The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

The HSUS in “action”

Just in time for their holiday fundraising, the Humane Society of the United States has issued a report accusing Petland, the nation’s largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores, of selling puppies from puppy mills.

[Gasp, how could this be?]

Next, they may issue evidence that the American Kennel Club supports and encourages puppy mills by registering purebred puppies born in these deplorable puppy mill conditions.

[Another shocked intake of breath]

And then they may use the multi-million dollars that they raise from the public to find evidence that the sky is blue, the sun rises in the east, and the ocean is wet.

And to continue their fight against no-kill shelters

And to advocate euthanasia without evaluation for Pit Bulls victimized by dog fighting operations

Support your local shelter or Humane Society.

Dog Park Diary—A book review

Dog Park Diary by Goodie Beagle as told to Kim Pearson

Goodie the Beagle brings back some bittersweet memories. A Beagle puppy was once dropped off on our front porch. I named her Kim and we spent a wonderful summer together. When I went back to college in the fall, my family didn’t have the long hours she needed, and they gave her to a family who loved her and had the time to help her develop into a happy adult dog.

Goodie Beagle is what my Kim would have grown up to look like and I’m sure she would have had these great writing skills.

Goodie Beagle is quite social and proper. She knows the rules of dogdom and has little patience for those who don’t. She and her human meet their friends at the dog park. While the humans talk, Goodie Beagle and her friends wrestle, sniff butt, play chase and enjoy being dogs.

Photos of the dogs and Goodie Beagle’s funny and sometimes snooty opinion of them make up the content of the book. The photos are by Anna Lindsey. The book is designed by Nancy Clear as a photo album/diary.

This is a charming story of dogs being dogs through the eyes of a most literate Beagle. Suitable for adults and children. Available at Amazon

Win a Furminator Bathing Kit: a spa for your dog

The really nice people at PetSmart are letting me give away a Furminator Bathing Essentials Kit which will be sold in stores during the holiday season.

The Grand Prize kit includes:
Furminator deShedding Tool (Medium)
8 oz. deShedding Shampoo
8 oz deShedding Solution
Tub Nub Bath Brush
Super absorbent micro fiber towel

The kit will retail for $59.99, a $100 value.

It’s like a trip to the Doggie Spa for your furry best friend.

But wait…there’s more!! In addition, three names will be drawn at random to receive prizes, valued at over $10 each.

Here’s how the contest works:

1. In comments, using your best creative writing skills, state the name of the dog followed by “is so shaggy that…” Complete the phrase in 25 words or less. A sample entry is in comments.

2. You don’t have to have a dog of your own to enter, but you do need to name a dog in your entry. The prize is not recommended for humans or cats.

3. A distinguished panel of children and adults will judge the entrants based on creativity and originality.

4. One entry per person. Contest closes on December 6. Family members of the blog writer are not eligible since they will also serve as judges.

5. We will notify PetSmart of the winner’s name, address and the name of the dog and they will ship the prize package to the dog in plenty of time for Christmas.

6. Three names will be selected at random to win consolation prizes.

Have fun.

From all of us...

Police dog bites man wanted on felony dog fighting charges

And don’t you just love this story.

In Dayton, Ohio, a police dog bit and helped apprehend a fleeing suspect wanted on felony dog fighting charges. Ranon O. Brock, 31, the waste of skin scumbag lowlife person pictured here fled on foot when he saw officers responding to a burglary-in-progress call.

The K-9 unit was called. The police dog tracked him down and bit him on the wrist. He was treated for bites and transported to jail on two felony counts of illegal dog fighting.

He also faces charges of resisting arrest, obstructing official business and other outstanding warrants including domestic violence.

Dog bites aren’t funny but…well…

Young German Shepherd needs your help

This is Gideon and he needs help.

I received this email from a staff writer at the Orange County (CA) Register:

[Gideon] is a young German shepherd who was hit by a car, dragged and left for dead in a park, losing all the skin on his left side. A local German shepherd rescue group is doing everything to save him, and they are seeking donations from the public, as he needs months of treatment while his wound heals and his skin grows back.

The best part is the doggie still managed to wag his tail when the animal control officers found him, propped up against a Dumpster and bleeding. He is a love who will also need a "forever" home once he's healed.

I’m always so gratified at the way people come forward to help a dog in need. This is a chance to help a real dog with real needs, not a multi-million dollar organization with their own agendas.

According to the founder of the Rescue: When they found him, he actually walked to the animal control truck. He has an amazing temperament. He gives kisses and wags his tail, even when they're changing his bandages.

More about this amazing miracle dog including how to help from the Orange County Register

Man shot by his dog is recovering

I’ve been wanting to use this picture for a long time. Now thanks to 23-year-old Matthew Marcum and Drake the Labrador Retriever from Oregon, I can.

According to Matthew’s father, he was about to tie up an 11-foot aluminum boat when 3-year old Drake jumped into the boat causing the gun to accidentally go off, injuring him in the leg and buttocks areas.

He was treated at the hospital and is now recovering. Matthew says that Drake is a good dog and he isn’t even upset with him.

There is nothing funny about a gunshot wound. Except this just sort of is.

What would you do with the Furminator?

I raved about the Furminator a few posts ago. It is excellent for removing the dead hair from the undercoat without breaking or tearing fur.

After Furminating your pets, you can participate in some internet silliness by doing this:

1. Fashion a stylish toupee!
2. Take picture and send it to this website where your dog can be snickered at by people all over the world.

OK seriously...

CONTEST COMING UP HERE ON "THE POODLE (AND DOG) BLOG"

WIN A FURMINATOR AND MORE GREAT PRODUCTS

Details after Thanksgiving

Abused “unadoptable” dog becomes a therapy dog

This is the story of Cadie, a German Shepherd dog, and Dr. Jim Huggins of Somerset, NC, a PhD in engineering who got Cadie in 2002 from a rescue group.

Dr. Huggins has a creative approach to dog training that turned Cadie from a hopeless case to a model canine.

Maybe I post too many of these stories, but I love it when a human has the compassion and intelligence to rehabilitate a dog that people have given up on. Usually stories like this get only local coverage or no coverage at all while stories of dog maulings and animal cruelty are all over the media in excruciating detail.

Cadie started life being abused and neglected until animal control officials got a court order to rescue her. She spent the next few months as a boomerang dog; she was in six different foster homes and returned each time as she was considered to be unadoptable, beyond redemption.

Then Dr. Jim Huggins stepped in. An engineer, educator, husband, father of three and former U.S. Air Force officer, Jim had been looking for a German Shepherd to adopt. He saw something in Cadie that no one else did. “Her eyes said it all,” he remembered. He saw “warmth, gentleness and intelligence.”

Using what he calls "rapport-based training" he slowly earned her trust. It took more than five months before he achieved positive results.

Unlike typical "rewards-based" training, in which a dog is taught by either being offered a treat or corrected through discipline, building a rapport requires more time, patience and effort. Jim says that he had to learn how to "understand" his canine partner.

"This is where knowing their body language is a crucial skill," he says. "The dog has to develop an anticipatory attitude for the handler — almost as if the handler and dog are reading each other's minds," Jim explains. "They become sensitive to each other's actions and emotions."

Cadie went on to achieve an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate and worked in the K-9 Reading Education Assistance Program (READ) to improve the reading skills of underachieving elementary students.

Working as a therapy dog in healthcare facilities ”Cadie's presence helps stimulate memory functions in Alzheimer's patients and encourages stroke patients to talk,” according to Jim.

More about Cadie and Jim’s training methods in South Coast Today.

They did it his way

Dogs, it seems, can be used to sell a great variety of products.This short commercial may inspire you to paint every surface of your home, inside and out.