesperson confirmed to Food Safety News that the agency has recently received more than 600 reports from dog owners who say their pets have fallen ill because of jerky products made from Chinese chicken.

Still, despite the increased scrutiny, the FDA has not revealed a contaminant in the jerky products. Without any clear cause of the illnesses, the agency can do little but continue to investigate the issue. In the meantime, the 15 companies with chicken jerky products implicated by consumers have issued no recalls, seeing no conclusive evidence that their products are harming animals.

Maria Higginbotham couldn't find the usual dog treats she buys at her local Target store back in early January. She decided to buy some brand-name chicken jerky dog treats for Bandit, her 3-year-old rat terrier. He was soon experiencing bloody diarrhea, and by the time Higginbotham and her mother got him to his veterinarian, his organs were shutting down. His liver showed that he had eaten something toxic. Certain that Bandit's inexplicable illness had already become too severe, the veterinarian suggested putting him down. She refused, and after nearly $4,000 in medical bills and three weeks of intensive nursing that included in-home I.V. care, Bandit recovered. Staff from the vet's office inspected Higginbotham's Western Washington home and yard, finding nothing that might have conceivably poisoned him. Though the vet could not link the chicken jerky to the illness, Higginbotham said he thought it was likely the cause.

The vet then asked her "was the chicken from China?" She had no idea, but she checked the label as soon as she got home. It was. When Higginbotham checked her treats, she found the same thing. Their vets could not prove anything, but both suspected the treats had sickened the dogs.

"Pets are part of your family. When they die, you lose a family member," Higginbotham said. "I'm dealing with a lot of guilt over this. I'm the one who feeds my dog and is supposed to make sure he's safe and healthy. How do I do that if I can't even trust his food?"

In Florida, Danielle Kinard-Friedman's 18-month-old yellow Labrador named Millie, began vomiting bile after weeks of growing progressively more lethargic. When Millie wouldn't eat anything, Kinard-Friedman took her to a vet. Blood tests revealed that Millie was experiencing kidney failure, and so she spent a week in an emergency pet clinic receiving intensive treatment that eventually proved futile. She was put down this past Sunday.

Millie's vet who asked Kinard-Friedman if she had been feeding her dog chicken jerky treats. She told the vet that she had been buying the treats under a different brand-name from Bandit's.

Blogger Mollie Morrissette has been following the chicken jerky developments for more than a year on her website, Poisoned Pets. She said that the issue has reached a sort of tipping point in the last month, with more and more pet owners speaking up about sick dogs.

"I get letters every day from broken-hearted pet parents -- people who had to put down their beloved family dog or five month-old puppy," she said. "They all fed their dogs chicken jerky."

There is a private Facebook group called "Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China!" They started out with roughly 100 members. Today, the number has exploded to more than 2,500.

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Photo: Stylish Pup

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:47:37 PST

This sweet pup looks a lot like a Babushka!

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Painting of Dogs Fetch High Prices

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:43:00 PST

It comes as no surprise to me that dogs are as popular on canvas as they are on a leash. Paintings of dogs are drawing big crowds and "fetching" big bucks.

At the annual "dogs only" art auction held after the Westminster Dog Show, two price records were broken this year, said Alan Fausel, vice president and director of fine art at Bonhams, the auction house that runs the event.

"Dejeuner," a painting that shows dogs and cats eating from a large dish, set a record for the artist, William Henry Hamilton Trood (1860-1899), when it sold for $194,500, Fausel said. That record was broken an hour later when Trood's "Hounds in a Kennel," showing a half-dozen dogs staring at a bird outside their cage, sold for $212,500.

Bonhams' Dogs in Show & Field auction is the only one in the country devoted solely to dogs. It was the best auction in years, Fausel said, adding: "The dog art market is certainly turning a corner."

The William Secord Gallery in Manhattan is the only gallery in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to dog art. "We have had an increase in visitors over past years, but also a substantial increase in sales compared to this time last year," said Secord, widely considered the world's foremost authority on 19th century dog paintings. Through March 24, the gallery is exhibiting and selling 150 dog pieces that Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge bequeathed to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey.

Secord is the founding director of the only art museum in the country dedicated to dogs, the American Kennel Club's Museum of the Dog. Secord opened his gallery because he didn't want to move when the museum relocated from New York to St. Louis.

The highest price ever paid for a dog painting belongs to George Stubbs (1724-1806). He painted mostly horses, but a 6-by-7-foot portrait of a Newfoundland sold for $3.6 million in 1999, Secord said.

Most of the dog art sold at the annual auctions are 19th century pieces, Fausel said, but there are a number of contemporary artists who have made names for themselves, such as Robert K. Abbett, 86, who lives in Arizona.

Several years ago, Abbett was commissioned by dog art collector Bill Nicholson of Atlanta to paint a portrait of his beloved Beauregard, a beagle who died in 2001. "Beauregard was a soulful and loving dog," Nicholson said.

Abbett, who started as an illustrator, painted hundreds of dogs through the years and has had work sell for as much as $50,000.

"Animals have always been a popular subject," Abbett said, although "you have to do what turns you on or it won't be your best work."

It always helps to meet the dog, Abbett said. Unlike early artists, contemporary painters have the advantage of cameras. "Photography was a godsend to an artist who could capture a scene and take it home and work on it at leisure," Abbett said.

American painter Cassius Marcellus Coolidge (1884-1934) was known for his whimsical, cartoonlike images of dogs playing poker. The Doyle Auction House in New York sold one of them in 2008 for $602,500. While Coolidge's paintings and prints of gambling hounds have their devoted fans, they are not considered part of the canine art market, Secord said, because they are not realistic.

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Quality of Life of Obese Dogs Improve when they Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:56:12 PDT

Is your dog a little pudgy or just plain fat? It is estimated that approximately a third of the United Kingdom dog population is overweight. Obesity is a serious disease for our beloved pets and can lead to many other health disorders including diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

A study of 50 overweight dogs, comprising a mix of breeds and genders was undertaken by scientists at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Royal Canin and the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition.

Pet owners completed a questionnaire to determine the health-related quality of life of their dog prior to weight loss. A follow-up questionnaire was completed by the pet owners of 30 dogs that successfully completed the weight loss program, enabling changes in quality of life to be assessed. A range of life quality factors were scored, including vitality, emotional disturbance and pain. The quality of life of dogs which succeeded with their weight loss program was also compared with those dogs that failed to lose weight successfully.

The results showed that the quality of life improved for the successful pooches. Emotional disturbances and pain decreased for them. The more body fat that the dog lost, the greater the improvement in the quality of their lives.

The research also found that dogs that were unsuccessful with their weight loss program had worse quality of life at the end of the study than those that successfully lost weight. The pups also had worse vitality and greater emotional disturbance if they failed in their endeavour to lose the weight.

Dr Alex German, Director of the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University, said: "Obesity is a risk for many dogs, affecting not only their health but also their quality of life. This research indicates that weight loss can play an important role in keeping your dog both healthy and happy."

Dr Penelope Morris, from the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, added: "Strategies for combating obesity and keeping dogs fit and healthy include portion control, increased exercise and diets specifically formulated for overweight pets."

The Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University's Small Animal Hospital is the world's first animal weight management referral clinic. It was set up to help families with pets that are overweight.

Veterinarians in the United Kingdom can refer overweight animals to the clinic. Once the animals receive a thorough medical examination, they are given a specific dietary and exercise plan to follow.

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Video: Dog Plays with Baby Horse

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:15:21 PST

A rescued mare foal baby horse wants to play with his new friend the "dog". The very clever dog uses a blanket as a toy to entice the horse.

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Is the United Kingdom Unfriendly to Dogs?

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:27:09 PST

According to research, the United Kingdom is Europe's least accommodating country towards small dogs.

More than half (52%) of the 7.3 million dog owners in the United Kingdom agreed that, when compared with our European neighbours, Britain falls behind in being dog-friendly.

One in three (32%) French and 40% of Belgians agree.

The study of more than 3,000 dog owners across the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Belgium was carried out to explore European attitudes towards dogs, with findings revealing that perceived levels of dog-friendliness within retail and hospitality are considerably lower in Britain than in any other country.

Findings show that only 6% of British retailers open their doors to small dogs, when there are 5.4 million dog owners in the United Kingdom who state they would go to more cafes, shops and other retailers if they felt their dogs were welcome.

The British pub has always been a place to socialize for dog owners. Almost three quarters of dog owners (73%) state they do not feel welcome in pubs with their dogs which means pets are left at home or outside patiently waiting for their owners to emerge. We at Doggytails know of one pub in particular that offer dog beer and the chance to mingle amongst the canines. The Brandling Villa in South Gosforth, Newcastle seems to believe that you shouldn't have to leave your fine furry companion at home. They are offering a non-alcoholic beef-flavoured beer for dogs!

The sentiment extends to cafe culture, as only 7% of dog owners agree they feel welcome to spend time relaxing with their dog in coffee shops. 26% of dog owners in Germany feel comfortable relaxing and sipping some coffee with their canine companions.

The research was carried out by Cesar, which has launched the Paws in Places campaign to encourage dog owners to spend more quality time with their dogs and to raise awareness of the issue of closed door policies towards small dogs.

Dog lover and model Jodie Kidd said: "We love our dogs in the UK and consider them part of the family. I've got three dogs and I would love to be able to spend more time with them. Unfortunately, like many other dog owners, I don't always feel welcome with my dogs in a number of establishments."

The top five spaces and places that United Kingdom dog owners believe they should be allowed to spend more time with their dogs are public transport (61%), bars and pubs (52%), hotels (46%), cafes (43%) and small shops (42%) respectively.

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First Dog Bo Promotes Easter Egg Roll Ticket Lottery at the White House

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:51:20 PST

On Monday April 9, 2012, the First Family will host the 134^th annual 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll Ticket Lottery. To help promote this event, a video has been released featuring its most popular resident, First dog Bo Obama.

The ticket lottery will open today Thursday, March 1st at 10:00 AM EST and will close on Monday, March 5th at 10:00 AM EST.
Take a peek at the video below. Bo is a super cute pup!

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America's Top Dog Breeds for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:10:46 PST

According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever is still America's top dog and the Rottweiler has made a comeback.

My dog Shiloh will be miffed to know that the Beagle has overtaken the Golden Retriever in popularity! He always thinks and behaves like he is the top dog.

In its annual list of the country's most popular dogs, the Rottweiler edged into the top 10 breeds. The Shih Tzu has been knocked out of the top ten where it had been for more than a decade.

For the 21st consecutive year the Labrador Retriever clinched the No. 1 spot in 2011. The German Shepherd held on to its second position, while the Beagle pushed the Golden Retriever down to No. 4 and the Yorkshire Terrier dropped from third to fifth place.

"While the Labrador Retriever has proven once again to be a family favorite, this year clearly belongs to the Beagle," American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson said.

Peterson wouldn't be surprised if the breed snatched the top spot next year.

Along with the Rottweiler, the Boxer, which placed seventh, had a good year. Five of the most popular dogs were larger breeds.

The Bulldog, Poodle and Dachshund were also on the top ten list compiled by the club, which is a registry of purebred pedigrees in the United States.

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Photo: Cute Dog Alert - Brady

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:52:32 PST

Say hello to beautiful Brady!

The sweetest dog with LOTS of personality.

Submitted by Heather Staniszeski

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Dogs Feet Give Japan Scientists Paws for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (MyDoggyTails) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:01:24 PST

I watch my Golden Retriever bound trough the snow with such ease. Shoving his nose down into the cold snow and plowing along until he resurfaces shaking his head! He never seems to mind having his paws sink into the snow. Sometimes I wonder how dogs can walk barefoot in the snow? It appears that a Japanese scientist may have the answer. Dogs may have an internal central heating system.

The secret may lie in how dogs circulate their blood to prevent cold surfaces from chilling the rest of their bodies, according to Hiroyoshi Ninomiya, a professor at Yamazaki Gakuen University, just west of Tokyo, Japan.

The system uses warm, oxygenated blood to heat the cold blood that has been in contact with a cold surface before returning it to the dog's heart and central circulation.

“Dogs exchange heat at the end of their legs. Arterial blood flows to the end of their legs and then heats up venous blood before returning it to the heart,” Ninomiya said of his findings, published in the Journal Veterinary Dermatology.

“In other words, they have a heat exchange system in their feet.”

Ninomiya studied a preserved dog's leg under an electron microscope and found that because of the proximity of arteries and veins in the foot pad, the heat in the blood carried from the heart to the arteries is easily conducted to the cooler blood in the veins.

This heat transference maintains a constant temperature in the foot pad, even when exposed to extremely cold conditions.

Dogs are not alone in having this sort of heat exchange system, which is shared by other animals such as dolphins, Ninomiya said.

Not all dogs thrive in the cold, due to refining by breeders seeking specific traits, he added.

“Dogs evolved from wolves, and so they still have some of that ancestry remaining,” he said. “But that doesn't mean that one should always go and drag around in the snow all the time. There are many varieties of dogs nowadays that are not able to stand the cold.”

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