Elephant and Dog are Best Friends

You have got to watch this. I cried just a bit--man I love animals.

The Dogs On Halloween

Meet the Breed: Miniature Pinscher

I think it is about time we all read about the characteristic traits of Charlie dogs, the min-pin. I found this synopsis of Charlie dogs on Martha Stewart's website (go figure).

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Photo: Mary Bloom/The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Known as the "King of the Toys," the Miniature Pinscher is a compact, smooth-coated dog who is alert, spirited and fearless, with a unique high-stepping, hackney-like gait. With his black and rust coloring, cropped ears, and docked tail, he resembles his cousin the Doberman Pinscher, but he is not a miniature Dobie. Coat colors include red, stag red (red with black hairs), black with rust markings, or chocolate with tan.

A Look Back"Pinscher" means "Terrier" in German, and the Miniature Pinscher is a distinctly German breed that originated several centuries ago as an efficient barnyard ratter. The Miniature Pinscher is reported to include the Dachshund and Italian Greyhound among its ancestors, along with the shorthaired German Pinscher.

Right Breed for You?The Miniature Pinscher can really spice up a person's life. This dog is small, but he doesn't know it! He's quick and active, with a lively curiosity. They are good family companions and look out for their family, bravely challenging intruders with their bold, insistent bark. The "Min Pin" will be happiest with a family that treats him like a standard-sized dog. He may be stubborn, but he's also smart. Their small size makes them a good choice for apartment life. Play and a daily walk will take care of most of their exercise needs. His short, easy-care coat requires occasional brushing and shampooing.

• Toy Group; AKC recognized in 1925.
• Ranging from 10 to 12 1/2 inches tall at the shoulder.
• Rat hunter.

AKC Meet the Breeds is a registered trademark of the American Kennel Club, Inc.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: AKC Meet the Breeds: Miniature Pinscher- Martha Stewart Pets

Charlie is totally a rat hunter, and protector of all things family, spirited, fearless, and has about the most prince like gait you have ever seen.  Fun to hear that he is not alone with his entitlement issues. 

Dog Halloween Costume

Who doesn't love a dog dressed up like a shark?





find this shark costume HERE

find this shark costume HERE

How about an elephant costume? Ha, seriously!


find this elephant costume HERE

 
See more funny costumes HERE

Or if Charlie wants to sing YMCA he could be a sailor.

Dog Halloween Pumpkins

Last year I posted about these great dog pumpkins for Halloween and I wanted to make sure everyone saw them again this year. What kind of dog do you have and how would you make his/her face on the pumpkin?  . 

Dog Leads Police to Family Home Which Is on Fire

Have you heard about this????  This is one smart dog.

Buddy the German Shepherd proved to be a real-life Lassie as he led police straight to his family home which was on fire.
The frantic pet dog can be seen on police dashcam footage looking back repeatedly to make sure the car was still following as he took them round narrow, unlit bends to the inferno.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268324/How-frantic-pet-dog-led-police-familys-burning-home-owner-told-Buddy-help.html#ixzz1bHi1Zx00

Stainless Steel Dog Bowls---Did you Know?

While at the vet a couple of weeks ago, the vet looked at Jack's chin and said that he had an infection on it and asked "what kind of bowls does he eat and drink out of?" I told her we use porcelain bowls and she told me that we needed to switch to stainless steel. I guess bacteria can grow on the dog bowls and so when they are drinking water they make scrape the side with their chin and can get an infection, or if they already had an infection it will keep getting bacteria inside and wont heal.

So all you dog lovers out there, switch your dog water dish to stainless steel and if you want it to match maybe switch the food dish over too.

Stainless steel surface will not absorb smells, does not stain, and is easy to clean and disinfect. Most dogs won't pick up or try to chew on stainless steel so the bowls stay shiny, clean, and new. They're also heavier so they're less likely to tip over and they are dishwasher safe.

I want this one...too bad Jack and Charlie are boys. Maybe I can find one with red polka dots.

Wool Cardigan Dog Coat

• • 

   
  From the infamous Martha Stewart site shared by Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir, authors of "Pet Projects: Animal Knits Bible," for sharing this lovely craft. Check out more of their designs in the adorable dog fashion 
   
  Click HERE for a tutorial video 
   
  Transform a wool cardigan into a charming dog coat 
  -- your furry friend will enjoy the extra warmth.
  Tools and MaterialsFelted cardigan (For instructions on felting a sweater, take a look at this felted hat craft.)
  Scissors
  Tailor's chalk
  Sewing pins
  Sewing machine
  Thread
  Blunt-ended tapestry needle
  Black wool yarn
  Optional: pearl or crystal beads
  
  Wool Cardigan Dog Coat How-To1. Before making the coat, measure your dog to make sure the felted cardigan is big enough to be cut down to fit. Turn cardigan inside out.
  
  2. Mark sweater with tailor's chalk in two places: 1) In a straight line from the underarm, and perpendicular to the sleeve seam, so that the sleeve forms a cap. 2) Right above the ribs of the cuff (save cuffs). Cut where marked.
  3. Put cardigan on dog, inside out.
  
  4. Pin a dart from the neck down the shoulder and onto the cap sleeve. (This reduces the width of the armhole.) You may need to remove 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches of knitted fabric. Pin along dog's chest and stomach, taking up most of the excess knitted fabric.
  5. Carefully remove cardigan from the dog. On a sewing machine, stitch down where pinned (along shoulder and back of cardigan), and then trim the excess.
  
  6. Slip the cuff inside the end of the sleeve and sew the cuff on, using a tapestry needle with a blunt end, black wool yarn, and decorative running stitches.
  
  7. For added decorative detail, sew pearls or crystals to the neck along the base of the neck ribbing, starting at the button band. For decorative effect, make one running stitch in between each pearl.

Little Girl's Seizure Alert Dog, Jack

 

This is such a cute video about the loving bond between dog and little girl. Jack was found in a dumpster by the humane society and later adopted by this family in the video. Click on the link to watch the video and see how Jack has changed the life of one little girl. It made me cry.

http://www.godvine.com/Thrown-Away-Dog-Saves-a-Little-Girl-from-Death-671.html

Back To School

 

I hope everyone has a great week going back to school. You should all think about getting your back to school pictures taken by this lady

 

 Read more about these pictures HERE

and I think while we are at it we should get the pups a pic or two as well.  I am thinking Charlie would look cute in one of these

Have Your Dog Show Some College Pride

How fun is this? Doggie Divas website has a whole collection of college clothes for your dog.  Check it out HERE and choose your school colors or at least the teams you cheer for.  Go Utes and Buffs!

University of Utah HERE

University of Colorado Boulder HERE

Handicap Dog's Wheelchair Stolen

Found this sad article with at least a happy ending on the For the Love of Dog Blog.

Jack's wheelchair was a godsend to him and his owner. (Photo credit: NBC 10 - Providence/New Bedford)

One month ago today I wrote about a handicapped dog whose wheelchair was stolen from his normally safe front lawn in a leafy Boston neighborhood, leaving him unable to move. Today I bring you news about a Rhode Island dog who had the rotten fate.
Jack, a lab-shepherd mix, lost the use of his back legs because of two herniated discs. The introduction of a doggy wheelchair three months ago changed his life. His owner, Marilyn Proulx, told NBC News 10 that the wheelchair was a godsend that gave Jack mobility. She said he was even able to run with it because he had strong front legs. He loved taking long walks. She said the chair made him whole.
But all that changed when someone stole the wheelchair from the side of Proulx’s house. Now walks involve Proulx hoisting his back end up with a sling. It’s taxing for woman and dog.
“I think mentally, emotionally, physically, it’s awful.  He can’t take walks anymore.  I have to help him in and out of the house with a sling,” Proulx said. “I just can’t imagine his living the rest of his life without being able to walk anymore.”
The good news is that Jack has an angel in the form of a dog wheelchair company watching out for him. I read under the NBC News 10 story a comment from Handicapped Pets, offering to donate a brand-new customized wheelchair to Jack. This is one great company. It did the same with the Boston dog whose wheelchair was stolen. (See update below.)

Jack was so happy when he had wheels. Here he is at a beach in Maine. (Photo credit: NBC 10 - Providence/New Bedford)

Here’s what Handicapped Pets wrote: “HandicappedPets.com would be happy to provide a replacement dog wheelchair for Jack at no charge…The Walkin Wheels is fully adjustable, so we can send it right out to Jack today – he can be back to his walking routine tomorrow.” I don’t see any indication about whether Proulx had gotten this amazing message yet, but I’m sure by the time you see this, word will have reached her.
A happy ending to a sad story. As I asked in the post about the Boston dog: Who would steal a dog’s wheelchair?!
Update 7/8/11: We just got word that a company called Eddie’s Wheels was hoping to donate one of their custom wheelchairs to Jack. (They said Jack had been using one of their custom-built wheelchairs already.) According to Eddie’s Wheels, before the company could contact Jack’s owner, someone donated their deceased dog’s wheelchair to Jack. “Serendipitously, it was just the right size and also neutral balanced,” reads an update on their website. So looks like there are plenty of generous and caring companies and individuals out there!