Happy Dog Land

Pet Food Recall

2010-08-03T15:26:00.000-05:00

Read about it in the FDA's latest press release.

Billy To Headline WOOFSTOCK FUN FEST at the Grateful Dog Bakery in North Ridgeville, Ohio on August 1, 2010

2010-06-30T19:33:00.007-05:00

Billy will be signing copies of Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit, answering questions and hosting this fun- filled event. Here's the scoop and click here for more information.

WOOFSTOCK FUN FEST sponsored by The Grateful Dog Bakery

31966 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville OHIO

Sunday, August 1st from 10 am -5 pm

We are celebrating our 5 year Anniversay with one of the biggest bashes ever! This year we are proud to have as our very special guests:

"Groomer to the Stars" and Author Billy Rafferty
Billy, a nationally recognized, multi-certified and award-winning pet stylist and dog care expert, has a new book out called "Happy Dog—Caring for Your Dog’s Body, Mind, and Spirit," and he’ll be signing copies of it at Woofstock. In addition to being a Master Pet Stylist, Certified Master Groomer, DermaTech Specialist and Companion Animal Hygienist, he is a sanctioned grooming show judge and†a highly regarded speaker and lecturer.Billy is also the owner and principal stylist at Doggy Dooz Pet Styling Salon in Chicago, IL. His clients include Oprah Winfrey, NBC News’ Tamron Hall and Chef Art Smith.

Barnes and Noble will be selling Billy's book and he will be signing them. And...Billy will be offering a question and answer session at Noon under the Lecture Tent!

AND:

Renowned Pet Portrait Artist Michael Vistia
Mr. Vistia's work has been commissioned by Fortune 500 companies, entertainment and sports celebrities and politicians. Mr. Vistia’s lifelike renderings of family portraits, canines and thoroughbreds are on display in some of the most prestigious homes in America. His photos are also featured in Mr. Raffery’s new book (see above entry). He has also done some "Paint Your Own Pet Portrait" classes at the Bakery, and will be at Woofstock to share his talents with attendees.

New this year:
- A free lecture series featuring 30-minute workshops on various pet-related topics such as nutrition and grooming.

- Pictures with Merlinda "The Fairy Godmother" to pets!
from 11- 4 $10
- Pet Blessing for a donation at 3:00
- Kissing Booth...Kiss a Boston Terrier!

PLUS:
- Wiener Races $2.00 entry fee at 1:00
- Dog Races $2.00 per dog entry fee by size. 1:15
- Pet massage by Pet Kneads $10 for 10 min.
- Nail trims by Designer Doggies $5.00
- Variety of Information booths,
- Paw print imprints & Paint your own Pet Picture! -$5.00
- Free Fly Ball demonstration by Fur in a Blur at 2:00pm
- Outdoor cafe for people and pets with Awesome Gyros and Alyssa’s Cupcake Confections.
- Canine Skinny Dipping Pool!

Entertainment will be provided by the band iTex, featuring Plain Dealer reporter Chuck Yarborough & the fab duo of BrookeLynn!!

Proceeds from Woofstock benefit these 4 Animal Rescues:
- Love-a-Stray
- Fidos Companion
- St. Francis Animal Sanctuary
- Middleburg Hts. Animal Foundation

Other animal rescues & non-profit in attendance:
- Golden Retriever's in Need - Ohio Pug Rescue
- Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue
- Skunkhaven Rescue
- Canine Companions for Independence
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- Friends of the Park
-Therapy Dog International

Plus:
- Camp Bow Wow
- JMT Glassworks
- Primal Pet Foods
- Natura Pet Foods
- Fromm Pet Foods
- Honest Kitchen Pet Foods
- Happy Pet Vet
- North Coast Dogs Training
- Pet Kneads
- Designer Doggies
- Healing Touch Reiki for Pets and People
- Doris Straka Animal Communicator
- Fur in a Blur
- Art Attack by Kat
- Wholesome Pet Distributing

Lecture/Demo Tent Schedule -
10:45 Therapy Dog International Demo
Dolynn Doyle
11:45 The Ins and Outs of Feeding Raw food to your pets...
Michelle Hall
12:45 Billy Rafferty Answers your questions about grooming your pet!
1:45 Ask the Vet - Dr. Dean from Happy Pet
2:45 Cooking Demo...Nurtitious recipes for your dog!
Tiffany Costanzo from Wholesome Pet
3:45 Holistic Practices for your Pet and what they do
Cheri Keller & Linda Mckenna

Contests: Entry fee is $1.00 per dog per contest
(Held in front of the entertainment tent.)
Largest/Smallest Dog- 10:30
Grooviest Dog - 11:30
Best look alike - (Wo)man/child and dog - 12:30
"Americas dogs have talent!" The most talented dog! - 1:30
Pie Eating Contest for man and dog - 3:30

- Free goodie bag with every in-store purchase (one per family). Admission is free.
PLEASE NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES/FLEXI LEADS

Lolly the Trolley
(Sponsored by Natura Pet Food, Fromm Family Foods, Primal Pet Food & Wholesome Pet Distributing)

Please park at Wagner’s Country Inn, 30855 Center Ridge Road, Westlake (corner of Center Ridge and Bradley roads), and take Lolly the Trolley to The Grateful Dog Bakery and Woofstock. Parking at Wagner’s Country Inn is free. Lolly the Trolley transportation will be $5 per family/dog(s) or $2 per person/dog(s). All parking will be at Wagner’s Country Inn this year, but you are welcome to make drop-offs at The Grateful Dog Bakery if necessary and then go park. Parking available for those with a handicap sticker also at the Bakery.

Chinese Raffles this year:
Gift Basket from Wholesome Pet Distributing
Kong Gift Basket worth over $150
Nylabone Gift Basket worth over $150
2 Indians Tickets Indians vs Orioles Thursday Aug 12th. 7:05 Diamond Box(third base line) $117.99 value plus $10.00 or concession stand.
4 Admissions to Hilarities Comedy Club in
Pickwick and Frolic.
4 admissions to the Cleveland Botanical Garden
Gift Basket from Our Gang Salon
Grateful Dog Bakery Gift Card worth $100.
Gift basket for Felines - worth $50

Other Sponsors :
K&W Distributing
Merrick Pet Food

PLEASE NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES/FLEXI LEADS

Social Media, Facebook and and Dogs

2010-06-15T16:07:00.002-05:00

Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit and Jill's recent foster dog experience are featured in this entry from the blog Legally Social.

Shelters in the Gulf Area Need Help!

2010-06-12T18:18:00.006-05:00

We've just received an urgent dispatch from our friend Sam and his mom Josie, who live in the Gulf region near Sarasota. Shelters all over the Gulf region and in Louisiana especially are being overwhelmed due to the oil spill crisis and they need our assistance.

Here's Sam and Josie's message:

Sadly the Gulf is again in a very bad situation. Many families are giving up their pets to shelters since they can't afford to feed them. Shelters in St Barnard Parish, LA and Plaquemines Parish, LA, the Point Celeste Therapeutic Riding Center and Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) are giving free food with the help of the HSUS for as long as the food holds out. I know there are shelters like Animal Rescue New Orleans that could use food to distribute as well. Any help you can give in getting the word out would be great.

Thanks! Josie

Please consider making a donation to an animal shelter in the Gulf region, every dollar counts and can help people keep their pets!

Our Friend Sam is Famous!

2010-04-08T09:19:00.010-05:00

Photos by Emilee Fuss

Sam, the beautiful Golden Retriever from Florida was a winner in our Show Us Your Happy Dog contest back in September.

We've been keeping up with Sam and his mom Josie. Today, we are pleased to announce that Sam is featured on the cover of the April/May edition of Sarasota Pet Magazine. Way to go Sam! Emilee Fuss photographed Sam and he certainly looks happy and beautiful!

Sam is a therapy dog and we are proud that Sarasota Pet recognized his service to the community. If you live around Sarasota or Manatee County, Florida, please check out Sarasota Pet, it's a beautiful color magazine and a wonderful resource for pet owners.

Here is the text of the article. For the full-color version, please contact Sarasota Pet for a copy.

He has a smile that captivates attention no matter where he goes. In fact, Samuel—a two-year-old Golden Retriever who is the constant companion of Sarasota resident Josie Norman—was a winner in the nationwide “Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest,” sponsored by Billy Rafferty and Jill Cahr, coauthors of the book, Happy Dog: Caring for Your Dog’s Body, Mind and Spirit (Penguin Group/Sep 2009).

Named for Samuel in the Old Testament, Sam, as he is affectionately called, will turn three in November. He has been Josie’s pride and joy since she first adopted him, just three weeks after losing her 9 ½ -year-old Golden Retriever to lymphoma.

“After I lost my Golden, I searched and searched for weeks for another Golden Retriever puppy to adopt, but couldn’t find one anywhere,” Josie says.

But she decided to look online one more time.

“If I don’t find a Golden today, it will be a Chocolate Lab tomorrow,” she decided.

As fate would have it, Josie found a classified ad posted on PetFinder by a woman who lived northwest of Gainesville. So, she sent an e-mail to the woman, who responded by sending Josie photographs.

“The second I saw Sam’s picture, I knew; I just knew,” Josie says with absolute conviction. “Even through the classified ad, I could feel a connection with him.”

So, Josie arranged to meet the woman at the Zephyrhills exit on the highway and brought her puppy home.

Like too many pups, Sam, it seems, had a heartbreaking start in life. Two of his siblings were killed by a male dog in the household when the litter mates were only two weeks old. So the owner scooped up the rest of the puppies and placed them in a closet, where they lived day and night—without their mother—until they were adopted.

“You don’t lock a sweet puppy like Sam in a closet,” Josie says.

When Josie brought her new puppy home, she was surprised that he didn’t cry the first night he was in his new surroundings.

“It seems that Sam learned early on that he had no choice but to keep quiet at night,” Josie says solemnly.

And then there was the time that the young pup “went ballistic” when Josie took out a broom to sweep. She realized that there was a good chance that Sam had been threatened or perhaps even abused.

“Sam was taken away from his mother when he was only two weeks old,” Josie says. “There were things he needed to learn from his mother and didn’t, so for the first two weeks he was with me, I was his mom.”

Despite his rocky beginnings, Sam is now “just the best behaved dog,” Josie says proudly.

Originally from Clear Lake, Iowa—a city that made international headlines when the late, legendary Buddy Holly played his last concert there at the Surf Ballroom in 1959—Josie moved to Florida in June 1999.

“I was tired of the wind, the snow and the bitter cold weather,” she recalls. “I wanted to live in a warmer climate.”

Josie always has been an artist at heart. She is skilled in both pottery and jewelry making, and currently sells one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces with images of cats, dogs and horses in a collection she calls “Spirit Breathed Fire Born Jewelry.” Created in fire-fused dichroic glass and fully annealed for years of durable wear, the “works of art” are available locally at Animals by Nature/Tree of Life Club, Max’s Dog Bakery and Shaggy Chic Boutique and Wet Noses and online at Josie’s Facebook page.

In addition to her jewelry, Josie also creates intricate lampwork beads from glass, a craft she taught herself after watching a demonstration at an art show in Englewood.

But it is Josie’s genuine love of animals that matters to her most. During Hurricane Katrina, she worked as a Stealth Volunteer, helping to reunite more than 1,500 Katrina families and their pets. The organization of nationwide and international volunteers started as a Yahoo group committed to reuniting lost animals with their families following a disaster.

Josie also received training through the Network of Hope, a nationwide organization that responds to disasters, to become a disaster recovery specialist for Sarasota and Manatee counties.

On Saturday, June 12, Josie will host a special presentation about the heartbreaking tragedies she witnessed as a reunite worker during Hurricane Katrina when Animals by Nature/Tree of Life Club hosts the Third Annual H.E.L.P. (Hurricane Event for Lovers of Pets) Day. For additional information about the event, please visit www.animalsbynature.com.

Training and showing dogs also has been one of Josie’s passions since the late 1960s. And Sam is certainly a testament to the quality of self-taught guidance and instruction Josie can provide.

While, Josie claims, “training is an ongoing process,” Sam already has earned his Canine Good Citizen Award from the American Kennel Club. He is a registered service dog with the U.S. Service Dog Registry and a therapy dog for the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC). In fact, Sam also has earned a “Therapy Dog Terrific Award” from The Bright and Beautiful Dog Therapy, Inc., a nonprofit organization with which he is registered.

Surprisingly, Sam is the first therapy dog that Josie has trained.

“I just felt that it was something I needed to do with Sam,” Josie says. “He has a natural affinity for children.”

So, because Sam “loves, loves, loves kids,” Josie and Sam go to Oak Park School in Sarasota every Thursday afternoon to spend time with the special needs children at the school.

“There was one little boy at Oak Park that was deathly afraid of Sam,” Josie says. “He would scream and hide whenever Sam came into the classroom, but he would watch as the other children in the classroom pet Sam and talked to him.

“After six months, the little boy finally came over to Sam last week and touched him for the first time,” Josie continues. “It was a very special moment.

“I think that Sam has a very special connection with children,” Josie continues. “He lets them know that he won’t hurt them. He loves going to school, and he instinctively knows when it is a school day. If we don’t go for some reason, he paws at me, as if he is asking, ‘Did you forget?’”

Sam and Josie also have participated in HSSC’s “Dreams are Free” therapy program at St. Martha’s Catholic School in Sarasota and will frequently attend school health fairs, child safety rallies and other events together throughout the community.

Both Josie and Sam are strong supporters of spaying and neutering pets and adopting animals at local rescue organizations.

“A lot of really great pets are up for adoption, and people should look to adopt rather than buy an animal,” Josie says. “After all, Sam was adopted. Heaven knows what would have happened if he had stayed where he was born.”

Inseparable—that’s what Sam and Josie are. No doubt, it was a bond that was meant to be, one that began with a small classified ad on the Internet that inspired what instantly became a spiritual connection, a lifelong friendship, an enduring love…and one very happy dog.

Thank you to Candace Botha, Publisher of Sarasota Pet Magazine for allowing us to reprint her article.

Dog and Deer Playdate

2010-03-31T12:51:00.001-05:00

Check out this unusual playdate:

Our Guest Blog

2010-03-23T13:19:00.002-05:00

Check out our most recent guest post on David Sutton's blog.

HAPPY DOG in the news

2010-03-22T15:13:00.004-05:00

We are excited to tell everyone that Billy will be featured on WGN TV's Midday News Show on Monday March 29th. The show begins at 11:00 am CST, so please tune in to see Billy.

In addition, check out our guest blogs on celebrated pet photographer David Sutton's blog Pith and Vinegar. We've been blogging there in March and will continue in April.

Volunteering is fun! We recommend it highly!

2010-03-15T11:58:00.015-05:00

Yesterday, Billy and Jill along with Sue and Jacque, members of our intrepid volunteer grooming crew, visited the Animal Welfare League of Chicago Ridge's intake center on the south side of Chicago. Check out the photos from our visit to AWL and other shelters here.

We worked with Diane and her crew, who are all dedicated and wonderful people. We applaud their hard work and were thrilled to help!

We walked, groomed and pampered dogs who were on their way the the organization's Chicago Ridge facility for adoption. Photographer Sheri Berliner of Petraits Pet Photography was on hand photographing the adoptable animals, which include rabbits, cats and dogs. Sheri's photographs help the AWL publicize the animals.

BEFORE

AFTER

Volunteering at a local shelter is a wonderful way to get hands on experience with animals. While you are making them feel good, we guarantee that you won't be able to wipe the smile off your face knowing you brought comfort and love to a homeless animal.

A dog is much more adoptable if she looks like a pet rather than a grubby street dog. Every time we groom a shelter dog, we can see and feel the dog's relief when all the old fur and dirt come off. Moreover, the interaction and attention from a caring human lifts the dog's spirits, making her more attractive to potential adopters. Many of these dogs have never been properly cared for, and a gentle grooming session can gain their trust and keep them relaxed when they meet potential adopters.

You don't need to be a professional groomer to make a difference in a dog's life. Most of our grooming crew are regular people who have learned to bathe and brush the dogs. Everything you need to know to learn to pamper shelter dogs and your pooch, is in our book Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit.

Start reading and volunteering! If you have any questions, send them in and Billy will answer them.

A Cute Pooch To Make You Smile Today

2010-03-06T16:50:00.002-06:00

Here's Maxine from California. She loves playing in the dog park.

Anyone who has a dog can relate to this fun video...

2010-02-18T11:04:00.004-06:00

... well, maybe not people who share their lives with a Peruvian Inca Orchid or a Xoloitzcuintli.

The singer songwriter is groomer Randi Breese from Ohio.
Enjoy!

Happy Dog Story: Lil' Bit Joins the Family

2010-01-20T09:19:00.015-06:00

Meet Lil' Bit, the cute Pit Bull mix pictured above enjoying a snooze on the couch. Lil' Bit's mom Sheri recently shared her story with us and we are pleased to share it with you.

Sheri is an area representative of Dogs Deserve Better, a wonderful non-profit organization that raises awareness about chained and penned dogs and helps rescue and place them in homes.

As a small pup, Lil' Bit and another Pit Bull mix puppy were rescued from being chained outdoors in Nashville, Tennessee. Sheri received an email looking for foster homes for the pups. Sheri, however, already shared her home with two happy senior pooches: Shea, a 10 year old Rottweiler, and Max, her 7 year old son. Being seniors, Shea and Max were set in their ways and were not always pleased to welcome other dogs. Sheri was, therefore, hesitant about offering to foster one of the pups.

After seeing Lil' Bit's photo and visiting her in Nashville, Sheri was hooked. "It was love at first sight!" she reports. Sheri brought Lil' Bit home and introduced her to Shea and Max, slowly and safely. Although Shea and Max "were not overly thrilled at first, now they are best buddies." Lil' Bit has found her forever home!

Max, Shea and Lil' Bit relaxing together

Sheri is overjoyed with Shea and Max's acceptance of their new sister. "Lil' Bit will jump on them and aggravate them, and they snarl and growl, but they have never hurt her." Sheri writes. "They all play so well. Shea and Max are probably not as happy as Lil' Bit, but she is certainly happy to be loved, played with, cared for, and not have to be chained another day in her life!"

Lil' Bit playing with Shea

We are pleased to hear that another homeless pooch has found a wonderful loving home. Sheri thanks for sharing your story with everyone in Happy Dog Land!

We'd love to hear your story too. To share your story, click here.

Meet Shabba, A Lucky Pooch Reunited With His Mom After A Fire

2010-01-11T08:36:00.026-06:00

Today, we are pleased to share a lovely story from Beverly, a dedicated dog mom. Meet Shabba, Beverly's beautiful four year old 96 pound Japanese Akita.

In in late November 2008, Beverly's house burned in a fire. Shabba survived the fire by hiding in the back of the yard. On the night of the fire, however, he stepped in a gopher hole and injured his ACL. Tragically, Shabba's pal Sassy, a little red Shiba Inu (pictured below playing with Shabba), passed away after being overcome by smoke.

Unfortunately, Beverly's temporary housing did not allow pets and Shabba lived with a caretaker. Shabba's ACL was recovering quite well until his caretaker moved him into an open dirt lot behind a 12 ft fence. As dogs walked by the fence, Shabba jousted with them, which aggravated his ACL. In addition, Shabba suffered from severe flea bite dermatitis. As Beverly noted, "My dog was simply not in a good place."

Happily, Beverly and Shabba were reunited in May 2009! They now live in a new home with a nice yard and Shabba is no longer living outside. As Beverly reports, Shabba is now once again a happy dog. "He loves looking out the windows with views of three streets and sleeps at my door like he is on sentry duty." In addition, canine aspirin and glucosamine have increased Shabba's mobility.

Beverly and Shabba enjoy two daily 20 minutes walks together. Of course, Beverly does not allow him to taunt any dogs that are locked behind fences. "It's just not a nice or neighborly thing to do," she adds.

We are so pleased that Shabba and Beverly are happy together again! Beverly, thank you for sharing your story with everyone in Happy Dog Land!

We'd love to hear your happy dog story too! Here's how to share your story.

Cute Holiday Pooches

2010-01-10T22:06:00.005-06:00

When we receive photos of our Happy Dog Land furry friends, we like to share. Here's a few we just received.

Abbie Bella from Alabama is enjoying her first Christmas. We're certain that Santa left her lots of presents!

Even champions let their hair down--especially when it snows. Yoshi playing outside in New Jersey.

Send us your photos and we'll share them with everyone in Happy Dog Land.

Why Are (most) Dog Owners Great? Let Us Count the Ways

2010-01-06T20:33:00.007-06:00

Washington Post colunist Ezra Klein offered some thoughtful words this week on Why Dog Owner's Make the Best Citizens.

Hero Dog Saves 11 year old boy

2010-01-05T12:44:00.003-06:00

Wow!! This is quite a story about a family's Golden Retriever who saved the 11 year old son from a cougar attack. What's truly remarkable is that the after sustaining serious injuries from the cougar attack, the dog checked to see if the child was safe before collapsing.

Steve Dale's 2010 Pet Resolutions Rock

2010-01-01T11:28:00.003-06:00

Steve Dale is a nationally syndicated journalist, animal advocate and all around great guy. Steve's Chicagonow.com column covers the myriad issues related to pets and animals. His work is sometimes serious, funny, sad or controversial, but always insightful and interesting.

Steve's Top-10 Resolutions for Pets for 2010 caught our eye today and we think you should check it out too.

Beloved Pet Helps Abused Woman

2009-12-25T09:04:00.004-06:00

Here's a heartwarming story of the human-animal bond.

After suffering years of physical abuse, a Missouri woman took only her pet rabbit Ruby Angel when she escaped her abusive partner. The woman and rabbit lived on the streets for a time. Eventually, the woman found a place in a shelter and the House Rabbit Society of St. Louis began fostering Ruby Angel.

Now, the folks at the House Rabbit Society are not only helping Ruby Angel with cancer surgery, they are helping the homeless shelter and its residents.

You too can help the rabbit and the homeless women. Here's how.

Social Networking Means More Puppy Porn!

2009-12-20T09:15:00.003-06:00

Here at Happy Dog Land, we looooooooove social networking. Both Jill and Billy are inveterate Facebook-heads, and we can tweet with the best of them. With that backround, we were pleased to see that folks are using social networking to do the very most important things. No, we're not talking about the overthrow of repressive regimes, we're talking about sharing adorable pictures of dogs! See the #puppyporn hashtag on twitter for details. So cute!

Most Clever Music Video of All Time!!

2009-12-11T10:05:00.006-06:00

This this THE BEST MUSIC VIDEO EVER and the song is good too! We salute the musicians of You Scream I Scream for making the video to promote adoption and help animals in need! Check out the band's website too.

Thanks to our friend Steve Dale for posting this on his blog for us to find!

C'MON MAN!!: The Canine Version

2009-12-10T13:00:00.013-06:00

Tired of wagging their tongues solely with the four-legged set, Shadow and Arthur (notwithstanding Billy's lack of enthusiasm for sports) requested that we begin our own Happy Dog Land version of "C'MON MAN!!" from ESPN's Monday Night Countdown. During the show's wildly popular "C'MON MAN!!" segment, Chris Berman, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Carter, Tom Jackson and Mike Ditka highlight the most boneheaded plays of the week.

The St. Petersburg (FL) Times brings us the story of Cody the convenience store pooch.

For months, the friendly and courteous Lab greeted customer's at his dad's shop and was loved by all. That is, until the drat state health inspector showed up and proclaimed "no dogs allowed" despite the fact that all food for sale was wrapped and sealed.

Cody brought joy and happiness to people throughout the day and now he's forced to stay at home. All we can say is.....

C'MON MAN!!!!

Ask Billy: When Should I Neuter My Male Dog?

2009-12-03T09:56:00.062-06:00

Jamie and her Portuguese Water Dog Oscar wrote in and posed an important question about neutering:

I have a 5 month old Portie named Oscar. I am getting conflicting advice as to when is the best time to neuter him, which I absolutely am going to do.

My parents who have Oscar's older brother (5 years old now) had him neutered at 7 months. My vet says anytime now is okay to be neutered. However, the confusion is that Oscar's breeder asked me when I picked him up to wait until he's at least 18 months old.

My parent's dog is in perfect health so maybe they have the right answer. My vet is an expert in neutering so maybe she has the right answer. Finally, the person who breeds the dog and is the expert in Porties might have the right answer. What do you recommend and what are the pro’s and cons of all the choices?

Jamie, thank you so much for your question. Neutering often brings up a wide variety of opinions, especially when people have different, but equally valid viewpoints.

Let's start with what happens when your dog is neutered. (You may want to have Oscar leave the room.) The veterinarian will examine and sedate your pooch and then surgically remove his testicles from the scrotum. The scrotum (aka "sac"), however, remains and eventually shrinks to a barely noticeable size.

Jamie, I applaud your commitment to neutering Oscar and helping the animal community. Unfortunately, millions of healthy unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States alone. Quite simply, a neutered male (or spayed female) cannot make puppies and, therefore, won’t be adding to the pet overpopulation problem.

Breeder's perspective:
In addition, to finding qualified homes for their puppies, reputable breeders are typically interested in breeding for specific attributes and finding the next Top Dog Model – meaning they want to find show quality dogs.

Once a dog is about 18 months old, he's fully mature. Accordingly, a breeder (or anyone for that matter) can reliably assess the dog for show qualities, such as bite, coat, structural soundness and temperament. If a dog is neutered before he's at least 18 months, you can't reliably guage what he’ll be like as an adult. Just as it’s impossible to look at a 7 year old girl and determine if she’ll grow up to be a supermodel, we can’t look at a male pooch under 18 months old and determine if he’ll win Best in Show. Moreover, a neutered or spayed dog cannot compete in the show ring.

Although I don't know Oscar's breeder, he or she may be recommending you wait to neuter him so he can be assessed to determine if he qualifies as a show or stud dog. In addition, some people believe that a dog doesn't fully physically mature until he reaches a certain age. Interestingly, the American Animal Hospital Association reports that genetics, not hormones, are the primary factor in determining size:

Neutering does dramatically reduce the amount of testosterone in a male pup's system, which may give him a bit less muscle mass in the long run, but won't affect his height or the size of his frame. Actually, studies have shown that dogs spayed or neutered early (at 16 weeks or younger) tend to be slighter larger than those altered later in life.

Neuter A Pet Early
If Oscar is going to be a pet, there’s no need to wait and see if he'll be qualified for the show ring. Therefore, I agree with your parents, your veterinarian and most experts and recommend neutering Oscar as soon as possible after he's 5 months old. I say the earlier the better so Oscar (or any male) has no opportunity to develop any bad habits associated with testosterone, a powerful male sex hormone.

When a dog is neutered before he sexually matures at about 6-9 months, he’s much less likely to develop the annoying and dangerous behavioral habits associated with romance and testosterone. Contrary to myth, neutering is unlikely to affect your dog’s playfulness, interest in work, friendliness or personality. Obedience training, therefore, remains important whether or not a dog is neutered (or spayed).

How is Neutering Beneficial? Let Me Count The Ways....
Neutered dogs typically live longer than intact males because there’s no testosterone urging Fido to search out females for romance. While roaming, your dog is more likely to be hit by a car, be attacked by another dog or animal, be stolen or encounter many other dangers, like poisoning or disease.

Likewise, because neutered Fido no longer has the strong desire for romance, he’s less likely to mark his territory to advertise for mates. Thus, he's much less likely to urinate in your house or yard or on every single tree encountered during a walk. Although the evidence isn’t conclusive, loads of research has shown that intact dogs are more aggressive because high testosterone levels may cause them to fight over females.

Moreover, an intact male is a target for other males, even those who are neutered. Males can detect the high testosterone levels in an intact dog and dominance challenges often result. Even Arthur, my neutered Cocker Spaniel who is normally the world’s most gentle dog, bears his teeth when he sees or smells an intact male anywhere near by.

Neutering Offers Many Health Benefits
Testicular cancer in older dogs is a significant life-threatening possibility. By removing the stuff inside the scrotum, the risk of testicular cancer is eliminated.

Neutering cannot totally protect a dog from prostate cancer or other prostate problems. Neutering, however, does significantly decrease the risk of prostate enlargement or infection and reduce urinary problems in later life. In addition, a neutered male is less likely to suffer from testosterone-related health issues like testicular tumors and certain hernias.

Always Talk To Your Vet
Neutering is a medical procedure and, like all medical procedures, carries some risks. Indeed, neutering is no guarantee that any behavioral problem will be eliminated since Fido will still have some testosterone coursing through his veins. (Please note, after the procedure, it may takes a few months for Fido's testosterone levels to subside.) Bottom line: Because testosterone levels are significantly reduced, many people find a neutered dog more manageable.

The benefits of neutering far, far outweigh any risks or cons. Always discuss the pros and cons of neutering for your individual dog with your vet.

Finding Free Or Low Cost Spay And Neuter Clinics
Communities around the country offer free or low cost spay and neuter clinics. Check with local animal shelters for more information. Find local clinics here:

ASPCA
HSUS
SPAY-USA

For More Information
Check out American Humane's article on how spaying and neutering affects our furry friends and our community. Look at these articles too:

ASPCA: 10 Top Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
American Animal Hospital Association: Neutering Your Pet

Neither Billy nor Jill is a veterinarian. As with any medical procedure, always consult with your vet before making any decisions.

Shocking Levels of Lead in Pet Products

2009-11-24T10:32:00.000-06:00

With no government regulations for toxic chemicals in pet products it should come as no surprise that a shocking number contain lead and other dangerous chemicals. This is concerning because dogs and cats are smaller (usually) than we are and put everything in their mouths. Thus, the exposure to the hazardous chemicals is extremely concerning

Healthystuff.org has tested over 400 pet products, including toys, collars leashes and tennis balls. The results caused shock and awe in Happy Dog Land. The site is well organized and allows for searches by toxicity, brand or product type. Many of the entries include photographs for easy identification.

In addition to product rankings, the site provides valuable information about keeping Fido healthy and suggestions for taking action to protect our furry friends from hazardous chemicals.

Healthystuff.org also tests human products like toys, apparel and cars. This is a site to bookmark and visit often!

Cool Holiday Gift Ideas and an Important Gift DON'T

2009-11-17T12:40:00.048-06:00

Santa, reindeer and sleigh-loads of twinkling lights are appearing in malls everywhere. More critically, Black Friday is around the corner, and will be upon us before you can even say "arf."

Given that we have spent more time that we can ever justify looking at, reading about, and trying out an avalanche of canine products, we thought we would share our knowledge with you and help make your holiday shopping easier. Thus, with no further ado, here are our picks for all the canine-loving people on your gift list:

1. Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit

Since this is our blog, we couldn't resist recommending our own book! HAPPY DOG is top choice for all the dog lovers on your list. Whether your giftee is a new dog owner or an experienced one, HAPPY DOG will teach him/her new tricks that will make Fido happy!

HAPPY DOG is available at bookstores and on-line retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you purchase the book on our website, we will personally sign the book and Barker and Meowsky will donate a portion of the sale to American Humane, the only national organization dedicated to protecting animals and children.

2. Richards Harness Coat

We used to cut holes in Shadow and Arthur's sweaters and coats to accommodate their harnesses. But that was before we found the Richards Harness Coat. This clever coat combines climate control, fashion, safety and convenience.

The coats are fully lined, machine washable, and come in a satisfying array of fashionable patterns and fabric choices for every weather condition. Choose fleece for winter, water resistant versions for rain, spa cooling coats for warmer weather and field coats to protect Fido when he's in the brush. The built-in harness is easy to adjust and closes with 2 simple clips. Fido's leash attaches to a sturdy ring sewn into the top of the coat.

We compared the Richards Harness Coat to others and it's no contest -- the quality and construction of the Richards coat are best in show.

Richards Harness Coats are reasonably priced ranging from $21.95 for XXS to $59.95 for XXL Long. Order on line or call 248-693-7422. Happy Dog Land readers can save 10% on their purchase by entering: HDL-2009-10 into the promo code box from now until 12/30/09.

3. WACKYwalk'r LEASHES

For all the people on your list who love to walk their dogs, the WACKYwalk'r is a perfect gift.

Constructed from stretchy natural rubber tubing that's reinforced with an internal safety line, the leash extends to twice its length, thus allowing your pooch to explore without ripping your arm out of its socket. How? The leash's flexible tubing reduces the kinetic stress on both the human and the dog. With the WACKYwalk'r, you and your pooch will no longer feel the jerk caused by rigid leashes.

The leashes, which come in 14 vibrant colors, are available in 6 different sizes based on Fido's weight) and in 6 different styles to accommodate various walking environments and the pooch's strength.

The WACKYwalk'r ($24-35), which extends from 3 ft to 6 ft, is the longest leash. The URBAN ($22-$31) extends from 1.5 feet to 3 feet and allows for more control in congested areas. The STUBB'R ($27), which extends from 10 inches to 20 inches, is ideal for large dogs who are strong pullers. The X'TENSION ($8-$15) attaches to retractable leads and acts as a serious shock absorber for the dog and human.

Multiple dog families are also in luck. The CRAZYcoupl'r ($24-$35) allows you to walk 2 dogs comfortably on one leash. For a 3 dog family, the TRICKYtripl'r ($28-$33) is a perfect choice.

Our WACKYwalk'rs have made squirrel watching much easier to bear when we walk Shadow, Zeke or Arthur. Purchase the WACKYwalk'r products on line or call 610-222-0679

4. Port-A-Poo

Nobody likes hauling around a full poop bag while searching for a garbage can. The clever folks behind Port-A-Poo make life with a canine so much easier (and less smelly) with this must-have gizmo for anyone who walks their pooch.

We were initially drawn to Port-A-Poo's cute logo and pithy slogan ("picking up where your dog left off"). Then, the cleverness and usefulness of the product won us over.

The Port-A-Poo is a hands-free way to carry poop bags whether they're empty or full. The Port-A-Poo easily and securely attaches to any leash. Once attached, it's literally a snap to use. Just open the clip, slip in the bag and you're good to go. Now, you'll be able to throw a tennis ball instead of clutching Fido's poop bag.

At $9.95, the Port-A-Poo makes a great stocking stuffer or gift for one of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Choose from 5 bright colors and 2 sizes that fit standard and retractable leashes. Purchase the Port-A-Poo on line or in retailers in the US and Canada and around the world.

5. Nose Print Jewelry By Robin's Loving Touch

Indiana artist Robin Durnbaugh of Robin's Loving Touch offers one of the most unique and meaningful jewelry ideas we've come across.

Robin's nose print pendants, charms and identification tags are made from an impression of your pooch's schnoz in yellow gold, white gold, sterling silver or solid chrome ($195-$625 depending on the metal and most include a matching chain).

Robin's jewelry keeps your best friend close to you at all times. Robin also offers finger print pendants to keep your human loved ones with you.

The pendants, charms and tags are personalized and instant heirlooms. Included in the price of the jewelry is a kit with easy-to-follow instructions for making the impression for the piece.

Both Jill and Billy have put in their orders. Jill will be wearing Shadow's nose print and her son's fingerprint. Billy will be sporting Zeke and Arthur's nose prints. Order on line or call 260-489-0671.

8. No Ears In Here Dog Bowl

Here's some welcome relief for all the long-eared dogs on your list. The cleverly designed No Ears In Here Bowl keeps pendulous ears out of the food or water so Fido's ears and the floor stay clean and dry while he eats or drinks.

The bowl is 9 1/2 inches tall so it won't tip over. The inner bowl, however, is just deep enough to hold 2 cups of food or water. This means that Fido is less likely to gulp his food and swallow excess air, which might upset his tummy.

The bowls are made in the USA and at $9.35 a piece make an economical and practical gift. Fill the bowl with treats, wrap it in cellophane and voila you have a snazzy gift that didn't break the bank. Order on line or call 574-267-6258.

7. DONATION TO A PET CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE

Honor the people or pets on your gift list by helping animals in need. Making a donation to a favorite local or national animal welfare organization, shelter or rescue is a perfect gift for any animal lover. Most charities will be happy to notify the honoree of your gift, which saves you the time and effort of sending a card.

WARNING: NEVER BUY A PET AS A GIFT!

We hope our suggestions help make your holidays easier and removes some of the stress of finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. One thing you will never see on our list is a live animal: dogs (or any pet) make lousy gifts! Taking on the responsibility of pet ownership is something that should not (and cannot!) be "given" to someone.

Everyone doesn't share our love of animals, and even animal lovers may be reluctant or incapable of assuming the responsibilities, time commitment and expense of a new pet. Animals are not returnable or disposable and, therefore, should never, ever be given as a gift.

Instead, wrap up a creative stand-in for the living, breathing animal, such as a picture, toy, food or cute collar and leash. Better yet, purchase a gift certiﬁcate from a local shelter or rescue. This allows the recipient to decide for him- or herself whether she’s ready, willing and able to welcome a pet into her family.

Moreover, the holidays are a dreadful time to introduce a new pet into a household. Routines are altered, celebrations take everyone from home and everyone is probably too busy to provide a new family member with the required care, stability, love and attention. Wait until after the holidays. Local shelters and rescues will be overﬂowing with rejected holiday gifts that are anxiously awaiting their new home.

We hope that this provides you with some good ideas on how to make your holiday season doggone amazing!

A Really Cool Dog Story from a War Zone

2009-11-13T22:18:00.006-06:00

A dog lost during a battle in Afghanistan was found after 14 months alone in the desert--yes you read that correctly--14 MONTHS! His handlers are not sure exactly how Sabi, a NATO bomb sniffing dog, survived but the pooch is safe and sound and back on his base.

Get the full scoop here.

Soldiers and Their Dogs: A MUST SEE on Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T09:01:00.003-06:00

We just came across this incredible compilation by Jason English of videos depicting dogs reuniting with their soldier parents after deployments around the world. Stop what you are doing and watch it ASAP!

The videos will leave you teary and smiley as they demonstrate the incredible human-animal bond.

After you've watched the videos, take a moment to think about the brave men and women who keep us safe everyday and send them your thanks and prayers.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Philadelphia Pet Expo

2009-11-10T21:49:00.010-06:00

We just flew in from Philadelphia and boy are our arms tired!

We met many wonderful people and pooches at the Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo and gathered a ton of fur for the Pledge folks to demonstrate the Pledge Fabric Sweeper For Pet Hair.

Big hugs and thanks to Coal, Foxy and Belle and their families for helping with Billy's seminars. The dogs were patient and cute models!

See the photos from the event here.

We'll be at the Great Indy Pet Expo on Nov. 14-15. If you're in the area, stop in and see us!

Dogs and Swimming

2009-11-07T07:35:00.007-06:00

This charming new entry in The New York Times' Puppy Diaries series reminds us that many of our pooches love to swim. Dogs that range from Portuguese Water Dogs and Retrievers to Poodles and Newfoundlands were literally bred to paddle their paws, and swimming can be great exercise for pooches. Nonetheless, although it may seem to us humans that the dog paddle is hard-wired into every canine brain, not all dogs like swimming or know what to do when they enter the water.

Thus, swimming safety is as critical for Fido as it is for people. So, whether you live somewhere that permits swimming year-round, or you can only bring your furry friend to the beach during the summer, keep these safety rules in mind:

NEVER let Fido swim unattended or unsupervised.
Verify that your dog knows how to exit the water.
Be realistic about your dog's fitness and agility level and her desire to swim. Some dogs are perfectly happy walking around in ankle deep water, some dogs could spend all day paddling around the deep end of a pool and some are terrified at the mere thought of putting paw to water. Listen to your dog!
Don't toss Fido into the water, introduce him gradually so he doesn't panic and sink.
If you own a pool, be sure it is securely fenced in and covered when not in use.
Use safety equipment like entry and exit ramps and canine life jackets.
Wash your dog after his swim. Chlorine and lake or ocean water can leave stinky and irritating residue.

And, as Jill's grandfather used to say, don't let Fido swim on a full stomach.

How Smart are Dogs?

2009-11-06T18:52:00.001-06:00

We all like to think of our dogs as being two (or perhaps even one!) step removed from Einstein. Much of this is not mere pride -- dogs accomplish some pretty remarkable things, and can be trained to do tasks both astonishing and profoundly useful.

This past week, the New York Times took a look at one such furry friend named Jet. If you don't feel inadequate after reading this, well, you're probably more interesting than the two of us:

He is both a seizure alert dog and a psychiatric service dog whose owner has epilepsy, severe anxiety, depression, various phobias and hypoglycemia. Jet has been trained to anticipate seizures, panic attacks and plunging blood sugar and will alert his owner to these things by staring intently at her until she does something about the problem. He will drop a toy in her lap to snap her out of a dissociative state. If she has a seizure, he will position himself so that his body is under her head to cushion a fall.

Sounds pretty amazing, eh? You're not the only one who is impressed:

In September, the Army announced that it would spend $300,000 to study the impact of pairing psychiatric service dogs like Jet with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder. Both the House and Senate have recently passed bills that would finance the training and placement of these dogs with veterans.

Well, here's the rub: are these dogs aware of what they're doing? Are they "thinking" or are they merely responding in conditioned ways to certain stimuli (the way, for example, Jill does when she is near a french fry).

One researcher at the University of British Colombia has attempted to figure this out, by giving dogs language tests and other intelligence exams meant for toddlers. Based on that, he has categorized different dogs by how many commands they can learn. Shadow, Jill's dog, will be pleased to know that Poodles are one of the smartest dogs according to this researcher. Another researcher, however, at the University of Florida, argues that dogs are simply deeply sensitive to the human beings around them, and that through conditioning they can effectively mimic the traits of human thought.

We're not sure of the truth. But we challenge anyone to deny that Zeke, Billy's Portuguese Water Dog, is not interested in the latest developments in fluid dynamics....

Is There a Presidential Dog Walker?

2009-11-05T18:32:00.000-06:00

I'm sure that many of you have wondered about walking habits of the Presidential dog, Bo. Who walks him? What happens when the President and his family are traveling -- who takes care of Bo?

The answer is here. It turns out that there is a designated Presidential dog walker, who has walked our national canines since 1972. His name, is Dale Haney, and we can now report that his favorite Presidential dog was Spot, the dearly departed dog of President George W. Bush (and ironically a puppy born of Millie, the dog owned by the elder President George H.W. Bush).

It's really quite an interesting tale!

Come Meet Us at The Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo This Weekend!

2009-11-04T20:00:00.000-06:00

Billy pampers a K9 police dog at the Meet the Breeds event in NYC in October

If you live near Philadelphia, we'd love to meet you! We'll be at the The Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo on November 6-8 at the The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 422 Business Center, Oaks PA. Billy will be speaking several times during the event and answering all your dog care questions.

In addition, stop by the Pledge® Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair booth to get your copy of Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's, Body Mind and Spirit signed by Billy and Jill and pick up some valuable coupons. Billy and Jill will donate $1 from every book purchased to the American Humane Association.

Click here to see other places you can meet Billy and Jill.

Old Dogs

2009-11-04T09:00:00.001-06:00

Here at Happy Dog Land, we never cease to be moved by the sight of an old dog, half-remembering its frisky past, shuffling along beside its human companion, a sign that the circle of life was more than an Elton John sing-along. Andrew Sullivan notes a particularly moving story by Gene Weingarten, entitled "Why Old Dogs are the Best Dogs." Weigngarten, best known for perhaps the finest piece of feature writing ever put to paper, "The Peekaboo Paradox," tells the story of his recently departed dog, Harry. In this canine tribute, Weingarten says something unexpected and oddly powerful:

Puppies are incomparably cute and incomparably entertaining, and, best of all, they smell exactly like puppies. At middle age, a dog has settled into the knuckleheaded matrix of behavior we find so appealing—his unquestioning loyalty, his irrepressible willingness to please, his infectious happiness. But it is not until a dog gets old that his most important virtues ripen and coalesce. Old dogs can be cloudy-eyed and grouchy, gray of muzzle, graceless of gait, odd of habit, hard of hearing, pimply, wheezy, lazy, and lumpy. But to anyone who has
ever known an old dog, these flaws are of little consequence. Old dogs are vulnerable. They show exorbitant gratitude and limitless trust. They are without artifice. They are funny in new and unexpected ways. But, above all, they seem at peace.

Many shelters specialize in placing older dogs in new homes. Check Petfinder and Adopt-A-Pet, where you can search for dogs by age.

Circus Dogs

2009-11-03T10:25:00.005-06:00

We are of mixed feelings here at Happy Dog Land about circuses. There have been many reports over the years regarding mistreatment of circus animals, and we are not completely convinced that many traditional circus animals are enjoying their fate.

However, we may make an exception here. The Big Apple Circus, apparently, does not use exotic animals (no elephants, etc.). Instead, this circus adopts homeless domestic animals and then trains them to become circus performers. Even more importantly, these dogs live with their trainer as pets.

One detail, however, was particularly striking:

Mr. Anastasini is adamant about taking care of the dogs after they retire. They still long to perform, he says, so he often runs them through their old acts to keep them happy. One of his goals is to build a shelter to rehabilitate problem animals and return them to their owners or give them to others. And where does Mr. Anastasini take the animals during their three-month stay in New York? Central Park, of course. “A lot of people think I’m a dog walker,” he said.

Now that's a circus we can get behind...

Military Rescue

2009-11-02T14:30:00.003-06:00

We challenge anyone not to be moved by this story of a Marine stationed in Iraq and his dog. Interestingly, this is a case of a feral, wild dog (and see our in-depth discussion of that phenomenon here) who chose his human companion. Which just goes to show that dogs can be good judges of character!

Eat Fido? No way!

2009-11-02T08:51:00.016-06:00

We have been gob-smacked at the number of recent articles proposing (Modest Proposal-style, we hope!) that we should eat our pets. First, we have environmentalists trying to place our dogs on buns. The authors of the forthcoming Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living argue that because dogs and other pets have a significant carbon footprint we should, well, get rid of them. "A lot of people worry about having SUVs but they don't worry about having [dogs] and what we are saying is, well, maybe you should be because the environmental impact is comparable," says Brenda Vale, one of the authors.

This is, of course, intentionally provocative, and we appreciate a good polemic here at Happy Dog Land as much as anyone. However, let's be honest -- arguing that we should not have pets because of the adverse environmental impact is akin to saying that we should not have children because of the adverse environmental impact. Or, for that matter, do almost anything associated with modern life because it has an adverse environmental impact. Unless, of course, the authors are prepared to quit their jobs teaching at a university and return to the land as hunter-gatherers.

This type of (and Jill's husband Darren will provide the pretentiousness here) "utilitarian fiddle-faddle" is not far from the type of "ends justifies the means" logic that would justify government control over our daily lives in the interest of the "greater good." As we do not defend Grindlewald (or Stalin) we strongly encourage the Vale and the other authors to consider where this type of logic leads us. We should all do our share to improve the environment, but never presume that entire categories of behavior (and, by implication, entire populations of animals) should be eliminated.

Our next provocateur is novelist Jonathan Safran Foer. A talented writer (he gave us the classic Everything is Illuminated) he now tries to use our love of dogs to convince us all to become vegetarians. In the Wall Street Journal, Foer argues that there are fewer things that separate our beloved pets and the animals we consume that folks would generally like to admit. Thus, suggests Foer, why not eat dogs?

While we were quite surprised to find that it is legal in 44 states, Foer doesn't really want us to eat Fido. Instead, he wants us to avoid eating animals altogether. Here at Happy Dog Land, we are not proscriptive about the eating habits of our friends and visitors -- and count both vegetarians and omnivores amongst our close companions. However, we do agree that industrial agriculture is bad for animals and people alike, and try to be as cruelty-free as we can.

More importantly, however, we do strongly encourage all of you to be aware of the decisions you make. Why are we feeding ourselves (or our pet?) certain types of food. Could we do better? Could we help prevent animal cruelty by purchasing meat (or dog food) from certain types of vendors, rather than others?

While we are not planning on eating Zeke, Arthur or Shadow anytime soon, we are always glad to have the opportunity to think about the role played by dogs in our lives, and how it differs from other relationships we have with the natural world.

That said, if we see you chasing Fido with a fork, we've got his back.

Ask Billy Update: Abbie is House-Trained!

2009-10-28T10:56:00.014-05:00

Last April, we met Abbie and her mom Judy when Judy asked Billy for some help with potty training. Click here to read Billy's Potty Training 101 advice.

Abbie will be celebrating her first Halloween.

Judy checked in with us in June. Judy reported that Abbie was making progress and asked for some help working through a few minor setbacks.

We are pleased to report that Abbie is now fully potty trained. High fives to Abbie and Judy! Kudos to Judy's husband who pitched in too! After all, the human half of the team must demonstrate tremendous patience and dedication when training a furry family member. Judy notes that patience and remembering that "she is just a puppy" were significant factors in Abbie's success.

Abbie turns one on November 14th and everyone in Happy Dog Land sends her big birthday smooches!

FDA's Pet Food Recall Website

2009-10-23T12:14:00.006-05:00

Please bookmark the FDA's pet food recall website. In addition to having critical recall information at your fingertips, you can sign up for alerts and receive up-to-the-minute recall information.

A Cute Dog Song

2009-10-22T13:59:00.005-05:00

Here's a fun dog song for your viewing enjoyment:

If you like dogs and science fiction....

2009-10-21T18:39:00.006-05:00

Even if we don't always agree with conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg, we have to admire his ability to combine his love of dogs and science fiction in these pop culture laden posts:

Start here with the short blog entry and then click here for Goldberg's truly inspired posting. Can you name all the references? Jill can.

Yoshi Our New Friend From The East Coast

2009-10-20T08:56:00.036-05:00

Dogs bring people to together -- that's one of their many benefits.

Over the weekend, we were in New York City at the Meet the Breeds event, which drew 36,000 people. We joined the folks from the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair and talked to thousands of people about our book Happy Dog Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit, which helps make your pooch happy and about the Pledge Fabric Sweeper, which helps make you happy by quickly and effectively removing pet hair from your furniture.

We also met some hundreds of dogs at the show. One of our favorite new furry friends is Yoshi.

We instantly fell in love with Yoshi, the bubbly Chow Chow. Her parents, Marianne and Lee are lovely too. Some people hear the name Chow Chow and want to run the other way due to some misconceptions about the breed. Yoshi, however, makes you stop dead in your tracks and take a closer look.

Yoshi is drop dead gorgeous and a stunning physical example of a Chow Chow. It's not surprising since she's the great granddaughter of Martha Stewart's Chow Chow Ch.E-Lin Kublai Khan Paw Paw. As you marvel at her beauty, you'll be drawn in by her welcoming personality. Sharing Yoshi with others and showing them a well socialized Chow Chow is extremely important to Marianne and Lee. Bravo! We nominate Yoshi as the Top Chow Chow Ambassador.

Meet the Breeds introduces and educates the public about dogs, breeds and sharing your life with a furry friend. People are encouraged to get up close to the dogs, pet them and learn about them.

Yoshi was the perfect Chow Chow for the job! She relished in the attention and welcomed people with a tail wag and smile. She enjoyed meeting new people, getting pats from kids and most of all, getting brushed and massaged by Billy, several times a day! She was so relaxed after visiting Billy that she went to her booth and slept like a log.

Yoshi and her family will be visiting us at the Meadowlands Pet Expo on November 21-22, 2009 in New Jersey. Stop by and see us at the Pledge booth and maybe you'll be lucky enough to meet Yoshi too!

Charlie Loves His Prizes

2009-10-19T00:14:00.010-05:00

Charlie, the week 4 winner in our Show Us Your Happy Dog contest was a Happy Dog when he saw his prize package. Mom Julie said he looks very handsome in his new green collar and that Charlie was a good boy and shared his treats with siblings Minnie and Bella.

Looks like Minnie can't wait to unpack the Wellness treats and use the Pledge Fabric Sweepers for Pet Hair!

Charlie enjoying his Barker and Meowsky frisbee.

Charlie looking snazzy in his Barker and Meowsky collar.

Halloween Costume Ideas

2009-10-16T11:00:00.003-05:00

It's the time of year when mums and decorative cabbage fill flower pots, and jack-o-lanters light up porches. It's also when we start receiving emails with photos of funny dog costumes. Here are a few of our favorites so far.

Gives a new meaning to fish out of water.

How much did they have to pay the cat to agree to this one?

Wow, now THIS is creative!

We think the dog is a vegetarian based on her expression.

This may be the funniest costume of all!

Ever since the first cave dog donned a saber-toothed tiger costume, people have been debating the merits of dressing up dogs. Billy doesn't dress up Zeke or Arthur. Jill, however, crafts elaborate home-made dog costumes every year and strongly believes that a dog should express his creativity. That said, always consider Fido's comfort and safety.

If Fido doesn’t mind dressing up and you determine this by checking with an objective third-party, go right ahead and have a ball. Whether he’s Bark Vader, Dogzilla or Hairy Potter, keep these safety rules in mind:

The costume must be comfortable and not obstruct your dog's vision, hearing, breathing or movement.
Never force your pooch to wear his costume if it makes him stressed, scared or nervous.
Be sure the costume allows your dog to wear his collar, identification and leash.
No doggy bags! Keep your dog away from the Halloween candy.

How do you feel about canine costumes? If your pooch is dressing up, please send us your photos to share with everyone in Happy Dog Land.

The Joys and Challenges of Dogs With Physical Limitations

2009-10-08T23:00:00.037-05:00

Dogs come in all shapes, sizes and colors . . . and with all different physical capabilities. Some dogs can bound after a squirrel at velocities approaching hyperdrive, others are born with physical limitations that bring unique challenges and some dogs develop health issues that result in life-changing disabilities. Regardless of health or physical limitations, all dogs deserve love, proper care and respect.

When it comes to dogs with physical limitations, people sometimes exhibit unusual reactions. Some people are scared when they see a dog that looks different or they are uncomfortable because they don't know how to react. Other people automatically assume a disabled dog is unhappy or uncomfortable and (gasp) some even believe that a severe health issue means the end.

One of our goals in Happy Dog Land and with our book Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit is to dispel dog care myths. By discussing the issues related to owning a special needs dog, we hope people will approach the topic with open minds and open hearts.

Today, we're sharing the stories of 5 special needs dogs and the generous people who love and care for them. Their insights will shed some much needed light on the associated challenges and joys, inspire you and make you smile. We also hope the information will open a dialogue and ultimately, help physically challenged pooches find loving and caring homes or keep the ones they already have.

Scrappy Jack is a 15 month old Pug from Kentucky. The poor guy certainly had a very rough start in life. He was physically abused and as a result, had one protruding eye, which had to be removed, and a broken jaw all before he was two months old. Luckily, he came under the care of RePets Animal Rescue and Adoption Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (The photo on the left was taken when he arived at the rescue.)

A few months later, mom Karen adopted Jack. Karen says that people react differently to Jack when they see that he has one eye. "They tend to feel sorry for him, which I do not want." She explains, "I don't consider him 'disabled' and do not treat him any differently than my other pets."

According to Karen, who has other Pugs, Jack is leery of strangers, which is unusual since Pugs tend to be very friendly and welcoming. "Jack doesn't like being touched by strangers and barks at them." Karen attributes Jack's reaction to the abuse he endured before arriving at the rescue and not to his physical challenges.

Scrappy Jack is a happy guy now. Notice his smile and perky ears!

Some people have counseled Karen to coddle Jack, but she rejects this advice. "If I did that, then he would realize he has limitations. I don't want him to feel that way." Instead, Karen focuses on training Jack to ease his fear of strangers.

Under Karen's care, Jack has blossomed into a happy dog who loves to play. "He has challenges most certainly. Jack does not have good vision in the eye he has left, but he doesn't let that slow him down. He is a very happy, active little boy," Karen observes. She does takes a bit of extra care to safeguard Jack's remaining eye. Karen walks through her yard a few times a week to clear away sticks and other dangerous debris that Jack may not see when he runs.

In addition, Karen has adjusted their games of fetch to account for Jack's sight challenges. "If he doesn't see me throw the toy, he doesn't know to fetch it and I have to show him where it is." Occasionally Jack plays so hard that he runs into a table or chair on his blindside. We're sure that he gets lots of kisses and the tenacious little guy just keeps going.

Karen and Scrappy Jack visit area schools and clubs, like the Girl Scouts, above, to teach kids about pet care. Certainly, interacting with Jack also teaches these children to accept others who may look different or have special needs.

Tazi, is a 12 year old Jack Russel Terrier from Ontario, Canada who lost his sight from Diabetes in 2008. Tazi's mom Barbara-Ann was pleased to share his story because "it's important for people to know that they don't have to put their pets down if they develop an illness."

Barbara-Ann explains that a pet's illness changes the owner's role. "Your dog counts on you more, but the friendship just gets stronger. I believe the love and extra care is what makes a pet [successfully] overcome a limitation or illness like Tazi has." We think she's right! Barbara-Ann adds that Tazi is doing so well that, "I don't see or feel the disability in him any more. He's just a happy Jack Russell, that still plays, loves his walks, loves his toys and has a great appetite."

Tazi's nose helped him find his Christmas stocking last year.

"I don't even notice he's blind because he does all the same things as other dogs except run by himself in the park," Barbara-Ann explains. She has, however, made some minor adjustments to ensure Tazi's safety when he plays. "Tazi runs with me by his side on his leash. It was an adjustment for him, but he did it with flying colours. He loves his walks now and trusts me as his guide. He listens to commands when we're out and when I say 'up' his little legs lift up and reach because he knows he has to step up on a curb." When Tazi hears a 'down' command Barbara-Ann says, "he knows he's going to get down off a curb so he's careful."

Neither Diabetes nor age has slowed Tazi down. When it's time for his twice daily injections, "Tazi lays down on his side and lets me do it without a problem," says Barbara-Ann. In addition, Tazi still plays with his toys all the time and enjoys hiding them in his blanket. (See photo on above.)

Tazi and Barbara-Ann teach us how love, care and patience can transform the experience of a dog (or person) with an life-changing illness.

Beatnik is another inspiring pooch with a wonderful owner. He's a 15 month old Chihuahua mix from New York who was born without front legs. His mom Linda found him on Petfinder and knew instantly that he could live a full, happy life with love and a quality canine cart.

After bringing Beatnik home, Linda's first order of business was finding that cart. Before purchasing the cart, however, Beatnik had to stop growing. "It was heartbreaking to wait, Karen remarks, "but wait we did!" Beatnik's cart arrived when he was six months old. After a second growth spurt and some additional adjustments to the cart, Beatnik is unstoppable and "has been up and running ever since."

Linda compares Beatnik to a "trotter coming out of the gate." She reports, "he navigates perfectly – backwards, figure eights, you name it. Beatnik gets very excited when he sees the cart and jumps right in it." According to Linda, the cart has not only increased Beatnik's mobility, but it has made him a confident, joyous pooch too. "He’s become very independent and loves the freedom his cart gives him."

Linda carefully monitors Beatnik for any orthopedic problems that may develop from his physical condition. For example, walking upright on two legs can damage his spine. Beatnik's condition occasionally causes "aiming" problems when he relieves himself. Linda doesn't mind the misfires and she chocks them up to "a navigation issue where he can’t position himself exactly right."

Like four-legged canines, Beatnik is busy honing his manners, playing and exploring. His two missing legs haven't caused him to miss a beat. "He's otherwise just a normal, very happy lovable dog. Always kissing, full of energy and very healthy, thankfully," says Linda. Beatnik, like all dogs, brings immense joy and excitement to his dedicated owner.

Mr. McGoo, Trio and their carts make guest appearances in our book.

In Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit, we feature two dogs in carts. Mr. McGoo, left, who passed away earlier this year, was blind and also paralyzed after a mid-life accident. These limitations notwithstanding, Gooey, was "the happiest dogs I ever met," says mom Nancy. "Gooey's" perseverance and joy inspired everyone he met and demonstrated first-hand that disabilities need not curtail a dog's happiness or spirit, unless you let them.

As a 4 week old puppy, this Pit Bull was used as bait in an illegal dog fight in Chicago. Her leg was bitten off during the fight and she was discarded. Thankfully, the pooch was rescued and received the medical treatment necessary for her recovery. Sue, a dedicated dog lover, adopted the puppy and named her Trio since she had only 3 legs. Sue's love and care have turned Trio into a happy dog.

According to Sue, caring for a large dog with physical limitations is challenging. "Trio is a big dog and weighs 65 pounds, so it can be physically exhausting to move her around," says Sue who assists Trio up the 4 flights of stairs to their walk up apartment several times a day. "I hold up her back end and help her up the stairs. I tried a harness, but it kept slipping off and Trio didn't like it."

The years of walking on 3 legs has taken its toll on Trio's body. "Her rear leg has bowed out and her back is painful," Sue says. Trio now takes daily pain killers and anti-inflammatories. Once walking became too taxing, Sue purchased a cart from Eddie's Wheels. "The cart has definitely helped Trio walk much more comfortably." Sue also takes Trio swimming for exercise. "Trio loves the freedom that the water gives her. She's so buoyant in the water." Sue opines, "the water allows Trio to move her body without excessive wear and tear or pain. She uses her tail like a rudder. She's so happy, she could swim for hours!"

Sue is always mindful of Trio's situation and limits the duration of walks, even with the cart. In addition, Sue never takes Trio to a dog park. "I'm worried that another dog might run into her and hurt one of her good legs." Trio doesn't mind and happily plays at home with her brother Gambit and enjoys short walks around the neighborhood.

Despite the challenges and expenses associated with caring for a disabled dog, Sue says it's well worth the extra effort. Sue explains "I just love her to death and she has inspired me to start a charity, the Trio Animal Foundation", which helps shelters, rescues and dog owners pay for medical care. "Generous people helped Trio when she was a puppy and I want to do the same for others," Sue adds.

Trio motivates and educates people she meets. "Everyone is moved when I explain why Trio has 3 legs and how she has thrived despite her traumatic beginning. I think Trio has helped many other animals by teaching people that dog fighting is a very real problem." Sue also finds that people are fascinated by Trio's cart. "Most people we meet have never seen a dog in a cart and have no idea they are even available."

The carts used by Beatnik, Mr. McGoo and Trio are made by Eddie's Wheels, a company highly recommended by Linda, Nancy and Sue. Linda explains, "Eddie and Leslie Grinnel are a goldmine of information about physically challenged pets and their website has a huge amount of information." Beatnik is featured in several inspiring videos on the website. Watch Beatnik in action here, here and here.

We hope reading these stories inspire and move you by showing just how fulfilling life with a special needs dog can be. Yes, these dogs have unique challenges, but love, patience and a generous heart is all they need to thrive. And, next time you see a special needs dog, don't hesitate to talk to the owner and meet the pooch.

Many shelters and rescues, such as Angel's Gate, specialize in assisting special needs dogs. In addition, Petfinder.com allows you to search for these dogs. Breed rescue groups are also good resources for information about adoptable dogs with physical limitations.

Ling Shows Off Her Prizes

2009-10-08T08:43:00.008-05:00

Ling the Chinese Crested who won Week 3 of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest clearly loves her prizes.

Ling and cousin Sheba enjoy the Wellness treats.

Ling, held by mom Jean, models her Barker and Meowsky collar and leash.

Thanks again to everyone who entered our contest. We're still uploading all the photos from week 4, so check back over the next week to see all the entrants.

Charlie is the Week 4 Winner of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest

2009-10-03T11:35:00.071-05:00

Wow! We've had a very busy week meeting hundreds of amazing dogs! Thank you to everyone who shared their pooches during our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest! It's been a pleasure and an honor getting to know your dogs. You can meet all our contest winners here.

We'd also like to thank Wellness Pet Food for including our contest and book in its monthly newsletter! The response was incredible! We are in the process of uploading the photos from Week 4, so please check back to see your darling dog in our Week 4 gallery.

And now, (drum roll please), meet Charlie an 8 year old Labrador Retriever, the lucky winner of Week 4 in our contest. He was chosen randomly from all the entries and as you'll see, he sure is a Happy Dog!

Charlie's mom Julie adopted him in June from Fetching Companions Retriever Rescue. "As soon as we saw him, we knew he was coming home to live with us." Julie says that, "Charlie's foster mom Mary O'Gorman and everyone at Fetching Companions do such a wonderful job finding forever homes for great dogs just like Charlie. I feel so fortunate to have found the organization."

Charlie loves toys, but he has a particular affinity for squeaky toys. When Charlie arrived at Fetching Companions, he was a stray and had suffered from severe ear infections that had gone untreated for quite some time. As a result, Charlie's "hearing is very poor, but what he can hear, he cherishes," Julie reports. This likely explains Charlie's passion for squeaky toys.

Indeed, Charlie squeaks his toys when Julie come home, squeaks when he gets to go for a car ride, squeaks before dinner, and squeaks before going on his walks. Charlie also, "squeaks to let you know he's happy. He can sit and squeak on his toys for hours," says Julie.

Charlie's favorite toy is his Teddy. According to Julie, Charlie "knows whenever he wears out the Teddy's squeaker he can bring it to you and you'll fix it for him by putting a new squeaker inside." There is no question what type of toy Charlie will find wrapped up for the holidays!

Charlie taking one of his occasional power naps.

"Charlie sure is one big ole happy guy. He loves to love and be loved," observes Julie. Charlie also likes to keep track of his mom and has been known to stick his nose through the shower curtain while she's inside, "just to let you know he hasn't forgotten about you."

Charlie has 2 furry siblings. Charlie's sister Minnie is an 11 year old black Lab mix. These two became fast friends and "act like they've known each other for years," Julie says.

Charlie's other sister Bella is a 3 year old Poodle-Maltese mix. Charlie is a smart guy and understands that he's much bigger than Bella. "He's such a gentle giant when it comes to Bella. He plays very carefully with her, especially when it comes to tug, he sits still and let's her do all the tugging," Julie explains. Charlie is such a good brother, we know that he won't mind sharing his prizes with Minnie and Bella.

Charlie is another example of the absolutely wonderful dogs you can adopt from a shelter or rescue! Bringing a homeless dog into your life not only makes the pooch smile, it makes you happy too!

Update: Swine Flu and Pets

2009-10-02T23:17:00.019-05:00

According to the ASPCA, our furry friends are safe from Swine Flu -- at least for now. Dr. Miranda Spindel, Director of ASPCA Veterinary Outreach reported:

"Many species can become infected with influenza viruses, but the current 2009 H1N1 virus, which is a mixture of genetic material from different species, has not been identified in animal populations in the United States to date. These viruses are notoriously unpredictable, though, and it is important that we remain vigilant.

Pet owners must remain vigilant against canine influenza, which is not the same disease as H1N1 (Swine Flu).

Canine influenza is extremely contagious to dogs, but poses no risk to humans. According to the CDC, symptoms of canine influenza include: cough, runny nose and fever. Some dogs exhibit severe infections that can lead to pneumonia and some dogs show not symptoms at all.

If you suspect that your pooch has been exposed to the disease or if she shows any symptoms or is acting strangely, contact your vet immediately and avoid areas populated by other dogs. While you're talking to your veterinarian, ask about the new flu vaccine.

Week 2's Contest Winner Sam Shows Off His Prize

2009-10-02T10:30:00.007-05:00

Check out Sam modeling his Barker and Meowsky collar and leash. He sure looks like a happy dog!

Contest Photos

2009-10-01T23:35:00.004-05:00

We are so thrilled and honored by the overwhelming response our Show Us Your Happy Dog contest has received this week! It may take us a little while to upload all of the photos we received. We will pick our winner as scheduled on October 2nd and post the pooch's story next week. Please check back to see photos of all the happy entrants!

Thanks for your patience.

Meet Ling: The winner of Week 3's Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest Dog Contest

2009-09-28T20:53:00.002-05:00

Many thanks and tail wags to everyone who entered their furry pals in this week's edition of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest. Meeting your pooches through the entries and photos is a true joy! All of the dogs are so cute and, fortunately for us, we choose the contest winner randomly. Otherwise, we'd never be able to choose just one.

Without further ado meet this week's winner: Ling, a three year old Chinese Crested from Florida.

The Chinese Crested come in two varieties, the Hairless, who like Ling, have hair only on the head, feet and and tail or the Powderpuff, who are covered all over in an extremely soft coat. According to the American Kennel Club:

It is believed that Chinese mariners sailed with this breed – believed to have evolved from African hairless dogs – on board. During the time of the Chinese plagues, hairless dogs were stowed aboard ships to hunt vermin. By the mid-nineteenth century, Cresteds began appearing in European art, and entries of the breed in American dog shows began in the late 1800s.

Ling, the runt of her litter, joined her family when she was 4 month old. Almost immediately, she became a loving family member. According to her Aunt Marjie, " When people hear that Ling is hairless, they think she'd be ugly, but everyone who meets her falls in love with her!"

"Ling is very gentle and loves to play," Marjie reports. She loves to snuggle, especially with her mom Jean. When held, "Ling loves to snuggle up under your neck."

Ling enjoying a snooze with Jean. If you look closely, Ling is smiling in her sleep!

Fetch is one of Ling's favorite games and she enjoys catching balls. Ling has a mischievous side too. Marjie notes that, although Ling "is a joy to have around, you have to keep everything out of reach just as you would with a three year old child."* Ling has been known to unroll multiple rolls of paper towels all over the kitchen floor.

Ling is a very happy and very loved dog!

Ling is a smart pooch too. Marjie said, "Ling loves to come to my back door and bark, knowing that she will get a treat." When she gets excited, Ling spins around in circles and makes everyone laugh.

Ling has several furry family members. She lives with her brother Taz (pictured to the left). Ling also has several furry cousins: Sheba, a sweet, black furry dog and three cats, Trinket, Jewel and KikiPoo.

Ling we hope you enjoy your prizes, but we have a funny feeling that your furry cousins will get a bit more use out of the Pledge Fabric Sweepers!

* Marjie makes an excellent point. Dog proofing your home is imperative for your pooch's health and safety and your sanity! We devote many pages to this topic in Happy Dog, Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit.

September 28th is World Rabies Day

2009-09-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Rabies is a serious problem across the globe for us 2-legged creatures and our four-legged friends. World Rabies Day raises awareness about the disease and it's impact on both humans and animals.

Rabies is 100% preventable, so please verify that your pooch's rabies vaccination is current. If you need more information, talk to your veterinarian and check out the World Rabies Day website.

Enter our Contest!

2009-09-26T08:28:00.004-05:00

This is the last week of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest. Enter here and win great prizes!

Amazing Animals: Orangutan and Hound are Fast Friends

2009-09-24T08:14:00.008-05:00

Suryia and Roscoe enjoy spending time together.

Check out this amazing story of cross breed love. A down on his luck hound wandered into The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, an animal sanctuary in Myrtle Beach and was adopted by a lonely Orangutan. They play and swim together and have been best friends for several years.

Here's the amazing video:

Facebook helps nab dog abuser

2009-09-23T22:24:00.003-05:00

Check out this story. It seems that Facebook is good for more than just reconnecting with your first boyfriend, who, as it turn out, is incredibly creepy as an adult, yet you are reluctant to un-friend lest he find out.

Ready, Set, Go Adopt: October Is Adopt A Dog Month

2009-09-22T10:00:00.004-05:00

We wanted to give everyone in Happy Dog Land time to gear up: The American Humane Association has designated October as "Adopt A Dog Month."

American Humane is asking everyone to be a superhero and find a "faithful companion" to share life's adventures at a local shelter or a breed rescue group. Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com are good resources too. If you can't adopt a new furry friend, then spread the word about adoption. American Humane has compiled a handy tip list to show you how.

So many dogs need homes right now due to poor economic conditions. In fact, many shelters have a plethora of purebred pooches. Over the weekend, we groomed dogs at Chicago Animal Care and Control. Among the pooches we made over were a Poodle, a beautiful black Lab and a Polish Lowland Sheepdog.

Jill adopted Shadow, a purebred Miniature Poodle from Small Dog Adoption in Plantation, Florida. Billy's dogs Zeke, A Portuguese Water Dog, and Arthur, a Cocker Spaniel, were re-homed from breeders. Our first two Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest winners, Chubee and Samuel were adopted from local shelters. There are so many ways to be a superhero to a homeless pet!

So, grab your cape and tights and go adopt!

Meet Samuel: The winner of Week 2's Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest

2009-09-18T08:39:00.043-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered their furry pals in this week's edition of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest. We enjoyed meeting your precious pooches through their photos. All of the dogs are so cute and, of course, very, very happy! Their stories are heartwarming and amazing too. Fortunately for us, we choose the contest winner randomly, otherwise, we'd have a tie all around!

Remember to enter again for the Week 3 and Week 4 drawings. And now, here's this week's winner:

We are pleased to introduce Samuel, a 22 month old Golden Retriever from Florida. Sam had a rough start in life as his first residence was not a happy place -- he was kept in a closet before he was rescued.

After her prior Golden Retriever died of cancer, Sam's mom Josie found him available for adoption on Petfinder.com, a national clearinghouse for hundreds of thousands of adoptable pets. Josie requested photos of Sam and it was love at first sight. "There was something special about Sam even then and I connected with him from the pictures. A few days later I went to pick Sam up, he was ten weeks old then, " Josie remembers. Sam quickly overcame his rough start and "settled right in and make himself at home."

Sam is a born lover. According to Jose, Sam, "has always been a sweet gentle spirit who makes friends and fans every where he goes." Sam loves kids and is happiest when he's surrounded by children who are petting him. Of course, he loves doling out squishy puppy kisses too.

Sam shares his home with three kittens and they rule the roost. He doesn't mind and happily shares his bed with his feline siblings.

Sam and Smokie

In addition to being a handsome, friendly and loving friend, Sam is a therapy dog. Sam's calm nature and openness is perfect for his work with special needs children. Josie observes, "Sam has never noticed that [the children] have special needs, [he knows] only that they are children and he loves them all." She adds, "His heart is really in his work. It's a real honor to have Sam in my life and to be able to share him with these children."

Sam at work.

The llama is also a therapy pet and really took a liking to Sam. "Sam always knows what a child needs to be comforted," Josie notes. "He has even been known to comfort other animals." Perhaps that's why he hit it off with the llama.

Josie and Sam and the kitties are clearly a match made in heaven. Sam is just one example of the many wonderful dogs you can find when you adopt. In fact, Sam asked us to remind everyone in Happy Dog Land to, "please adopt, adopt, adopt, woof. Don't forget the cats, woof!"

Kids And Dogs: A Natural Pair

2009-09-16T09:16:00.007-05:00

To us, children and dogs are a natural fit. We both grew up surrounded by pets and learned early on about the joys, friendship and love they bring. The American Humane Association, the only national organization dedicated to protecting children and animals, has a plethora of information of its website about the human-animal bond.

Kids who grow up with dogs and pets learn empathy, responsibility and respect for nature. For many of us, helping care for the family dog is our first experience with chores and leaning to take care of others. A child who nurtures a dog, also learns to appreciate, not fear animals and nature and takes these important lessons into adulthood. In addition, your child will have a natural exercise partner. Having Sally and Tom running around and playing with a dog sure beats having them watch TV and gorge on junk food!

Moreover, kids who grow up with pets may have stronger immune systems and may be less likely to develop allergies, asthma and other problems. Here's another relevant article.

If you can't have a dog or cat, don't fret. Get creative and figure out ways to expose the kids in your life to animals. Although not as cuddly as a dog (or even a cat), a fish is a fine introduction to animals. Alternatively, take your kids to visit homes with pets and talk about the importance of respecting nature and being kind to animals.

Visit the dog park or stop someone walking a dog and ask if your child can pet the pooch. (Be sure to verify that the dog is child-friendly and teach the child to allow the dog to smell his/her hand before petting.) Read books about animals and watch movies staring our four-legged friends. Many animal welfare organizations have websites and educational programs specifically for kids, such as the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society also has a site specifically aimed at teens.

Ask at a local shelter or animal rescue about programs for kids. Some may allow you to bring an older child along to walk dogs or volunteer in the shelter. A group of kids in Chicago have raised over $19,000 for animal shelters selling homemade jewelry and crafts. Many of these kids have dogs or other pets and some do not. But, all of them have learned that it feels good to help animals.

All this exposure to animals is a good thing. And who knows, your son or daughter may become a veterinarian or a top pet stylist or even write a particularly interesting, informative and well-written must-have future best seller about caring for a dog's body, mind and spirit.

Photo of Ian and Arthur by Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs

Meet Chubee: The Winner of Week 1 of Our Contest

2009-09-13T16:57:00.030-05:00

We are pleased to introduce Chubee, the dog drawn as our winner in Week 1 of our Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest. Be Sure to enter every week during the contest period.

Thrilled that Chubee won the contest, Chubee's mom Mary Jo explained why she entered, “It was a fluke I even sent the photo, a spur of the moment thing, but it felt very right. I think his spirit urged me so he could bring more joy even after he has gone. It would be so like him.”

Here's Chubee's happy (and bittersweet) "tail":

In the spring of 1998, Chubee arrived as a 3 month old pup suffering from neglect at the shelter where Mary Jo volunteered. Mary Jo plucked Chubee from death row and agreed to foster him. “Of course I fell in love and kept him! He was so sick it took a year to get him well,” she recounts.

According to Mary Jo, Chubee brought joy to everyone he met. “Even in a group of purebreds everyone wanted to know about him!” Chubee helped his community too. As a therapy dog, he visited hospitals and nursing homes and loved meeting people wherever he went. Indeed, “He always had a tail wag, paw and smile for anyone who needed it,” Mary Jo remembers.

Chubee loved Halloween and dressing up in costume.

Chubee’s best friends were his mom (of course) and his cat Monty Ali.

Chubee and his brother Henry, a rescued Doberman/Coonhound mix

Chubee with brother Rufus before he passed away

Sadly, Chubee passed away about 5 months ago. Mary Jo explained, “The week before Easter Chubee fell chasing after a squirrel, one of his favorite activities! He really tried to come back from it but his body failed him. He asked me to release him and how could I not honor his request.” Chubee has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and is romping with many of our dear furry friends, including Gabriel and Filbert (Billy and Jill's dogs). Chubee’s canine brother Henry will surely enjoy the contest prizes.

Thank you Mary Jo for sharing Chubee with us! We agree with you that having Chubee win our contest “shows his spirit is still alive.”

9/11/01 Remember the Victims and the Heroes

2009-09-11T09:38:00.004-05:00

As we pause to remember the events of September 11, 2001, we honor the victims and heroes of this tragedy.

Click here to view a gallery of the brave canines who assisted rescue workers at Ground Zero.

Guest Column: Canine Cancer Information

2009-09-08T22:21:00.014-05:00

Today we are pleased to bring you a guest column by Jen Schneider, the President of The Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation. Cancer affects many pets and knowledge is a good weapon in the fight against the disease. So, without further ado, here's Jen.

Animal cancer is a cause close to my heart, not only because it affects so many pets (and the numbers seem to be climbing year after year), but also because my own dog, Indiana, was diagnosed with cancer back in 2006. Though Indiana is still alive and well today (and cancer-free), our experience was life-altering, and my husband and I vowed to make something good out of something so awful. We created the Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation to help educate others in hopes that just one dog could be saved from this disease.

Though no hard and fast numbers are known (so many cases of cancer go undiagnosed), some estimates say that cancer affects around 50% of all dogs. Some breeds, like golden retrievers, rottweilers, and boxers, have higher rates of specific cancers I’ve seen suggestions that up to 75% of all golden retrievers will be affected by lymphoma alone.

There is no one way to prevent cancer, and certainly genetics, which we can’t personally control, play a large role. However, we as parents can go a long way in helping to reduce our pets’ exposure to carcinogens.Some easy, but vital, ways to help prevent animal cancer include:

Forgoing the use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn.
These products are thought to be the number one cause of lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancer.
Using non-toxic cleaners in your home. Your pets walk around in bare feet all the time, they they lick their paws. I feel much more comfortable knowing they’re being exposed to vinegar and baking soda rather than synthetic cleaners.
Feeding a high quality diet--the best you can afford. This involves a lot of research, because commercial pet foods aren’t all as safe as we think. Humans thrive on a fresh diet, and it is no different for our pets.
Considering titers instead of automatically vaccinating every year. A simple blood test will tell you if your pet’s body contains enough of the vaccine antibodies to keep them safe for another year.

What do you do if your pet is diagnosed with cancer? First, make sure your pet is seen by an oncologist, who is highly trained and deals only with cancer. Second, do as much research as you can (though be careful about the internet--there’s a lot of bad information out there too--and it will just scare you!). Knowledge really is power, and you’ll be able to be confident in whatever decisions you make. There are a number of online support groups, with dog parents who have been or are still dealing with cancer. You’ll often learn little tricks your vet might not know. Plus, the emotional support is invaluable.

Every dog parent dreads a cancer diagnosis, but cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Cancer treatments have come so far. Many people live within an hour or two’s drive from a specialized [animal] cancer clinic, where they have access to top oncologists, high quality diagnostic equipment, and the latest knowledge on treatments and therapies.

We often hear, “I could never put my pet through chemotherapy. My cousin had chemo, and she lost her hair and was sick all the time.” This is one of the biggest misconceptions about animal cancer treatments--that our pets will have the same side effects as our human loved ones. The goal of human chemotherapy is to cure the cancer. The goal of animal chemotherapy is to prolong quality of life. (Though cures can occasionally be achieved.) The dosages are much smaller, and many dogs sail through chemotherapy with few, if any, side effects. That’s why it’s important to consult with an oncologist; you may have more options than you think.

Hopefully you will never be faced with a diagnosis of cancer in your pet. But if you are, there is hope, and there are resources out there to help you and your pet, from finances, to support, decisions, and knowledge. Becoming educated about cancer is perhaps the best thing you can do. Helping to prevent cancer will make a difference in your pet’s future. I’d give anything to have had the knowledge I have now 10 years ago. Perhaps Indiana could have avoided her cancer diagnosis. I’ll never know. But I do know that I learned the hard way and am trying my hardest to make sure you don’t have to.

In addition to Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation, Jen recommends these websites to learn more about canine cancer:

The Perseus Foundation "a wonderful resource for all aspects of animal cancer."

Georgia's Legacy: Canine Cancer Information and Support Resource "My favorite website written by a fellow canine cancer parent."

Things I Learned From My Dog Jen's personal blog where "you can learn more about Indiana and live after cancer."

The American Humane Association: An Organization You Should Know

2009-09-05T23:35:00.001-05:00

We are so excited to be partnering with the American Humane Association to help improve the care and well-being of dogs and the relationship between people and their pets. When you buy Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit though our website, Barker and Meowsky will donate $1 per book to American Humane.

American Humane is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Its mission is to create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals. To that end, American Humane advocates for legislation to protect children and animals, raises public awareness, develops and provides training programs to child- and animal-welfare professionals and community members, and performs direct services, such as animal emergency services and animal-assisted therapy.

For decades, American Humane has celebrated and promoted the special bond between people and animals, including establishing the annual observance of Be Kind to Animals Week^® in 1915. American Humane helps people care for their dogs (and other pets) and spreads a message of compassion.

Headquartered in Denver, American Humane raises awareness about The Link^® between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane’s office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”^® end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington, D.C. is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. In addition, the American Humane^® Certified farm animal program is the nation’s original independent certification and labeling program for humanely raised food.

Check out American Humane's website, there's so much to see and learn!

Ask Billy: Why Won't My Dog's Johnson Go Back In?

2009-09-03T21:57:00.005-05:00

We've received an interesting, but potentially embarrassing question from a friend of a cute little white dog. We've changed the names of those involved to protect the pooch--we don't want to hurt the little guy's chances with the gals at the dog park. So let's just call him "Dog Doe."

"Puppysitter" writes: "I was recently babysitting the most adorable 1 year old dog for a couple of weeks and we encountered a small problem. This neutered pup became aroused after humping a teddy bear and his little pecker peeped out. Unfortunately, the hair down there was longer that it should have been, and got caught in the shaft, which prevented his lil' lipstick from going all the way back in. It was out for a day before we realized it, and he kept licking it. It was obvious he was irritated. When we took him into the vet's office- she gave him a shot for inflammation and lubricated him to remove the hair. After trimming the area, she gently tucked the unmentionable away in its place and put him on UTI medication in case he developed an infection. We were relieved when it was all over. "Dog Doe" is happy and carefree once again.

Is there a way to prevent this beyond simply puppy-scaping?"

Dear Puppysitter, thanks for asking a delicate question and thanks for taking Dog Doe to the vet right away! If you had waited, the poor guy could have developed a severe and painful infection.

Keeping the genital area clean and tidy on male and female dogs is extremely important. This true for all dogs, although dogs with coats that require trimming need some extra attention "down there." I mean, beyond the pooch's self-cleaning ability.

The coat on Hair dogs (such as Poodles, Doodles, Porties, Shih-Tzus, Yorkies, Beardies, Maltese, and mixes) keeps growing. That means, unless the hair is cut, it will get longer and bushier and then you risk retraction problems. If the hair is left uncut, it can wrap around the penis, which makes it too big (or wide) to retract. Left out, it will dry up and have no lubrication to help the retraction process. Occasionally, you'll see a dog with a coat that sheds when it reaches a genetically pre-determined length have a problem, but it's rare. Moreover, unkept genitals can cause a host of other unpleasant issues, such as mats, crusty debris--we could go on, but this is a family blog.

Regardless of your dog's coat type, you must keep his genitals neat and tidy. Whether Fido has a penis or a vagina, discharge is normal unless it becomes excessive. Moreover, if a male dog isn't neutered, you'll have lots of discharge, which contributes to the retraction danger. (Yes, another reason to neuter!) Keeping the genitals clean and tidy also prevents mats from developing and debris from hiding and exposes the area to air, which as we all know is a freeing feeling.

I recommend that the genital area be trimmed short or shaved on all dogs that have a lot of hair or fur there. Please, don’t attempt to cut or shave this area yourself. This is an extremely delicate area that requires the expert hand of a professional groomer--a good groomer with a gentle and steady touch and one without a caffeine addiction. If your dog has Hair that grows, he'll need to go in for a genital touch up about every 4-6 weeks. Otherwise, see the groomer when the fur gets long or thick.

And one more thing, Puppysitter: I recommend that you keep all your teddy bears on high shelves, especially those under age 16.

Enter our SHOW US YOUR HAPPY DOG Contest

2009-09-03T06:40:00.003-05:00

Don't forget to enter our Show Us Your Happy Dog contest.

Every Friday from September 11 - October 2, 2009 we'll randomly pick a winner from the week's entrants. The photo of the winner's pooch will be posted on our website and we'll send the winner a fun and exciting prize package. If you don't win, please enter each week! Check out all the details here.

You can see some of the entrants on our website right now!

Photo by Sheri Berliner, www.petraits.com

Art and Dogs: Meet Tamara Tsurkan

2009-09-01T09:56:00.055-05:00

Here in Happy Dog Land, we are constantly searching the world and the world wide web to bring you fascinating dog information, introduce you to interesting dog people and make you laugh and think. Today, we are bringing you Tamara Tsurkan, an artist and photographer from Wisconsin by way of the Ukraine. Animals are often the subject of her artwork and photography. Plus, she has 3 cute Beagles and she uses her artwork and skills to help her community.

HDL: Why did you decide to become a professional artist?

TT: As a child, I liked to paint an animate cartoons. I attended an art school for several years, so I've had a formal background in painting. However, I didn't pursue a career as an artist. Instead, I opted for a college degree in math and computer science, and a teaching career after that. So, there was a rather long period of time when I wasn't painting at all.

I came to the United States from the Ukraine in 2001. For the first few years, I worked as a web and graphics designer. Though that brought me closer to my childhood dream of making cartoons, it didn't feel quite as satisfying and enjoyable as making art with my own hands. Then, I bought a house and I created a few pieces to hang on the walls. This transformed into a hobby, and in a few months, I found myself devoting most of my free time to creating and learning about art. That was almost four years ago. I feel like I am just at the beginning of a journey to becoming a full-time artist.

HDL: Why do you use animals in your art?

TT: I grew up in Ukraine where there were, and unfortunately still are, a lot of stray animals. When I was a child, in addition to having our own dogs and cats, I used to bring a lot of stray cats and dogs home, give them baths and treat them. I have been fascinated by the personalities of animals and by how frank and devoted they all are.

When I started creating my artwork, portraying animals was a natural choice since I believe that one can only create a worthy piece if it's dedicated to something that one really cares about, and animals are that "something" for me. Time spent with animals is always a joyous experience for me. I want my paintings to depict the emotions I've seen in animals -- all their frankness and devotion -- so other people can experience and share the same feelings.

HDL: Who are the dogs in your life?
TT: We have three Beagles: Lucky, Lady and Sunny. We adopted Lucky and she is five and a half years old now. She is actually the mom of the other two. Lady and Sunny are two and a half years old. They are all very happy together, playing a lot and also taking good care of each other (like cleaning each other's ears :)). Being Beagles, they are very active and vivacious dogs and require a lot of attention. It's a lot of fun (and also a lot of work) to tend to them.

HDL: Have you used your pets in your art?

TT: I've used my dogs in several of my art pieces. I've been using them in two ways. The dogs in several of my paintings look like my dogs to a certain extent although my paintings are not realistic paintings. More often, it's the situations that my dogs have been in or activities they've engaged in that give me ideas for new paintings.

HDL: Do you help animals with your art?
TT: Yes! I've donated art work to several fundraisers for Angel's Wish in Verona, WI. I've also done some logo and graphic design work for two local humane society shelters, as well as maintained websites for them (the latter is partially-paid and partially-volunteer position). Also, at a recent art show I met a very interesting disabled woman who is holding a fundraiser to help pay for training of her new service dog. I donated some artwork for the fundraiser.

HDL: How can people learn more about you and your artwork?
TT: The easiest and most reliable way is through my website. It contains photos most of my paintings and all the up-to-date information about my upcoming shows and exhibits.

Dogs and Pies....mmm Graph-a-licious

2009-08-31T11:18:00.015-05:00

We just came across a website that was so much fun we had to share. Check out graphjam.com. The site is exceptionally clever and hilarious.

Here's where you can see a beautiful, multi-colored thoughtful chart calculating What Your Dog Will Bark At. However, Godiva the dog who lived at the Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resport and Spa and barked at clothed guests, may beg to differ. Clearly, she wasn't part of the poll. Perhaps, someone will update the chart.

If you've ever wondered why dogs and not cats are man's (and woman's) best friend. Check out this graph. And then send this chart to your cat-loving pals. If you have a Dachshund or any hound for that matter, you must view this Venn diagram.

Hundreds of conversation-provoking charts are at your disposal on graphjam. There's even a chart to handle your most pressing pipe cleaner questions.

Bring snacks and water when you visit the site, you'll have so much fun, you won't want to stop. Moreover, if you are so inclined, you can create and upload your own graphs and charts.

We're amazed by your happy dogs!

2009-08-29T15:15:00.006-05:00

We've been moved, amazed and wowed by the exceptionally happy dogs our Happy Dog Land friends been submitting in our Show Us Your Happy Dog contest! We've had everything from grinning Golden Retrievers and sauntering Schnauzers to dignified Dobermans and marvelous mutts. Check out the gallery of entrants here.

It reminds us, once again, of how incredibly lucky we are to have such wonderful, furry friends in our lives. Dogs are more than just "pets," they are members of our families. So keep those entries coming -- we can never have enough happy dogs in Happy Dog Land!

Do Dogs Have Friends?

2009-08-27T12:05:00.001-05:00

Depending on whether you ask a veterinarian, an animal behaviorist or a dog owner, you may receive a different answer to this critical question: Do dogs have friends?

Zeke and Arthur share a smooch.

Here at Happy Dog Land we've observed, entertained, loved and lived with countless dogs for many years. Based on that experience (and the fact that Billy fluently speaks "woof"), we firmly believe that dogs do indeed have friends. The photographs we chose to illustrate our point are not staged. Rather, they are snapshots of the relationships of dogs we know and love.

Lily and Louis enjoying the sun together.

Just as people are wont to do, dogs both like and dislike other dogs. For example, Jill's dog Shadow has decided that Arthur (Billy's mild mannered Cocker Spaniel) is his sworn enemy. Perhaps they both had their eye on the same mate in a former unneutered life or it could be that Arthur took a strong liking to Jill's son and Shadow is jealous. Although Shadow is perfectly happy to have Billy's other dog Zeke come and play, Shadow won't willingly let Arthur through the front door. When Baxter, a fluffy Coton de Tulear comes to visit, Shadow greets him at the door with crazed excitement and kisses. Shadow immediately gets into a play bow (front paws extended, head low and rear and tail up and loose), his entire butt is wagging and the joy in the air is palpable. Shadow clearly views Baxter as his friend.

Shadow and Baxter relaxing together.

When dogs share a home, they often become dependent on each other for emotional support and security -- just like we do with our friends. Arthur and Zeke are inseparable. When they are apart, each one is a bit anxious and lethargic. When they are reunited, even after a short break, they jump on top of each other and kiss and run through the house with expressions of happiness and relief on their faces. Their favorite way to relax is to lay on top of each other on the sofa and they often share a bone, each one chewing on the opposite end. Zeke and Arthur are more than friends. Indeed, they believe they are brothers and kindred spirits...and they are.

Maro and Spike play nicely together and share.

Pay attention to your dog's body language to determine whether he views another pooch as a friend or foe. If Fido's posture is loose, his whole back end is wagging, his mouth is relaxed and he's in a play bow, let him enjoy frolicking with the other dog. If Fido is stiff, baring his teeth, his tail isn't wagging or it's straight out, his ears are up or forward or his fur is standing on end (especially on the shoulders or hips a.k.a the "hackles"), he's telling you that the other dog is not a friend. Never force the issue. Remember, you can pick your friends and your nose, but you can't pick your dog's friends or your dog's nose. In addition, be aware of your dog's limitations: if he doesn't share, put away his bones and toys before a furry friend visits. Don't leave the dogs unattended, as play (even among friends) can occasionally get too serious.

So yes, we believe dogs can be friends. But don't assume that your dog will want to be friends with any other particular dog. Just as with people, some folks rub our fur the wrong way. So if you respect Fido's opinion, he can experience many of the same joys of friendship and companionship that you do. Except you may not want to sniff your best pal's butt!

Shadow and Bean resting after a long play date.

Some photographs by Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs

BIG NEWS: OUR WEBSITE LAUNCHES!

2009-08-22T00:33:00.006-05:00

Check out our new website. Enter our contest and win exciting prizes!

Visit the site to learn everything you wanted to know about the book and Billy and Jill (well almost). In Happy Dog Land, you'll find our blog, tons of expert advice about caring for your pooch and information about helping animals in need. Keep up with news, events and media appearances and contests too. You'll also be able to share photos and stories about your furry best friend.

Guest Entry Dog Massage: Much More than Pampering

2009-08-19T08:38:00.016-05:00

Today we welcome Justine Erickson to Happy Dog Land. Justine is a Certified Animal Massage Practitioner and professional groomer. Today, Justine shares the many benefits of canine massage and explains why massage can actually improve your pooch's body, mind and spirit.

Dog massage has been performed for thousands of years…by dogs themselves! In one of my favorite books on dog massage, Healing Touch for Dogs , Dr. Michael W. Fox explains how dogs in the wild use their own type of massage called “social grooming.” When mothers lick their young pups, this important stimulating action actually aids in their digestive process. Dr. Fox also points out that dogs that do not receive this type of maternal social grooming or ‘massage’ are less likely to develop and thrive.

The physical benefits of massage are numerous:

Lowers blood pressure
Aids Digestion
Improves joint flexibility
Relieves muscle soreness, tension, stiffness and weakness
Helps cleanse the body of toxins
Improves skin elasticity and coat quality (removes dead skin and stimulates hair follicles)

Massage has many emotional benefits for you dog too:

Reduces anxiety in chronically nervous dogs
Helps calm a dog for specific events that may make her anxious, such as vet visits, grooming sessions, moving to a new home, welcoming a new pet or baby into their family, etc.
Creates a sense of trust
Is an effective and enjoyable way to bond with your dog

Dogs in every stage of life, from puppies to seniors, can benefit from massage. Indeed, a regular massage regimen can:

Help with socialization: Massage gets a dog used to being touched and handled, which is especially important for families with young children or other pets.
Serve as a consistent way to monitor your dog: When regular massages are given, the therapist can develop a sense for what is "normal" for your dog. Any changes in temperament as well as physical changes (e.g., newly sensitive areas of the body, the discovery of new lumps, bumps or other changes in the skin or coat) can alert you to something that requires veterinary attention and may aid in early detection of a serious condition or illness.

Whether it’s for general wellness or condition-specific, massage can be customized to serve your dog’s individual needs and preferences. If your dog is very active and likes to engage sports, such as agility, or if is he's your favorite running companion, massage can help keep your pooch finely tuned for his favorite activities. Massage can also help your dog stay strong and avoid injury. For dogs who have had surgery or illness, massage can help speed recovery time as well as enhance their comfort and pain relief.

In my own practice, I like to incorporate gentle stretching as well as Reiki and acupressure when I feel that they will be beneficial for the dog. I really ‘tune-in’ to the dog and follow their signals about what feels good and what doesn’t. For some dogs, a short yet continuous session is best. Other dogs like to have longer sessions with "breaks" where they can stand up, stretch, sniff around and then resume the massage. Just like humans, dogs definitely have their own individual preferences and moods, which makes every session both enjoyable and challenging.

One of the most interesting aspect of the massage is what I refer to as the “calming ripple effect.” When I’m working on an individual dog, I’ve often seen the calming effects of the massage trickle over to other dogs in the immediate area. Before you know it, all of the dogs are lying down, relaxing, some falling asleep and snoring! This effect is especially amazing in animal shelters where dogs are experiencing high levels of stress. The calming energy that flows through the room is especially beneficial to these dogs. I believe that it helps them cope until they are able to find their forever home.

What you can do at home
Touch improves a dog's well-being. In fact, I would encourage you to lightly stroke and cuddle your dog as much as possible. However, any deep massage, more advanced techniques or intense stretching should be performed only by a trained professional.

Massage professionals are trained to understand the limitations of a dog’s body including the appropriate range of motion for canine joints. In addition, dogs that are older, have health problems or have recently had surgery can be more susceptible to injury. Thus, it is important to keep your dog’s massage practitioner well-informed of your pooch's current condition as well as his health history. When in doubt of your dog’s specific limitations, always consult your veterinarian first. Share this important information with your dog’s massage provider before the massage too. Massage should be a safe and enjoyable experience for your dog. Don’t be surprised if they get ‘hooked’ and are barking for more!

Justine Erickson is a graduate of the Northwest School of Animal Massage. She is also an Animal Reiki Practitioner and has completed canine acupressure training with the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Michael Vick

2009-08-14T00:20:00.007-05:00

The Philadelphia Eagles signed admitted dog fighter Michael Vick. Phil Sheridan a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer has some interesting comments about this development. If you're a big sports fan, check out the plethora of stories, commentary and fan comments all over ESPN.

What do you think?

We're happy the Chicago Bears took a pass.

Dueling Politicos Go to the Dogs

2009-08-12T20:55:00.004-05:00

Conservative Jonah Goldberg and Robert Wright (blogging for the vacationing Andrew Sullivan) come from very different places on the political spectrum. Wright (the author of The Evolution of God) is an old-school intellectual, comfortable with abstract arguments about nearly anything (his website bloggingheads.tv is also one of the more entertaining political sites anywhere). Goldberg (the son of legendary conservative flamethrower Luciane Goldberg and the author of Liberal Fascism) is one of the more vocal conservative voices on the Internet, and always in the middle of ad hominem battles with liberal bloggers. But despite their superficial differences, the subject of our canine friends fascinates them both. Goldberg is an inveterate fan of dogs, in particular his longtime companion Cosmo. He views dogs as exemplars of all that is good and true. Conversely, Wright is fascinated by dogs as a social phenomena -- are dogs parasites, or elements of our social fabric?

We understand where both of them are coming from. Here at Happy Dog Land, we continue to be amazed at the complex relationship we have with our furry friends. In dogs we project many of our best (and worst) features -- from heroism to cruelty. The evolution of dogs has paralleled the evolution of our civilization, and it is difficult to imagine ourselves today without the contribution of dogs. Dogs are a metaphor for nearly any kind of human interaction -- and they lay on our laps when we need a friend. They are an endlessly flexible lens through which we see ourselves, and they chew up our furniture. Dogs are a subject that never grows old, because in discussing them we are discussing ourselves -- and in looking at dogs we learn to better understand and appreciate each other.

Knitting For Your Dog

2009-08-11T09:49:00.024-05:00

Today, we have a guest blogger, Corinne Niessner, the author of Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend. Knitting for your furry friend is not only relaxing, but a nice way to make your pooch a Happy Dog. Although the temperature has been soaring here in Chicago, it's never early to start preparing for the cold weather that's just around the corner. So take it away Corinne!

Knitting has been a big part of my life, since I was in grade school. The rhythmic movements of my hands are now ingrained. I love the tactile aspect of it, watching my work grow in my hands, and even the smell of sheep and vinegar as I work with wool.

When I adopted my first dog, it was natural and inevitable that I would knit for her. I knit for the dogs that followed too. The dog sweater soon became my favorite garment to knit. I worked on getting the fit to be just right, and I loved to combine color in an unexpected way. Now, whenever I meet a dog, I imagine what the dog would look like in something knitted.

Instead of just knitting for my dog, I have a business, Lucky Penny Hand Made, where I make custom fit dog sweaters to order. In 2008, my book, Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend hit the shelves, so now a knitter can create the Lucky Penny look at home.

Why should your dog wear a sweater?

People with long-haired dogs often scoff at the thought. Just because your dog is covered with hair doesn’t mean that they won’t feel the cold. Think of it this way--most of us have heads covered with hair, and in winter, we would very likely be wearing a wool hat. I also have found that in inclement weather, the sweater offers a layer of protection. My dog stays a lot cleaner because she has worn a sweater outside too.

People often tell me that their dog won’t wear a sweater. I am convinced that if the sweater is comfortable, and is knit of a fiber that feels good and keeps warm, a dog will want to wear it.

Why would you want to knit a dog sweater?

You can choose color and fiber and custom fit the sweater for your dog’s unique shape. If you love luxury fibers, making a dog sweater is a relatively inexpensive way to indulge. Yes, I’m talking cashmere for a dog sweater! Over my many years of knitting, I’ve found that quality fibers elevate the end product.

For beginners, a dog sweater is an excellent first project. Most new knitters begin with a scarf, which ends up to be a long, tedious project that many give up on. By the time your get tired of knitting a dog sweater, you’re probably done! If you’re a new knitter, it’s a way to learn technique that would prepare you for the big project that’s next on your list.

My book Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend is new knitter-friendly. It has a detailed "how to" section, and drawings and photographs that take you through the maneuvers needed to complete your projects. If you need more than a book to get started, consider enrolling in a class at your local knit shop, park district, or public library.

Once mastered, knitting is a skill that will stay with you for life. It’s even more satisfying when you can share it with your dog!

You can see the Lucky Penny Hand Made collection on line. If you're in Chicago this fall, visit Corinne at Yarn Con on October 17th and the DIY Trunk show on November 21. Both events are at Pulaski Park, 1415 W. Blackhawk Street. Copies of Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend, will be available at both events.

Corinne Niessner lives in Chicago with her best friend and muse, Piccolo. Read all about Corrine's crafty adventures on her blog: Lucky Penny Hand Made.

Dogs Outsmart Kids

2009-08-09T14:41:00.021-05:00

Check out this article from livescience.com.

Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia has made it official: dogs are as smart as a 2 year old human when comparing language skills. Coren posits that Border Collies, Poodles and German Shepherds (in that order) are on par with a 2 and half year old. Even more interesting, dogs would outsmart a 3 or 4 year old in basic arithmetic.

Coren also reports that dogs are socially more adept than human toddlers too: "the social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing."

Interestingly, older breeds such as hounds and some hunting dogs scored lower on the intelligence tests. More recently introduced breeds score higher. Coren believes that there's a "high probability that we've been breeding dogs so they're more responsive to human beings and human signals."

Even with all this good news, Shadow, Jill's Poodle, is frustrated because he's been unable to type up an email to Mr. Coren outlining his objections to being ranked second. He's been muttering darkly about "opposable thumbs."

Swimming Safety Rules

2009-08-07T10:26:00.001-05:00

Before Fido dives in for a lap around the pool or a swim around the lake, review the safety rules offered here.

Even though it seems to us humans that the dog paddle is hard-wired into every canine brain, not all dogs like swimming or know what to do when they enter the water.

Keeps these safety rules in mind:

NEVER let Fido swim unattended or unsupervised.
Verify that your dog knows how to exit the water.
Be realistic about your dog's fitness and agility level and her desire to swim. Some dogs are perfectly happy walking around in ankle deep water, some dogs could spend all day paddling around the deep end of a pool and some are terrified at the mere thought of putting paw to water. Listen to your dog!
Don't toss Fido into the water, introduce him gradually so he doesn't panic and sink.
If you own a pool, be sure it is securely fenced in and covered when not in use.
Use safety equipment like entry and exit ramps and canine life jackets.
Wash your dog after his swim. Chlorine and lake or ocean water can leave stinky and irritating residue.

And, as Jill's grandfather used to say, don't let Fido swim on a full stomach.

Banfield, The Pet Hospital Bans Tail Docking and Ear Cropping

2009-08-06T15:38:00.014-05:00

USA Today is reporting that Banfield, the Pet Hospital, a national network of 730 animal hospitals and 2000 veterinarians will no longer perform tail dockings, ear cropping or devocalization on dogs for purely cosmetic reasons, such as to satisfy breed standards.

Purely cosmetic surgery on dogs --- not a good thing. The American Veterinary Medical Association agrees.

Dog Ancestry and Genetics: Redux II

2009-08-05T22:57:00.004-05:00

Scientists may have discovered why Dachshunds, Basset Hounds and other breeds have short legs. Read this article for the details and learn about the genetic marker that may help explain this physical characteristic.

Interesting information to discuss over breakfast.

Where do dogs come From: Redux

2009-08-05T08:36:00.010-05:00

A while back, we discussed theories of the evolutionary origins of our canine friends.

New research chronicled in a recent New York Times article, adds a novel theory for dog lovers and scientists to chew on: dogs did not evolve in East Asia, but more likely in the Middle East.

Stay tuned as researchers discover more about man (and woman's) best friend. In the process, this knowledge of canine genetics will hopefully improve the health of our four-legged pals.

Be Like Martha: Pledge to Help a Shelter

2009-08-03T20:47:00.005-05:00

Although we take no position on the food, Purina has a wonderful new program to encourage people to volunteers at animal shelters. Purina will donate $5 to a participating animal shelter when you pledge to volunteer there. Jill and Billy have made their pledge to Chicago Animal Care and Control. Martha Stewart, who is a spokesperson for Purina, made her pledge. Purina will donate up to $500,000 to help needy pets. What are you waiting for? Volunteer today!

Yea Billy! Billy Earns Another Prestigious Certification

2009-07-28T09:40:00.021-05:00

We are proud and pleased to announce that Happy Dog Land's own Billy Rafferty earned his Master Pet Stylist (MPS) certification from the prestigious International Society of Canine Cosmetologists. The ISCC offers continuing education and strives to advance the pet stylist profession by developing and promoting recognizable standards of pet styling excellence. The ISCC also has a code of ethics for it's members and certified pet stylists.

To attain the MPS certification, Billy attended numerous seminars and passed a variety of comprehensive written and practical skills examinations. The rigorous course of study includes, "educational and validation programs encompassing understanding and overall knowledge of breed standards, basic and advanced clipper techniques, scissor and hand-stripping techniques as well as rules of perception, locomotion and geometrics as applied to the ideal sculpting and design of canine coats." For all you regular dog lovers, this means that Billy knows virtually everything there is to know about styling a pet safely, properly and artistically! Few groomers have successfully earned this certification due to the exceptionally challenging course content.

Congratulations Billy! In addition to his Master Pet Stylist (MPS) certification, Billy is a Certified Master Groomer (CMG), DermaTech Specialist (DTS) and Companion Animal Hygienist (CAH). Billy, we are proud of you and applaud your efforts to continue your education.

Guest Column: Keeping Fido Organized Means More Time For Fun!

2009-07-26T20:49:00.021-05:00

Organization guru Molly Boren of Simplicity Works Home and Office Organizing Services is a long time friend of Happy Dog Land. Not only did Molly organize Jill (a notorious slob), but she introduced Jill and Billy to their wonderful agent Rebecca Oliver.

If Molly can successfully teach Jill how to keep her clutter under control, she can help anyone, including your four-legged pal! Like many dogs, Jill's dog Shadow had his things strewn throughout the house. Shadow wasted way too much time hunting for his bone or poop bags. Finding his stuffed Hedgie was becoming a chore. Molly to the rescue! Shadow is organized and everyone in the house knows where to find all the canine accessories.

We asked Molly for some advice on keeping all the dog accessories organized and accessible. Here's what she said:

With a little organizational forethought, you can avoid some of the frustrations of dog ownership -- and better focus on its joys! Here are some ideas to consider:

"A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place"

This old chestnut has endured for a reason. If everything has one "home," there's only one place to look for it or to return it. Give each broad category of things a home, preferably one near the area in which the items are used.

- Label containers. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to stay organized -- a Sharpie or a Post-It note works fine. (Ed. Note: A battery operated label maker is loads more fun!)

-Corral those little bags of pet snacks in one open bin.

- Decide whether to keep pet-related cleaning supplies in the "pet supply" home or in the "cleaning supply" home. Either works; just be consistent.

- Tell everyone in the household about these "homes"! Only once they're fully informed can you get annoyed with them for not picking up after themselves.

Everyday vs. Extras

- Keep all everyday grooming and feeding supplies on a shelf or in a cabinet near the pantry, main entrance, or other often-used area.

- Transfer a manageable amount of food from a large bag to a smaller, air-tight container, or use a binder clip to keep the contents of a smaller, open bag fresh.

- Keep extras such as surplus food, seldom-used medicine or out-of-rotation toys in a less accessible home like a high shelf. These items don't need the "prime real estate" required by everyday items.

Grab and Go

- Store supplies for walks at every entrance/exit point: leash, towels, plastic bags, etc. for Fido, and perhaps gloves, a scarf, a flashlight, and a lint roller for you.

- Establish a system for moving dirty post-walk towels toward the laundry. Do they go straight to the laundry room? Is there a small hamper near the back door?

Triggers for Reducing and Replenishing

- Use the changing of seasons or Fido's birthday as triggers to go through his supplies and toys and recycle, donate, or toss what's no longer useful, expired or broken.

- When a supply container becomes less than half-full, check your "extras" area; if no surplus exists for the item, add it to your shopping list.

Contain the Slosh

- Put Fido's water and food bowls on a tray. Not only does he deserve a little fanciness, but this also contains spills and saves you elbow grease.

In Case of Emergency

- Be sure that Fido's veterinary and health information are clearly recorded in a binder or posted on the fridge with your other family emergency information so that anyone can find it when they need it.

Have Fun

- With the time and energy you've saved by getting organized, take Fido to the park!

Visit Molly's website and learn how she helps busy people streamline their lives with tips, tools, and hands-on projects that make everyday routines and spaces more efficient and less cluttered. Be sure to sign up for Molly's helpful newsletter.

Puppies and Prisoners

2009-07-24T16:35:00.001-05:00

"The program has taught me to be patient, honest with myself, and how to work without ego. My last dog, Yankee, went to a war veteran somewhere in Colorado. Just knowing that I helped to change someone's life makes me feel as if I have a purpose and a destiny. These dogs have a way of touching a person's spirit." --Tyrone, has served 8.5 years in Fishkill Correctional Facility for a violent crime.

Time Magazine's article on Puppies in Prison is a must read. The photo essay explores the program Puppies Behind Bars, which "trains inmates to raise puppies to become service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines for law enforcement." The photo essay shows us how dogs can change the lives of prisoners and give them a sense of purpose and positive place in the world.

And, that's a good thing for everyone!

Goodbye to a furry friend who made us laugh and crave fast food.

2009-07-23T13:31:00.007-05:00

Gidget the Chihuahua who stared in many Taco Bell ads proclaiming "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" has passed away. Gidget was 15 when she suffered a stroke on July 21, 2009 that ended her life.

Gidget made us laugh and we hope she's playing near the Rainbow Bridge. It's a fitting reward for a talented pooch.

What to Feed Fido: Some Quick Tips

2009-07-22T20:41:00.000-05:00

Lately, many people have been asking us advice about dog food. To tide you over until September 1st when you can read the detailed, but pithy nutrition chapter in our book Happy Dog Caring for Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit, here's some information.

Learn to read labels. The length of the ingredient list doesn’t always indicate the quality of the food. The ingredient list must show the ingredients in descending order by weight. A protein from a speciﬁed animal should be the ﬁrst ingredient. Avoid generic proteins such as “meat” or “poultry.” Although dogs like to eat some of the animal parts we don’t, proteins from a specified animal are better than by-products. Likewise, by-products are better than rendered meals and digests.
Watch for ingredient splitting. A manufacturer can list similar ingredients separately to make you think that it’s using less of a lower-quality ingredient. For example, corn is a mediocre, but cheap protein source. Rather than put it ﬁrst, a manufacturer might order its list of ingredients this way: “Chicken, Ground Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Cellulose, Corn Germ Meal,” etc. Because Chicken comes ﬁrst, you’d think Chicken is the main ingredient. However, when you add up the three “corns,” they could well outweigh the Chicken.
Don't fall victim to marketing. Just because a package is covered with beautiful pictures of fruit and veggies or uses the terms “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean that the food is actually nutritious or healthful. You must read the label and see what’s actually in the food.

Remember, just as with you, Fido is what he eats! Obesity is a growing problem for dogs too. Feeding good quality food and treats will help keep Fido’s waistline in check. This also maximizes his quantity and quality of life.

Ask Billy: How Do I Choose The Right Dog For Me?

2009-07-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

Q: Emily from New York wants to know how to determine what type of dog is best for her lifestyle and family.

A: Emily, I'm so glad you asked this question because bringing a dog into your household is an important decision that cannot be taken lightly --EVER! A dog is a lifelong commitment and should never be an impulsive acquisition -- many dogs live 12-17 years.

First things first, do a lot of research and analysis. Many respectable websites offer sound advice for potential dog owners. Here are a few articles to start you off:

Petfinder

Adopt a Pet

American Humane Association

ASPCA

Humane Society of the United States

American Kennel Club

Realistically assess your capabilities, time commitment, and budget. A Poodle requires much more professional grooming than a Pug. Don’t get a Border Collie or a Portuguese Water Dog unless you are willing and able to provide a safe means to release all the innate energy. Read books and talk to friends, family, and dog care professionals.

Visit shelters and reputable breeders. A good breeder is picky and will want to ensure that you know the pros and cons of a specific breed before you take a dog home. Similarly, if you’re considering a mixed breed, try to get a sense of the dog’s personality and learn about the breeds in the mix. Spend time with the breed or dog you like before making a final decision.

Never get a dog unless everyone in the family or household wants one. Likewise, dogs make lousy gifts. The recipient may not have the time, money or energy to care for the pooch.

Remember to check you local shelter for your new best pal and don't buy a dog from any person or store that supports puppy mills.

Don't Skimp on These Dog Care Necessities

2009-07-18T19:46:00.000-05:00

You dog depends on you to keep him healthy and happy. So, spend your doggie dollars wisely on these necessities:

Regular veterinary care, including vaccinations and parasite preventatives, is critical. Don’t skimp on the “routine” care. Flea prevention is cheaper than treatment for a flea infestation. Heartworm preventatives can save your dog’s life and keep you from spending much more money to treat the disease.
A collar, leash, and proper identification (including a microchip) are essential and help keep Fido safe and sound.
Always buy the best food you can afford. Cheap food is cheap for a reason, and the old adage “you are what you eat” is true for dogs too. Moreover, when a manufacturer uses cheap ingredients, it has to bulk up the food with ﬁllers to meet the government’s minimum nutritional requirements. As a result, the portion size for cheap food is typically larger than for more-expensive food with higher-quality, more-digestible ingredients. In the end, you’ll be buying more of the cheap food, which usually works out to be more expensive than buying the higher-quality food in the ﬁrst place.
Purchasing a few good quality toys that will withstand your dog’s chewing strength is better than buying many cheap toys that break up and become choking or obstruction risks.
Buy yourself a pair of good walking shoes. Walking with your dog is free, and is good for you and your pooch. More than anything, our pets want our time, which costs nothing! You can save money by skipping the movie and babysitter and having game night at home with your cat in your lap and your dog at your feet.
Buy only essential grooming tools: for most dogs all you need is a good quality slicker brush and a metal comb. Many of the tools now sold to dog owners are really meant for professionals. These tools can be dangerous in unskilled hands. For example, clippers can scratch or cut skin, or render your pooch accidentally bald! The blades heat up quickly and can burn Fido’s skin. Many tools are just a waste of money. In your kitchen, you don’t really need a tool for each separate task, and the same is true for grooming. Save money by NOT buying the gimmick tools—they are often specialty items that do more dust-collecting than hair-collecting.
Forgo fancy spa products. There is no reason to purchase a shampoo for every doggie dirt situation either. A proper wash using a hypoallergenic dog shampoo and conditioner is sufficient. It’s crucial to use only those products formulated for canine skin. The skin and hair on humans and dogs have different pH requirements, which means that most human shampoos (including baby shampoos) dry out a dog’s coat or irritate her delicate skin. In some cases, the resulting skin problem may require veterinary attention. It should go without saying: never use household or industrial cleaners on a dog. The horror stories Billy could tell and does in our book Happy Dog Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit (available 9/1/09)

If you skimp on these necessities, you'll end up paying through the nose later.

Keeping Fido Clean and Healthy On A Budget

2009-07-15T07:36:00.001-05:00

Times are tough all over right now and many people have to cut back on dog expenses. Thankfully, there are many things you can do at home to keep Fido healthy and in tip top shape while saving money. Here's a few suggestions:

Inspect your dog. Fido can’t tell you if he’s under the weather, or even if he's uncomfortably dirty—you have to discover these problems yourself. An inspection allows you to gather, track, monitor, and assess the state of your dog’s health and cleanliness in a systematic and thorough manner. Moreover you’ll discover medical and grooming issues well before they become painful to your dog and your pocketbook. Once a week, using your hands, eyes, ears and nose, give your pooch the once over. Fido's eyes, however, require daily inspections. Be sure you check every nook and cranny. The entire process takes about five to ten minutes, and your dog will appreciate the attention. If at any time you see, feel, smell, or sense trouble brewing, call your veterinarian immediately. Your inspection may save your dog's life (and your bank account).
Dog-proof your house. Many household items are dangerous to dogs as poisons, or as choking/obstruction risks. Spending a few minutes a day clearing your counters, closing drawers and doors, and putting away medicine, cleaners, food, and small objects will safeguard your dog. It’s easier to clean up than to pay a huge a vet bill or replace chewed or swallowed items.
Brush, brush, brush! Brushing saves time, money, and is an excellent opportunity to bond with your dog. Brushing also extends the time between professional grooming appointments, loosens and lifts dirt, and keeps skin healthy. Brushing removes the dead coat before it can fall off your dog or cause mats, which can increase professional grooming costs. For most dogs, a slicker brush is all you need. If your dog has extremely short hair, such as a Boxer, Doberman, Dalmatian or a Pug, you can use a rubber curry. You don’t even have to brush the entire dog every time. Brush a quarter of your dog each day and by the end of the week, he’ll have been completely brushed twice. Besides, more fur in the brush means you'll spend less on lint rollers and dry cleaning!
Be smart about products. Most people use far too much product when bathing their dog at home, which wastes money and makes rinsing difficult. Dilute shampoo in a bowl or separate bottle. Don’t dilute it in the original bottle because adding water can spoil the product. All you need is one quality hypoallergenic CANINE shampoo and one CANINE conditioner. Although they’re fun to use, you don’t need fancy spa products. And there is no reason to purchase a shampoo for every doggie dirt situation—a proper wash with a regular dog shampoo followed by a regular conditioner is sufficient. Make sure you rinse thoroughly because product left on the skin can cause painful and costly skin infections.
Ask for a shorter haircut. When your dog gets a haircut, ask your groomer to cut the coat a “step” (or slightly) shorter. The shorter haircut can stretch the time between professional appointments, but make sure the cut isn’t too short since exposed skin is prone to sunburn. And because you’ll extend the time between appointments, brushing becomes critical—the coat on some dogs can mat up overnight.

In our next post, we'll talk about the most efficient way to spend your dog care dollars.

Get to Know Adopt a Pet.com

2009-07-12T21:02:00.036-05:00

At Happy Dog Land, we are dedicated to helping animals in need. For instance, on our book tour, we will be partnering with companies to help raise money for local and national animal welfare organizations. (Stay tuned for more details!) and our soon to be ready website www.happydogland.com will highlight stories from our readers who have helped animals. Billy and Jill also volunteer at Chicago Animal Care and Control and other Chicago animal welfare organizations.

We are always meeting new people and organizations that help animals. Today we are talking to Jeff Howard of Adopt-A-Pet.com to learn more about the organization.

Q: What is Adopt-a-Pet.com?

A: Adopt-a-Pet.com is the world's largest non-profit adoption website. We are like an ad agency for shelters and shelter pets. Sadly, there are 4 million healthy and adoptable companion animals killed in shelters each year due to overcrowding. We do our best to relieve that problem and put pets from shelters in the homes of pet seekers all over the country.

Q: What can we find on your website?
A. Our website makes it easy for anyone with an internet connection to find profiles and pictures of adoptable animals by location, breed, gender, age, size, and color. Over 8,000 shelters posts pets on our website displaying over 125,000 pets available for adoption at any given time. We also help volunteers connect with shelters, and currently host thousands of people listed in our volunteer database for shelters.

Q: Do you work with any other animals in addition to dogs and cats?

A: Yes we do! In addition to dogs and cats, we now feature all kinds of pets for adoption, including rabbits, farm animals, ferrets, hamsters and other small animals, horses, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even fish. This was a major initiative that took many months to research and program into the site, and it is being well-received within the shelter community.

Q: What are some of the unique features on your website?
A: On our website, people can use something we call “Search Saver.” This feature will notify users by e-mail when a particular pet fitting their specifications in available for adoption. For example, I can tell “Search Saver” where I live and what type of breed I am looking for. When that animal is available, I am notified the next time a pet matching my search is added on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

As of this summer we have now made it easy for our visitors to find pets and then recommend them to friends and family via Facebook, Twitter and other social applications. We are calling the idea “Social Petworking.” Here is how it works; once you have searched and found a pet in need, on the pet details page simply hover over the button labeled “SHARE,” there you can send the pet details page to any of your friends.

Q: You've teamed up with a well-known artisit to help raise awareness and money for animals in need. Please share this exciting news!

A: We have teamed up with renowned street-artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the iconic Obama "Hope" image. As a result, we have available a number of stylish ways to promote pet adoption. Shepard was able to translate his work with Obama to an image that can be used to represent pet adoption support. You can download the image to share, embed it on your website or print it. T-shirts and clothing and stickers are available too and these purchases help raise money to help homeless pets.

Q: What other kind of information can we find on the website?

A: Adopt-a-Pet.com has recently begun blogging, and every week we publish posts from two separate columns. On Tuesday, we blog about pet care tips, and on Fridays we do our best to find heartwarming stories about adopted pets all over the country. Here are a few highlights from our blog:

10 Ways To Help Homeless Pet, Even If You Can’t Adopt
What To Ask Your Veterinarian
Good News In Pet Adoption – A Weekly Post
10 Things To Consider Before Adopting

Adopt-a-pet is also on Facebook and you can follow it on Twitter at AdoptaPetcom.

Watch the Trailer for Our Book: HAPPY DOG CARING FOR YOUR DOG'S BODY, MIND and SPIRIT

2009-07-10T15:17:00.002-05:00

Here's the trailer for our book:

If you don't see you dog, please email us a photo at info@happydogland.com and we'll include it on our website, which is coming soon at www.happydogland.com.

Tips To Keep Fido in Tip-Top Shape

2009-07-09T16:07:00.001-05:00

Here's some easy ways to keep Fido's body, mind and spirit healthy. Print this tip sheet out and post it on your refrigerator.

Insect the dog from head to toe and front to back, every week for growths, injuries abnormalities or grooming issues.
Clean teeth, eyes, ears, paws, rear end and genitals regularly. Keep nails trimmed.
Visit the veterinarian at least once a year for a check up and as often as necessary for emergencies or mishaps.
Keep your dog’s vaccinations current.
Spay and neuter.
Don’t forget doggie dental care at home and with the vet.
Feed your dog the most nutritional food and treats you can afford.
Love and play with your dog every day.
Use preventatives to protect against parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm.
The dog must wear current identification at all times.
Keep your dog on leash or in a 100% secure area if off leash.
Be a canine ambassador: clean up after your dog and train him to be well behaved.
Help dogs in need and speak out to protect animals.

Arthur Finds His Inner-Herder or How Breed Based-Activties Equal Big Fun For Fido

2009-07-07T06:41:00.028-05:00

Billy's Cocker Spaniel Arthur herds chicken at a friend's farm in Indiana.

You know what they say, you can take the dog out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the dog.

Arthur, a normally mellow, urbane and beautifully- coiffed Cocker Spaniel typically spends his day greeting clients at Billy's salon, strolling the Chicago sidewalks and romping with his brother Zeke in a high-rise apartment. Yet, this weekend Arthur's ancestral yearnings took over and Arthur went from city dog to Barnyard Dawg faster than you can say "Foghorn Leghorn."

Why did this happen?

Through the magic of genetics, Arthur found his inner gun dog. Despite his years in the city, Arthur's innate urge to flush game and retrieve never left him. Arthur chased, herded and retrieved chickens to his hearts content. His tail never stopped wagging.

No matter how citified Fido may be, his breed (or breeds) often reveal a new way to exercise, play and relieve boredom. Historically, breeds had speciﬁc jobs. For example, Portuguese Water dogs worked in the water with fishermen, herding fish into nets, moving nets in the water and delivering messages between ships. Basset Hounds, with their long ears and highly de veloped sense of smell and slow pace, assisted hunters in tracking prey. Border Collies herded and protected flocks of sheep.

Dogs require mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Today, most dogs are unemployed and spend their days in backyards, parks and living rooms. Discovering your dog's hereditary job offers a new way to keep Fido mentally and physically fit--it also decrease the chances that Fido will chew your furniture to release energy or stress.

So, do some research and learn about your furry friend's history. Then, find an activity that emphasizes the job your dog was meant to perform. If your pooch is a genetic mix, try out jobs from all his breeds.

Hide snacks in your yard and set your Beagle loose to uncover the treasure. Join a hunting club for your pointer, spaniel, terrier or hound, but dress her in orange to keep her safe from other hunters. Or buy a stuffed squirrel and play fetch. A farmer may require help herding his sheep (or chickens) or a golf course may need a dog to keep birds off the grass. Here in Chicago, the Park District occasionally uses Border Collies to chase seagulls and geese away from beaches and parks. The possibilities are limitless. An uber-yuppie friend of Happy Dog Land now spends his weekends in the brush instead of in the artisanal cheese shoppe so his German Short-haired Pointer can hunt with other members of a hunting club. Who knows, you may even find your inner-Homo Erectus.

Before we go, we state for the record, that no chickens were harmed in the making of this blog entry.

July 4th: Pets and Fireworks Don't Mix

2009-07-02T10:24:00.005-05:00

Even though it seems logical to bring Fido along to outside celebrations, sometimes it is better to leave him home. Fourth of July is not a dog-friendly holiday. Many dogs are easily spooked by ﬁreworks. Indeed, dogs often become noise sensitive as they age.

When ﬁreworks are booming, Fido should always be inside, sequestered in a safe, quiet room. In addition, never leave Fido unattended in your yard on July 4th (or any other time). Stray ﬁreworks can land there or the noise of neighboring ﬁreworks can scare him and he’ll desperately try to escape. Whether or not he succeeds, he can seriously injure himself.

If you do bring Fido with you to a celebration, keep him on leash at all times. Your normally calm dog may dart off unexpectedly and terrible accidents happen to dogs off leash, especially when you throw pyrotechnics into the mix. Fido should be nowhere near cherry bombs, Roman candles, sparklers or anything else that involves ﬁre and gunpowder. If he gets too close, he can be burned, lose an eye or suffer hearing loss from the explosions.

Immediately dispose of all unused ﬁreworks and remnants, as they are toxic if ingested. After the holiday, look for ﬁrework pieces when you’re out walking or playing. Protect everyone’s pet by throwing away anything you find.

Besides, if you leave Fido safe at home, you can relax and celebrate the birthday of our great nation!

Dogs, Camp and Reading

2009-06-29T09:32:00.027-05:00

Yesterday, Jill dropped her son off for camp in a parking lot in the suburbs of Boston. It was Ian's first time at camp, and like most of the campers (new and old) the boys were nervous. It's not easy to leave your parents, whether you're 9 or 15. About half of the families had brought along their dogs as Jill would have if Shadow could fly in the cabin.

In the parking lot, both humans and canines could sense that the air was thick with emotions: excitement, nervousness, anticipation and fear. As the people and pets milled about, Jill noticed that virtually every kid bent down to pet the dogs as they walked by. Each time, Jill could see that the interaction melted away some of the nervousness and distracted the kid as he was about to leave his parents and his comfort zone behind. As the time for departure grew near, more kids and now parents were petting and smooching the dogs. As people flocked to the dogs, conversations were started and new friends found. Clearly, the dogs provided emotional support to everyone standing in the shadow of the buses.

Dogs are used in therapy for many of the same reasons they proved helpful in the parking lot. Dogs break down emotional barriers, offer unconditional and non-judgmental love and support, which encourages people to work through their stress.

Programs like Sit, Stay Read, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.), Bidewee's Reading to Dogs Program, Reading with Rover, PAWS for Reading and many others around the country bring therapy dogs to schools, libraries and clubs to help children learn to read. When the kids, most of whom have poor literacy skills, read aloud to the dogs magic occurs. The dog listens attentively and never corrects, laughs or teases the child. The dog is a non-threatening listener and the children are relaxed and willing to try to read aloud. As a child's reading skills improve, so does the child's confidence and self-esteem. Teachers report that formerly hesitant students volunteer to read aloud and students develop a love of reading. Hard numbers back this up. (Look here too.)

So, whether kids are going to camp, learning to read or coping with other stressful situations, dogs are there to lend a helping hand -- er paw. This is one of the myriad reasons dogs why are man's (woman's and kids') best friend.

Good Books For New Puppies

2009-06-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Teresa from Alaska recently wrote to Happy Dog Land asking us to recommend training books to help with her two new adorable puppies (pictured below).

Emma with her new brother Sam.

Big sis Kaytie holding Bailey.

We asked two well respected and trusted Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT) trainers Lynn Brezina and Jamie Damato for suggestions. Here is their list:

Positive Puppy Training Works by Joel Walton
Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar
Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell
The Puppy Whisperer by Paul Owens

Of course, your home work along with a well recommended puppy class that teaches positive reinforcement rather than punishment-based training will start your new pup's life off on the right paw!

A Little Latte Goes A Long Way

2009-06-24T07:42:00.019-05:00

Micheal Gerson's Op Ed piece in today's Washington Post is worth a read. In his column, Gerson chronicles his transformation from someone who was infamous for his "intolerance for animals" to someone whose "prejudices" have been "melted" by a cute Havanese named Latte. While exploring his emotions, Gerson covers several heady topics including animal rights, animal welfare and friendship.

We may not agree with everything Gerson espouses, but it's always nice to give a shout out to a new member of the dog loving community.

A few weeks back, first-time dog owner and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote about her experiences with her new puppy Tank. Marcus' tale of the pup's introduction and effect on her family is humours and heartwarming. She writes:

"We are on the computer -- on our four separate computers -- less. We are rolling around on the family room floor more. We are talking to our neighbors, not just waving at them en route from car to front door. We are in the back yard, throwing the Frisbee for Tank to fetch or, in Jon's case, running alongside him; Tank, having had the pleasure of accompanying him on this mission, now refuses to budge until Jon gets moving, too. Smart dog, he has clearly distinguished between "Stationary Lady Who Feeds Me" and "Fun Running Guy."

Marcus reiterates what we in Happy Dog Land already know, a dog is a family member who brings love and joy and fosters togetherness and community.

My Own Private Duncan Idaho or Been There DUNE That

2009-06-21T22:00:00.003-05:00

Recently, a company specializing in genetic engineering called BioArts successfully cloned Trakr, a 9/11 canine hero. For those of us just getting over the fact that 8-track tapes are getting replaced by cassettes, this is nothing short of astounding. Spending your whole life with your same best furry pal is, apparently, only a few test tubes away. Seems like a no-brainer...right?

Wrong.

Just because a living being has the same exact genes as your long time companion, doesn't mean Fido II, III and IV will have the same personality as Fido I. It really doesn't matter what Fido II looks like, or whether his mitochondria do a dance just like Fido I's. Rather, what really matters is Fido II's personality -- and that can't be cloned (at least not yet).

We all would love to have our old dog back after he dies. That's impossible, however, unless you can replicate every single experience Fido I ever had in his whole entire life (and just read The Boys From Brazil to get a sense of what that might entail!) Moreover, why go to the trouble and expense of cloning and the associated ethical conundrum when all you get is a new dog that merely looks like the original? Identical DNA can only go so far to bring back your beloved Fido I.

There are so many dogs in need of a home and your nurturing can make New-Fido into your new best pal. New-Fido will never be the same as Fido I. He will, however, be just as good, only different. And, that difference is what makes life interesting. Perhaps New-Fido will be a jogger and you'll lose weight, or she'll be that lap dog you always wanted. Each new pet opens a world of possibilities so why just settle for appearances?

Moreover, cloning could very easily become an addiction. Once you make one clone Fido, you can keep going back to the folks at Bio Arts and turn out a whole chain of Fido gholas -- just like the God Emperor of Dune -- and we all know how that turned out for Duncan Idaho and the entire human race!

Your dog is who he is because of the nurturing you and your family and friends provide. You can't just reawaken memories in the clone-Fido and expect everything to be the same. Moreover, you never know whether the cloning process itself can cause something to go awry. Fido III may turn out to be a pawn in a centuries old war and the Theilaxu's plan for fetch-dominance comes to your living room. In all seriousness, though, the more critical problem is that Fido II may suffer medical issues due to the cloning process. Cloning is hardly a risk-free undertaking.

While we understand the urge to clone, we must insist that you consider this option a folly. With so many wonderful dogs available for adoption, it seems silly to try to replicate a pet who has already reached his great reward. Each pet is different -- and that's the joy of it all. Don't try to relive the past through Fido II or III or IV -- let go and enjoy the present.

Bravo Portuguese Water Dog Breeders!

2009-06-20T10:54:00.010-05:00

As reported in the Wall Street Journal today, the demand for Portuguese Water Dogs has risen tremendously since Bo Obama moved into the White House. Reputable Portie breeders (like good breeders of all dogs) don't allow just anyone to purchase their dogs. The screening process is strict and demanding. Portie breeders are turning down people at an even higher rate than usual because so many people want the "It" dog.

"We try to discourage people," says Mary Eadie, a breeder in Annandale, Va., who says she has had 300 calls since Bo Obama came on the scene. She says she narrowed the field by eliminating anyone who wanted a dog immediately or wanted a female to breed. Then she weeded through applications, finally inviting the final 30 for interviews to vie for the 10 puppies her two females gave birth to in March. "We try to educate the public about the commitment involved in taking on this dog," she says.

The vigilance of these breeders will protect the breed and ensure that the dogs go to people who can take proper care of these highly energetic dogs.

With demand for Porties growing by leaps and bounds, puppy mills will unfortunately fill the void. If you want a Portie and the "breeder" or pet store is willing to sell you one no questions asked, walk away and don't look back--you may be turned into a pillar of salt. Don't be tempted because you will be supporting unscrupulous people who don't care about the welfare and safety of the dogs. Moreover, you want to be able to sleep at night. If you can't get a Portie, there are millions of other wonderful pooches waiting for you to find them!

Kids and Dogs: A Few Rules And A Lot of Common Sense

2009-06-18T10:12:00.015-05:00

By now, everyone has probably heard about the toddler who flushed a puppy down the toilet while trying to give the pooch a bath. Thankfully, the pup was saved by a skilled plumber. This story reminds us that while kids and dogs are a wonderful combination, they must be supervised. Pet expert Steve Dale provides some rules to keep kids and dogs safe while together. Review Steve's rules and talk about them with your kids.

Children are never too young to learn how to safely interact with pets. Start by showing your young child how to gently touch a pet. As your child ages, teach her some of Steve's more detailed rules. Your efforts will ensure that your kids enjoy a life-long happy relationship with our furry friends.

Ask Billy: Potty Training Follow Up

2009-06-15T08:17:00.031-05:00

Abbie Bella with the grandson's pacifier.

We first met Abbie Bella in April when her mom Judy asked Billy for potty training advice. Abbie is now seven months old, has graduated from her first obedience class and been micro-chipped and spayed. Bravo Judy! Training your pooch, fixing your dog and giving her permanent identification is not only responsible, but will help keep her safe and healthy.
Judy has been following Billy's advice for about two months. Here's a progress report:
"Abbie was sleeping with me, but then she would get up all the time and I would have to get up to make sure she wasn’t tinkling or pooping on the carpet. I was losing a lot of sleep and couldn’t handle that. Since May 29, I have been putting Abbie in her crate in the bedroom right beside my bed, close to my pillow, where she can see me. First, we will get in the bed, cuddle and play awhile and then I will crate her for the night. Abbie now sleeps through the night without having to go out before 6am. On the weekends, we tend to sleep a little later, but she whines when she needs to go out. I take her out and then come back to bed for awhile and she usually goes back to sleep!"

Way to go Judy! Billy is a firm believer in crate training. Abbie is safe when she's in her crate. She's also learning to control herself because she wants to keep her personal space clean. Just be sure to race her outside as soon as you open the crate door. Praise her and give treats when she goes to the bathroom outside.

"I'm following Billy's advice and taking Abbie out right when I get in the door at home, after eating and on an hourly basis up to bedtime each night. Abbie's been getting the hang of potty training, but we did have two accidents this past weekend, both in the hall, but I am trying to "watch" her more and take her out more. It’s been a long time since I had a puppy to care for and I was used to my older dogs going and coming as they pleased out the doggie door."

Every time Abbie goes out the doggie door, give her a treat and make a big fuss with lots of praise and kisses. She'll learn that using the door brings all sorts of positive attention. Positive reinforcement is a wonderful thing!

Moreover, a few accidents is not bad -- potty training is a process that requires patience! Judy agrees and notes that it has been a long time since she had a puppy in the house. She writes, "I think Abbie will eventually understand, I just have to be patient while she is learning. She is a puppy and I am trying to think of her like the grandson as far as 'potty training' is concerned. He is learning too and still has accidents. Puppies are like children at least mine are."

Although Abbie's potty training is progressing well, Judy tells us that once Abbie's paws hit the carpet she sometimes has an accident. We're not sure exactly why carpet confuses Abbie. Perhaps, her super-powered canine nose is able to detect smells or urine lingering in the carpet from other dogs. There's a chance that when she was a new pup her cage was lined with a piece of carpet, a mat or a towel and she's used to the sensation on her feet. The fact that she has been recently spayed could be the reason. The spaying procedure removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Occasionally a dog will suffer a potty training setback after this type of major surgery. (Here's an informative article about the spaying process.)

Judy, no matter the reason for a setback, keep trying and continue your routine--you're doing a fabulous job! Don't get frustrated and stock up on Petastic, our favorite stain and odor remover. Your patience and care will help Abbie become house trained quickly and let her know how much you love her!

Tell Abbie we're proud of her progress and give her a hug from her friends in Happy Dog Land!

If you need advice or have a question about dog care, send it to Billy at info@happydogland.com. We'll post the answer here. Please include a photo of your pooch so we can show him/her off to everyone in Happy Dog Land.

Dog Park Update: Che is returned!

2009-06-11T11:06:00.006-05:00

Che the lost pooch we reported on yesterday was reunited with his owner. It turns out, Che probably just wandered off and escaped from the dog beach. We're glad he's safe, but this is a perfect opportunity to remind everyone to watch your dog at all times. Moreover, before letting Fido off leash, verify that all escape routes are closed off.

Scroll down to the comments at the end of the article--the discuss is interesting. Readers are debating whether the people who found the dog would have returned him without the $2500 reward and whether they should have accepted the reward.

Danger at the Dog Park: What to do if your dog is lost or stolen

2009-06-10T09:30:00.030-05:00

KIDNAP VICTIM: Che is a 6 month old Shar-pei/Pug mix with a surgical scar on his belly. He weighs about 30 pounds and is white with brown spots. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CALL (773) 415-9813.

Over the weekend, this cute Shar-pei/Pug was stolen at one of Chicago's dog beaches. Everyone considers dog parks and dog beaches safe havens to play and socialize. After all, these places are filled with dog lovers. Unfortunately, some bad people take advantage of the collegial atmosphere and tragedy can occur. Support for Che and his owner has been overwhelming. Posters have sprung up all over town and hundreds of people are on the look out. Che's owner has offered a $2500 reward for his safe return with no questions asked.

Che's owner has already been contacted by a scam artist claiming to have the dog. If your dog is lost or stolen, what should you do and how can you protect yourself from scam artists trying to take advantage of your situation?

Regardless of how conscientious and careful you are, Fido can end up lost or sadly, stolen. Your chances of recovering your pet are a million times better if he’s wearing an identiﬁcation tag and he has a microchip. Collars can slip off; chips are permanent. Most veterinary ofﬁces and shelters have equipment to read a microchip. If the information is current, Fido will be back in your arms that much sooner.

The moment you realize that Fido is missing, do the following:

Grab a recent picture of your pet and roam the area where he was last seen. Call your pet’s name as loudly as you can. He may be scared and hearing your voice is likely to draw him to you. In addition, talk to everyone you meet on your search. They may have information that will lead you to your dog.
Contact all local shelters and animal-welfare organizations, animal-control agencies and veterinary offices, as well as the police. Provide a detailed description of your dog and any information about the incident.
Visit the local shelters every day. You know exactly what your pet looks like. A shelter worker may have a different idea of what light brown, spotted or short hair means. Moreover, many dogs may ﬁt your description.
Alert your neighbors. Go door-to-door; ask people who live and work in the area if they’ve seen your dog.
Place an article of your clothing on the front porch so your dog can smell home. Dogs have been known to return after many months and many miles
Advertise! Prepare a ﬂyer with your dog’s picture, your contact phone numbers and e-mail address and information about his last known whereabouts. Hang the ﬂyers on signposts and telephone poles and in stores, animal hospitals, libraries, coffee shops and other locations in the area. Place ads in newspapers, online and on the radio. Place the information on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.Get the community involved--the more people that are on the look out the better.

The announcement should include a detailed description of your pet, such as breed, gender, age, weight, color and any special markings or characteristics. It’s despicable and unforgivable, but evil people may try to play on your heart strings while you are searching for your lost pet. Therefore, always leave out one identifying detail to protect yourself from scam artists. Likewise, never include your home address.

If someone calls or e-mails claiming to have your pet, ask her to describe your dog. If the person doesn’t mention this characteristic, she’s not trustworthy. Moreover, if the story seems far-fetched, it probably is. Be wary of any person who asks for money before returning your pet. Most Good Samaritans are not motivated by ﬁnancial beneﬁt. Always arrange to meet a stranger in a public place, such as an animal shelter, a pet-supply store or a veterinary ofﬁce. Don’t pay a reward until you have your dog ﬁrmly in hand. If you believe that someone has stolen your pet or is trying to scam you, contact the police.