Chatting over breakfast at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham recently with Cesar Millan, acclaimed dog trainer and star of the National Geographic Channel's Emmy-nominated "Dog Whisperer," something unexpected is becoming quite clear: The guy is a major shopper.
He's wearing a pretty blue cashmere sweater and a new Louis Vuitton scarf and a new and very cute camel-colored Burberry toggle coat he bought on sale for $400 during a trip to Philadelphia because it was such a good deal. He looks at a reporter's shoes and tells her that his wife has a similar pair -- only hers are Prada -- and that he picks out most of his wife's clothes because she isn't such a good shopper. But we digress.
Millan, 38, is in town on this snowy day because, as a popular player on the speaker circuit, he's signed on to give a motivational speech to the Ad Craft Club of Detroit. While he's here, he's agreed to chat with us about whatever we want, including whether he, in deference to his pack of dogs, abstains from eating hot dogs. Puzzled by our question, he says: "They don't know we call them hot dogs."
As founder of the Dog Psychology Center, a rehabilitation facility in south central Los Angeles for troubled dogs, Millan is famous for turning the most problematic pooch into a good citizen -- which means one who doesn't bite or pull at the leash or misbehave. Dogs, he says, are pack animals who need a pack leader. Once an owner decides to be leader of the pack, the dog will become what Millan calls "calm-submissive" and well-behaved.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/FEATURES01/803070322
Hey, I like this guy. He helps a lot of people learn to live amicably with their dogs and that's a good thing. Also, if I were still into chewing stuff, a blue cashmere sweater sounds nice. It's probably soft and a little chewy. As for the hot dogs, we do know what they're called but we also know that they're not actually made from real dogs.
Woof! Woof!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Diving Dog Duke
He's a duck hunter's dream dog come true. Check out Duke, the 4-year-old wonder lab that not only fetches birds in the field, but retrieves bumpers, pennies, and empty beer bottles from the bottom of his owner’s pool in SoCal.
“I can’t keep him out of the pool,” says owner Doug Nail. “He lives in his own world.”
http://www.fieldandstream.com/article_gallery.jsp?ID=1000019006
Sweet! I never heard of a dog holding his breath underwater like that before.
Woof! Woof!
“I can’t keep him out of the pool,” says owner Doug Nail. “He lives in his own world.”
http://www.fieldandstream.com/article_gallery.jsp?ID=1000019006
Sweet! I never heard of a dog holding his breath underwater like that before.
Woof! Woof!
Michigan Dog Show
DETROIT — Diane Ingram, owner of the Doggy Deli in Clinton Township, attracted a steady crowd at her booth during the Detroit Kennel Club’s 100th and 101st Dog Shows at the Cobo Convention Center March 1-2, where Ingram displayed her chewy, all-natural handmade dog biscuits.
Ingram and her husband, Bruce, participate in close to 40 dog shows a year to help promote their business, but they especially love the Detroit show.
“It brings in a variety of people and gives us great exposure,” said Ingram, the owner of four dogs. She started a business after experimenting in her kitchen while making treats for her pets.
Some 2,500 dogs representing 169 breeds were on display at Cobo last weekend, along with a myriad of vendors selling their wares, from dog food to kennels, T-shirts to jewelry, and from magazine subscriptions to custom artwork.
The DKC’s annual shows are among five “benched” dog shows in the country, which means breeders, owners and their dogs must remain in the building and on display for the public to view, touch and ask questions, making it a unique and popular event.
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2008/3-5-08/XF-COBODOGSHOW.asp
Enough about the dog show, talk more about those bakery dog treats.
Woof! Woof!
Ingram and her husband, Bruce, participate in close to 40 dog shows a year to help promote their business, but they especially love the Detroit show.
“It brings in a variety of people and gives us great exposure,” said Ingram, the owner of four dogs. She started a business after experimenting in her kitchen while making treats for her pets.
Some 2,500 dogs representing 169 breeds were on display at Cobo last weekend, along with a myriad of vendors selling their wares, from dog food to kennels, T-shirts to jewelry, and from magazine subscriptions to custom artwork.
The DKC’s annual shows are among five “benched” dog shows in the country, which means breeders, owners and their dogs must remain in the building and on display for the public to view, touch and ask questions, making it a unique and popular event.
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2008/3-5-08/XF-COBODOGSHOW.asp
Enough about the dog show, talk more about those bakery dog treats.
Woof! Woof!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
After Dog Food Recalls, Not Much Changes
One year after contaminated pet food killed potentially thousands of dogs and cats, few safety measures have gone into effect.
While pet food safety legislation has been passed and an industry commission has made recommendations to improve the safety and quality standards for pet food, some critics say the efforts, even when they are fully implemented, may not amount to much more than the fox guarding the hen house.
The federal legislation, for instance, relies on manufacturers to voluntarily recall contaminated pet food. “As long as it’s voluntary, there will always be breaches,” says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University and author of the forthcoming book “Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine,” due out in September. “There will be breaches anyway, but voluntary doesn’t work as well as regulated.”
Because there is no national tracking system that monitors pet deaths, there is no definitive tally of animals that died from consuming pet food made with imported Chinese ingredients tainted with the chemical melamine.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23505218/
This gets under my fur worse than the UPS guy.
It's amazing after everything that happened the regulations aren't coming on strong. My food is made in the USA and Canada using only human grade ingredients, so I'm not worried, but think of the millions of pets who eat Ol Roy every day. There should be some kind of regulation in place to protect them.
Woof! Woof!
While pet food safety legislation has been passed and an industry commission has made recommendations to improve the safety and quality standards for pet food, some critics say the efforts, even when they are fully implemented, may not amount to much more than the fox guarding the hen house.
The federal legislation, for instance, relies on manufacturers to voluntarily recall contaminated pet food. “As long as it’s voluntary, there will always be breaches,” says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University and author of the forthcoming book “Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine,” due out in September. “There will be breaches anyway, but voluntary doesn’t work as well as regulated.”
Because there is no national tracking system that monitors pet deaths, there is no definitive tally of animals that died from consuming pet food made with imported Chinese ingredients tainted with the chemical melamine.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23505218/
This gets under my fur worse than the UPS guy.
It's amazing after everything that happened the regulations aren't coming on strong. My food is made in the USA and Canada using only human grade ingredients, so I'm not worried, but think of the millions of pets who eat Ol Roy every day. There should be some kind of regulation in place to protect them.
Woof! Woof!
Vets Unite to End Canine Obesity
It's no secret that Americans are heavier then they were a decade ago. Unfortunately, so is 40 percent of the United States pet population, said Dr. Stephanie Streitz of Essington Road Animal Hospital in Joliet. That's 17 million of this country's 41 million dogs, according to a March 3 story at Fox News.
Being chubby may look cute on some pets, but it also brings an increased risk for heart disease, breathing disorders and joint problems, especially in the knees and hips. Unlike many humans, pets are powerless to fix the problem and must rely on their owners to do it for them.
"I am treating more diabetes than I did 20 years ago. It's a huge problem," Streitz said. "I immediately intervene when I see an animal going down that road. Some of them are only 2 and 3 years old, which is way too young for these animals to get heavy because they're just babies at this point. But if we don't start now, the weight is a lot harder to take off."
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/lifestyles/846648,4_5_JO18_FATCATS_S1.article
I'm glad that my daily walks keep me pretty trim. Maybe I should cut down on table scraps though, just to be careful.
Woof! Woof!
Being chubby may look cute on some pets, but it also brings an increased risk for heart disease, breathing disorders and joint problems, especially in the knees and hips. Unlike many humans, pets are powerless to fix the problem and must rely on their owners to do it for them.
"I am treating more diabetes than I did 20 years ago. It's a huge problem," Streitz said. "I immediately intervene when I see an animal going down that road. Some of them are only 2 and 3 years old, which is way too young for these animals to get heavy because they're just babies at this point. But if we don't start now, the weight is a lot harder to take off."
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/lifestyles/846648,4_5_JO18_FATCATS_S1.article
I'm glad that my daily walks keep me pretty trim. Maybe I should cut down on table scraps though, just to be careful.
Woof! Woof!
New Rules for Animals in the Sacramento Area
SACRAMENTO – A herd of animal measures will once again challenge state lawmakers this year.
And La Jolla Assemblyman George Plescia is in the middle of the pack, carrying a trio of measures, from the serious to the playful.
On a somber note, the Republican proposes to toughen penalties for those who kill or injure police dogs – an outgrowth of the New Year's Eve loss of Stryker, a Belgian Malinois who drowned when a cornered suspect jumped off the San Diego-Coronado Bridge with the dog in tow.
On a lighter note, Plescia has introduced a resolution that would declare June 20 as “take your dog to work day.” Plescia said it would spotlight “how healthy it is to have a dog” and “encourage people to go to the Humane Society to adopt a dog.”
No word yet on whether cat fanciers will yowl for equality.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080304-9999-1n4animals.html
Bring your dog to work day? Sounds like something that would be fun for my people but very boring for me. I'd much rather stay home and chase squirrels.
Woof! Woof!
And La Jolla Assemblyman George Plescia is in the middle of the pack, carrying a trio of measures, from the serious to the playful.
On a somber note, the Republican proposes to toughen penalties for those who kill or injure police dogs – an outgrowth of the New Year's Eve loss of Stryker, a Belgian Malinois who drowned when a cornered suspect jumped off the San Diego-Coronado Bridge with the dog in tow.
On a lighter note, Plescia has introduced a resolution that would declare June 20 as “take your dog to work day.” Plescia said it would spotlight “how healthy it is to have a dog” and “encourage people to go to the Humane Society to adopt a dog.”
No word yet on whether cat fanciers will yowl for equality.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080304-9999-1n4animals.html
Bring your dog to work day? Sounds like something that would be fun for my people but very boring for me. I'd much rather stay home and chase squirrels.
Woof! Woof!
Kennel Clubs Donate First Aid Kits to Police Pooches
Thanks to two kennel clubs in Pennsylvania, all 23 state police dog teams in the state will be supplied with canine first-aid kits.
The Kennel Clubs of Lancaster and Delaware County joined to donate $2,500 -- money raised from dog-show entrance fees -- for the kits, which include items such as dog-sized splints for broken legs and tools to pull glass out of paws.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/03/thanks_to_two_local_kennel.html
Yes! Let's support these hard working dogs. Bravo Lancaster and Delaware County Kennel Clubs.
Woof! Woof!
The Kennel Clubs of Lancaster and Delaware County joined to donate $2,500 -- money raised from dog-show entrance fees -- for the kits, which include items such as dog-sized splints for broken legs and tools to pull glass out of paws.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/03/thanks_to_two_local_kennel.html
Yes! Let's support these hard working dogs. Bravo Lancaster and Delaware County Kennel Clubs.
Woof! Woof!
Biscuit Emerges from Drainpipe Intact
MOORESTOWN — Here's a tale about a dog whose bark may have been worse than his plight.
Biscuit, a Jack Russell terrier, emerged from a 12-inch drainage pipe behind the Winstead Village apartments on Andrews Avenue last night after spending an undetermined amount of time inside.
Some apartment residents said they had believed Biscuit was trapped, since they had heard his bark emanating from the pipe since sometime Saturday morning. But police said the dog's owner, whose name was not released, told them Biscuit routinely enters the pipe to occupy himself.
Was Biscuit at risk or at play? No one knows for sure.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-03032008-1497190.html
That's why I always stay away from drainpipes.
Woof! Woof!
Biscuit, a Jack Russell terrier, emerged from a 12-inch drainage pipe behind the Winstead Village apartments on Andrews Avenue last night after spending an undetermined amount of time inside.
Some apartment residents said they had believed Biscuit was trapped, since they had heard his bark emanating from the pipe since sometime Saturday morning. But police said the dog's owner, whose name was not released, told them Biscuit routinely enters the pipe to occupy himself.
Was Biscuit at risk or at play? No one knows for sure.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-03032008-1497190.html
That's why I always stay away from drainpipes.
Woof! Woof!
Ellen Gets in the Dog Food Business
Well crazy or not, Ellen loves her some pets and has decided to put her money where her mouth is…literally (you’ll get that joke later).
The comedian turned talk show host just recently purchased Halo, a well known natural pet food company, and will be producing her own brand of pet food.
Ellen told Parade magazine that her food is SO natural that even humans can eat it. She said, “Ours is all human grade. It’s all natural. And yes, you can eat it. People love their animals so much so that they put little clothes on them and necklaces and booties and things like that. And if you love your animal, then you should feed them something that’s not dangerous for them. There’s a lot of poisonous stuff that they’re putting in a lot of that food, those by-products.”
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/03/03/ellen-degeneres-buys-her-own-dog-food-company/
No by products? Sounds good to me.
Woof! Woof!
The comedian turned talk show host just recently purchased Halo, a well known natural pet food company, and will be producing her own brand of pet food.
Ellen told Parade magazine that her food is SO natural that even humans can eat it. She said, “Ours is all human grade. It’s all natural. And yes, you can eat it. People love their animals so much so that they put little clothes on them and necklaces and booties and things like that. And if you love your animal, then you should feed them something that’s not dangerous for them. There’s a lot of poisonous stuff that they’re putting in a lot of that food, those by-products.”
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/03/03/ellen-degeneres-buys-her-own-dog-food-company/
No by products? Sounds good to me.
Woof! Woof!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Huskies Get Checked Out for Iditarod
Stuart Nelson is unloading boxes at Northern Air Cargo. In an hour or so, he will drive back to Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla and spend the rest of his day examining blood samples of dogs entered in this year's race.
The weekend won't offer much of a break. On Saturday, he will continue screening blood work and calling Iditarod mushers with the results.
On Sunday, he may be able to briefly relax.
"There are a lot of things going on right now," said Nelson, the Iditarod's chief veterinarian for 13 years and before that a volunteer trail veterinarian for nine years.
This Iditarod, his 22nd, is the busiest. With 96 mushers due to race, this is the biggest Iditarod field ever. Multiply each musher by the 16 to 24 dogs they are allowed to bring with them to the race's start (only 16 dogs can ultimately be chosen for the team), and you're talking nearly 2,000 canines to check.
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/2008/features/story/332353.html
Good man. I'm sure glad that I'm not running in that race. If you're not the lead dog the view never changes, you know?
Woof! Woof!
The weekend won't offer much of a break. On Saturday, he will continue screening blood work and calling Iditarod mushers with the results.
On Sunday, he may be able to briefly relax.
"There are a lot of things going on right now," said Nelson, the Iditarod's chief veterinarian for 13 years and before that a volunteer trail veterinarian for nine years.
This Iditarod, his 22nd, is the busiest. With 96 mushers due to race, this is the biggest Iditarod field ever. Multiply each musher by the 16 to 24 dogs they are allowed to bring with them to the race's start (only 16 dogs can ultimately be chosen for the team), and you're talking nearly 2,000 canines to check.
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/2008/features/story/332353.html
Good man. I'm sure glad that I'm not running in that race. If you're not the lead dog the view never changes, you know?
Woof! Woof!
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