Black Friday

Blog #25
It,s black Friday and yes, it's true.... Dog stores are having sales too!

Petsmart is offering 50% off all pet holiday brand toys, collars, raw hides and many more things. This offer only took place on black Friday, the infamous day where people crowd the doors before dawn to get the great discounts on items they have been waiting to get all year long.

Some people may think...why do dog stores participate in black Friday?

Well owning a dog is expensive so having a day were dog products are half off is something every dog owner shouldn't miss out on!

dailywordbuzz.com

Doggie thanksgiving

Blog #24
Today is a day to give thanks for everything we have and to be with our family and friends (yes, pets should be included)


Dog owners should also give thanks to the pet in their life. Be thankful that your dog is there for you and adds tons of joy to your day. You can also be thankful for your dogs health and wish for many more years of life for your dog.


So when your sitting with your family or friends, don't forget about the furry little dog that greets you at your dog

The national dog show presented by Purina

Every thanksgiving after the Macy's thanksgiving day parade on NBC, there is the popular dog show presented by Purina where dogs of all breeds strut their stuff to win the top prize.

This competition was filmed on Novemeber 14 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

There are currently 2,000 dogs in the competition, but who will take home the great prize.

These competitions are so interesting to watch. All the dogs are so well trained and in top notch condition.

nydailynews.com

I wish my dog would be able to sit still and compete in a pageant!

Famous Dogs

I was sitting here watching Glee with my cousins and the Tommy Hilfiger commercial came on featuring Beagle.

This got me thinking of all the dogs that are used to create or have been featured in TV or Movies.


 Bush Baked Beans commerical...


I am sure most people know who this dog is...or for that matter, have heard about these beans and the famous dog they feature. Ever Wonde what this dogs name is? Well his name is Paddington and the  Golden Retriever.


There are several other dogs that are famous.

How about about Snoopy from Charlie Brown?

Google.com

Everyone knows Lassie...

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 Who could forget Airbud

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I have always wondered how these dogs become famous. After researching I found out there are some dog talent agencies.

One famous talent agency is Hollywood Paws.

Some of their credits include:

Legally Blonde

Hotel for Dogs

Several Disney films

and other tv shows.

Try thinking of some famous dogs you know of, there are a lot out there!

Dogs at Work

I came on a family vacation and I couldn't help to notice how some dog owners in Tennessee take their dogs to work.

I visited a flee market, and there was a dog sitting on it's owners kettle corn truck.

I strolled down Downtown Chattanooga and there was a dalmation sitting with the carriage ride owner waiting for a customer.

If only Los Angeles had this kind of lifestyle, where dogs are included in their everyday work life.

(Pictures to come soon!)

Guide Dogs

vegansoapbox.com

Who would have known that a dog could be something a person who is blind could confide in?

Around campus and the community you see dogs who accompany people throughout the day making sure they get to their destination safely.

It can't just be any dog. Extensive training must take place in order for a dog to participate in the guide dog
program.

At guidedogs.com they list the different programs that a dog is able to go through to become a guide dog. Before doing that, a dog must meet a certain criteria to even be considered to join the program.

Dogs are not only a joy ot have, but they can be company to those in need.

Dog Grooming Made Easy

Grooming can be EXPENSIVE and a hassle for the groomer if your dog dislikes baths.

Save some money and try these 4 easy grooming tips:

1) Spray on dog coat conditioner.

This will help avoid all the tangles your dog will get while playing or running around.

2) Develope a brushing pattern.

You won't miss a spot when brrushing your dog.

3)  Brush your dog before bathing.

His coat will be easier to wash.

4) Give your dog a treat!

Leila after a bath

Target, the Aghan Hero Dog

Facebook.com

It was reported that Target, a dog who was adopted by  Sgt. Terry Young, 37, an Army medic after being rescued for stopping a homicide bomber in Dand Aw Patan; was accidently euthanized.

This past week, Target went out of the backyard and was picked up by a stranger who decided to drop the dog off to the pound so Sgt. Young would be able to find him.

Luckily, Sgt. Young found his dog online and paid the fee to recover her over the weekend.

Monday came too late. By the time Sgt. Young got to the pound, he had found out his dog had accidently been euthanized (the employeet picked the wrong dog out of the pen and mistakenly adminstered a lethal injection).

A dog who had gone through a war and saved soldiers lives ended his life too short. Surviving the war and being adopted was a joy for Target and for Sgt Young. Accidently being euthatnized is a horrible thing, especially when the dog has made an impact on the Sargent's life so quickly.

Sgt. Young is planning a candle light vigil at one of Target's favorite park.

Target even has his own facebook page ( alt. facebook page) where followers were able to see and follow Target's life after returning home from the war in afghanistan.

If only the employee would have been paying attention to what they were doing Target would still be alive and able to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family.

Dogs Waiting For Their Flight.

I am sitting here waiting for my flight to Atlanta and I see a dog waiting for his flight too.

I am wearing nothing special, just sweats while the dog is wearing a nice little coat with fur. He sure knows how to make an impression. (I wish I could have taken a picture but I was waiting to go through security.


I have had small dogs on several flights I have been on before, but doesn't it hurt their ears when they reach the highest altitude? Or don't they have to go to the bathroom? The small dogs are the on the ones who are placed in the airplane with the passengers, while the bigger dogs are placed with all the suitcases.

How sad.:(

Dog Parks

There are parks in every city, but only a few cities have dog parks.


Doggeek.com gives us a list of dog parks throughout California. They not only give the name and city of the dog park, they also give a brief description of the dog park.


I have taken my dogs to San Dimas dog park and the dog park in Claremont. These are both good parks to take your dog. In my opinion, I prefer taking my dog to the Claremont dog park. They have plenty of seating and it is easy to keep an eye out for your dog.

Some people think...why should I take my dog to a dog park when there is plenty of yard space in my backyard. Well, its to socialize your dogs with other dogs!

Leila and Tyson socializing with other dogs

Puppy Mills

This video blog is for my Comm 435 Opinion Writing class with S. Scauzillo

Dogs need a License?

After getting a dog, some people think that just getting their dog a tag with the basic information on it ( name, phone number and address) might be enough to prevent a dog from ever being lost. In reality, it isn't.

Dogs need to be registered through the Los Angeles Animal Care and Control . The purpose of the dog license is to promote animal safety while promoting and protecting human safety.

Depending where you live there is a fee when registering your dog through animal care and control. The fee ranges from different amounts and it is determined by the city you live in, or whether your dog is spayed/neutered. Think of it as registering and re-newing your car tags. Dog license is similar to that.

Once your dog is registered through the LA Animal Care and Control, your dog will be microchipped. The microchip can be extremly helpful if your dog ever looses its id tag.

Some people believe their is no reason to register their dog and it is just another yearly fee they have to pay. They soon realize that once Animal Care and Control comes knocking on their door looking for unregistered pets, it is more than what they thought.

Image of dog license tags provided by Wikepedia

Agility Courses

Dog agility or a dog sport is where a handler and its dog go through obstacles while being timed for speed and accuracy.

I took my dog to an agility course in Yorba Linda for 8 weeks, and boy oh boy was it exhausting! Leila went through tunnels and jumped over bars, she even went on a teater totter. Its a great workout, not only for the dog, but for the owner as well.

I would advise for anyone to take this class, you learn a lot about how to train your dog and how to enforce positive behavior.

Congrats Leila

AKC

dogs4hclub.com

The American Kennel Club is best known as a registery of pure bred dogs in the United States. Along with that, the AKC also promotes different events such as: show dog competitions, agility course competitions and conventions. They also partner with Eukanuba to produce the Eukanuba National Championships which is higly televised on national tv.

When someone purchases a full bred dog, it is registered with the AKC to verify its authenticity. Some people choose not to register their dog with AKC. If they don't the owner and their dog won't get the special perks that the AKC provides.

Perks include:

An authentic AKC cerficate.
Complementary trial pet health care and visit to the vet
Eligibilty to register for AKC dog shows
and much more...

Yes, there are some fees...but lets not think about that.

When purchashing your puppy, asking for AKC papers verifies that you are getting an authentic and healthy dog. Asking the breeder for these papers verifies that you are recieving a pure-bred healthy dog.

Travel Tips

With the thanksgiving holidays approaching and travel plans under way, taking a furry little friend could present a problem. follow these safety tips to ensure a safe and fun trip:

Tip 1: your pets health must be in top notch condition, take pets to a vet no less than two weeks before departing. The ASPCA states that pets should eat at least three hours before departure with periodic snacks at rest stops. Do not feed your dog during the car ride!!!

Tip 2: invest in a quality crate or carrier before leaving for travel; these devices can act as a familiar bed while staying at an unfamiliar location. 

Tip 3: don’t let your dog ride in the front seat, and instead place him in a crate for the ride.

Have a safe trip!

Leila and Ty going on a car ride