www.doggiedish.com en http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODg= Feb 04 2012 12:15 PM Puppy Bowl Picks 2012   For all my canine readers: While your humans are busy buying beer and firing up the grill, there’s no need to feel left out of the Superbowl action just because you don’t understand a double reverse pass or a two point conversion. Like most dogs, (and Europeans?) I prefer simple games of tug of war and keep away, and thanks to Animal Planet I can get my fix while nomming on some yummy dog cookies (and maybe bits of hamburger if I am lucky.) On Sunday at 3pm E/P, they are serving up the Puppy Bowl VIII for your viewing pleasure.   My furry friends, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, I’ll tell you what this pooch extravaganza is all about: cute puppies play with toys on a mini football field. They “score” when they drag a toy across the end zone. The game is refereed by a human, and this year the producers invited Meep The Bird who will “tweet” live about the event from the sidelines. They also hired a “piggy pep squad” who will cheer on the pups  (or rather squeal), and some kittens who will put on a half-time show (boo!). Hopefully the kittens will not give us any Janet Jackson type antics because that’s gross!   Anyway, no fewer than 59 shelter puppies play the bowl.  Because it was filmed back in October, almost all of them have already been adopted. But tell your human friends not to forget that Pet Finder is a sponsor of the Bowl, and there are always lots of amazing puppies on there who need homes!   Well readers, I know you’re all wondering who Leo’s pick is for 2012 Puppy Bowl MVP. I’m going to go with Tattoo, a 14-week-old border collie mix (looks like poodle to me, what’s up my brother from another mother) who hails from my home state of Pennsylvania! Border collies are tough, fast, and smart --- so I’m betting he’ll give Eli Manning a run for his money. (Yes readers, my family is from New England so if I had to make a bet on a human football team I’d go with Tom Brady and the Pats all the way.)   And my prize for looks (I have a thing for white dogs) goes to Penelope, the Llhasa mix from Fresno. Her stats say she is a Tom Cruise fan – Penelope, if you’re out there, I’m much younger than that guy, I can still move all the muscles on my face, and I’m not a scientologist, so hit me up on Facebook if you ever come to LA.   See you Sunday!   Leo   Leo is a keep-away, tug of war loving goldendoodle who lives in Los Angeles. He writes about dogs and their people for The Doggie Dish and The Examiner. He is always accepting questions or ideas at leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com About Dogs - Dog birthday cake recipe Dog Videos - Your Dog and the Dangers of Cold Weather     http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODc= Jan 24 2012 10:25 PM  Dog Birthday Cake Recipe       Leo’s Favorite Birthday Cake 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking soda ¼ c organic peanut butter ¼ c vegetable oil 1 c shredded carrots 1 tsp. vanilla 1/3 c honey 1 egg tub of cottage cheese for frosting    Mix flour & baking soda. Add other ingredients. Pour into greased round 8 inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool completely. For icing, blend cottage cheese in blender. Decorate with cookies and personalize with a little bit of human icing to write your name and some candles (be sure to remove these before eating the cake, some dogs like the taste of candles!)   Dog Birthday Party http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODY= Jan 24 2012 10:19 PM Ask Leo About Dogs – How to Throw a Dog Birthday Party   Dear Leo, I am a Boston Terrier whose first birthday is coming up in March and I really want to have a Dog Birthday Party, but my family doesn’t seem so sure. They’re worried that my friends won’t behave, and they also say “what would dogs do at a dog birthday party?” Leo, how can I convince them this is a great idea? We have a fenced backyard, and I have a handful of doggie friends, but after that I’m not sure where to start! Do you have some suggestions for how I can make my party safe, memorable, and most of all, FUN, for my furry and human family and friends? April Baton Rouge, Louisiana   Dear April, First of all, a huge, heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! To your family who is not sure a dog birthday party is a good idea: I say they’re not really thinking this through. Not only is a dog birthday party fun for dogs, it’s also great for people, and especially kids (provided they have adult supervision, are at least 7 years old, and are comfortable around dogs, of course.)  Just be sure that all the dog friends you invite are able to socialize nicely in group settings and you should be good to go! April, you’ve already got the number one thing you need for a successful birthday bash – a fenced yard! That way you can celebrate your birthday by bringing the dog park to your house, how cool is that? Although I don’t know your doggie friends myself, I bet they’ll treat the party the same way they would the dog park – run around in circles! It’s also a good idea to have several tennis balls around for your people to throw to you guys, and maybe even a soccer ball to kick around together. Tell your family to check that there are no holes in the fence in case any of your friends are escape artists.  Try to pick an afternoon when the yard won’t be muddy, because you don’t want to ruin the grass or the carpets. Your people should also set out several big bowls of water, because everyone will undoubtedly get thirsty when they are running around all day! Once you’ve got the location and drinks figured out, the next most important thing about any party is the food, of course! I recommend your family have plenty of treats on hand, that way if one dog gets a treat, all of the dogs can get one. Also they might want to have a few different varieties, in case you have some guests who are picky about their cookies. In fact, it’s a good idea to have your Mom ask the families of your doggie friends if any of them have food allergies – that way you can be sure there are no surprises. In addition to treats, your party won’t be complete without a delicious DOG BIRTHDAY CAKE! This was my favorite part of my first birthday party. Now, I hope your family has enough sense to know that dogs really shouldn’t eat human cake. They can make a healthy doggie cake that your friends will all love! My personal favorite is peanut butter carrot cake with cottage cheese frosting. Check out my favorite recipe for a great dog birthday cake. After everyone sings Happy Birthday and you get your picture taken with your cake, your Mom should cut small pieces and put them on paper plates. Then have your human friends each be in charge of giving their dogs their pieces of cake. One warning: the little guys will take a lot longer to eat their pieces, so it’s best to have them held by their owners so they can eat in peace without a bigger dog like me stealing the rest of their piece off their plate (yes April, I have to admit I did that at my party!) When I had my party, I was happily surprised that most of the dogs brought me gifts like bones, treats, or toys. My Mom thanked the people but put away the gifts until later, because she didn’t want the dogs to fight over them. (For that matter, I suggest your family put away any toys, bones, or treats that are special to you before your guests arrive. You don’t want to get territorial if another dog tries to play with your favorite chew toy, and you don’t want your best toys to get dirty.) As for the human guests, I recommend simple barbecue type food like hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, beer and soda, and brownies. Some of the humans might also enjoy if you ask your Mom to take their picture with their dogs as a memento. Some of the dogs might even want to wear party hats, like I did. Have fun at your party April! Dog Birthday Parties are the best! Leo   Leo is a six-year old goldendoodle who lives in Los Angeles. He is the author of the world’s only dog advice column written by a dog, for dogs and their owners. Write to him with questions about doggie birthday parties, dog training, or anything at all at leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com   Dog Videos - Hero Dog Awards Dog Video -  Your Dog And The Dangers Of Cold Weather         http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODU= Jan 09 2012 08:27 AM Ask Leo About Dogs – Dog Obesity and Weight Loss Dear Leo, Like my owners, their friends, and most Americans, my New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to lose the extra weight. I am a cocker spaniel and although I’m supposed to weigh 25 pounds, when I went to the vet in December I was completely mortified to see the scale say 35! And then I went and ate all sorts of holiday cookies, table scraps, and special treats I got from Santa Paws. I’m so ashamed, Leo! My favorite place to hang out is underneath my family’s bed, and I’m now too fat to fit under there! Do you have any recommendations for how I can lose the weight and get my body back in 2012? Muffin Knoxville, Tennessee Dear Muffin, I’m so sorry to hear of your weight problem! You are definitely not alone: in the US 43 million dogs – 55 % of us -- are overweight or obese. This is a much more serious problem than not being able to fit into your favorite hiding place. Overweight and obese dogs face many of the same problems that overweight people do: arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, kidney disease, and joint injury. And also like people, all of these health problems quickly add up to reduced life expectancy – sometimes up to 2.5 years less for dogs. Since the average dog in America lives to around 10, being overweight is potentially taking away a whole quarter of your time with your family. Muffin, I’m sure you’ve seen the sorts of crazy stuff dogs and their owners do to try to lose weight. They sell dog diet programs at the major chain pet stores. These come with diet food, vitamins, and weight loss books. There are even dog weight loss drugs on the market. They say it works by blocking the absorption of extra fat and making you think you are full sooner. In case you’re about to go beg your Mom to take you to the vet to get a prescription, I’ve got the same advice as that crazy blonde lady who used to be on TV –- stop the insanity! Think for a minute. This is the same type of quick fix Americans try to use for themselves. And obviously fad diets, prescription drugs, and even weight loss surgery are not working for them – 68% of American adults are overweight or obese. It makes sense that these people who mindlessly feed themselves and do not exercise also do the same to their dogs. They claim we look “hungry” or “sad” so they feel compelled to share some popcorn or omelet with us. But Muffin, you and I both know that dogs and humans have been BFFs for at least 12,000 years – that’s a long time for our ancestors to hang around the cave and practice the “sad” or “hungry” looks that resulted in some yummy scraps being thrown their way. But it’s not all bad, Muffin! While your family might have a hard time keeping themselves thin, for you, it could not be easier! You have the biggest weight loss advantage ever going for you – without those darned opposable thumbs; you can’t make any  midnight runs to the refrigerator, or sneak just one more cookie out of the treat jar. Nope, like all of us dogs, what you eat completely depends on what your humans give you. That is how you got fat, and that is how you can get your cute little cocker spaniel body back. The simplest thing your family should do is cut down on the amount you are given in your bowl at regular feeding times. They should NOT pay attention to what it says on the back of the dog food bag. While growing puppies need to eat those amounts, remember that with adult dogs you are just trying to maintain body weight – or in your case, lose it. Think about it, Muffin – just like manufacturers of human food, dog food makers are trying to make your family buy more of their product! So of course they want you to finish a bag of food sooner. Muffin, I’ve never been overweight myself because my Mom believes my weight is the single most important factor in my health (besides giving me high quality food, which I’ll discuss in an upcoming column.) In fact, when we moved to California and she started bringing me to work, I put on a few pounds. She found out that this was because the other people in her office were feeding me treats, and even human food, when she wasn’t looking! She figured there was really no way to be sure they wouldn’t continue to feed me behind her back, so she just cut back on my dog food. Now I weigh 65 pounds and I eat just 1 cup of food for breakfast and 1 cup of food for dinner. They actually measure out my food with a kitchen measuring cup. Because I only get 2 cups of dog food, my Dad, who likes to share, can still give me treats and even bits of human food sometimes. Everyone is happy. Also, I get lots of regular walks – my family shoots for half an hour to an hour every day. This helps keep my weight in check. One more trick: just like people, you can tell if you’re at a healthy weight by seeing how easy it is to feel your ribs. If you can’t feel them at all, even when you poke and prod, you’re overweight. If you can see them, you’re too skinny. But if your mom can put her hands on you and feel them easily, you’re good to go, Good luck Muffin! I know you can do it – or rather, I know your people can do it because really, this one is up to them. Leo   For more statistics on dog obesity, see the web page of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, www.petobesityprevention.com    Leo is a Los Angeles-based goldendoodle who answers questions about dogs and their owners. Find his past columns on thedoggiedish.com, and email him with any new questions at: leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com     More dog videos and dog articles on The Doggie Dish: About Dogs - House Training Dog Video - Your Dog And The Dangers Of Cold Weather http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODQ= Dec 05 2011 09:12 AM Choosing a Doggie Hotel for the Holidays   Dear Leo, My name is Charlie and I am a two-year-old husky from Connecticut. My family is going to Hawaii for the Holidays and they’re looking for a doggy hotel that I can stay at, but they’re not sure how to pick a good one. They want me to be safe and have fun. Do you have any suggestions about how to pick a good boarding place for the holidays? Charlie, Newtown, Connecticut Dear Charlie, Looks like you’re in for your own mini vacation – if your parents choose wisely, that is. It’s good they realize that there are some important things to look for when choosing a dog hotel, a boarding place, or as people used to call them, a “kennel.” Yes, you pay more to get the best (and in my experience, Los Angeles, Connecticut, New York and other major metropolitan areas will be more expensive, around $50 a night,) but it’s worth it! The first thing my owner looks out for is what they do before they let you in the door: good places make you have an interview so they can check you out. First they will ask your owner about you, like have you ever been aggressive, do you try to jump over fences, do you get scared around other dogs. Then they will actually put you in with all the other dogs for a minute and watch what you do. This sounds silly but it’s important, because then you know that all the dogs in there can play nicely together. You don’t want to stay somewhere that aggressive, badly behaved dogs are allowed to play with the rest of us. Another thing you want to watch out for at doggie hotels is potential mistreatment by the staff. I think of this the same way as how you would double check someone taking care of your child: you want to be sure they are not going to be too rough with them when you aren’t there. An easy way to be reassured about this is to pick a place with doggie cams that allow you to watch how the staff behaves. And there’s an added bonus: my owner loves to watch me playing with the other dogs when she is on vacation. Now your dog might not feel the same way I do, but another thing I look for is a place where I get my own “room” at night. Usually these are basically like little closets with a bed, where they keep your toys and a bowl of water. Most places have you “nap” in the afternoon and then put you in there after dinner. I really like to be able to rest by myself, because I’m used to having it quiet when I’m sleeping. Fancier places have things like TVs or classical music playing in these “suites,” but in my experience dogs don’t really care about that. Now we get to the most important part – playtime! This is what makes doggie hotels so much fun. I look for ones where dogs play all day. Often they break you up into playgroups by size and age, which is good. They do this at the national chain Camp Bow Wow. My cousin Ollie goes to one in Stamford, CT and he loves it. And some places even have special play areas – like a jungle gym type thing for dogs or, my personal favorite – a swimming pool! I Dig My Dog, near me in Pasadena, CA even has a bone shaped pool! It is the coolest thing ever. When I go there I get to swim all day long, it is my absolute favorite. In fact, if anyone ever wants to get me a birthday or Christmas gift, they even do daycare there – for a discounted price you can swim for 3 or 6 hours. Perfect! Have fun on your vacation Charlie! Leo  Leo is always checking his email for new questions. Write to him at leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com   Dog Videos Hero Dog Awards Country Dogs vs. City Dogs http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODM= Nov 25 2011 01:55 PM Ask Leo About Dogs – Black Friday Holiday Shopping for Dogs Dear Leo,   With Holiday shopping season in full swing, I’m looking for some original gift ideas for Santa Paws to bring for my dog friends. Do you have any suggestions?   Betsy San Marcos, TX     Dear Betsy, Though I still don’t have a credit card with my name on it that I can use to shop myself, I definitely have some great gift ideas for the dogs on your list. Some of them I’ve even tested out myself. I think you’ll find something on this list that any dog would love. Happy shopping! Leo ****** Good Buddy Meaty Center Bone Dog Treats, $4.49-$5.49, Castorpolluxpet.com – Castor & Pollux makes these delicious all natural dog bones. It is an exquisite beef femur bone dipped in delectable beef juices. I am drooling as I write this...The best part is the bone marrow is still inside! My owner gives me these out on the porch because they can get messy. After I lick off all the meat juice and eat the center, I keep the bones around for a long time; they’re great for chewing. Just be sure to thrown them away when the pieces get too small.   Bouncing Spiney Dog Ball, $3.49, Petco.com – This is my absolute favorite ball, and I’m sure that any dog would be thrilled to find it in his stocking. It’s great for chewing, bouncing, and throwing. It even floats. My grandparents got me the purple one and I loved it so much I got the orange one too. Five paws!   IBone Dog Toy, $11.99, Thinkgeek.com – All the people who have bought themselves the new IPhone 4 can finally bring their dogs into the Apple craze. It’s bigger than a real IPhone and smaller than an IPad, and it squeaks. Apps included.   Hide-A-Squirrel Puzzle Toy from Kyjen, $17.49, Kyjen.com – Do you have a hard to please dog on your list who gets bored of his toys easily? I love this adorable stuffed tree log with three squeaky squirrels that you pull from their hiding places. It comes in extra cute “junior” size with tiny squirrels for the little guys, and they just rolled out a “ginormous” version with an extra big log and six squirrels!   Kiehl’s Cuddly Coat Dog Grooming Products, $13.00-$17.00, Kiehls.com - For the most fashionista dogs on your list, the top of the line products from the NYC favorite beauty store. Lavender scented and ph-balanced to soothe itchy winter skin, the line includes a shampoo, conditioner, and a Spray-N-Play Cleansing Spritz for when your coat needs a little post-dog park pick me up.   William Wegman Multi-Plex Pet Bed, $120, Cryptonathome.com  - For a few years I didn’t even have a dog bed because my owner didn’t like the look of any. Then she heard about these, with fabric designed by one of our favorite artists, William Wegman (you know, the guy who takes all the funny pictures of the Weimeraners dressed up in clothes?) They’re great because the covers come off and can go right in the wash. The mattress is super comfortable too. I’ve had mine already for three years and I still love it.   Cozy Thermal Jammies, $9.99-15.99, DrsFosterSmith.com – While I haven’t tried these out myself (like so many dog clothes, they don’t come in my size), my owner just loved them when she saw them in the catalog. They are basically like one of those old-fashioned “union suit” long underwear pajamas things that people used to wear in Olden Times, or on that silly TV show Little House on the Prairie. Butt flap included. Perfect for Christmas morning present opening. Dog Videos Dog Breeds Dog Advice  Write Leo a question about Santa Paws, the best dog bones, or anything else at Leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com   http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODI= Nov 21 2011 05:27 PM Ask Leo About Dogs - House Training A Puppy Dear Leo, I am a two-month old spaniel-schnauzer mix named Rocco who was just adopted by a great new family. I’ve been at home with them for a week and they are wonderful to me – I have my own soft bed, a stuffed bear, a bouncing ball and a few rawhide bones. It’s all going great, Leo, except for one thing. I still haven’t figured out the bathroom thing. I know I’m supposed to go to the bathroom in the backyard, but I can’t hold it for very long yet. I don’t have any way to tell my people when I need to go, so I end up holding it as long as I can and then having an accident in the house. It’s embarrassing, Leo, and I feel bad about it. I want to start things off in a great way with my new family. Do you have any advice? Rocco, Charlotte, North Carolina   Dear Rocco, Congratulations on your new family! It sounds like you’ve got a great one and you really want to do well with them. I know that once you figure out this whole going to the bathroom thing you’ll be well on your way. Let me give you a suggestion, based on what my owner did with me. (Yes, Rocco, this is a true story, and it really worked!) When I first came home, she brought me outside about 6 times a day on a regular schedule, but sometimes it still wasn’t enough. So she thought about it and realized that in addition to those regularly scheduled bathroom breaks, I needed to have a way to tell her when I needed another one. Since she didn’t want to encourage unnecessary barking, she decided to teach me to ring a bell when I needed to go out to use the bathroom. I know you’re probably laughing at this Rocco, saying dogs can’t ring bells, that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, but it worked! Evidence of this is that some fancy pooch boutiques are now selling special strings of bells – kind of like jingle bells – for this very purpose. But these weren’t around when I was growing up, so we improvised. She went to the craft store and bought the biggest jingle bell she could find. Then she bought some ribbon and tied it to the backdoor – the same door we went through when she took me out to the bathroom. She made sure to measure the ribbon so the bell would fall right at my nose height. She showed it to me when she put it up. Then she brought my little black nose right to it and said “bathroom?” as she rubbed my nose on it and it made the nice jingling sound. Then she immediately brought me outside to use the bathroom. Over that day, every time she brought me out she did that. After the fifth or sixth time, I started to associate it all – the word “bathroom,” pushing on the bell with my nose, getting to go outside. I was excited to be able to communicate with my new owner. The next morning when she let me out of my crate, I crawled into her lap for hugs and kisses as usual. Then, I realized I had to pee. I got up and went over to the door. I pushed gently on the bell with my nose. She said “Bathroom? Good dog!” and immediately brought me out. Although there were some issues once or twice after that, basically once I learned to use my bell I was potty trained. I was so proud! I really think this can work for you, Rocco. Good luck! Leo is always accepting new letters for his column! Email him at leothegoldendoodle@gmail.com Dog Videos Dog Chew Toys How To House Train A Dog http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=ODE= Nov 21 2011 10:00 AM Dog Training Using The Command Voice The Doggie Dish is committed to teaming up with the best, most caring and most innovative dog trainers in the dog blog world.  Here Stunt Dog Guy Chris Perondi shows his stuff with his cute dog Super Sonic. Sonic is a 8 year old Australian Kelpie/Cattle Dog/Hound mix. She was a rescue from Farmington, CA.   When giving commands to a dog, a calm, firm, authoritative voice is most effective. Dogs do not respond well to hesitant, pleading voices, nor to yelling, which might sound to the dog like threatening barking or scolding. It is also important that the word used for the command and the pitch of the voice be consistent each time the command is delivered so that the dog can more easily learn what the owner means (siiiiiiiiiiiit does not sound the same as sit, for example).   Using the puppy's name before a command ensures that the dog knows that a command is coming, that it is for him (rather than for other dogs, children, or people), and that he should pay attention. This is important because dogs hear a lot of human speech that has no relevance for them at all, and it is easy for them to disregard commands amongst the babble.   To reinforce the command, the dog always gets some kind of reward or reinforcement (praise and usually a treat or toy) when it performs the action correctly. This helps the dog to understand that he has done a good thing.   Note that not all dogs are trained to voice command. Many working breeds of dog are not trained to a voice command at all; they are taught to obey a combination of whistles and hand signals. Deaf dogs are perfectly capable of learning to obey visual signals alone. Many obedience classes teach hand signals for common commands in addition to voice signals; these signals can be useful in quiet situations, at a distance, and in advanced obedience competitions.    The specific command words are not important, although common words in English include sit, down, come, and stay. Short, clear words that are easily understood by other humans are generally recommended; that way, people will understand what a handler is telling his dog to do and other handlers have a good chance of controlling someone else's dog if necessary. In fact, dogs can learn commands in any language or other communications medium, including whistles, mouth sounds, hand gestures, and so forth.   Dog Videos Hero Dog Awards Dog Breeds http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=Nzk= Nov 07 2011 04:14 PM Bark Worse Than Bite For Los Angeles Dogs LOS ANGELES -- Barking dogs can lead to a hefty fine in Los Angeles. The City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance that fines owners of excessively barking dogs $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third if a Department of Animal Services hearing officer decides the pooch is barking too much. City prosecutor Dov Lesel tells the Los Angeles Times ( http://lat.ms/tLCNjO) that a dog's barking would be considered excessive if it continued for 10 minutes or more, or intermittently for a half-hour or more within a three-hour period. The ordinance is expected to get Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's signature. It would go into effect before the end of the year.   http://www.techmodi.com/demo/doggiedish/blogDetails.php?id=Nzg= Nov 07 2011 12:29 PM Why Do Dog Toys Look Lke Sex Toys? I love it when my owners take me to the dog boutique to pick out treats and toys, but lately something has been freaking me out. There are lots of bones that look too much like what humans call “adult toys.” Some of them are so lewd-looking that I get embarassed when we walk by them. Leo, do you know why humans would want to buy dog toys that look like this? I am always afraid my humans will buy me one and then when my friends come over, they will see it in my toy box and make fun of me. “Mortified” in Maine*   *To protect the identity of the dogs and humans involved in this letter, names and locations have been changed.   Dear Mortified,   My owner and I did a special reconnaisance trip to investigate what you are talking about.  Let me tell you, I thought she had brought me to the Hustler Store in Hollywood, but actually we were at our neighborhood dog store near downtown Los Angeles! The photo below illustrates what we found.   I couldn’t decide what was dirtier in this dog bone section – the giant “Galileo” (why is there a picture of a pirate on it, btw?), the orange and purple “puppy double action” bones  with special bumps, or the flesh colored one that you can just see a bit of above them.   Let me tell you Mortified, I’ve been scratching my head with my back feet all day thinking about this one. The best I can come up with is 1. people are crazy (but you already knew that) and 2. people want their dogs to have doggy-versions of whatever they are buying for themselves or the miniature humans in their lives (hence doggy strollers, dog sneakers, and Paul Mitchell dog shampoo – which my owner just bought for me the other day.)   That being said, Mortified, maybe you should just relax about it. These things are great for chewing! If I were you, I’d just hide my Galileo under the couch when my friends came over.     Dog Video Goldendoodle taste test