Category Archives: Dog News

Wednesday Woofs and Wanderings

Posted on by
12

I have lots of tidbits I would like to share with you today, so please bear with my ramblings. Just think of yourself as a dog on a walk, sniffing any and every bush you happen upon.

1. Greetings from sunny Iowa!

I laughed out loud when I saw this picture, taken by the great people at Dog Zone Daycare, so I had to share it with all of you. Do you think he resembles anyone?

2. Today is my birthday. I tell you this not to force birthday wishes, but to discuss Gertie’s unique way of celebrating. She chose to wake me up with a rousing rendition of “Whimper, Whimper, Whine.” I assume this is the dog version of “Happy Birthday”?

3. Have you seen this?!

Image from www.pawnation.com

Piper, a seven-year-old bulldog rescued by an artist, has taken up painting to calm her nerves. Admittedly, her artist companion helps her out by holding the paper and changing colors, but Piper works the brush with her mouth and her head. Read more and see a video of Piper painting in this article. Also, check out her Facebook page (it offers details on buying one a Piper print–I have my eye on one!).

I hope you enjoyed your walk through the ramblings of my mind. Hey you! Stop marking!

What do you think of Piper the One-Eyed Painting Bulldog? Does your dog ever wear sunglasses? Does your dog “sing”?

Dog Guides Wayward Human

Posted on by
5

 

 

When a 19-year-old college student invaded a home in La Porte City, Iowa, something strange happened with the family dog. When the student took off, barefoot, Annie the Bloodhood willingly tagged along. Police believe that the man, whose confusion and actions seem to be caused by an underlying medical condition, wandered on a trail all night long, with Annie by his side the entire time. Annie is home resting now. Read the whole heartwarming story here on the Gazette’s website.

Have you heard any heartwarming dog-helps-person stories lately?

Don’t you just love stories of dogs helping wayward people? Maybe I need Annie’s help to keep me from straying so often from this blog! I know I’ve been slacking lately. I don’t have much of an excuse, other than home improvement and organization projects taking over. Lame, I know. I will try, try, try to do better, and I’m still going to write a post on photographing adoptable dogs.

Dukie Update–It’s appropriate that I use that nickname for Duke because he is back to walking every day, and he is making the most of his walks by making them double-poop outings. Yay for me! But I don’t really mind because Dukie is so, so happy to be out walking, discovering new smells and enjoying the spring sun. He has had his staples removed and no longer requires physical therapy, just daily walks. He goes back in one week for x-rays to determine how well his bone is healing. He still has to be outside on-leash only, and he’s not supposed to be going up and down stairs, though we have been slacking on carrying out that rule.

Gertie, for her part, is playing extra hard at doggie daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her caregivers told me that when we got Duke, they noticed that her play slowed down a bit, since she had an in-home playmate and sparring partner. But now that Duke has had to take it easy, Gertie has ratched up her play to frantic pre-Duke levels. At least she has an outlet for her extra energy! (And, of course, she gets daily walks too, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, since she’s wears herself out just fine, thank you very much.) She will also have a great time romping at my parents farm this Easter Sunday.

Do you and your dogs have fun weekend plans?

The Versatile Blogger Award

Posted on by
5

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been awarded The Versatile Blogger by Deanna from Love of My Dogs. Thanks Deanna! She blogs about her rescue animals Scarlett, Harley, Chelsea and Roory, as well as dog adoption and rescue, and she provides recipes for dog treats (well, Gertie and Duke would find them scrumptious!).

The rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are as follows:

1. Thank the award giver and link back in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to as many as 15 blogs you enjoy reading and let them know about the award!

7 Things About Us:

  1. You know how you’re supposed to put citrus down your garbage disposal if it’s rank? Well, with Duke’s new nickname of Garbage Pail Mouth, I thought I would see if citrus could freshen up that rankness. So I started giving Duke clementines, and it works (until his next meal of kibble)!
  2. Neither Tom nor I had Boxers before Gertie. Tom’s family had a Dalmation named Tiffany, and his parents currently have an English Springer Spaniel named Joseph (who’s been featured here and here). My family had German Shepherds–Tasha, Thor, and Kody (short for Kodiak), and then Golden Retrievers Maggie, Caleb, Blake, and Lily.
  3. Gertie and Duke’s fears include coffee grinding and Christmas-tree removal. They were at my parents’ house when my dad took down the Christmas tree, and they both climbed on my mom’s lap for comfort!
  4. Duke likes to give hugs by climbing up on a sitting person and gradually working his paws up to their shoulders. Gertie prefers that a person make a lap in which she can curl up.
  5. Gertie’s birthday is April 3. We decided that Duke could celebrate his Adoption Day on June 15.
  6. We have made a monster out of Gertie by providing a water dish for our basement hangout room. She now cries incessantly when it’s empty, even when she has just had a drink from her bowl upstairs. If it’s partially full when we get downstairs, she will often gulp it all down, then start crying as if she’s just parched. Puh-lese.
  7. Gertie is way more into toys than Duke; his interest lies in occasionally stealing them from her. But I think the snow has brought out his inner puppy because he has enjoyed playing with a bouncy toy this winter.

Many of the blogs I read have already won this award, including Laurie Bartolo, Bassa’s Blog, Rumpy Dog Blog, and BongoDogBlog. I agree that they all deserve this award and would encourage you to check them out.

Here is my nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Shary Hover–Shary is a truly versatile blogger. She writes about the writing life and her writing projects, as well as life with her dog Lola. She also publishes posts about gardening, running, traveling and more. Her passion for all of her topics comes through in her crisp, clear writing.

Do you feed your dogs any strange foods? What scares your dog?

Sales Dogs of the Super Bowl

Posted on by
6

Overall, I found the Super Bowl commercials boring. And I would have expected the dog commercials to up the ante, but despite some undeniable cuteness, they provided questionable messages.

Skechers has gotten a lot of attention for its use of greyhound racing in their Super Bowl spot. I give them an F for using dog racing to promote their product. The adorable Frenchie wearing sneakers gets an A. Skechers could have used their concept in a more appropriate way by simply putting the speedy Frenchie in a road race against a bunch of long-legged dogs of different breeds and had the same effect without utilizing a cruel sport.

A Doritos commercial featured a cute yet conniving Great Dane, but I didn’t really like the reference to killing a cat. Again, they didn’t have to go there (although the blooper reel is pretty funny).

Then there was the Volkswagen commercial featuring the rotund rover who couldn’t fit through the doggie door.  The dog’s self-imposed exercise program and restriction on treats, even those that fall from a high chair, was cute, and even inspirational in a weird kind of way. Though, in reality pet obesity is a serious problem, one for which humans need to take responsibility.

Volkswagen drummed up interest for their Super Bowl commercial with this commercial teaser, which I think is actually better than the ad they ran during the game. In it, 11 dogs (one dressed as an Ewok and one dressed as Chewbacca) sing the Empire Strikes Back theme song (or the Darth Vader song–I don’t know, I’m not a Star Wars geek).

Finally, there was Weego the beer-fetching rescue dog. When given the command, “Here Weego,” he retrieves a can of beer from the fridge or a cooler, and even grabs a six-pack and rolls out a keg. Check out Bud Light’s Facebook page to see how they’re helping The Animal Rescue Foundation. And isn’t Weego a cute ‘n scraggly little guy?!

Dogs performed cameos in several other Super Bowl commercials. In Chevy’s post-apocalypse spot, a dog rode out of the rubble in the backseat of his owner’s truck (and he even wore a safe and secure doggie seatbelt!). In Budweiser’s post-prohibition ad, the Dalmation stood proudly atop the delivery wagon. Even the commercial for the History Channel’s Swamp People included a dog.

While these ads didn’t air during the Super Bowl, my favorite commercials on TV right now are for the Subaru Forester. They have a whole series, and the tagline at the end of each spot states, “Dog tested. Dog approved.” This commercial is the proper way to exploit the dog-cat rivalry–it’s called “Stolen Parking Spot.” When searching for the familiar Subaru commercials, I also found this commercial, which probably airs in Europe, featuring boxers! Here are a few of the other Subaru Dog Tested commercials (you can find them all on YouTube):

What did you think of the Super Bowl commercials? Did you watch Puppy Bowl VIII?

BARKing about Magazines: Shameless Self Promotion

Posted on by
21

As you may or may not know, I’m a freelance writer, and the New Year has brought my first national publication–in (what else?) a dog magazine! I have a story featured in The Bark (the story is not online, but you can read the introduction to the issue by clicking the link). It’s called “Abilities Through Agility: Program transcends the sport to improve kids’ lives,” and it profiles a unique program in the Des Moines area that pairs kids who require physical, occupational, and speech therapy with dogs on an agility course. The program is a partnership between ChildServe and Paws and Effect (which I have added to my Causes page). If you’re not familiar with The Bark, I hope you’ll check it out. It’s a dog magazine with literary flair.

In other New Year’s news, we have mailed our belated holiday cards, and I will post the card here soon to share it with you, my e-friends. I hope your 2012 is off to a good start!

What dog-specific magazines or websites do you read (besides all of the wonderful dog blogs we know and love!)?

End-of-Year Doggie Lists

Posted on by
5

As promised, here are some of my end-of-the-year doggie lists.

Top Dog News Stories of 2011

I have to thank Sherri at Woman’s Best Friend for sharing ideas for this list (the first two are hers).

* Admittedly, I found this story so heartbreaking that I didn’t even watch this video. But while it’s sad, it does showcase one of the traits we love about dogs: true loyalty.

Top Four Gertie and Duke Pictures of 2011

Too sweet not to make the list.

This is not a technically great photo at all, but it makes the list because the moments preceding it were so cute. Duke had just arrived at our house the day before, and he first stood at the top of the steps. Then he saw what Gertie was doing and mimicked her, sitting down with his paws on the first step.

Slurrrp!

Play time!

I think these photos offer a good representation of Gertie and Duke’s relationship. I’m looking forward to a full year of Gertie and Duke pictures in 2012!

I will not be ringing in the New  Year with my favorite boxers because I’m in Turks and Caicos. My babies are staying with my parents–thank you, thank you, Mom and Dad. I’m sure they have been romping and stomping at the farm (which is the site of the fourth photo above), and curling up on the couch and cushy chairs, and barking at cats and squirrels and many other things (hopefully  not too often). I’m looking forward to hugging and petting them in 2012 (as well as completing our New Year card).

How are you and your dogs ringing in the New Year?/How did you and your dogs ring in the New Year?

Dogs Hunt For Bloom’s Humility, Find None*

Posted on by
6

University of Iowa  journalism professor Stephen Bloom recently sparked outrage in Iowa with this essay, published on The Atlantic website on December 9. In it, he derides Iowa as a backwards wasteland and its inhabitants as uneducated, intolerant hicks. Since this is Iowa Dog Blog, and Bloom uses his dog to further condemn Iowa, I thought I should respond.

First, here’s what he says about his lab, Hannah, in relation to Iowa:

“I can’t tell you how often over the years I’d be walking Hannah in our neighborhood and someone in a pickup would pull over and shout some variation of the following: ‘Bet she hunts well.’ ‘Do much hunting with the bitch?’ ‘Where you hunt her?’

To me, it summed up Iowa. You’d never get a dog because you might just want to walk with the dog or to throw a ball for her to fetch. No, that’s not a reason to own a dog in Iowa. You get a dog to track and bag animals that you want to stuff, mount, or eat.

That’s the place that may very well determine the next U.S. president.”

So Professor Bloom thinks that all Iowans believe that dogs are meant for hunting? Well, Professor, that’s because all Iowa dogs are hunters:

Hunts for game that's already stuffed--pillows and blankies

Has sustained chipmunk-hunting injury (a stick to the eye). Also hunts for fabulous bandanas.

Hunts trophies

Greatest desire is to bag a squirrel. (No, Mr. Bloom, we don't eat Squirrel Stew here in Iowa. Duke would have that squirrel all to himself--maybe mount its head on his kennel.)

Hunts shade in the summer

Must hunt for his eyes on occasion

Retrieves his prey to return to the hunter (er. thrower)

Hunts for rules to break!

Mostly, though, the Iowa dogs I know simply hunt for love and attention. Hopefully they don't have to go too far down the trail to find them.

Bloom is happy to let several stereotypes and a couple of random encounters sum up an entire state’s population, but I think that true dog lovers know that the reasons we get and love our dogs are as varied as the items they “hunt” for in life.

What do your dogs hunt?

* Professor Bloom’s response to the criticism his essay elicited is arrogant and obtuse. Though our state’s fine hunting dogs tried to stay on the trail of his humility, it was a short hunt; it couldn’t be found.

Top Dogs in 2011

Posted on by
15

Max?

I love end-of-the-year lists, so I was happy to find the Top Dog Names of 2011, courtesy of a Facebook friend via the Huffington Post. Check it out–it’s accompanied by a cute slideshow of puppy pics. There are no porch-sitter names on the list, but I’m ok with that (no Gertie or Duke either). Is your dog’s name on the list? Which names surprised you?

This list has inspired me to think of some end-of-the-year lists I could write. Here are some possibilities:

  • 10 Favorite Doggie Photos  (But how will I choose?!)
  • Top 5 Gross-Out Moments Courtesy of Gertie and Duke (Easy.)
  • Top # Dog Books I/We Read This Year (Not published in 2011. The problem is that I have only read two or three dog-related books this year. But you could all help!)
  • The # Funniest Dog Moments
  • The # Biggest Dog News Stories
  • Gertie and Duke’s Favorite Moments (This could be one list or two separate lists. Probably two separate lists. I’m thinking that some of Duke’s favorite moments might have been some of Gertie’s least favorites–i.e. him peeing on her head.)

Obviously some of these lists would be Gertie and Duke-centric, while others could be universal. What lists would you like to see? What other end-of-year list ideas do you have? Will you create any lists?

Is this a top picture?

Is this a top moment?

Related Posts:

** By the way, http://www.iowadogblog.wordpress.com is now simply http://www.iowadogblog.com. This change probably doesn’t make any difference to those of you following through WordPress, and I don’t think it should matter for email subscribers either. But please let me know if you’re having any issues following the blog now.

Snoozing Brain and Snoring Dogs

Posted on by
14

My brain is slumbering right along with the dogs tonight. I have tried, and failed, to write two different posts this evening. I start to write and just end up staring blankly at the screen, my fingers not tapping the keys, and the snores of the dogs taking over as the only sound in the room. They’re subjects that I would like to give my full attention and infuse with creative energy, so I’m holding off until I can truly think. I’ll take this cold-and-sleep-deprivation-induced opportunity to let you know that I’m still alive and make a few quick points, as well as share some pictures that I’ve been meaning to post.

  • Bushy Tail Bakery–You can now find their treats at Pawsitive Paws Academy in Cedar Rapids (137 30th St Dr SE) and at Tails A Wagg’n (210 41st Ave DR SW), also in Cedar Rapids. Lea Taplin, who owns and runs Bushy Tail, is also considering becoming a vendor with Iowa Valley Food Coop.
  • CR AniMeals–I like the sounds of this organization because they help animals and their people. They provide food for animals of the elderly, disabled, and other disadvantaged people who can’t afford pet food–it’s basically a “Meals on Wheels” for animals. I’m going to contact them about volunteering (I’ve been meaning to do this for a while–funny how things just keep getting dropped from the to-do list). Has anyone volunteered with an organization like this before?
  • Steps to Ending Puppy Mills Update–A reader (Laurie) noted in a comment to my post Toronto vs. Puppy Mills that Jack’s Pets, a large pet store chain in the Midwest, will no longer be selling puppies. I was not familiar with Jack’s, but I looked into the story a bit, and they have stores in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Read more here (at the link Laurie provided to the ASPCA page) about their decision to stop selling puppies in all stores and to partner with the ASPCA for in-store pet adoptions.

And now for some doggie photos. In Dog Toe Bouqets and Other Dog Blog-Inspired Musings, I posted my upside down pictures of Gertie. But when I went to upload the upside down pics of Duke, I realized I didn’t have any. So here are a couple:

Well, half of him is upside down.

Ok, he's not exactly upside down in this picture, but the photo does have the same jowl + gravity effect of many of the pictures on Upside Down Dogs.

I’ve been meaning to post the next pictures in a “Wordless Wednesday” or “Silent Sunday” type of post, but when I go to the trouble of creating a post, I find that I want to say something. So since I haven’t fit them into any other posts, here they are. The subjects are Gertie, my mom, and my niece Ella.

This is how we pet a dog.

Got it! I LIKE petting this dog.

Anyone have any other news about dogs?

Toronto vs. Puppy Mills

Posted on by
7

Two black lab shelter pups accompany the Toronto City Council as they announce a law requiring pet shops to adopt out shelter and rescue animals only. (Stan Behal/Toronto Sun)

I know this is Iowa Dog Blog, and not North American Dog Blog, but several readers commented on One Step to Ending Puppy Mills in Iowa, in which I discussed the Toronto City Council’s newly adopted requirement that pet stores only sell shelter/rescue animals. And while that law doesn’t affect animals here in Iowa, or even in the United States, I’m hoping that our cities can act as copycats of Toronto. I promised that I would look further into this city law, which aims to find more adoptive homes for shelter animals, but ultimately to shut down factory breeders in the area. You can read more about this issue in this Toronto Sun article or in this National Post article. The articles don’t provide a ton of detail, but I’m guessing there’s not a lot of information to report since the law is so new. It will be exciting to see how the law affects the number of homeless pets adopted out to forever homes, as well as how big of dent it takes our of puppy mills.

I have also emailed the councillor (Canadian spelling) who spearheaded the campaign–first, to thank and congratulate him on passing this law; second, to see if I could ask him some questions regarding how the restrictions came about. I’ll let you know if I hear back (though I imagine he’s been inundated with emails).

As I looked into the Toronto law, I found out that cities in the U.S. have adopted similar laws. According to this story, from GlobalAnimal.org, Los Angeles has banned all breeding mills in the city. This ban also prevents pet stores in the city from selling factory-bred pets, though they’re not sure how they’re going to enforce this requirement. They will not require pet shops to sell only shelter/rescue animals. San Francisco has proposed a controversial law banning all pet sales in the city. You can read GlobalAnimal.org’s article with more details here. The article also mentions that South Lake Tahoe and West Hollywood have adopted similar bans and that El Paso and Austin, Texas are contemplating bans on factory breeding.

Do you know of any other city bans on puppy mills/kitten factories? Are your communities making progress toward thwarting puppy mills?