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!