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Numero Uno for Uno the Beagle

Posted by Clare Bristow | 3 Comments

Congratulations to Uno the Beagle for being judged Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show.

Great news for Uno and his owners, but in my opinion not so great news for the Beagle breed.

Unfortunately shows like the WKC, and Crufts in the UK, encourage people to go out and buy a dog 'just like the one that won at Westminster' - much in the same way people buy dogs they see and like in films, think Dalmatians after 101 Dalmatians and Border Collies after Babe.

Breed rescues are testimony to how many people buy dogs without considering whether or not they will fit into their lifestyle. No doubt Beagle rescue groups will be gearing themselves up for numerous dogs to rehome once the novelty of owning a Beagle wears off for many of these new owners.

From today Puppymills across the US will be going into over drive churning out Beagles to satisfy the public demand for a Beagle puppy - there's serious money to be made by puppy mill owners from the results of the Westminster dog show.

If you think I'm exaggerating, take a look in the newspaper classifieds, on the internet and in pet shops over the next few months and you'll see an increase in the number of Beagles for sale.

I've nothing against Beagles, they have huge personalities and make great family dogs, but they do require owners who:

• can give them plenty of vigorous exercise - Beagles were bred to hunt their prey to exhaustion;
• are aware their dog may disappear to find the source of an interesting scent that crosses their path and will usually ignore every recall until they have fully investigated the scent; and
• are prepared to put up with a dog that brays. If you haven't heard a Beagle bray, I strongly recommend that you try before you buy. A friend of mine owned a Beagle and the blood curdling roar that came from this little dog's mouth was a real crowd stopper, particularly in the dog park!

If you do hear of someone thinking of buying a dog breed just because it looks cute, won Best in Show or because such and such celebrity has one, please do what you can to dissuade them. As we all know these impulse buys usually lead to the dog pound rather than a long and lasting relationship between dog and owner.

5 Lasting Valentine Gifts for Your Dog

Posted by Clare Bristow | 1 Comment

Are you buying your dog a gift for Valentine's day?

I ask the question because celebrating Valentine's Day with your dog is becoming as big a marketing event as it already is for us celebrating the day with our partners!

There are now hundreds of dog valentine gifts you can buy ranging from heart shaped dog tags, dog beds and dog toys, clothes with heart motifs on them through to special dog biscuits and gift baskets. The majority of these products won't last more than a few days, they're really just produced for Valentine's day.

So for a gift that'll last a bit longer, here's my list of 5 lasting Valentine gifts:

Commission a Pet Portrait

Art Paw produce portraits from a photo you supply of your dog.

You can choose to have the portrait done in one of the following styles: Fine Art Style, Warhol styled Pop Art, Master Paw Print Style where your dog is inserted into a famous painting such as the Mona Lisa, or a Soft and Pretty Look where the photo is color enhanced or reproduced in black and white or given a vintage look.

Prices range from $135 to $260 dollars.

Create a Pawprint Pendant

Why not create an everlasting memory of your dog by having his pawprint recreated onto a charm pendant?

For $194 or $204 Pawprints Jewelry will do this for you in .999 pure silver.

They send you a pawprint impression kit so you can get a mould of your your dog's pawprint, then they transfer that onto a pendant - either by impression or relief.

Make a Donation to the Morris Animal Foundation …

of $50 or more and they will send you a stylish Canine Cancer Campaign tag in return.

The aim of the campaign is to find a cure for canine cancer in the next 10 to 20 years.

Cancer is becoming increasingly common as the cause of death for many dogs, and much of the research into canine cancer presently undertaken is being done in conjunction with doctors researching the causes and treatments for human cancers.

Commission a Felt Miniature of your Dog

Kay'sK9s produces replicas of your dog using a technique called needle felting - Kay does such amazing work, and what a wonderful way to immortalize your dog.

At $120 these really do look like value for money, and judging by the testimonials on Kay's site, her customers are very happy with the results: "Oh my god – he is SO cute!!!! The markings are perfect!! His little face is great — you got his expression wonderfully captured. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

Spend Some Extra Time With Your Dog

This gift is free, and is the one that's of most value to your dog.

Spending an extra half an hour playing, practising your training or going for an interactive walk will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Our dogs give us so much and ask for so little in return that an extra bit of attention from us would make really make their Valentine's day something special!

How do you plan on spending Valentine's Day with your dog?

From 7 weeks to 6 months in 1 and a half minutes

Posted by Clare Bristow | Leave a Comment

I wanted to share this dog video with you - the title is self explanatory but in summary the video shows Brodie the Labrador puppy growing up fast from a cute 7 week old puppy to a six month old dog in 1 minute 39 seconds.

I've watched the video a few times as I love the way Brodie seems to 'grow up' before your eyes.

The video was recently posted on Dog Topics News - the social news and bookmarking site that's just for stories about dogs.

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