Did everyone have fun watching the Puppy Bowl yesterday? I sure did! It was entertaining to see all those cute pups running around and tackling each other. Beau, Teal and I decided to recreate some of our favorite tackles later on during the humans’ Superbowl party.
I was very happy to learn that my favorite pup of the game, Jake, became the Most Valuable Puppy and the Viewer’s Choice. I made mom cast my vote for me.
Jake
Jake is half Chihuahua, half Pug, or as the announcer named him, a Chug. That’s like how sometimes mom calls me a Yoodle or a Porkie instead of a Yorki-poo.
You can watch some of Jake’s Puppy Bowl highlights by clicking here.
Have you ever heard of the site called The Animal Rescue Site? If you haven’t, today might be a good day to check it out. The Animal Rescue Site is owned by two humans named Tim Kunin and Greg Hesterberg, and their mission is simple. They want people to visit the website and click a button. Sounds really weird right, like, what will these humans think of next? Well, when this button is clicked, money from all of the sponsors of this website gets sent to The Fund for Animals‘ sanctuaries, shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation, and the North Shore Animal League. Yesterday alone people clicked enough times to to fund 231,083 bowls of food. That a whole lot of food! This is all handled by GreaterGood.org. So, if everyone who reads this site and everyone that stumbles on it, could just remember to visit The Animal Rescue Site every day (or sign up for their daily e-mail reminder) and click that purple button, we could really help some animals in need.
I am very excited for this Sunday, as are a lot of humans I know. But they are excited for something called the “Super Bowl” where a lot of humans run around playing a strange version of fetch. I’m excited for The Puppy Bowl!
If you’ve never heard of The Puppy Bowl, this year is definitely the time to tune in. It’s on Sunday from 3-5pm on the Animal Planet channel (my favorite channel!) and features a bunch of puppies from various rescue organizations. There’s even a kitty half-time show for you cat lovers out there. Here’s the starting line-up!
Addison a 15 week old Yorkie/Maltese mix
Bandit a 10 week old Border Collie mix
Another Bandit a 9 week old Husky mix
Bear an 11 week old English Springer Spaniel/Border Collie mix
Blaze a 10 week old Australian Shepard mix
Carson an 11 week old German Shepard mix
Chamomile a 13 week old Boxer Mix
Chloe an 8 week old Labrador mix
Coco a 9 week old Boxer mix
Dixon a 12 week on German Shepard/Collie mix
Duncan a 12 week old Beagle
Eenu a 12 week old Golden Retriever/Rottweiler mix
Fava a 16 week old Cattle Dog mix
Garbanzo a 16 week Cattle Dog mix
Jake a 12 week old Chihuahua/Pug mix
Jersey Boy a 12 week old Yorkie/Maltese mix
Jumby a 12 week old Pomeranian
Kiva an 11 week old Alaskan Malamute
Mason a 12 week old German Shepard/Collie mix
Naomi a 14 week old Akita/Labrador/Boxer mix
Nutmeg a 9 week old Australian Shepard mix
Rigley a 16 week French Bulldog
Royal a 10 week Husky mix
Sage an 8 week Labrador mix
Savannah a 14 week Akita/Labrador/Boxer mix
Sir Winston a 14 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Tater Tot a 10 week old Basset Hound mix
Tigger an 11 week old Collie/Corgi mix
Tipsy an 11 week old Collie/Corgi mix
Toby an 11 week Collie/Corgi mix
Tonka an 11 week old Collie/Corgi mix
Yums a 5 month old French Bulldog
If you’re interested about learning about the shelters the Puppy Bowl puppies came from, click here.
On February 15th and 16th the annual Westminster Kennel Club’s dog show takes place in New York City. While I am not privileged enough to be a part of the event, (I think that is quite rude, actually. Not being pedigree doesn’t make me any less of a dog) I will be watching it on television with my mom. What always gets me though, when watching dog shows, is how do those humans called “judges” make the decision about who becomes the top dog in their category?
Here’s a video snippet of the judging of the Terrier Group from last years Westminster.
Of course, all judging is done by breed standard, meaning what is normal for a Yorkshire Terrier in regards to body structure, the way they walk, and so on, may not be the same for a Norwegian Buhund. So instead of the dogs being judged against the others they are competing against, they are judged by what the ideal dog in their breed should look like. As shown in the video, the judge first has the dogs take a turn around the judging ring to check their gait (the way that they walk). The judge is looking for smoothness of gait and the dog’s balance. Then the judge will examine each dog individually. The handlers put their dogs into the “stack” position, meaning the dog’s natural stance. The judge may pat the dog down to check for muscle tone, coat condition, chest depth, and to confirm proportion. He or she will also check the dog’s teeth. Any missing teeth result in a fault. Again, depending on the breed standard, the length of tail and ears will also be checked.
After all of the close inspection, the handler will then take the dog for another quick trot up and down the ring. This time the judge is looking for any faults in the dog’s movement. The dog should be moving freely, easily, and straight. After all of the dogs in the category are seen, the judge makes the decision for who is the top dog. To read an article about judge Desmond J. Murphy’s personal experience in the ring, click here.
It seems like a very complicated process, and I am actually glad that I’m not in any dog shows. In fact, I don’t even think there really is a breed standard for us Yorki-poos. I’ve seen Yorki-poos that looks more like Yorkies, or Poodles, or ones like me that don’t really look like either.
Stay tuned after the 16th for my wrap up of the Westminster Dog show.
Yesterday, mom, Angelica, Leo and I spent some of the day together. First we went to the Loyal Biscuit and visited the new owner Heidi. She’s awfully sweet and made sure I got lots of hugs and kisses (and that mom bought me a flossie!). But the neatest part about yesterday was going to see these things my mom called ice sculptures.
Now I know my ice. It’s this hard, cold, wet thing that comes out of the white thing called “the freezer.” I love ice. But these ice sculptures were something else. They were huge and carved into really neat shapes, like a little village scene and a stack of books. My favorite, of course, was the big ice dog with a tennis ball by its mouth.Mom thought it was really neat too. But her favorite was the wine bottle and glass. Someone added red liquid to the ice so it actually looks like wine is in the glass! It was really neat, but also incredibly cold so we didn’t stay very long. Before we left, though, we had to get our photo taken by the ice dog. That way we’ll remember it even after it’s melted. Happy tail wags!
I have a confession to make: sometimes I am a naughty dog. It’s a shocker, I know. How can someone as cute as I be naughty?
Not I said the cute, curly puppy.
But we all have our moments, and mine just happen to come in the form of accidents in my mom’s bedroom. I swear I am house trained, though sometimes mom begs to differ. And really it’s my mom’s fault for sometimes forgetting to take me to do my business before she leaves. Okay, sometimes she does take me out and I just don’t go. It can be very distracting outside! Lots of people walking, and birds chirping, and so many things to smell (especially now that we have a new doggy neighbor living in the upstairs apartment). So what’s a pooch to do?
Luckily my mom has an arsenal of products to use when these little accidents occur. Her favorite is this stuff called OdoBan. She’s tried the pet specific versions before, but really likes this one the best. She even used it on the couch when I had a small accident there. I was scared, okay! I can get very nervous sometimes.
Not all of us pooches are perfect. I definitely like to pretend I am, what with my shiny, curly coat and big, beautiful brown eyes. Oh, and my kisses, they are supreme! But even us perfect pups have accidents.
Happy tail wags!
P.S. Of Cow’s Tails and Chew Toys has made it as a finalist in the Brodie Awards over at Pawcurious. Even just being nominated was fun because it gave me loads of attention (and we all know how I feel about that!), but now I have a chance to win! To do so, I need your votes. Click on my photo below to vote!
Yesterday, Leo and Angelica came to my house to hang out with me and mom. It was quite the special occasion because usually Leo doesn’t come with Angelica as he gets a bit anxious. So, I was very happy that he came this time, even if he didn’t fully enjoy himself. It’s always nice to have other doggies around.
Leo
Leo always looks so fashionable. It was extremely cold yesterday, so when he arrived he had on a hoodie, a puffy jacket from Old Navy, and a neck warmer with his name embroidered on it. I was very jealous of his neck warmer and may have to have mom make me one. Leo is very much my fashion icon. I can’t wait to have a full wardrobe like he does! Happy tail wags!
In a bit of intriguing news (even if it is about a cat), a kitty named Missy became the first feline to get a knee replacement. Missy had been missing for a few days when her human mom found her, injured, in some bushes. She had been hit by a car and had a dislocated knee and eight breaks in the other leg. The vet, Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick, had to choose between either sending Missy to the great beyond, or inventing a way to fix her knee and broken leg.
Dr. Fitzpatrick with the help of Professor Gordon Blunn and Jay Meswania from a company called OrthoFitz Implants, custom made a knee replacement implant using an CT scan of Missy’s knee. It was made of two parts that are linked together with a hing so that the knee ligaments (that had been shredded) wouldn’t be required. After a two and a half hour operation, and twelve weeks of post-treatment, Missy is now happily at home with her family. It’s amazing at what some humans will do for us animals.
For more information, check out the full Daily Mail article by clicking here.
The Hounds for Haiti auction is winding down, which made me think about all the four-legged victims of the earthquake. What is being done for my fellow fur children?
An HSI member helping a stray pup in Haiti
The Humane Society International has sent a team of vets to Port-au-Prince. The vets are partnering with Veterinary Care & Humane Services, Caribbean Project, a group that is in the Dominican Republic. The team includes a French speaking vet, a paramedic who is trained in animal handling as well as disaster response, a couple of vet techs and a translator. Their goal is to provide as much immediate care as possible, but also to advise other relief workers on any extra steps they can take to help the suffering animals while they are helping the human population. So far, this team has visited a zoo, assessed local farm animals, and helped secure the transport of two dogs (Bella and Dieter) to the US after their family was forced to leave them behind when they came back to the States after the quake. They’ve also helped relief workers and doctors already in Haiti by reviewing the human situation in outer towns as many groups don’t have the the vehicles to get them out of Port-au-Prince to the other towns that were also affected. You can keep track of the relief efforts by clicking here.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) have come together to launch ARCH, the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti. ARCH plans on setting up a mobile clinic in Haiti to supply vaccines, antibiotics, bandages, food, water, and other supplies to help bring direct aid to the animals. The ASPCA has pledged an initial $25,000 to ARCH to aid in the relief effort. If you would like to donate ARCH as well, please click here.
Thank you to all the humans, from those who are in Haiti helping to those donating anything from time to money, for not forgetting about the animal victims in a crisis like this.
Today I had a spa day. Usually you humans talk about spa days with excitement and anticipation of relaxation and beauty. Bah! What dog needs to look beautiful? Apparently my mom thinks I do (and am), but I would, and will always, be just as happy being covered in stinky mud or sand (just ask Angelica!). But I put up with my mom’s pampering because it makes her happy, and some of it is actually beneficial to my health.
So, what does a doggy do during a spa day? Well, first I get put in the sink and bathed. Now, hopefully you all know by now how much I detest bathes. Today was no exception. I just stared mournfully out the window the entire time, wishing for a squirrel to run by so I would at least have an excuse to jump out of the sink and go tearing through the house.
After the suds, I was whisked into the bedroom, dried with a warm towel, and put in my Snuggie.
Don't I look miserable?
I thought I looked weird in the Snuggie thing, Gracie Lynn definitely agreed (she wouldn’t stop laughing), but mom said it would keep me warm and that I looked cute. She then cleaned my ears, clipped my nails (I fought with her about this for as long as possible. I really don’t like having my feet touched), and put this cream stuff on my paw pads. It’s made specially for pooches and help moisturize our paw pads, which can be really helpful in the winter when the air is dry. My pads were getting a bit cracked from the heat in the house too.
After a quick brushing I was all done, smelling like cucumbers and cleanliness. Not how I really want to smell, but it makes the humans happy.I guess the upside about all of this trauma was that I got to try the new snacks my mom bought me the other day at the Loyal Biscuit. They’re Zuke’s Mini Naturals, which I usually get, but this time mom bought me the chicken kind instead of peanut butter! They are delicious! I just wish Gracie would stop trying to eat them. They say “dog treats” not kitty treats. Can’t she read?Happy tail wags.
