Category Archives: Dog Activities

Puppy Bowl XII

Mark your calendar and set your DVR! The Puppy Bowl returns February 7th (that’s THIS Sunday!) at 3 pm Eastern Time. If you’re not familiar with it, Puppy Bowl runs every year on Animal Planet on Super Bowl Sunday, in an attempt to get puppies adopted from many shelters across the country. In small groups, the puppies are placed in a small arena made to look like a football field. They play and romp, and sometimes even fall asleep on the field. Meanwhile, an announcer natters on as if the dogs are actually competing. When a puppy happens to stumble across the goal line, a touchdown is scored. It’s all really very cute, and an enjoyable way to spend 2 hours while waiting for the game to start. Here’s what Animal Planet has to say about this year’s show: Continue reading Puppy Bowl XII

Bloodhound Places 7th in Elkmont Half-Marathon

Ludivine
Photo courtesy Elkmont Half Marathon

When two-and-a-half year old Ludivine wandered out of her Elkmont, Alabama, yard, she never imagined she’d take part in an official footrace. Runner’s World reports the Bloodhound mingled with 165 runners in the parking lot and at the starting line, and when they began to run, she kept pace.
Continue reading Bloodhound Places 7th in Elkmont Half-Marathon

Does Your Dog Eat Things That Aren’t Food?

I picked up a pamphlet at a dog expo called “101 Things You Didn’t Know Could Harm Your Pet” from the ASPCA recently, and I’ll be running an ongoing feature listing some of these things over the next few weeks.

According to the pamphlet, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance customers have seen bills of more than $2,500 on average to have things surgically removed from their pets’ stomachs. It’s been years ago, but when my Golden Retriever, Maggie, swallowed a baby toy, it cost us over $1,600 to have the emergency vet remove it.

The most common items are:
Balls
Coins
Buttons, Batteries
Twist ties
Rubber bands
Cotton swabs
Hair pins
Jewelry
Nylons
Paper clips
Plastic wrap
Yarn or thread
Dental floss
Electrical cords
Socks
Towels

The moral of the story: pay attention to your dog! If you can’t be home to watch what they’re getting into, confining them to a crate might be the safest option if your dog is a chewer.

Gotta stop rubbing that bacon flavoring on my nylons, I guess!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog.

Meet the AKC ACE Honoree for Exemplary Companion Dog

ACE MufasaMufasa, a Bernese Mountain Dog owned by Kristen and Robin Greenwood of Bel Air, Maryland who won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2014, is as an ambassador to his breed, purebred dogs and the American Kennel Club. This Bernese Mountain Dog greets visitors to his owners’ dog wash business (where he has a regular fan club) and his presence alone helps the local community to learn about AKC and responsible breeders. Continue reading Meet the AKC ACE Honoree for Exemplary Companion Dog

Meet the AKC ACE Honoree for Search and Rescue

ACE Ty SAR German ShepherdHandled by Melissa Frye of Southport, Florida, Ty, officially known as K-9 Ty Ty Road RN CGC, is an eight-year-old German Shepherd Dog trained in human remains detection. Over the span of his six year career, Ty has become the go-to K-9 in his department for recovery searches, helping to bring closure to families that have lost loved ones. Continue reading Meet the AKC ACE Honoree for Search and Rescue