Giveaway: Win a Doody Digger Pooper Scooper

Now is your chance to see how easy it is to scoop poop with the patented Doody Digger Pooper Scooper. We are giving away one Doody Digger, one O-ring, five bags, and free shipping. Read these great reviews of the Doody Digger. 

How to Enter:
1. Like Doody Digger on Facebook, and
2. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us that you liked our Facebook page and why you would like to try the Doody Digger.

The giveaway ends on Sept 14, 2011 at 12:01 ET. All participants must live in the Continental United States. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on our Facebook page on Sept 14. Good luck!

How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat

Watch this great video for some easy tips on keeping your dog cool in the summer heat. Remember, never leave pets or children in vehicles in hot weather. What are your favorite tips and treats for keeping your dog cool? 

5 Things You Can Learn from the Doody Digger Pooper Scooper

It’s easy being green.
The Doody Digger is made in the USA from recycled material. Attach an eco-friendly bag and keep your yard free of dangerous bacteria, while doing your part to help the planet. 

Appreciate the small things in life. 
It is so simple to use the Doody Digger that you may just find yourself smiling each time you use it. 

It’s easy to multitask.
With the Doody Digger’s one-handed design, you have one hand free to hold a leash, carry a baby, enjoy a drink, carry groceries, or use a smartphone.

You can prevent back and knee strain.
No more bending to pick up dog poop or leaving it on the ground.  

Kids will do more chores. 
Picking up dog poop will no longer be a dreaded chore. In fact, it will now be a chore that kids will want to do!

Bay Area Humane Society PetWalk 2011

The Bay Area Humane Society was founded over forty years ago and helps thousands of animals each year in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The 12th Annual PetWalk will be held on June 4, 2011. Event attendees can see a demo of the Doody Digger Pooper Scooper, and win the Doody Digger as a prize for the obstacle course.

Fundraiser Details
Date: June 4, 2011
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Bay Area Humane Society
1830 Radisson St
Green Bay, WI 54302
Events: 5K walk, children’s activities, dog obstacle course, and pet vendors

Sheltie Rescue of Utah Fundraiser

The Sheltie Rescue of Utah places homeless shelties in foster and permanent homes. We are proud to support the upcoming Sheltie Rescue of Utah Fundraiser, a large 5 day dog show. Event attendees can see a demo of the Doody Digger Pooper Scooper, and win the Doody Digger as a raffle prize.

Fundraiser Details
Date: May 4 to May 8, 2011
Location: Salt Lake County Equestrian Park
2051 W 11400 S
South Jordan, UT
Events: Microchip Clinic, Conformation, Rally, Obedience, and Agility

Video: How to Perform Dog CPR

Dog CPR could save your dog's life. Encourage all of your family members to watch this video, so you are prepared in case of an emergency. For more information, please consult your veterinarian.

Supermarket Guru Consumer Panel: Pet Feeding Stats

What are you feeding your pets? The Supermarket Guru consumer panel revealed interesting statistics about pet feeding and food purchasing. Of the people surveyed, 95% had a dog or cat, and 19% reported that their pet is overweight. Almost half of the people surveyed purchase pet food at a specialty pet store.

“76 percent feed it store bought natural, organic or gourmet pet food. Twenty-four percent serve their pet a mixture of people and pet food, while merely 21 percent reach for generic pet food.”

“And what about those feeding their pets from the dining room table? Over half say they sometimes do while 35 percent say they never do. The question is why? A third feed their pet people food and say they do it for a change, to stimulate the pet. Twenty-three percent say their pet likes people food more, and 18 percent say it’s nutritionally superior. Another 18 percent just don't want their foods to go to waste.”

If you feed your pet people food, do not feed them “chocolate, coffee, caffeine, avocado, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, yeast dough, undercooked or raw meats, eggs or bones, the sweetener xylitol, onions, garlic, chives, milk, salt, and never any alcohol.” All of these are hazardous to pets, according to the ASPCA.

Borrow a Dog at the Yale Law School Library

Stressed out students at Yale Law School can visit the library to checkout a dog for 30 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly. Along with over one million law books, the students can borrow a dog during this three day trial, which begins on Monday. While it is well documented that therapy dogs can help kids feel more relaxed, it is interesting to see this concept applied to law students. This news was even published in The New York Times today.

The dog is hypoallergenic and must remain in a designated part of the library. The school is seeking feedback from students about whether or not this should become a regular service, like at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.

Resources for Dogs on Special Diets: Gluten-Free and Vegan

While many humans eat gluten-free or vegan, there are a growing number of dogs on vegan or gluten-free diets. Some dogs have a gluten allergy. In other cases, dogs may eat vegan or gluten-free because their owners are vegan or have celiac disease. Here are two new blog posts that contain excellent information and resources.

The Vegan Soapbox has a blog post called “Thriving Vegan Dogs.” The post has links to an interesting CNN article and The Vegan Dog Nutrition Association. The author, Eccentric Vegan, shows how dogs can survive on a vegan diet.

Kristen Campbell at Gluten-Free Fox wrote a great post called “Caring for a Gluten-Free Dog.” She described her struggle to identify the cause of her dog’s health problems and find gluten-free dog food. She even used gluten test kits to determine if the food was truly gluten-free!

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Dog?

Are you considering getting a dog or cat? Before you do, it is important to understand the cost of owning a dog or cat.  Here are tips from Savings Experiment: Cats vs. Dogs.

“The results are clear, and it's not even by a whisker. For most lifestyles, dogs are higher-maintenance so they're more expensive. Although cats and dogs tie in some arenas, there's not a single category in which cats are pricier.”

When adopting a pet from the ASPCA, there is an adoption fee, but it does include spaying or neutering, micro-chipping, and shots. For a dog, expect the adoption fee to be between $75 and $200. Add to your dog budget other costs, such as routine health care, pet insurance, food, treats, special dietary needs, dog toys, a leash, a pooper scooper, waste bags, dog walkers, and kennels.

You can save money on bags by using the Doody Digger pooper scooper, since you don’t need to dispose of the bag after only one use. Stand up the Doody Digger when not in use and the weight of the waste will virtually seal the waste bag closed. When the bag is heavy, replace it with the inexpensive Doody Digger waste bags or reuse grocery store bags.

Is Your Dog Obese?

Pet obesity is a growing epidemic. A survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and Mars Inc.'s Banfield Pet Hospital found that more than 50% of dogs and cats in the US are overweight or obese. An article in The Wall Street Journal explored the causes and treatments of pet obesity.

“The main culprit: owners who routinely overfeed pets, don't exercise them enough and are unaware of the severe, and costly, health problems caused by excess weight. Common woes include diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure and cancer. Research also suggests that pets fed less over their lifetime can live significantly longer.”
 

“To encourage weight discussions, Banfield is rolling out software into its 770 hospitals that will require vets to give pets a Body Condition Score on a scale of 1 (too thin) to 5 (obese) during routine office visits.”

Following feeding directions on packages can still result in overfeeding. Larger breeds need significantly more exercise than smaller breeds. Dog resorts, camps, and treadmills may be appealing, but the cheapest treatment is smaller healthier meals and more exercise for both dogs and owners!

Video: Three Girl Scouts Fighting Puppy Mills

Watch this heartwarming and informative plea from three Girl Scouts trying to stop puppy mills in Texas. They are encouraging people to contact their state legislators. Thanks to the ASPCA for tweeting the video. For more information about fighting puppy mills, read these tips from the ASPCA.

 

Westminster 2011 Best in Show: Video and Photos

For the first time, a Scottish Deerhound won best in show at Westminster. The winner, Hickory, lives on a farm in Virginia and is five-years-old. Here is a quote from a Yahoo News article about the win.

"By dog world standards, it was an upset. OK, maybe not quite as big as the Hickory Huskers winning the Indiana high school state basketball championship in the film 'Hoosiers,' but quite a surprise nonetheless."

You can watch a replay of Hickory's winning moment on TV Squad. Hickory's handler, Angela Lloyd, won the Junior Showmanship in 1998. Don't miss these fantastic photos of Hickory and Angela.

Westminster 2011: Preview Video and Television Schedule

Watch this video of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Press Conference on February 10, 2011. See the six new breeds that will compete in the show, and hear facts from the show co-host on USA Network, David Frei. The Icelandic Sheepdog is the first breed from Iceland to compete.




Below is the television viewing schedule. For more information and interesting facts about the show, read our earlier blog post.

NIGHT 1:
Monday, February 14
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 15
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Breed judging highlight videos are available throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday on the Westminster Web site. These highlights will be available after the show, as well.

To our West Coast viewers: Please note that the West Coast telecast is delayed for your time zone. Since results are posted to our Web site as they occur live, if you want to enjoy the drama of the moment, please avoid the Westminster Web site after 5 p.m. Pacific Time on each evening.

Videos: Two Super Bowl Commercials with Dogs Tied for Best Ad in USA Today's Ad Meter

Watch these two funny 2011 Super Bowl commercials from Doritos and Bud Light, which topped USA Today's Ad Meter. Doritos featured a pug, and Bud Light's dog sitter had dogs acting like humans. Read the entire USA Today article for more great Super Bowl commercials.

Video: Behind the Scenes of the Puppy Bowl

The seventh annual Puppy Bowl will air on February 6 at 3 pm E/P on Animal Planet. Watch this brief video to learn about the making of the great event. Catch some adorable puppy action before the Super Bowl.

For more videos, visit the Puppy Bowl website. Imagine how easy clean up would be if they had the Doody Digger pooper scooper!

Dog Dressed as Donald Trump Wins Contest

A celebrity look-a-like pet contest was held on January 29 in New York at NoHo’s Banfield Pet Hospital. A chihuahua dressed as Donald Trump won first prize. The dog wearing a toupee, suit, and tie certainly resembled Trump. Second place went to a husky who looks like Mayor Bloomberg. A cat that looks like Garfield and a Meg Ryan look-a-like tied for third place. View the photos of the top two dogs and a Michael Jackson look-a-like. What celebrity does your dog look like?   

The Most Popular Dog Breeds in the United States

Chocolate
Labrador Retriever

The American Kennel Club just announced the most popular dog breeds in the United States. The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular breed now for 20 years! Here are the top 10 breeds in 2010 based on the American Kennel Club’s registration statistics.

1.    Labrador Retriever

2.    German Shepherd Dog

3.    Yorkshire Terrier

4.    Beagle

5.    Golden Retriever

6.    Bulldog

7.    Boxer

8.    Dachshund

9.    Poodle

10.  Shih Tzu

This is the highest ranking in 100 years for the Bulldog. The Yorkshire Terrier gained popularity, moving from seventh in 2009 to third in 2010. The rankings of three breeds increased dramatically.

 

“The French Bulldog made the largest leap in the past decade, jumping 50 places from 71st to 21st. Other breeds with the biggest increase in rankings over the last decade include the Havanese (from 86th to 31st) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (from 54th to 23rd).”

View the rankings for 167 dog breeds to discover where your dog ranks. Foxhounds ranked the lowest.

Can Dogs Help Kids Improve Reading Skills?

This fascinating ABC News story shows that dogs can indeed help kids improve their reading skills. For a child struggling with reading, simply reading out loud to a dog can be comforting.

"A study this year by researchers at the University of California, Davis confirmed that children who read to Fido really do perform better. Young students who read out loud to dogs improved their reading skills by 12 percent over the course of a 10-week program, while children in the same program who didn't read to dogs showed no improvement."

For more details, watch this video of a teacher sharing her experiences with the Reading to Dogs Program.

View 38 Reuters Photos of Dogs in Costumes

Dogs in costumes are adorable any time of the year. View the 38 Reuters photos of Dressed Up Dogs posted yesterday on Totally Cool Pix. The photos were taken between 2002 and 2010 and include dogs from around the world. From native costumes to a dog in Peru wearing boxing gloves, the diverse photos will be enjoyed by many. Which photo is your favorite?

Protect Your Dog: Dr. Oz Shares Toxic Plants and Foods

Last night on Ask Oprah’s All Stars, Dr. Oz responded to a question from a woman mourning the loss of her dog. The dog unfortunately ate a toxic Sego Palm plant. Dr. Oz mentioned the following list of plants and foods that are toxic to dogs.

·       Sego Palm

·       Oleander

·       Azaleas

·       Aloe

·       Chocolate

·       Onions

·       Garlic

For a complete list and photos of toxic plants, visit ASPCA. There is also a list for cats. If you think your dog has eaten a toxic food or plant, it is extremely important to take your dog to a vet immediately. Early symptoms of toxicity are malaise, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Don’t wait for a life-threatening situation. Take the time now to make sure your home is safe for all family members, including your pets!

Six New Breeds to Compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Six new dog breeds will compete at the Westminster Kennel Club 135th Annual Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. The show starts on February 14, 2011, and will air on USA Network and CNBC.  The second night of the show, February 15, will air exclusively on USA Network at 8 pm ET.   

The American Kennel Club now recognizes these six new breeds, which will compete in the show.

·       Boykin Spaniel (Sporting Group)

·       Bluetick Coonhound (Hound Group)

·       Redbone Coonhound (Hound Group)

·       Cane Corso (Working Group)

·       Leonberger (Working Group)

·       Icelandic Sheepdog (Herding Group)

Visit the Westminster Kennel Club website to view photos and descriptions of each new dog breed. 

Here are some interesting facts about the Westminster Dog Show.

·       “First held in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is America's second-longest continuously held sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby.”

·       “Westminster pre-dates the invention of the light bulb and the automobile, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument, the invention of basketball and the establishment of the World Series.” (The first show was held in 1877.)

·       “There have been a total of 299,024 dogs entered in Westminster's 134 shows through 2010.”

Introducing Doody Digger, the Pooper Scooper Revolution

Imagine a pet product that makes it easy to pick up dog poop with one hand, no bending, no mess, and no grass damage. How about a lightweight design that is perfect for kids with dogs, dog trainers, and adults of all heights?  Well, all this is finally possible with the Doody Digger, the pooper scooper revolution. You can now enjoy one of the most dreaded chores of dog care. Dog clean up will be so easy that even kids will want to do it!

So, what’s the secret behind the patented Doody Digger? It is simple gravity. You scoop up the dog poop, raise the Doody Digger upright, and the dog waste drops right into the attached disposable waste bag. This makes it easy for a one handed, no touch, and no bending single action operation!  When you are finished, simply replace the bag with a Doody Digger bag, grocery store plastic bag, or other dog waste bags. 

The Doody Digger’s design and durability makes it easy to reach all the way down to the topsoil even in the tallest grass, while only needing to use one hand and not worrying about back or knee strain. The Doody Digger is fabricated from high-density polyethylene plastic and weighs only 1.5 pounds. 

Buy the Doody Digger now with a satisfaction guarantee. You will be amazed that the poop does not smear on the ground or get stuck in the Doody Digger. Discover what customers are raving about. Tell your neighbors and friends who own dogs. Now you can easily get that poop out of the grass or any surface and keep it off your shoes!